Around the world on a small motorcycle

Back in the late 1970s, it was far less common than it is now to ride a motorcycle around the world. It was probably more interesting, too. The Bear described the trip in his best-selling (and now just about unobtainable) hardback book Motorcycle Touring. Now he has updated the book and re-released it in paperback and ebook as Around the World on a Small Motorcycle.

This book covers the around-the-world ride as well as a months-long ride on the very opposite of a small bike - a Yamaha XS1100 - with Annie, the shipboard romance who became his wife. This took them through Europe, North Africa, Asian Turkey and finally back to England by way of Eastern Europe. But the heart of the book is the long ride on the XL250. Alternately funny and pensive, it is both an affectionate picture of the times and a still-relevant source of useful tips for long-distance riders.

The many colour photos bring the book to life, and Around the World makes a happy gift to any motorcyclists you know, anyone whom you'd like to convert to motorcycling - and finally yourself.

J Peter "The Bear" Thoeming has been described by world-famous motorcyclist Alan Cathcart as "the doyen of Australian motorcycle writers", but his work has also appeared in US, British, German, Canadian and New Zealand publications. The Bear launched four motorcycle magazines, edited another, and wrote for the likes of The Bulletin, The Australian, Playboy and Sydney's Sun Herald on the subject of bikes and riding. He helped to found the Ulysses Club and designed its logo, wrote the City of Sydney's motorcycle parking policy, made Australia Post's bike delivery safer, researched and wrote five editions of the Australia Motorcycle Guide and helped unemployed youths to learn motorcycle maintenance.Most of all, though, he rode and wrote about it. With well over a million miles under his belt on two wheels, he is one of the world's most experienced motorcyclist. And last but far from least, he has a terrific sense of humour.