A New Year, A New Bike

The Notier Notes

Our Sunday (Saturday) Scoop

I love New Years, because I love the idea that maybe this year I could become a better version of myself. I love thinking that maybe this year all those hopes I have will come true. And maybe this year I'll work harder to achieve my dreams.

But it also gives me the chance to look back at the past year, and realize that I actually have achieved a lot, and honestly, I am already living my dreams.

The pandemic put a lot of our lives on hold, and for Tim and I, our travel plans were no different. But somehow we still got plenty of motorcycle traveling in, and had incredible adventures throughout the riding months of 2021. In the spring, we flew back home to the US from Africa, and we hit the road in the States, venturing all the way to Key West in Florida, and out west to Idaho. We saw the fall colors of the Northeast, and we successfully went to all three Overland Expos all across the country!

Idaho! Wow!

But there was a reoccurring theme throughout our journeys - bike breakdowns. Our KTM 1190 now has 87,000 hard-earned miles on her. We've put her through a lot (we're still apologizing for the Bolivian Salt Flats), and it definitely shows. It's not just scrapes and dents (and lots and lots of stickers). It's electrical failures, throttle body misalignments, and a full list of error codes that permanently pop up on the dash. It's the fact that we just don't have confidence that even if we spend roughly $6,000 to fix her up (that's what it'll cost with new parts), that we'll be able to successfully get to the top of Alaska, which is our plan for the summer.

It's the hard, sad truth. But I think our motorcycle is ready for retirement.

​Which means one thing - we need a new bike.

There was a lot of towing involved this summer. And it was only thanks to dear friends that we were able to make it.

And so that is our task for the beginning of 2022, finding our new third member of our trio. Though we've reached out to the major motorcycle companies for sponsorships, no one has responded back to us so far. But we've also been in contact with a friend who has a lightly-used KTM 1190 S for sale - our exact bike! And we wouldn't be spending too much more than it would cost to fix up our current one. This seems like it could be our best option at the moment, and we're really excited.

So things are looking up.

I believe that 2022 is going to be the year where we all get a fresh, new start on our life's journey again. Yes, it might feel like we've just been hitting one breakdown after the next, and every time we get that engine up and humming again, we hit another bump in the road, and BAM! Down for the count. Closures, stuck in the house, worried about ourselves our our loved ones getting sick... worried that we'll never get that engine starting again like it used to.

But this year is going to be different. This year we're given a shot at a new beginning. A new key to start her up. And yes, we know this new bike will have its problems too, but we're also confident that whatever it is, we'll be able to get through it.

There's a lot of beautiful tarmac out there that's just waiting for us to glide down it.

And I can't wait to do so.

I hope everyone out there has a wonderful New Years! And I hope that all our wishes for new beginnings in life come true.

We have a New Years video out today that I think you will enjoy! It a bit of a time traveler's video, because we recreate our steps seven years ago through one of our favorite National Parks - Bryce Canyon. It's stunning, it's otherwordly, but most of all, it teaches us that time is a relative thing. And that sometimes the passing of time does not necessarily mean change.

Subscribe to Our Blog

---

Become a Patron!