The Happy Bikers Global Adventure: Around the world on two wheels – Departing 27th June 2026 live from the ABR Festival Warwickshire.

TWO BIKES – ONE WORLD – FOLLOW THE ADVENTURE

The count down has started!

In June 2026, Steve & Duncan, aka The Happy Bikers are setting off on a trip of a lifetime…. We are riding around the world! We will be leaving behind our jobs, homes & our loved ones for this once in a lifetime crazy adventure…. We would love you to follow our journey…. The Happy Bikers Global Adventure will be shared on our growing socials.

Leaving from the Adventure Bike Festival Warwickshire we can not think of a more fitting venue. Come & hear our story of where this all started & the behind the scenes preparation leading us to this adventure.

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February 2026

Needles, Nerves & New Ducati’s

February did not tiptoe in quietly. It arrived with a clipboard, a syringe, a PowerPoint clicker and two very shiny motorcycles.

More Jabs Than a Boxing Match 💉

The vaccination tour continues. We’ve both had more jabs and there are still a few to go. At this rate we’ll rattle through border security before we even take our helmets off. Worth it though. The world is big and we intend to ride a large chunk of it.

From Riders to Presenters 🎤

We delivered our first ever presentation to Peterborough & Cambridgeshire Advanced Motorcyclists (PECAM).

To say we were nervous would be polite. Standing in front of experienced riders talking about riding around the world feels a bit like explaining swimming to dolphins. But once we got going, something clicked. The room relaxed. We relaxed. The laughs landed. The questions flowed.

By the end of the evening it felt less like a presentation and more like a room full of bikers planning an adventure together.

Even better, the next presentation is already booked for March!

And then came something we definitely didn’t expect…

We were featured online in the Peterborough Telegraph

Seeing our story in print felt surreal. What started as a conversation between two mates is now newsworthy. The reach, the messages, the encouragement that followed reminded us that this adventure isn’t just ours anymore. People are invested. That’s powerful.

Video Skills Levelled Up 🎬

The brilliant marketing team at Vindis Group gave us a video editing training session this month. Absolute gold dust.

We now know what we’re doing with our footage instead of just poking buttons and hoping for cinematic genius. The vlogs should start looking sharper, tighter and less like they were edited by two blokes wearing winter gloves.

Meet the New Weapons: Ducati DesertX V2 🔴

On 25th February, Ducati launched the brand new Ducati DesertX V2… and yes, we ordered ours.

Through Cambridge Ducati, we’ve specced up two DesertX V2s exactly how we want them for the Global Adventure. Protection, luggage, the works. Built for deserts, mountains, questionable roads and probably the odd wrong turn.

They look incredible. Proper rally raid stance. Tall, purposeful, ready.

Now we wait, fingers firmly crossed that both bikes and accessories arrive in time. There may be some pacing involved.

Route Version 7… Because Why Not? ️

Yes, Version 7.

The Brazil to South Africa air freight cost made our eyes water. So we’ve adjusted. We’ll now freight from Buenos Aires, Argentina instead. Same continent, friendlier numbers.

Then came the Caspian Sea curveball. Crossing it is currently not an option as we cannot enter Azerbaijan. That left two choices:

Go south through Iran. Not ideal given current conflicts.

Or go north.

So north it is, which means we’ll now be passing through Russia. Adventure planning sometimes feels like 3D chess played on a moving table.

Every change sharpens the route. Every challenge forces a rethink. It’s all part of building something real rather than just drawing lines on a map.

Visas: The Plot Thickens 📄

We thought we were ahead of the visa game. Especially with China allowing 30 days visa free entry. Result.

But now:

• Russia requires a visa, which means a trip to the Embassy in London.
• The USA requires one if we want to vlog properly while we’re there.

So the paperwork pile grows. Riding round the world is 50 percent throttle, 50 percent admin.

Training the Off Road Muscles ️

We’ve locked in a date with Sweet Lamb Adventure Bike Academy for our off road training.

Given some of the terrain we’ll be tackling, this feels less like a luxury and more like survival homework. Time to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Fundraising Momentum 💙

Mental Health Motorbike have created a dedicated fundraising page for our adventure on their website, which is huge for us. We’ve mirrored that effort on our own site for both of our chosen charities.

The support is growing. The conversations around mental health are growing. The mission feels bigger than just two bikes and a route map.

Socials on the Climb 📈

Our social media following is steadily climbing. Nothing viral. Nothing explosive. Just consistent growth from people who genuinely care about what we’re building.

That feels right.

February in a Nutshell

Vaccinated.
Trained.
Presented.
Featured in the press.
Re-routed.
Visa humbled.
And officially DesertX V2 on order.

Momentum is building. The pieces are starting to click into place. There’s still a mountain of work ahead, but February proved something important:

This isn’t just an idea anymore.

It’s happening. 🏍️🌍

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January 2026

January Update: Big Names, Big Decisions & Bigger Needles 💉

January has been one of those months where the wheels haven’t been turning on the road, but everything behind the scenes has been spinning at full throttle.

Ducati UK: We’re In 🤝🇮🇹

The big news first. Ducati UK have officially confirmed they’re onboard with The Happy Bikers Global Adventure. While we’re still working through what that partnership will fully look like, the support so far has been huge.

On 21st January, we placed the order for two DesertX V2s, which officially launch on 25th February and should land with us around May. Ducati UK are actively helping us get the bikes as early as possible, which makes a massive difference to our prep window.

Pirelli UK: Rubber Sorted 🛞

Through Ducati UK, we were also introduced to Pirelli UK, who have very kindly supplied two pairs of tyres for the new bikes. For a round-the-world ride, tyre support is not just helpful, it’s priceless. Huge thanks to the team at Pirelli.

Overlander Winter Warmer: Vans, Not Bikes 🚐🔥

We spent a wintery weekend at the Overlander Winter Warmer event in Oxfordshire. No bikes this time, we arrived in the vans and soaked up the atmosphere instead.

It was brilliant to chat with like-minded adventurers, hear their stories, and more importantly, identify what we were missing in our own preparations. These conversations alone made the weekend worth it.

Motorcycle News Feature: From the Arctic Circle to the Pages of MCN 🗞️❄️

January also brought a proper pinch-us moment. We were featured in Motorcycle News (MCN) with a half-page spread covering our Norway tour, where we rode across the Arctic Circle all the way to Nordkapp.

Seeing our story in MCN was hugely encouraging and a real reminder that these smaller adventures matter. That Norway trip played a big part in shaping our confidence for the Global Adventure, and having it recognised by one of the UK’s biggest motorcycling publications meant more than we can easily put into words.

Route Reversal: Playing the Long Game 🌍

After a lot of head scratching, map staring, and coffee consumption, we’ve made a big decision. We’ve reversed our route.

This allows us to:

• Avoid extreme winters in the most northerly and southerly regions
• Reach those areas in more favourable seasons
• Delay certain countries that could cause complications when entering the USA
• Tackle those countries after the States instead

It’s a strategic move, not a spontaneous one, and it already feels like the right call.

Vaccinations: The Not-So-Glamorous Part 💉😬

The private vaccinations have officially begun. We’ll be fully vaccinated by April, which is another major box ticked. Not exciting, not glamorous, but absolutely essential.

Public Speaking… Apparently 😳🎤

In February, we’ll be giving our first presentation about the adventure.

We are…
Dreading it.
Looking forward to it enormously.
Both things can be true.

We’re currently on draft four, which will almost certainly become draft five, six, or twelve before we’re done.

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January has been about foundations. Partnerships forming, plans evolving, and a few comfort zones being quietly dismantled. February already looks set to turn the volume up a notch.

As always, thanks for following along. More soon 👊🏍️

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December 2025

Global Adventure Update: Preparations & Key Milestones

December has been a busy month behind the scenes as we continue preparing for The Happy Bikers Global Adventure. While the bikes haven’t clocked up many miles, major progress has been made on partnerships, training, route planning, and logistics as we edge closer to departure.

Mental Health Motorbike Partnership Confirmed 💙

We’re proud to officially confirm our partnership with Mental Health Motorbike, placing mental health at the heart of our round-the-world motorcycle adventure.

As part of this commitment, both Duncan and I have completed training with Mental Health First Aid England and are now qualified Mental Health First Aiders. This is something we’re incredibly proud of and a responsibility we’ll carry throughout the journey.

To support our chosen charities, we’ve also set up fundraising pages via JustGiving, alongside our SERVSC page, for anyone who would like to support the causes we’re riding for you can do so below.

Global Adventure Route Finalised & Ferry Booked

Version 4 of the Global Adventure route map is now complete. We don’t expect this to change again until we’re on the road and real-world riding decisions take over.

Ferry tickets are booked, and our official departure is confirmed. We’ll be leaving from the ABR Festival on Saturday 27th June, marking the start of our round-the-world motorcycle journey.

We’re also delighted to have been invited to be speakers at the ABR Festival, a huge honour and a brilliant way to launch the adventure.

Travel Vaccinations Underway

Adventure preparation isn’t just about bikes and routes. Steve now had his second round of travel vaccinations, while Duncan has had his first, with more scheduled for January. These are essential steps for long-term international motorcycle travel.

Next Steps: Bikes, Visas & Insurance

Looking ahead to January, our focus shifts to two critical areas:

• Confirming a supplier for our new adventure bikes
• Researching motorcycle travel visas, particularly for countries where applications must be completed in advance
• Worldwide travel & bike insurance

At this stage, visas appear to be the only real time constraint for the entire trip, so careful planning now will keep the adventure flexible later.

The countdown is well and truly on. Every step brings us closer to rolling out of the ABR Festival and into the biggest ride of our lives.

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November 2025

We attended MCL25

We had in mind a few exhibitors to visit, before some retail therapy. Our purpose was to discuss our Global Adventure and gain more knowledge.

First stop was our preferred luggage manufacture Mosko Moto. We have both been using the Reckless 80 for many years. It is a fully waterproof three-bag organisation and packing system. Mosko Moto have just released the [V4.0] with composite base harness, we wanted to see this & look at their various tank-bag designs. We need a rugged system which will take the knocks & abuse & we think we have found it! Mosko Moto are a premium brand with excellent aftercare & warranty.

Next stop was our bike manufacture of choice, no surprise to most, Ducati UK. Our bike of choice the New DesertX V2. On display with a camouflage wrap you can see immediately this is a DesertX! We are waiting for this to be available in dealers which should be May 26. We are cutting it very fine as we leave 1 month later. However, this has the all-new, lighter 890cc V2 engine. It features a more conventional valve train (spring-return valves, not the traditional Desmo system). Which would need 4 or 5 Desmo services on our trip!

Whilst on the Ducati stand, we had the opportunity of chatting to the guys from Sweet Lamb Adventure Bike Academy. We will pay them a visit in Q1 2026 for a 2-day off road training session. This should be hilarious!

We had the pleasure of meeting up with some of the trustees from Mental Health Motorbike. A charity we were keen to support alongside SERV Suffolk & Cambridgeshire. Two very relevant & relatable charities not only to us motorcyclists but the whole community. We are excited to have both on board. The Happy Bikers are booked on Decembers training to become qualified Mental Health First-Aiders.

Next, we stopped at the Adventure Bike Rider Festival stand. We aspired to start our Global Adventure from the world’s greatest celebration of adventure motorcycling. We were welcomed with a positive & enthusiastic response to our crazy trip. We are delighted to report we will be setting off from here on Saturday 27th June 2026!

WOW, what a day! It was then time for coffee. We took a moment to reflect on the amazing reception we received from the exhibitors we had talked to. Overwhelmed is an understatement, we’re still 2 crazy middle-aged (cough) men embarking on a trip of a lifetime.

It was then time for some retail therapy & browse the stalls. Whilst wondering we came across the tours & rental exhibitors. We spotted Paradise Motorcycle Tours New Zealand. This is a country we really want to explore. However, the cost of shipping our own bikes too and from Australia does not seem feasible. After all, we’re two unemployed blokes! We were considering renting bikes. Then we met Michael and experienced another WOW moment. A total stranger offered us to loan us two bikes! Does this only in the motorbike community? Of course there are conditions & we need your help… Please continue to like and share our content. Help us build a world wide community of like minded adventure enthusiasts.

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It’s getting serious!

To safely travel around the world on our Global Adventure, we need protection from all sorts of germs and bugs. They are out to get us… We need several vaccinations.

• Tetanus
• MMR x2
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A x2
• Hepatitis B x3
• Rabies x3
• Yellow Fever
• Malaria

Three of which are available on the NHS. We need to go private for the others, and it will cost around £700…

Latest list of countries

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October 2025

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Route refined & Countries confirmed…..

The route planning is in full swing, we are now on Route v3 🙂 this should be the final version (for now anyway). Using Myroute-app, we’ve started mapping out possible routes to get a sense of distances & travel times. There’s a good possibility we will be spending Christmas & the New Year in Australia. By the time we reach Argentina, we will have clocked up circa 35,000 miles (not including Air/Sea freight distances). This is only the half way point! So completing the whole journey within a year is looking pretty unlikely.

Duncan has been busy finding logistics companies for the 11 crossing. These crossing will be freight. If costs permit, we hope the longer crossings will be by air.

Having adjusted the route the stats remain the same with the exception we have add one more sea crossing from Cuba to the Bahamas as we couldn’t cross into the USA from Cuba

• 61 Countries
• 17 Sea or Air crossings
• 21 Visas
• 19 Countries require Carnet de Passage en Douane

We have also added the possibility of crossing from Mozambique to Madagascar. This has its challenges as no ferry crossing. It is possible by private charter or cargo ship. It can’t be planned in advance, so we’ll see when we get there…

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So we have had a couple of route planning sessions which has seen us add & remove some countries. We are happy with the current choice. It seems doable today. Yet, this could change again before we set off in June 26.

This route has

• 61 Countries
• 21 require Visas
• 19 countries require Carnet de Passage en Douane
• 16 Sea or Air crossings

Still lots to sort out. We still have 8 months before we leave 🙂

Any advice from you seasoned travelers? leave a comment below.

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September 2025

The Happy Bikers Global Adventure planning has included

• Reach out to a shipping company – One that wants to talk to us!
• Reach out to Ride China – A tour company who will help with, Visas, bike registration & a local guide (Compulsory requirement)
• Enquiry made regarding Carnet de Passages en Douane

Still to come in September

• Happy Bikers planning meeting
• Meeting with local Motorbike dealer

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August 2025

Putting our kit to the test…

Where better to test our kit out than Norway! We had 17 days to get from England to Nordkapp & back just over 5300…. We had varied weather, sunny & warm through the Netherlands, Germany & Denmark. Wet & cold in Norway, dry & cold in Finland & Sweden.

Clothes wise we both went with a layering system, I opted for Adventure Spec while Duncan went with Klim. We both needed that extra layer once we’d entered the Arctic Circle so brought a couple of down jackets. These jackets proved to be the game changer. We could wear the hoods up under our helmets. This kept the arctic wind out.

Waterproofs – I had the Adventure Spec Aqua Pac Jacket which has been my go-to for a number of years. This time, however, I found the cuffs too tight. I struggled to get my Rukka Gore Tex gloves inside the sleeves. Trousers were Ducati branded & here I struggled getting them over my adventure boots. I need to find a better option, Any suggestions? add comments below.

Duncan used the Klim Forecast Gore-Tex Over Trousers and Klim Forecast Gore-Tex Jacket on his trip. These garments performed well and kept him dry throughout. When not in use, they packed down small. This allowed them to fit into a MoskoMoto AuxPox mounted to one of the engine bars (see previous blog review). The only criticism is that the regular leg length of the trousers is rather long. No short leg length option is available. 

Duncan also used the Klim Zephyr Wind Shirt to keep the wind out and add a layer for warmth. Base layers were the Klim Teton Merino shirt and trousers. 

Cooking – Everything we took we used which was great as we wasn’t carry equipment we didn’t need. My MSR Dragon Fly petrol stove gave me issues which need sorting. First night it was fine. From then on, it would light and then just go out. I tried cleaning the jet and re-pressurising the fuel bottle but no joy.

Anyone had the same issue? If so please comment below.

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July 2025

Planning has started for what will be known as The Happy Bikers Global Adventure…

• Chance meeting with a preferred motorbike manufacture seeking support
• Reached out to a relatable charity to partner with
• Rough route outline created
• Contacted shipping company – No response
• Opened communications with a media specialist
• Contacted second shipping company
• Started more detailed route

A very rough outline of our route

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