A brief chat with... Mary Smith – world traveller

What would your checklist be if contemplating a long motorcycle trip? Would you be checking out the dealers for the latest costs for a fully equipped adventure bike, before contacting travel companies for someone to organise a route for you? Or would you have a freer and more organic approach to the whole thing? Would you in fact choose a second-hand 175cc BSA Bantam D7 for your trip, as Mary Sievier did in 1967?

These days, it seems everyone in celebrity land is heading off on some form of motorcycle road trip, be it to discover culinary delights of the world or just to ‘do’ legendary routes. From what we see on the television, such trips are impossible to attempt without brand-new, fully equipped adventure bikes or cruisers, with all bells and whistles to ensure the rider ends up where they set out for. Even