Adventure Motorcycling Robert Wicks © 2008 Foreword by Ted Simon Haynes Publishing, UK ISBN 978 1 84425 435 4 Hardcover 192 pages & over 200 gorgeous photographs. £19.99

Adventure Motorcycling, by Robert Wicks, is the latest publication on this exciting and increasingly popular subject.  The Long Way Round/Down media coverage -  both in print and on screen, has brought this type of adventure travel into the spotlight and the awareness of riders and non-riders around the globe.

A number of adventure travellers have written about this topic prior to this publication and have been duly noted by the author.  These include Ted Simon, Dr. Gregory Frazier, Chris Scott, Helge Petersen and Grant Johnson (via horizonsunlimited.com).  Did we need another advernture motorcycle book?

After reading Adventure Motorcycling I'd say yes!  In less than 200 pages Mr. Wicks has written this book true to the nature of the sub title 'Everything you need to plan and complete the journey of a lifetime'.

The book is laid out in three sections, each of which are broken down into sub-sections that thoroughly cover the information one needs to plan, prepare and embark on an overland motorcycle journey.  This is preceded with a foreword by Ted Simon (Jupiter's Trevels & Dreaming of Jupiter), a brief introduction by the author and some interesting information on the origins of adventure motorcycle travel.  The sections and sub-sections are thoughtfully laid out, making this book an excellent reference guide during each stage of your planning.

Starting with the practicalities one would consider in undertaking this type of adventure, the book covers a number of essential aspects including choice of motorcycle, bike preparation, gear, riding techniques, life on the road, navigation, repairs, camping and emergencies.  Thre is also an entire page listing web-based resources and suppliers.

The final section is titledTypical Adventures.  This interesting section includes excerpts from the travelogues of three different trips by three different groups and includes photographs taken while on the road.

Whether you're planning a one-week trip outside the city or have your sights set on riding around the world this book is certainly worth budgeting for as part of your preparations.

Adventure Motorcycling is available from major book retailers.  Click here for more information.