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ADV NewsReckless to Refined? Adventuring in Your 20s vs Your 40s

Reckless to Refined? Adventuring in Your 20s vs Your 40s

From chaotic wanderings to purposeful adventures, finding a new way to journey.

Published on 01.16.2025

Having covered four continents, over forty countries, and more than a decade on the road traveling by motorcycle, I’m hitting a milestone this month that’s uncharted territory for me: my 40th birthday. Am I ready to grow up yet – and if so, what does that look like in adventure motorcycle terms?

I started riding in my twenties, hitting the road on a cheap, 150cc Chinese motorcycle in Peru. My gear consisted of construction boots and pants, a Taiwanese-made helmet with a badly replicated Spiderman cartoon, and sturdy denim. My luggage? Two tatty backpacks strapped to the back of the bike. My riding experience? Virtually zero, and when it came to navigation, I mostly followed the sun and road signs with an occasional glance at Google Maps.

Adventure riding young vs old

I barely had any money, no clue, and no clear direction; I slept in a $30 tent and prioritized fuel and pot noodles in my budget. I crashed, got lost, made all the rookie mistakes imaginable, had to get odd jobs along the way to fund my travels, messed up at least two border crossings, and lost my license plate by month three of the journey… but I ended up riding that little bike all over South America covering Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, and Colombia, which became the launching point for my moto life on the road.

Adventure riding young vs old
Adventure riding young vs old

Now that I’m about to hit forty, I can’t help but reflect how my adventure traveling has changed over the years. I am no longer voluntarily homeless: I’ve got a homebase in Southern Spain. I am no longer living on the road full-time – instead, I go on fly-and-ride adventures, lead motorcycle tours, and explore local trails around my area. And, yes, I no longer rock that Spiderman helmet: these days, it’s all about Leatt gear, Mosko Moto luggage, and a Suzuki DR650 that’s modified up to its eyeballs. While riding skills remain questionable, and I do occasionally find myself rubber-side up, I’ve had enough off-road training opportunities and miles under my belt to be able to enter an amateur rally race here and there, tackle difficult terrain, and pace myself for long-haul endurance trips.

Adventure riding young vs old

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My tent has been replaced by Airbnb’s, my diet has improved, I no longer have to worry about where my next paycheck comes from, I’m more strategic about trip planning, and, yes, the license plate on the DR is very much intact.

Full Throttle to Fine-Tuned

But what about mindset? Occasionally, I catch myself missing my reckless twenties when I was roughing it with no set destination in mind. I miss the spontaneity, the thrill of the unknown, the unbridled freedom of it all. I wonder whether I’d gone soft, and whether I’m now trading adventure for comfort.

Adventure riding young vs old

Then again, the rearview mirror is often rose-tinted. If I had to give myself mid-life crisis advice  right now, I’d use the words of Baz Luhrman (“Everybody is Free to Wear Sunscreen”, anyone?):  “Advice is a form of nostalgia: dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts, and recycling it for more than it’s worth.” Because the truth is, if a magic genie appeared in front of me offering me to trade places with my twentysomething self, I’d pass on that one.

Back then, it was all about surviving basic conditions; now, it’s about mastering more complex skills, seeking meaningful challenges, and pushing my limits in a different way (while sometimes still messing things up quite spectacularly). Adventuring in my forties isn’t about going soft, it’s about redefining what adventure means to me. And, increasingly, it’s about a desire to give back, support others, and take on bigger challenges – like finishing the Hellas Rally or organizing women-focused rider training and traveling events.

Adventure riding young vs old

Elevating the Adventure

Perhaps the comfort and safety of better gear, a better bike (though some would argue that a DR650 isn’t exactly a major upgrade) and a better financial foundation are a tool, not a trap. Perhaps freedom isn’t about recklessness, but about having the skills, the resources, and the experience to chase bigger dreams. Perhaps I’m not settling, but merely elevating the adventure.

Adventure riding young vs old

It’s a comforting thought. And while the anxiety of hitting the big 40 and going soft is real, so is the ever-growing confidence my twentysomething-year-old self could never imagine. No, not the confidence in my riding skill mastery or the “been there, done that” arrogance: it’s a confidence that comes from experience, from knowing what you want, and from constantly growing, no matter how many setbacks the trail throws at you.

Traveling on a motorcycle in my twenties, my motto was, “onwards, hell or high water.” Now? “Ride on – with gratitude, kindness, and courage.” My priorities have shifted from wanting to wheelie and reach the edge of the world on my own to discovering the adventure slowly – and sharing it with those who are just starting out.

Adventure riding young vs old

What about you? How has your adventure motorcycle traveling style changed over the years? Share your story in the comments below!

Photos by Egle Gerulaityte, Actiongraphers and Paul Stewart.

Author: Egle Gerulaityte

Riding around the world extra slowly and not taking it too seriously, Egle is always on the lookout for interesting stories. Editor of the Women ADV Riders magazine, she focuses on ordinary people doing extraordinary things and hopes to bring travel inspiration to all two-wheeled maniacs out there.

Author: Egle Gerulaityte
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Toby Shannon
Toby Shannon
January 16, 2025 11:38 am

Great explanation of the transitions we go through! SUPER excited that you will join us for the 1,200 km Rally-Raid ROUTE OF THE IMMIGRANTS this September! https://www.aroundtheblockmotoadventures.com/12-day-arrive-drive-rallyraid-tour/

Алексей Ахтямов
Алексей Ахтямов
January 16, 2025 11:42 pm

I don’t have much experience with motorcycle trips. In fact, there were 2: in the first one, at 2000 km across Russia, I did an engine repair halfway, in the second one, at 5000 km from Russia to Kazakhstan, I got a flat tire at high speed, but everything worked out. Both of these trips were unforgettable. And I’m waiting for a new opportunity to go on a long motorcycle trip.

Fez
Fez
January 17, 2025 12:39 am

Hey I’m headed to Patagonia with a KLR and a tent. I’m 62.

Last year did the Arctic. I’ve done Mexico in my late 50’s.

I’ve got wrecked knees a bad back…. It a worse attitude. I’m gonna keep going until I tell myself to stop because I have enough stories.

John Ciribassi
John Ciribassi
January 17, 2025 8:27 am

I think for me one of the lessons I have finally learned now that I am in my 60s, is that I can’t ride an adventure bike like I was still riding motocross. Too many injuries while pushing the limit all the time. I’ve learned to enjoy the ride and the people with me more while wicking it up periodically. I still look for challenges but I pick my spots more carefully.

Kendrick
Kendrick
January 29, 2025 12:42 pm

Age is but a number and adventure doesn’t have to be a one up every time. Just get out there and see and soak up the amazing world we live in. Better still if you can do it in company.

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