French journalist and writer Anne-France Dautheville was among the European women who travelled around the world by motorcycle in the 1970s. Her story brings riding and writing together: the road also becomes a way to notice people beyond the boundaries of everyday life.
In 1973 she set off around the world on a small Kawasaki. Her journey included Canada, Alaska, Japan, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. That geography conveys the scale of the adventure, but it is not a ready-made itinerary to reproduce today.
An earlier group expedition had clarified two preferences: travelling alone and choosing a motorcycle she could lift herself after a fall. She later emphasised the hospitality she encountered, too. Riding solo made trust in other people an important part of the journey.
Her experience invites riders to reflect on their own travel habits. Does the weight of the motorcycle suit their abilities? Does the day’s plan leave room for an unexpected conversation? Even on a short trip, those questions can matter as much as the distance covered.