Two-Wheels gives thanks to Overland Adventurer, Elspeth Beard..
So who is Elspeth?
Elspeth Beard was the first British woman to motorcycle Round-the-World.
Elspeth Beard’s epic 35,000-mile, two-year ride is the stuff of legends. No modern-day technology or support, solo and she was only 23 years old!
She began her global journey in 1982, after the third year of her architect training course, using a BMW R60/6 motorcycle. She added soft panniers, a tank bag and an extra bag lashed to the pillion seat before she embarked on the trip. She began her journey in New York City, United States, having shipped the bike from the United Kingdom. From there, she motorcycled to Canada and Mexico and back to the US before shipping her bike to Sydney, Australia.
In Sydney she ran out of money and spent seven months working in a pub before motorcycling across Australia. In Townsville, Queensland, she had an accident which left her hospitalised for two weeks. Afterwards, she travelled to Singapore, where she spent 6 weeks replacing important documents and gear after they were all stolen; then she travelled into Asia. In Thailand, she collided with a dog and recuperated with a local family who fed her the remains of the dog she had crashed into. At the time of the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the entire Punjab state was closed. Beard forged the necessary permit to get out of the Punjab region and travelled into Pakistan before riding back into Europe via Turkey. She arrived in the United Kingdom in 1984, having travelled 35,000 miles (56,000 km). In doing so, she became the first Englishwoman to motorcycle around the world.
Article written by Nige.
Last update: July 2025
Nige has toured most of the UK and Europe, he aspires to a round the world motorbike trip but for now is settling for any trip he can get, you can be assured that what ever family holiday is being planned, Nige is looking at it from a bike ride aspect.
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