Dutch traveller Sjaak Lucassen left the Utrecht motorcycle fair on a Yamaha YZF-R1 on 4 March 2001. The journey ended on 5 August 2006: five years and five months had brought roughly 250,000 kilometres. Instead of a fixed daily schedule, he had a broad plan and a willingness to adapt.
The R1 was a personal choice: he wanted to circle the world on a motorcycle he loved. Aluminium panniers were made before departure, and spare spaces on the machine became storage. A sports bike became part of a long life on the road.
The ride also required repairs. In Colombia, Incolmotos staff spent two days servicing the bike and welding cracks in its chassis. By then, he was almost three years and 123,000 kilometres into the trip. That episode gives the adventure a practical scale: a remarkable distance also means workshops, stops and help from other people.
The experiences later became the book Life on 2 Wheels and a documentary. For Lucassen, the journey continued through storytelling — something to share after returning home.