HU Travellers Meeting Germany Autumn 2024

Stefan Thiel Erzbergrodeo / Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia with Honda XR150 / Germany to Mongolia with Honda Transalp

STEFAN THIEL - Discovering motorcycling later in life doesn't have to be an obstacle to adventures on two wheels. Since Stefan Thiel discovered motorcycling at the age of 28, he has been traveling the world - sometimes for longer, sometimes for shorter periods. Always with him on his motorcycle: his camera and a good dose of curiosity.

1. Erzbergrodeo

The world's most extreme motocross event fascinates more than just motorcyclists year after year. Stefan has selected the best photos from seven visits as a photographer and is bringing them to Sippersfeld for a special on the big screen.

2. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia with Honda XR150

Snow and ice at the turn of the year in Germany. And in Southeast Asia? Stefan traveled 7,000 kilometers through Southeast Asia on a rented Honda to discover the weather, countries and people in one of the world's most fascinating regions.

3. Germany to Mongolia with Honda Transalp

Towards sunrise - as far as the studs will carry us. On the way to Mongolia, Stefan followed in the footsteps of the Silk Road and found old and new mysteries in the endless expanses of the East.

Karin and Ralf Kühl, RCG on Tour Georgia on Two- and Three-Wheeled Bikes The European balcony into Asia, or how we become the first westerner tourists to conquer the Abano Pass on a Dnepr sidecar.

Georgia has become one of our most beloved countries we ever visited. We had the chance to travel all over Georgia not only on our own bikes, but also got the possibilty to make use of vintage Kiev Dnepr sidecars and, even partly, a Russian Wolga. We got introduced into the impressive landscape from the sea up to the 5000-m Kasbek Peak, but we also learned about the warm hospitality of the Georgian people which most times comes along with Chacha and Chatschapuri. We introduce you to a city where the public transport is mostly operated by cable ways and a traverse with a pass which climbs up to 2800 m. We hope you will find Georgia as impressive as we like it and we will be open to all your questions.

KARIN and RALF KÜHL have travelled together, mostly on motobikes, since 2008. Meanwhile, they have been on four continents on rented or our own bikes. We love to meet our future friends on the road or at nice and cute places.

Since we met, we explored and travelled through the world by motorbikes. Every vacation, long weekends, and free times, we used to see some new, for us foreign, parts of the world. First, we started travelling with our big bikes (1500 and 1200 GS) on street, then discovered our passion for dirt roads and off-road driving with Suzuki DRZ 400. During this time, our dream of a long time trip has grown. We were inspired by many presentations and stories from other travellers and overlanders.

We always had the idea of travelling and not only during holidays. Then, after two life-changing moments, we realised we have just one life and we want to live our dream now. Giving birth to our daughter, Antonia, in November 2017 changed our lives, especially our way to travel. Sure, we could have used our motorbike with sidecar, but for a long-time travel with Antonia, it wasn't the right vehicle. Therefore, we prepared a Mitsubishi Pajero 4x4, took a roof-top tent, and packed our stuff. Mid-April 2019, we started in Jettingen, a small city near Stuttgart (south of Germany). Our goal was to reach the Sultanat of Oman. We wanted to experience how wonderful the world is and learn more about other people and cultures. With our presentation, we would like to encourage everybody to live their dreams.

1) Travel Tales from Morocco, Armenia, Iran, Romania... And Where Else?

Country of past adventures is up for grabs at this point! Where will Muddi Bruckhoff take you this time?

2) Travel Infections and Vaccinations - Preparations

Berthold talks about preparing for the health and vaccine requirements for your adventures, depending on where you plan to explore.

More to come...

How about you? We're all here to learn, and there's LOTS to learn! We want to do more presentations and seminars - but we need volunteers to give them! Any topic you can contribute having to do with motorcycle travel, maintenance, planning etc, lasting 20 minutes or more, would be great. Please sign up here.

Carola Möller and Jürgen Schmitz Buddymoon to the Tip An adventurous honeymoon trip through northern Australia on Oldtimer bikes

What comes to your mind when you think about a good Honeymoon trip? For us, it was clear to start our marriage with a big adventure and on bikes. With a bunch of friends we discovered Cape York. One of the most adventurous areas for offroad riding. Which bike would be best for this trip? Sitting on a couch with a beer planing the trip, we thought it seemed to be a good idea to do it on oldtimer bikes. A real Adventure, sometimes far away from our comfort zone, but with such great experience, landscape, and meeting great people were a perfect start for being married and growing stronger together.

CAROLA MÖLLER has had the travel bug for over 20 years. She started at the age of 21 with her first overland trip through Africa, from Namibia to Kenya. A lot of solo trips followed, including a 4,5-year solo trip around the world. Since 2012, she found her soulmate, Jürgen. Together, they are living the "normal" life and do longer trips to Africa, South America, and Australia. The next trip is planned for this summer.

JÜRGEN SCHMITZ has been on the road with motorized two-wheelers since the tender age of 12. At the age of 20, with the first Enduro, illegal, on Sundays, in the rain on the military training area testing his off-road skills. Later, with the Goldwing through southwestern USA. Afterwards, various trips through Europe, a lot with the team to be able to take their daughters with them. Since he travels with the best wife of all, he has gone to Africa, South America, Australia, and criss-crossed over Europe... if possible, not on asphalt.

Martin Brucker, Auf dem Weg On The Way (Auf dem Weg): Part 01 A RTW motorcycle trip comes full-circle after 6.5 years

After 9.5 years as a woodwork intructor in Ethiopia, I gave myself a break (12-18 months) to find similar work in South East Asia (a.k.a. travel) and a bit further to Australia to visit my cousin near Brisbane. After 20 months, I reached in Australia after having ridden through many countries (Iran, Syria, Sudan, Jemen, Tibet, China, Vietnam), including some job interviews in Laos and Vietnam. When I learned I got the job in Laos, I had been in Australia for four months and now needed to make a decision: take the job or continue my journey.

To be honest, it was an easy decision - I kept going. And kept going I did, to South America, Cuba, and waiting for the spring season again. At one point, it came to mind that it would be really cool to return to the Black Forest in Germany on the very same motorcycle I first left with. After crossing six continents, about 70 countries, and covering about 255,067 km, I came full-circle to the very same spot I left 6.5 years ago... at the doorstep of my mother's house in Welschensteinach.

From Germany's Black Forest, MARTIN BRUCKER traveled from March 2010 to October 2016 around the world on his trusty BMW G650 Xchallenge. He covered about 255,067 km crossing about 70 countries "On The Way".

Rob van Rijnswou & Ward Platzbeecker, It's Time For Adventure! Jungle of South America by 3 Motorcycles Rough adventure in a remote area? go to South America!

After our first motorcycle tour in 2001 travelling from Holland to Australia we, Martin, Ward, and I decided to go for a somewhat rougher tour to South America in 2005. Starting from Suriname, we continued through British Guyana, Venezuela, Brasil, Bolivia, and ended on the coast of Peru. We had to struggle with damaged engines, customs clearance, transport over the Amazon River, but worst of all was plowing through the sludge and mud in Brasil. The different cultures, landscape and wildlife cannot be compared to any other trip we made. South America was, for me, the most exciting journey of my life. Our presentation and the video we made with Ward's helm camera will give you a fine impression of our trip.

ROB VAN RIJNSWOU // WARD PLATZBEECKER - Through our hobbies, we met, along with another friend Martin, in 2001. The three of us decided to make a long motorcycle trip to Autralia . It took us four months. We learned a lot about each other and experienced the different cultures in the new countries we visited. It went so well that it inspired us to take future journeys together.

Dylan Samarawickrama When the road ends - Beating the Darien Gap on a Boatercycle

Then you arrive at a point where there is no road to continue. Between Panama and Colombia, there is one of the most dense jungles of this planet: The Darien! Stretching from the Pacific coast from the West to the Atlantic coast on the East, the Darien is home to many different groups of guerrilla fighters, drug smugglers and randomly scattered but notorious tribal groups which makes it to one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on Earth.

A perfect challenge for Dylan! As the first man ever he sails, solo, 650km around Darien, on the Pacific Ocean from Panama into Colombia on a self-built raft propelled by a motorcycle and experiences one of a kind adventure! A journey that is not only takes him across country borders but also tests his personal limits.

Constant break downs, storms, currents and zero sailing experience were some of the challenges of his incredible journey. When things go from bad to worse, dolphins come to his rescue! Watch the video excerpt of his trip.

Dylan Samarawickrama has travelled around the world for three and half years and modestly says he has 'done some interesting adventures'.

Dylan's book 'Am Ende der Strasse' has now been published in German, the English version 'When the Road Ends' is promised for this year! Ask him to autograph your copy at the meeting!

Joshua Steinberg, Wetzlos Weltwärts Africa East Coast Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa

We travelled the African East Coast from October 2020 until February 2022 with two Honda CRF250L on our own. We covered 50.000 kilometers with 40 percent offroad tracks. Our focus is always on the exchange with the amazing people we meet along the road. Against all odds, we had a wonderful time on the road and the world is still as amazing as it was before. Covid virus, civil war, corruption, and violence could never change the fact that the people of this world are just great and the hospitality is even greater where you least expect it.

We want to tell the stories of all those who inspired us, all those who helped us, all those who will always be in our hearts and travel with us ever since we met them. Some positive vibes don't kill anybody these days, so come around and listen to our stories.

JOSHUA STEINBERG travelled western Africa, South America, eastern Africa, and parts of Asia and Europe by motorcycle. All in all, 150.000 kilometers and 60 countries. Less is more for us. Small budget, small bikes, small tent. Ride on!

Sjaak Lucassen (Netherlands) 2 Decades World Travel & Adventure

A tour through all the travels and (winter) adventures, done on sports bikes, by a mad Dutchmen.

From the moment that it all started until the ultimate goal, a ride to the North Pole, in the near future, that's what the presentation, enlivened with videos, photos and a healthy dose of humour will cover. In between we experience a 3 years and 160,000 kilometre lasting World Travel on a Fireblade, during the time that communication with the home front still went by fax! We travel 250,000 kilometre around the world on an R1 on a very extreme way! We tackle the North Cape successfully - in the winter – after an earlier attempt had to be broken off due to worn homemade studs.

We visit the USA and Canada for a ride through temperatures colder then minus 30 and we ride over the Polar Ice north of Alaska, towing a huge sledge. Info on www.R1goesExtreme.com

Because motorcycle vacations felt always too short I started to travel. Before I knew it I got bitten by the travel bug. The result was that I spent about 10 years of my live on the road, using rather unusual bikes. I ride sport bikes. The reason is simple. I find it more important to use the right bike for my heart then the right bike for the terrain. During time my travels became more and more extreme. The last one was on the Polar Ice north of Alaska. The next one hopefully to the North Pole.

Josephine Flohr & Daniel Rintz, Open-Explorers Putting Off the Finishing Line The highs and lows of 6 years motorcycling around the world. Can a favourite place in the world be found?

Daniel set off to circumnavigate the world by motorcycle many years ago. Halfway into the trip (Germany – New Zealand), he found the love of his life, Josephine. Like Daniel, Jo loves travelling and it didn't take much to get her excited about motorcycles. On two bikes they continued the second leg of the journey together (Alaska – Argentina). At some point, enjoying dinner, camping on the beach somewhere, another traveller asked us: "What will you do when you've reached your destination (Ushuaia) in a few days? Return home?" Our souls were filled with wonderful experiences while our pockets were running out of money. Daniel and Jo had only played with the idea of shipping the bikes to Cape Town and ride home through Africa. Without giving his answer too much thought, Daniel replied: "We're more afraid of going back home to a regular life than facing Africa without money." Josephine and Daniel talk about the highs and lows of six years motorcycle travel, covering five continents, 100 countries - riding solo and as a couple.

Daniel and Josephine are from Germany. He's been riding motorcycles since he was 7 years old. When he was first allowed to ride on the road at the age of 18, the bike naturally became an essential instrument for exploring the world. Josephine has loved travelling for as long as she can remember. She used to be a backpacker, but became a motorcycle traveller when she met "someone". They have been riding around the world on two bikes ever since.

Leonie Sinnige and Peter Scheltens, Amsterdam to Anywhere Trip Report Our Packing List

1. Amsterdam to Anywhere: Trip Report

Leonie and Peter quit their jobs and rented out the house to travel around the world riding their two trusty Honda CRF250Ls over 100,000 km through more than 50 countries on 5 continents. They explored Africa, rode through the Americas and zig-zagged across Asia to arrive back in Europe three years later. Visiting 56 countries, meeting friendly people and experiencing true hospitality. And all along the way: amazing wildlife, beautiful nature, delicious food and great riding! An amazing journey they want to share with you! During the presentation they will give you a seat on their bikes to ride around the world together. Telling you about the amazing hospitality in Libya, the hippos next to their tent in Kenya, New Years celebrations at the most southern tip of the world, exploring ancient Inca routes in Peru, plowing through the snow in Canada, using the Motorcycle Highway in Malaysia, riding through ever-smiling Myanmar, making new friends in Pakistan and riding on top of the world in the Himalayas. All of this, of course, with lots and lots of pictures! They hope to inspire you to get on your bike and start exploring our beautiful world!

2. Amsterdam to Anywhere: Our Packing List
What to take and how to pack? Inside information about our packing list, the gear and the luggage system.

How many pairs of socks? Do we need a satellite telephone? Which tools are you using? What tent do you sleep in? Where to pack your gas stove? Which medication did you take? Why did you use soft luggage instead of hard panniers? Where did you keep your laptop? How many kilo's did you carry? Before Leonie and Peter left on their trip, they had hundreds of questions like this. They asked friends who had been on the road, read travel reports and visited an HU Meeting to find answers. The information helped them enormously to prepare for the trip.

Now, after having been on the road for almost three years, they want to help future adventurers to prepare for their trip and answer all of these questions. There are 1001 different ways to pack your bike for a long trip, so there is no 'perfect way'. They will focus on the gear they chose and packing all your stuff on the bike. They will share their packing list, show you their favorite items, tell what you should not forget, but also what you should definitely leave at home. Lots of practical information, with pictures and opportunity to see and feel the gear from up close.

Alexander Conrad Northern North America From New York across Canada to Prudhoe Bay - The Dalton Highway

After shipping his motorcycle to the United States, Alexander started out from New York City to explore the wild and remote parts of North America. During five months of his journey, he rode up north along the historic "Alaska Highway" where he discovered the wilderness of Alberta, the Yukon Territory, and Klondike by also driving the lonely "Top of the World Highway". When he got to Alaska, he made it all the way to the northern end of the continent by reaching Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay after accomplishing the remote stretch of the "Dalton Highway". Escaping the quick approaching winter, he then headed south along the "Stewart-Cassiar Highway", crossing British Columbia and the Rocky Mountains back into the US.

He will share his experiences and encounters from the northern parts of North America and will give you some ideas of how to behave and what to do if you encounter a bear or other wildlife, which gear to choose and what the best time might be to explore Canada and Alaska. Join in for some great pictures and stories from America's north.

ALEXANDER CONRAD has traveled more than 180,000 km over the last seven years, across numerous countries in Europe, western Asia and, lately, North America. Born and raised in Germany, he is now living in California and giving "home" a short visit.

Werner Zwick Oman: A Relaxed Arabian Country A country between 1,001 nights and modern life

Oman straddles the northeastern tip of the Arabian peninsula. Great mountains, deep wadis, vibrant souqs (markets) and a rich cultural heritage characterize the country. Omanis are friendly and welcoming. Only six hours flight from central Europe away, it is a great place to escape the winter for some time.

WERNER ZWICK has travelled between Alaska and Patagonia, in parts of Asia, the southern part of Africa, and in many parts of Europe.

Dan Skeates and Rolf Lange RTW: The most important things to bring

Whether you are a well-organised German or a careless Englishman, here is what you really should prepare for a wonderful journey.

Dan - I left England without a drivers license, essential tools and the wrong clothing and still I thought I was prepared. By meeting more prepared riders (mainly German) I realised that being under prepared didn't detract from my experience but enhanced it.

Rolf - Having had 2½ years before I started out for my round-the-world trip, I felt well prepared and organised: off-road trainings, vaccinations, first aid course, photo workshops, and interviews with mechanics – I did it all. Being prepared in a pretty much perfect way made me feel safer, but it did not teach me what is really important on a long journey through foreign countries.

Being open-minded, having a positive attitude and permanently wearing a smile are prerequisites to maximising your enjoyment. It's all about the people; those daily random encounters wherever you stop or whenever you need help make the adventure perfect.

In an entertaining way, Dan and Rolf will describe why your pack list is not the most important thing before setting out and how the wonderful people of the world made their amazing adventures so unique. Come with an open mind, ask many questions and contribute as much as you want to make this presentation the one that makes you say 'It's my turn to feed my soul'.

Dan from England and Rolf from Germany, typical stereotypes of their home countries. Dan under prepared and carefree and Rolf fully prepared & organised. They both rode for over 500 days but only 15 together; they had amazing experiences in a combined total of over 50 different countries on 5 continents.

Frank Voellm Holy Cow! – Going Naked in India and Zig-zagging from Ushuaia to Alaska

Holy Cow! – Going Naked in India

Double-crossing India and Nepal. 33.000 km, 15 months. From Ladakh to Kanyakumari , from the Punjab to Nagaland and through Nepal. Twice.

At first glance the little KTM Duke 390 might not be the perfect bike for dirt roads and white water crossings in the Himalayas of India and Nepal, but she's naked alright, and on her I managed to dodge all the holy cows the traffic mayhem of the two Hindu countries could throw at me in 1 ½ years. Trust me, many a time I shouted expletives of a stronger nature than just an astonished 'holy cow' into my helmet. In the end, it was all worth it, though!

Incredible India is the official slogan, and truer words were never spoken! From the Taj Mahal to the beaches of Goa, the soaring, ancient temples of Tamil Nadu or the splendid forts and palaces of Rajastan, that's what comes to mind when India is mentioned. There is a very different India too, little visited, hidden and difficult to get to - harsh passes and bad roads leading over high passes of the Himalayas to Tibet. This presentation will have you itching to saddle your steed and head east asap!

Zig-zagging from Ushuaia to Alaska

Three years. 150.000 km. If I wanted to have a good look at the Americas a 2nd time, that's what I'd do agian!

Crossing an ocean by ship was one of my childhood dreams. The opportunity finally came when I was in my mid-40s and boarded the Grimaldi freighter in Hamburg bound for Buenos Aires. That was in 2010, just two months after I had been here at my first ever HU meeting in Germany.

Juri Klusak Towing - two bikes, one engine

Ever broke down in the middle of nowhere with no way of fixing? If you're with a buddy, towing bike by bike is the way out.

After getting stuck on a Laotian dirt track last year, having to tow bike to bike for two hours on dirt in the dark and then towing over 100k to the next city, our so far basic towing abilities had to improve rapidly. Having towed about 200k on part of our RTW trip, we'd like to share what we've learnt, see how you address the issue and discuss the pros and cons of different techniques.

Towing is an awkward way of riding your bike, but practice and know-how can save your day - or even more. This workshop will start with a short introduction, video footage and a bit of theory basics and then give a demonstration of towing "peg to peg". You can bring your own bike and give it a go, to get a feel for it and help if needed.

We believe that everyone riding as a team should be able to tow each other - so get a rope and practice!

Juri says: "I am 26, study geography in Kiel. Travelled a month on an old Heinkel Tourist scooter through Norway in 2011 and spent the last 20 months on the road attempting an RTW - then my Mom got a heart attack and I had to return prematurely from Malaysia. I am quite into photography and luckily could get a bunch of sponsors for my trips - travelling is not easy at 600€ a month... My website is currently being rebuilt, if you like check out my pictures on Flicker.

Angeluss Gruenner Safety on the Road Coming back in one piece

Nach mehrfacher nachfrage präsentiere ich euch nach langer Zeit wieder das "SAFETY ON THE ROAD". Um möglichst lange zu leben muss man alles tun damit einem sein Leben nicht künstlich verkürzt wird. Daher: SICHERHEIT UNTERWEGS IST DAS HÖCHSTE GEBOT!!!!!! Besucht meinen Vortrag um euch mit dem Wissen zu rüsten wie man Gefahren am wirkungsvollsten abwehrt.

Angeluss has circumnavigated the world on a boat with his parents for 24 years. Then he traveled South America for eight years on a motorbike.

Filippo Fania, 2 Live The Dream Solving Mechanical and Electrical Problems No worries - all you need is some basic knowledge and lots of creativity.

This will be an interactive workshop where we will focus on what people are interested in. Bring your questions and problems, and together will try to find a solution - in particular for electrical and electronics issues. Bring your bike and show us also your modifications and special fixes. Filippo will explain and present some modifications that have proven very helpful during his world-trip with his wife, Heike.

Filippo has extensively travelled the world by motorcycle, truck, 4x4. He has huge experience in motorcycle mechanics and, in particular, the electricals and electronics. He's also organiser of the HU Meeting in Switzerland.

Sjaak Lucassen, R1 Goes Extreme Travel Tips Inventive tips which have proven to be great value

Being on the road, you need to be creative, especially when you have to repair your bike or gear in the middle of nowhere. What we think that does not work in 'civilised' countries seems to work if you need it to! Looking at a 'problem' while throwing the conventional (conservative) thinking away and by seeing it as a challenge rather than an annoying issue will bring you, in the end, not only a good result, but also a great story to tell. Sjaak will give several examples that were of great value to him. Presented with his usual humour, Sjaak also hopes you'll bring in your experiences and stories.

Sjaak started to travel because motorcycle vacations always felt too short. Before he knew it, he was bitten by the travel bug, resulting in about 10 years of his life on the road using rather unusual bikes. Sjaak rides sport bikes. The reason is simple: he finds it more important to use the right bike for his heart than for the terrain. Over time, his travels became more and more extreme. The last one was on the polar ice north of Alaska. Next goal is to reach the North Pole with the bike that he is currently building, 'aRctic1'.

Angelus Grunner HJ-KC! Nahrung für unterwegs (Food for the Road)

(GE) Der Lebensmittelexperte Angelus bringt einem in einem unvergesslichen und hinreisenden Wörkschopp bei wie man in der Wildnis sich ernährt. Seien Sie dabei bei diesem hinreisenden Thema rund ums Essen!

(EN) Food expert Angelus teaches you how to feed yourself in the wild in an unforgettable and adventurous workshop. Be part of this enthralling topic all about food!

ANGELUS GRUNNER: 23 Jahre fuhr ich zur See, 10 Jahre zu Land.
Angelus has sailed for 25 years and 10 years overland.