Imagine that you mounted a motorcycle in 2005. And this is 2015 and you
are still riding, half way across the planet having travelled 45 countries!
That is what Hubert on his Ural and a sidecar has
been doing. 11 years running on the trot. Or should I say on the road!
It was such an amazing encounter that I was at a loss of words. I could
not imagine a person on a motorcycle with a sidecar being on the road
non stop for 11 years and still going strong. It was beyond my humble
commprehensive capabilities. I go to Rajasthan for a week and I think I
am a big time tourer! This guy is so hardcore that by the time I
finished digesting and absorbing what he was saying he has probably
already toured a 1000 kilometres out of India into the earthquake stricken
country of Nepal.
The French man Hubert is such a picture of humility that it is a pleasure just being with him. Hubert has been in India since the month of September, already 7 months. He has travelled extensively in west India and then he came to Delhi. He has plans of going to the East, the South of the country etc. And at the end of his probable stay, another 6 odd months, he will be moving to Australia and continue his ride over there.
Countries that he has done so far: France, Spain, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Patagonia, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Scandinavian countries, Estonia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Mongolia, the Windies, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Czech Republic, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa etc and now India. I am not listing all the countries since it is beyond the scope of this discussion. Also, he has divided the visit of each country into various parts. And he has gone back to several countries more than once.
Why the choice of the Ural Motorcycle? There are several great
motorcycles available, the BMW GS, the KTM Adventure, the Tiger etc. But
he chose and old motorcycle, the Ural. "It is very simple", he says, "I
want to keep things simple". He wanted an uncomplicated and
sufficiently powerful motorcycle. If something goes wrong, anybody can
open it and get it corrected. No complicated electronics, not too many
wires to complicate your life. If something like the GS starts having problems, he
would need a sophisticated diagnostic system to look into it. A lot of
places he goes to does not even have electricity let alone a BMW support
system. His Ural is simple and will start no matter what. The Boxer
engine is robust and has BMW like torque and pulls him and his sidecar
wherever he needs and wants to go as effortlessly as it did 11 years
ago.
Why the sidecar? Also very simple: to carry his provisions.
It was an honour and privilege for me to meet this wonderful man coming from across the planet on a motorcycle and going across the planet.
"Follow your dreams" he said when we parted!
Keep sailing, keep riding M Hubert. It was wonderful meeting you. :)
Text and photos: KEN (Krishnendu KES)
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| Hubert: Touring on a motorcycle personified! |
The French man Hubert is such a picture of humility that it is a pleasure just being with him. Hubert has been in India since the month of September, already 7 months. He has travelled extensively in west India and then he came to Delhi. He has plans of going to the East, the South of the country etc. And at the end of his probable stay, another 6 odd months, he will be moving to Australia and continue his ride over there.
Countries that he has done so far: France, Spain, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Patagonia, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Scandinavian countries, Estonia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Mongolia, the Windies, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Czech Republic, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa etc and now India. I am not listing all the countries since it is beyond the scope of this discussion. Also, he has divided the visit of each country into various parts. And he has gone back to several countries more than once.
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| The Ural with the Boxer engine! |
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| This bike and the sidecar has seen more countries than most human beings on the planet! |
Why the sidecar? Also very simple: to carry his provisions.
It was an honour and privilege for me to meet this wonderful man coming from across the planet on a motorcycle and going across the planet.
"Follow your dreams" he said when we parted!
Keep sailing, keep riding M Hubert. It was wonderful meeting you. :)
Text and photos: KEN (Krishnendu KES)
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