The Last Hurrah

If some of the recent mainstream TV programmes have inspired you to get on your bike and ride across the world, just remember that there are massive back up teams that support them, If this has not put you off and you have read Robert Wicks book on Adventure motorcycling you will want to go and buy a GS BMW or KTM, it kind of makes sense for such a trip!

What does not, is deciding to cover 10,000 miles from Beijing to Arnhem on two British made single cylinder bikes from the fifties and sixties. Throw into the equation riders who are older than the bikes and should be sitting around a bar talking about the good old days when these bikes were new and the whole plot seems totally mad.

But, in essence that is what the book is all about, the story of their trip without all the back-up, without fancy equipment on the bikes as would be normally supplied and fitted to Paris Dakar bikes. Just plain and simple bikes and riders on the trip of a lifetime.

Des Molloy was one of those riders and in just short of 200 pages he tells the story of that trip with his travelling companion Dick Huurdeman and his son Steve who filmed the trip for posterity. You get the highs and lows told in a disarmingly honest manner that makes this book a must read from beginning to end. It really does become difficult to put down!

Why the title? Well I suggest you part with £10.95 to Panther Publishing quickly and find out. (Better still buy the DVD as well!) But be warned, you might just get inspired and realise old age of either bike or rider is not an excuse for not riding and fulfilling your dreams!

Panther Publishing www.panther-publishing.com ISBN 09547912 5 8   

Review by Ian Kerr