From backpacking to motorcycling and the original Itchy Boots travel blog to a YouTube channel with 2.8 million subscribers (including me), Noraly Schoenmaker has traveled the world and spent hundreds of hours telling us all about her journey. Add depth to the story by reading her first book, Free Ride: Heartbreak, Courage and the 20,000-Mile Motorcycle Journey That Changed My Life, now available through major retailers and etailers. Direct from the publisher | Amazon
Noraly’s story is, as it says in the subtitle of the book, heartbreaking and courageous, and the book fills in a lot of the gaps in her journey from India back home to the Netherlands via central Asia. She’s not afraid to plumb the depths of her motivations and fears, but the book is tempered by how thoroughly she displays her everyday joys and discoveries as she explores the world. You can also follow Noraly on Facebook or Instagram.
Since it’s been a while since the last episode, there’s TONS of news, starting with the Bajaj takeover/bailout of KTM. From there we get into Buell’s new American-made Super Cruiser, which company has the highest average cost for its motorcycles (hint: Italians!), and how Toprak Razgatlioglu is shaking up motorcycle racing.
In the world of electric motorcycles, Royal Enfield has finally set a showroom date and retail price for its Flying Flea C6, Honda is finally streeting a real electric motorcycle (not a scooter), and I give you an over/under on how long LiveWire is going to last.
Since we don’t have a Patreon page for you to visit, the easiest way to support Chasing the Horizon is by joining the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America. Get yourself a Traditional Membership or even a Digital Memberships (for $10 less); each come with a wide range of member benefits, including access (digital or in your mailbox) to BMW Owners News, the MOA’s monthly magazine. You also get access to one of the best roadside assistance programs for motorcycles available (sorry, only applies to the US), become eligible for a $200 motorcycle training scholarship every year, periodic discounts on a new BMW motorcycles, discount tickets to great events and much, much more!