2024 must have been one of my most eventful motorcycling seasons ever. It started spectacularly – New Year’s Eve in Melbourne, surrounded by millions of Australians and a fireworks show that would make even a die-hard biker shed a tear behind the visor.
Down Under – with kangaroos, snakes and an old BMW
The trip in Australia had already been going on since November, and after four weeks alone on the road, I met up with my girlfriend, Lenka Leginova, to ride the Great Ocean Road and round Tasmania. If you’ve ever wondered where in the world is the perfect place to ride a motorcycle, Australia is the answer. Long, endless dirt roads, friendly people and a nature that alternates between “postcard-pretty” and “here-you-can’t-survive-without-water”. I also got to know 45 degrees Celsius, countless snakes (fortunately at a distance) and kangaroos who thought they had the right of way.
Accommodation was in tents and via the fantastic “Bunk a Biker” network, where motorcyclists open their homes to each other. If you thought Australia was far away, wait until you have to drive across it. Distances down there make Norway feel like a backyard.
New Zealand – Lord of the Rings and motorcycle heaven
After Australia, we headed to New Zealand and spent two weeks on the adventurous South Island. The landscape looks like a commercial for motorcycling, and it’s not without reason that Lord of the Rings was filmed here. The mountains are sharp, the rivers turquoise and the Kiwis friendly. It felt like a little slice of Norway, only with more sheep and fewer toll booths.
Home for winter – and studded tires!
Back home it was winter, but I had missed snow and ice – so what do you do? You get out the long spikes and head to Gåsbu! My old Yamaha XT 600 was put through its paces there, and me and my good buddies had a weekend of sparkling conditions and lots of laughter (and some mildly dramatic skids).
Easter trip to Slovakia – with Gerbing to the rescue
For Easter, I decided to take Pernille, my trusty Yamaha Ténéré 700, on a long trip to Slovakia. The temperature was stable between “shivering cold” and “frozen biker version of icicle”, but thanks to a warm jacket and gloves from Gerbing, I survived. Slovakia and Hungary delivered beautiful roads, great weather, nice people and minimal traffic – just the way we like it.
Motorcycle tests and the world’s largest prawn sandwich
In the spring, I started working with Speed Motorcenter in Sandefjord, which resulted in a spring full of test drives of various Yamaha and BMW models. There are worse ways to spend your days!
At Pentecost, as always, I gathered my “Pentecostal friends” for our traditional trip. We’ve been doing it for almost 20 years, and this year it was a fantastic trip to Western Norway, complete with a 17th May celebration on two wheels and flags mounted according to all the rules of the art. Later on, my good friend Viggo Carlsen and I traveled to Sweden, where we ate the world’s largest prawn sandwich at Varmskog café. An important part of a balanced motorcyclist’s diet!
England and the ABR Festival – adventure at its best
At the end of June, we traveled to England to participate in the world’s largest adventure meeting, the ABR festival. This is where 15,000 adventurous motorcyclists gather, and we were invited by the Norwegian manufacturer Twin-Pegs. It was a fantastic few days with lectures, new acquaintances and lots of inspiration. The highlight? A really intense lap of the adventure trail with Ingvar Orten’s angry Ténéré 700.
XT 500 – happiness in the form of a kickstart
The summer got even better when my 1977 Yamaha XT 500 was finally repaired. There are few things in the world more pleasurable than the sound of an XT 500 starting (on the third kick – if you’re lucky). This is motorcycling’s answer to happy pills, and the rides in my local gravel paradise were a pure delight.
Balkan expedition – 14 countries in one trip
In September, it was time for this year’s big road trip. I headed south, through 14 countries, with Greece and Albania as the southernmost destinations. I drove alone and it was an amazing experience. Traveling alone is something everyone should try – the total freedom is unbeatable. Unfortunately, I had to go back to work, otherwise I could have continued even further…
Texas, electric motorcycles and a new world
Shortly after returning from the Balkans, I headed straight across the pond to the USA. Can-Am invited me to Austin, Texas, to test their electric motorcycles, Origin and Pulse. It was an exciting experience – even though hot days in Texas aren’t exactly the same as a crisp fall day in Norway. But I could finally say: “I’ve been to the USA!”
Sørlandsgrusen and a new chapter with Adventure School
At the end of September, as always, I arranged Sørlandsgrusen – ten friends, challenging gravel roads, laughter and good evenings around the fire. This has become a regular tradition and a perfect way to end the season.
In November, I launched the Adventure School in collaboration with Speed Motorcenter, and the interest was huge! Over 100 motorcyclists showed up to learn more about adventure riding, which bodes well for the 2025 season.
Cambodia – end the year with a tropical adventure
December? Of course it was a motorcycle trip! Lenka and I headed to Phnom Penh in Cambodia, spending the weeks on small roads through jungle and along the coast. We visited the amazing Angkor Wat and many other temples, and experienced the warmth and hospitality of the Cambodian people.
Summary: How a motorcycle year should be!
In addition to this, there have been many other great motorcycle rides, and those not mentioned are by no means forgotten. 2024 started in the middle of one motorcycle ride and ended in the middle of another. Just the way we like it. Looking forward to new adventures in 2025!
