From Tibet to PNG, touring Asia-Pacific on two wheels

Adventure biking yields a unique view of a diverse region

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The author on his latest adventure, a 3,000-kilometer ride through Sumatra, the largest island fully inside Indonesian territory. This photo was taken at sunset at a viewpoint overlooking Lake Maninjau in West Sumatra province. (All photos courtesy of Ian Lloyd Neubauer)

IAN LLOYD NEUBAUER, Contributing writer

HANOI -- In the West, motorcycles are less a means of transport than a recreational pursuit. People use them to escape everyday life and to discover the unusual -- a phenomenon that has given rise to a unique form of tourism combining riding, nature and culture: adventure bike riding, referred to by enthusiasts as ADV.

ADV motorcycles -- street-legal machines that can go off-road and cover long distances in relative comfort -- are the fastest-growing segment of the global motorcycle market. Worth $300 million in 2021, ADV sales are projected to hit $500 million by 2027, according to a 2024 report by Marketsandmarkets, a business information provider based in Pune, India.

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