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On Her Bike: How Kinga Traveled Around The World

Every wondered how Kinga from ‘On Her Bike’ is able to travel around the world? Does YouTube finance her journey? We’ve done a little digging.

The YouTube channel called On Her Bike is run by Kinga Tanajewska who is single. She started her journey from Australia after doing 19,000km around the country, and is now into Europe and the Middle East. She meets many other ADV riders along the way and has a cult-like following online.

While many men follow her channel (given her genuine skills and care-free nature), she’s also followed a lot by women. In fact, she’s inspiring many women to get out there and see the world behind the handlebars.

On Her Bike Income

Kinga earns most of her income through YouTube views, affiliate links on her channel, running ads on her website as well as the occasional brand sponsorship. For example, Lone Rider sent her a tent which Kinga uses.

We estimate that she makes $1,000 to $2,500 per month through her channel. It isn’t much, but when you’re traveling the world, you don’t need much either when your main accommodation is a sleeping bag and a tent.

She also doesn’t have kids or a husband, nor a mortgage to pay off. This means that she isn’t bogged down with responsibilities that entrap many of us.

Building a Freedom Stream

We believe in building a freedom stream of income if you want to see the world. Just a few thousand per month is enough to see the world behind the handlebars.

ADV motorcycling happens to be one of the cheapest forms in which to see the world, provided you don’t spend up on expensive or fancy hotels. Keep it simple and as Kinga says, your money will stretch much further than you thought.

You don’t need to become a YouTuber to achieve such freedom. Simply utilizing the power of the internet and creating a website around the topic you love could help you get there.

Kinga Tanajewska Bike

Kinga rides a BMWF800GS Adventure and she has called it “Are We There Yet” as she isn’t quite sure where the finish line is. Her bike has been kitted up with adventure fairings, luggage racks as well as gear for global expeditions.

For many, this isn’t their 1st choice of ADV bike. Why? It’s heavy and expensive, yet it’s ideal if you’re riding 80% of the time on the blacktop.

She’s also chosen to use hard luggage and likely due to traveling through some potentially dangerous countries. Kinga thrives from this experience and while many tell her to be careful, we’re sure she has this figured out.

Most adventure riders choose soft luggage on their motorcycles to prevent damage to their frame and luggage accessories during the event of a crash. On Her Bike has crashed several times in her journey yet hasn’t suffered any major injuries or damages to her motorcycle.

Going forward

There is no better freedom than experiencing the world yourself on two wheels. Being inspired by such YouTubers and hearing their stories will bring you closer to experiencing the real thing.

It isn’t expensive to own such motorcycles or to experience such a journey. Stay safe and we’ll see you out there!

Continue Reading More Guides by Frontaer

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👉 39 Most Common Dirt Bike Terms (How Many Do You Really Know?)

🔥 21 Awesome Dirt Bike Riding Tips ('Cause We Want You Safe Out There!)

🌲 How To Go Camping With Your Dirt Bike (And Arrive Home Safely)

🔧 7 Tools Every Dirt Bike Rider Must Carry (To Avoid Those Awkward Rescue Calls)

🥾 Best Dirt Bike Boots That Go The Distance (Who's Got The Best for 2021?)

Long Way Down/Round Review: Still Worth Watching?

More than 15 years have passed since Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman released their Long Way Down and Long Way Round DVDs.

Doing so caused quite a stir among the ADV riding community. Some loved it and some simply didn’t. Certainly this was the first eye-opener for many into the adventure motorcycling community and caused quite an uptick in sales of both motorcycles and riding gear.

But the question remains: Is it still worth watching today? Let’s answer that question.

Long Way Round DVD

This was the first DVD released in October 2004 and documented Ewan and Charley’s ride from London to New York on BMW Motorcycles, paired with a support crew and a doctor.

It gained massive popularity and reviews, yet some negative critism regarding the use of support crews. After all, each year, thousands of adventure motorcyclists tour several countries with just them and their motorcycle, paired with some gear.

Yet this really opened the way for adventure riding and what’s ultimately possible on two wheels. For many, they finally saw true adventuring and away from the glossy tourist magazines and catchy Instagram photos (and yes, Instagram wasn’t around back then).

Even females and wives of adventure riders finally understood the notion of touring on 2 wheels. For many, this gave the gents a ‘ticket’ to finally get out there and start exploring, even if it was just their backcountry.

Long Way Down DVD

Several years later, in 2007, Long Way Down was released. This sequel covered their adventures from Europe and down into Africa. This was again with the same support crew of the previous series.

Some say this is even better than compared to Long Way Round. Some say it’s the same. Either way – it shows us what’s truly possible to see and the huge world that we live in, with both the beauty and dangers.

This is notably so as both Ewan and Charley visited multiple UNICEF Projects to get a first-hand glimpse into the work that is being done. This helped promote the work being done by this organisation.

Worth it?

So then, is it still worth watching this DVD series or purchasing it as a gift for someone? Ultimately:

The Long Way Round and Down DVD series’ is an excellent DVD set for those new or getting started into adventure riding. For the more experienced rider, there are today better influencers worth watching that see the world without support vehicles and elaborate camera crews.

The reviews on both DVDs are excellent and this series still holds a place in the hearts for those who love adventure and seeing new sights.

It’s hard to compare them with what’s available out there today. The industry has exploded and there is some serious talent in the world of amateur filmmaking. In fact, we’ll show you some great alternatives.

Alternatives to Long Way Round

These alternatives are worthwhile and often are seen by true adventure riders as the cornerstone of genuine adventure riding. No crews. No fancy or expensive motorcycles. Just a light motorcycle and a camera, just as it should be.

1. Motonomad

The work of Adam Riemann from Australia is Motonomad. He’s travelled to numerous countries/regions and has produced numerous series. This video in particular has received millions of views:

You’ll note that they have very light ‘adventure’ motorcycles. In fact, these are true adventure motorcycles, because heavy ADV bikes are typically only good for bitumen or showroom floors.

2. On Her Bike

The popular YouTube channel has tens of thousands of loyal subscribers who love the energetic spirit of Kinga who started her journey in Australia. Her editing is incredible and does away with jump cuts or slick scenes.

It’s just her…literally on her bike. Camping while travelling the world on her adventure bike without a support crew or sponsorship. On Her Bike has just genuine excitement!

3. Itchy Boots

Another excellent influencer is Itchy Boots by Noraly. Females tend to do better as motorcycle enthusiasts while serving a predominantly male audience.

Yes – Itchy Boots has been to Afghanistan among other wicked and exciting places in the world.

In Summary

The Long Way series certainly opened the doors for many to get into adventure motorcycling, from global discovery to backyard sightseeing. Was it too ‘over the top’? We think so.

There is no genuine need to have so much support or stuff when seeing the world. Just two wheels, some gear and a love for adventure. It’s very much a relevant series which ignited the spirit of adventure. These days, however, you’ll find more engaging content for free.

Update: Ewen and Charlie have just watched Long Way Up which is a series done on electric adventure motorcycles, so watch this space! Frontaer will have a review on this in the coming weeks once we’ve found the time to sit down and watch it.

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🔥 21 Awesome Dirt Bike Riding Tips ('Cause We Want You Safe Out There!)

🌲 How To Go Camping With Your Dirt Bike (And Arrive Home Safely)

🔧 7 Tools Every Dirt Bike Rider Must Carry (To Avoid Those Awkward Rescue Calls)

🥾 Best Dirt Bike Boots That Go The Distance (Who's Got The Best for 2021?)

Cully’s Yamaha Review: Are They Any Good?

Cully’s Yamaha in Balcatta sound like a great motorcycle dealer, but are their reviews to be trusted? Here is our unbiased opinion.

We don’t have a commercial or business relationship (yet) with these guys, as we simply want to share our viewpoints.

Let’s begin.

Cully’s Yamaha Review

It’s becoming less rare for people to head into dealerships these days due to online sales. Unless, of course, you live in Perth. Those shipping costs and transit times are tough.

After all, who wants to wait around a week for a single part to be shipped over on a road train?

That’s why you’ll find other riders still heading into the stores for their parts and accessories. Cully’s Yamaha is one of the biggest and well-known stores in Perth for this reason.

They are (fortunately) saved from the online selling boom and do need to provide excellent customer service.

But yet, we see not everyone is happy. And in the business of motorcycles, it’s hard to keep everyone happy. This is due to the emotional nature of buying a new motorcycle.

You can do 9 things right and on the 10th time, you’ll be blasted with a 1-star review. It’s disappointing yet true, but it’s solid companies that do their best to make things right.

When evaluating any store, we look at some of the following factors.

Trading history

Cully’s Yamaha have been serving Perth for quite a few years now and many people driving up to an hour to Balcatta to get replacement parts, accessories or even to ride away with a new set of wheels.

It’s these companies that we trust more because of their longevity and reputation. The corner store that started up yesterday might have all the promises, but it’s tough to know for sure.

Types of Bikes

Naturally, you’ll find almost exclusively Yamaha’s here. Fortunately, they stock road bikes, dirt bikes and adventure bikes. The kids aren’t left out with the smaller bikes as the PeeWee50 in stock as well as clothing for the little ones.

Given the range available, this means that you’re sure to find someone who’s knowledgeable in particular bikes and all their staff actually rides too. You’ll find new and used bikes on display, including some trade-ins which aren’t Yamaha specifically but might represent a good deal on the day.

Social media

These days, all trusted motorcycle stores need to use social media. Luckily, we have found a strong following on Cully’s Yamaha Page. Over there they are known as Cully’s Motorcycle Centre – same business, same reviews.

Frontaer went through and checked their other pages on Instagram and YouTube and found excellent content. It’s clear that this company is serving their customers on these mediums.

Genuine support

Are they living up to expectations? A good question to ask since some online stores aren’t quite this adept with their support and industry knowledge. It’s clear with Cully’s that they have with their strong 4.6 star rating online.

They’re locals in Perth that will steer you in the right direction. If you need help, then you can easily reach out to their phone, email or social media platforms.

Final verdict

So should you spend your hard-earned money in their stores? If you value excellent customer service and genuine prices, then this is the store that Perth-siders generally trust very well.

Sometimes they won’t have all the parts you need on hand, but can ship them over from Sydney or Melbourne pretty quickly through their network with enough heads up.

Just remember that it’s only a very tiny portion of people who aren’t happy. Among rider groups on Facebook, Cully’s ranks pretty high.

Continue Reading More Guides by Frontaer

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👉 39 Most Common Dirt Bike Terms (How Many Do You Really Know?)

🔥 21 Awesome Dirt Bike Riding Tips ('Cause We Want You Safe Out There!)

🌲 How To Go Camping With Your Dirt Bike (And Arrive Home Safely)

🔧 7 Tools Every Dirt Bike Rider Must Carry (To Avoid Those Awkward Rescue Calls)

🥾 Best Dirt Bike Boots That Go The Distance (Who's Got The Best for 2021?)

How To Stop Breaking Dirt Bike Mirrors (A Simple Guide)

Riding a dirt bike with mirrors still attached typically don’t end well. Naturally, you’re bound to break one eventually!

It’s frustrating when it happens. If you’re like us, you don’t want to leave shards of glass on the trails for someone to accidentally cut their foot on, or even get a puncture. This leaves you in an awkward situation.

Then you’re stuck with what to do with one functional mirror which looks really weird. Do you risk the fine or do you abandon the bike on the side of the track or road?

Let’s look at some options.

How to Stop Breaking Dirt Bike Mirrors

It’s frustrating when you’re riding to a favorite dirt bike riding spot. You don’t want to cart your dirt bike there so you decide to simply ride to the tracks, but to do so, you legally need mirrors.

Quite simply, there are 3 ways in which you can stop breaking your dirt bike mirrors when crashing:

Take your mirrors off and put them in your backpack. When you’re offroad, it’s rare to encounter dirt bike police. Plus in many areas, you can ride a dirt bike legally without mirrors as long as you aren’t going on to formed roads with other motorcycles.

Purchase fold-down mirrors. These are becoming popular with adventure bike riders who want a mirror that can fold in behind their handle guards. These simple pop up mirrors do the job well and are very hard to break.
Use a flexible-arm mirror. You can get motorcycle mirrors with flexible arms so when you do crash, it isn’t so much blunt force against the mirror. On the downside, these tend to ‘bounce’ a lot when riding so it’s hard to see the traffic clearly from the rear, even on bitumen roads.
Stow the mirrors at the trailhead. This is a nifty trick that the Frontaer crew have used for years. Look for a notable tree at the trailhead and store the mirrors there under a pile of leaves and away from prying eyes. Your dirt bike mirrors can easily unscrew and you can lay them in the dirt, but do try to keep the threads dry to prevent rust.

Use a fender bag and stow your mirrors there. When storing mirrors in a backpack, there’s a feeling in the back of your mind that the mirrors might break or the arms themselves might hurt your back if you crash. There are some manufacturers that make both front and rear fender bags that you can use to stow mirrors which are small to medium size. Do keep in mind that the constant bouncing means that the straps will need to be on real tight.

Alternative options for dirt bike mirrors

There are some options on the market that we’ve come across in recent times that we previously mentioned. Here they are.

Emgo Easy Clamp-On Enduro Mirror Set

This is a great option and it’s very affordable compared to brand names in the market. These simply swivel in and out behind the hand guards and are compatible with Bark Busters.

PowerMadd 34289 Star Series / Trail Star Handguard Mirror Kit

This is another folding mirror for dirt bikes which works very well. You’ll find some quad bike and ATV riders using these, as do dual sport riders too. May not be legal in some states and territories because they are quite small.

Mzcurse Arm Wear Back Mirror Bicycle Rear View Cycing Backeye with Waist Band

Not for the faith-hearted! You’re bound to get some laughs from the other riders if you sport wearing these, but they certainly can work on group motorcycle riders to see who’s behind you on the trail.

Final thoughts

If you can, always take your mirrors off before taking your dirt bike on the tracks. When you’re having so much fun, you’re probably going to crash and even the smallest crash will damage or break your mirrors. This means time and expense to get a replacement.

Simply hiding them at the trailheads has worked well for us. Likewise, store them in your backpack and use some padding such as a jumper to stop them from hurting your back when you come off your dirt bike.

Continue Reading More Guides by Frontaer

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👉 39 Most Common Dirt Bike Terms (How Many Do You Really Know?)

🔥 21 Awesome Dirt Bike Riding Tips ('Cause We Want You Safe Out There!)

🌲 How To Go Camping With Your Dirt Bike (And Arrive Home Safely)

🔧 7 Tools Every Dirt Bike Rider Must Carry (To Avoid Those Awkward Rescue Calls)

🥾 Best Dirt Bike Boots That Go The Distance (Who's Got The Best for 2021?)

Why Are Dirt Bike Riders Often So Rude?

You wouldn’t be the first person who thinks that dirt bike riders are rude to the general public. Encountering these guys on the trail can be frustrating.

We should know – we’re a dirt bike brand. There are essentially two types of riders:

Those that do the right thing. ✌️ They’re respectful, honest and a joy to be around. They’ll ride calmly past others including horse riders and cyclists, while not revving their motorcycle in the carpark or garage.

Those that do the wrong thing. 😩 You’ll see these guys (or girls) popping wheelies down the street, being chased by police and yelling profanities. It’s these people that you (and indeed, us) have a real gripe with.

Maybe you recently came across the later in your travels. Today, let’s examine why they can be rude and what you can do about it.

Rude dirt bike riders

Most commonly, rude dirt bike riders often ride unregistered dirt bikes. These are typically 2-stroke which are very loud and annoying, leading often to phone calls to local authorities.

These riders have a real disdain for the police and give almost no respect to those who are doing the right thing. You’ll find them riding illegally on trails and certainly won’t be wearing their protective gear, apart from (if you’re lucky) a helmet and gloves.

They are rude because they are outlaws. They believe they are above the system and such dirt bike riders often are between 18 and 30. It’s after this age that they begin to quieten down and relax, but will still have a real distain for those who are law-abiding citizens.

You could equate such riders to some bikie gangs, only this is the offroad variety. Think Mad Max. These riders aren’t trying to win friends yet simply show off their rage and anger.

It’s important that you don’t react with such anger to these riders given their aggression and behavior. Some of them have suffered greatly in their youth due to disorderly hourseholds and weren’t given the tools and resources to have a more fulfilling life.

Instead, allow them to move on as ignorance won’t make them spark up even further.

The honest riders

The general public shouldn’t paint all riders with the same brush. There are many dirt bike riders that do the right thing, as well as many adventure motorcycle riders too. This includes people young and old.

They’ll leave places as they find them. Signs are real and if dirt bikes are banned, they’ll respect this. You’ll also see these honest riders wearing their gear, paired with licences and registration.

When encountering dirt bike police, these types of riders won’t run because they know they aren’t doing anything wrong. They simply want to enjoy their sport and freedom, yet will work within the confines of the law.

Respect is a big thing for these types of riders and it’s certainly a two-way street. If you talk to them, they’ll respond in friendliness and be willing to hear your side of the equation.

It’s these honest riders that should be applauded as they are victims of the same brush. When riding spots are closed down by local authorities, it’s these riders who know that ‘the other side’ has spoiled it for everyone.

Such riders fight to keep tracks opened up. This includes motorcross tracks and local forests.

Final thoughts

The rude dirt bike riders are typically found on motorcross tracks, but such places is where you’ll also find riders who are genuinely friendly and helpful too. You can’t paint everyone here with the same brush either.

Generally speaking, it’s those who are attempting ‘party tricks’ in public parks, reserves and even children’s playgrounds that give everyone a bad name. Not all dirt bike riders are rude. In fact, it’s only a small minority which aren’t Frontaer’s customers.

Consider that many do the right thing and will give respect to those who are open and willing to have a chat.

Continue Reading More Guides by Frontaer

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👉 39 Most Common Dirt Bike Terms (How Many Do You Really Know?)

🔥 21 Awesome Dirt Bike Riding Tips ('Cause We Want You Safe Out There!)

🌲 How To Go Camping With Your Dirt Bike (And Arrive Home Safely)

🔧 7 Tools Every Dirt Bike Rider Must Carry (To Avoid Those Awkward Rescue Calls)

🥾 Best Dirt Bike Boots That Go The Distance (Who's Got The Best for 2021?)