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Long (?) Way Round

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Mike Fishwick View Drop Down
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    Posted: 15 Oct 2013 at 4:17pm

LONG WAY ROUND   -  EWAN McGREGOR AND CHARLEY BOORMAN

 Book Review by Mike Fishwick

 This is the story of the latest ‘Round the World’ motorcycle trip, the well-publicised journey undertaken by film stars Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, riding the BMW R1150 GS.  The journey was used to raise funds for UNICEF and MacMillan Cancer Relief via the book and an associated television series, while direct sponsorship provided the motorcycles and other ‘essentials.’  Their west-to-east route took them from London, through the EU states to Ukraine and Khazakstan, along the southern edge of the old Russian empire to Vladivostock, then to Alaska and through Canada to New York.  Although other ‘Round the World’ riders chose more challenging routes, parts of this journey must have been tough on  both men and machines.

This book provides a good insight into their motivation to make the journey, the depth of their preparations, the problems which beset them, and the many fascinating people they met, particularly in the chaos of the old USSR. 

It is interesting to read that their original choice of motorcycle was the ‘Maverick and entertaining’ KTM, the Transalp being dismissed when Honda UK was found to be ‘Too corporate,’ while the big BMW GS was regarded as being ‘Boring!’  Perhaps such generalisations were signs of their lack of motorcycling experience, but when KTM rejected their proposition the BMW was found to be everything they really needed . . . a case of fact overcoming fantasy!

It must have been a truly heroic ride, but for me at least, the proportion of heroism was diluted by the use of a 4X4-mounted backup crew who looked after many of the problems, not to mention the facilities provided by BMW.  For example, in the lists of equipment carried by the support vehicle, we find that the team had no less than eighteen spare tyres!

While it would be a disservice to suggest that the journey resembled the motorcycling version of a ‘Reality TV’ show, at some times it must have come close, while at others the intrepid riders were truly alone.  This was a relatively short and well-supported trip, and cannot be compared to those undertaken by those such as Ted (Jupiter’s Travels) Symon, Jim (Investment Biker) Rogers, and of course Kevin and Julie Saunders, not to mention BMW Club members Cynthia Milton and her friend John, who travelled on their well-used BMWs to Pakistan.

This is, perhaps, why I found the book to contain too little regarding riding, and too much in the way of early motorcycling experiences, emotional conditions, and people encountered en route.  About the only reference to the motorcycles was brake failure due to an ABS electronic problem, wrecked by welding a broken frame on the cameraman’s machine. This necessitated its temporary return from central Europe/Asia to BMW for repair, and appears to have been the only failure worthy of note.  It seems almost unfair that, when performing as required, the BMWs did not merit a greater mention.  This journey was, however, a great advertisement for the big GS! 

It is also a ringing endorsement for Touratech equipment, their panniers preventing a disaster when one BMW was shunted by a car during the ‘safe’ transit of Canada, the portion of the journey which most readers would assume to have the lowest risk.

Perhaps the real hero of this tale was the intrepid cameraman, who after many years of moped riding had only passed his full test just before the journey.  Even when temporarily riding an anonymous eastern European motorcycle (all we are told is that it had a red fuel tank . . .) he often surpassed the performances of Ewan and Charley on even the worst terrain!

It is probably a sign of my age, but I could have managed without the glowing descriptions of wheelies which were seen from time to time; perhaps one day responsible motorcyclists will rise above promoting such pointless exhibitionism.  I also found the regular use of the ‘F’ word, particularly in a serious account such as this, to be as unnecessarily degrading to a book as it would be to one whose vocabulary is based upon it.  The ghost writer should have done better.

It must however be remembered that this book is aimed at a wide, non-specialist readership, who will no doubt be fascinated by the mixture of celebrity riders, travel to unusual places, near-disasters, and – yes – a little motorcycling.  The television series was good watching, but this is not a great book, and at £18.99 I feel that it is also a rather expensive  one.

 

(‘Long Way Round’ by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman – TimeWarner Books, £18.99)       

ISBN 0-316-72868-3




Edited by Mike Fishwick - 16 Oct 2013 at 8:27am
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