Rene Cormier is an icon among motorcycle travelers. At thirty-three years old he sold all his belongings in order to finance an almost five-year ‘round the world motorcycle trip. Rene mostly rode solo, and he didn’t have any support or sponsorships. He simply rode, enjoyed being a traveler, and followed where the road took him.
A motorcycle that could handle the bumpier roads and had the ability to travel non-paved roads well was a key to Cormier’s trip. He had a system of carrying stuff that allowed him to be away from major cities and towns for an extended period of time. “For me, that’s a motorcycle that can travel on lumpier, bumpier roads and a system of carrying gear safely and securely, including camping gear,” says Cormier. “For me, camping is a big part of the adventure lifestyle world.”
Cormier’s two must-have pieces of gear were his aluminum panniers and his Ortlieb® Dry Bag. “I think that is one of those pieces of kit that everyone should have. It keeps your stuff dry, but it’s also useful when you carry wet stuff, or you need to carry water to the camp sire. I know guys who ride with their dirty clothes in the dry bag filled with water and soap and at the end of the day’s ride their laundry would be done.”
What motorcycle is the perfect one for your trip? “It’s really the one you own, that’s paid for and you’re comfortable on and fits you,” says Cormier. “It’s not important if it’s not the one that’s in the photographs that you see in the magazines. Whatever bike you have is going to be great. You will always have adventures and your own stories with it.”
Accumulate stories is exactly what Cormier did. Upon his return home, he wrote the award-winning University of Gravel Roads: Global Lessons from a Four-Year Motorcycle Adventure. It’s essentially a travelogue of his trip around the world, and it offers some stunning pictures from his travels. Cormier is a now popular presenter, and is frequently booked by BMW dealerships to talk about his travels and share his travel stories and pictures.
Cormier is a man to envy. In 2006 he met his wife Colette while travelling in South Africa, where Colette was raised. They married and then founded Renedian Adventures (www.RenedianAdventures.com) in 2010. They now lead motorcycle tours throughout Southern Africa. They offer four different trips in Africa; a Waterfalls and Wildlife tour, a Victoria Falls to Cape Town tour, a Spectacular South West Africa and a Garden Route and West Coast tour.
“There’s no perfect time to take a trip. My worry is that some folks delay trips or don’t do them because they are worried about not having the right gear,” says Cormier. “Whatever bike you ride, whatever inspires you, gear up and ride.”
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