Ask Charley

We managed to track down adventurer Charley Boorman and put some of your questions to him.

Peter Tuke: If you had not used and become so synomous with the BMW GS what other bike would you have considered for your adventures?

Well I love my BMW R 1200 GS Adventure; it’s served me so well over the years. BMW have been a great support to me throughout all of my projects and their bikes are so brilliantly crafted. The most beautiful bike I think would have to be the Ducati 916, but there are so many to choose from! 

Jason Griffin: What’s the best and worst meals you have had on your travels?

On my travels I get to experience some incredible food and I’ve picked up a lot of different recipes along the way. One of my favourite dishes is bresaola dried beef on a bed of rocket with shaved Parmesan, olive oil and balsamic which I discovered in Italy. One of the most surprising countries that I went through is Georgia, I was shocked at just how amazing their food and wine is. And the worst? I do remember one time in Indonesia, I was sitting in a little restaurant on the side of the road after being handed a plate of dog meat. I couldn’t stop thinking about my little dog Ziggy at home which totally put me off but was made worse when I looked across the street and saw mangy flea-bitten dogs roaming around!

Amanda Foreshaw: If you had to pick one from all your travels and adventures, what is your favourite memory?

Well every adventure is so memorable it’s hard to pick one. One of the most unforgettable places I’ve ridden has got to be on LWR when Ewan and I went through the Road of Bones in Far East Russia. It was very difficult, most of the bridges had gone and we had to get the bikes through big rivers and terrible roads and flooding and all sorts of stuff. Although it was incredibly extreme it was one of the most incredible experiences of our lives. To be in absolutely the middle of nowhere and to be the only road within 1000 miles is simply incredible. My latest trip to South Africa was amazing too, we did so much, travelling across the whole of SA and really getting under the skin of the country.

Andrew Milne: When are you going to get your own Motorbike TV Show?

You could have Henry Cole as a sidekick... He's alright on 'Worlds Greatest Motorbike Rides' on the travel channel, when he's not being miserable. Review Bikes, Biker culture, Bike History, star models, popular buys, products, clothing, recommend days out in UK & other countries, plus send Henry to go on Bike Rides, etc...special guest celebrity bikers pop in...Ewan maybe? Nick Sanders? He's getting too old to go around the world every year now anyway! Plus, Interview a non-celebrity Biker & see their Bike every episode... Would be great... Motorbiking has shook off the bad boy Hells Angel image,loads of people have them now...time to get in there before someone else does & you're the man Charley !!! Why hasn't this happened yet?

Make it happen please...Bikers need you to fly the flag !!!

Maybe I should run this by Russ and see what we can do!

Chris Gregory: On your travels what 3 essentials could you not live without?

Baby wipes, good quality sleeping bag and my iPhone. It’s so important to be clean and have somewhere warm to sleep – the iPhone can double up as music and allows me to stay in contact with my girls when I’m away for long periods of time.

Chris Gilbert: Any plans to ride with Ewan McGregor again?

We always said we wanted to do a third epic journey together but there’s no rush and Ewan is really busy with filming at the moment.

Robert Neilson: Would  you fancy doing a tour round Scotland on a Honda 50, that would be quite a good one for you to do. All the glens and mountain roads on the west coast, castles a cafe`s. The secret bunker in Fife, the best fish a chip shop in Anstruther. East Fortune Race track,next to the Air Museum. you would get a warm welcome at East Fortune bike racing. Visit Steve Hislops exhibition in Hawick, do the Hislop annual memorial run. Visit Knockhill during BSB, take the ferry to Ireland for the NW200, then onto the TT races. All done on a Honda 50. Just thought you`d like to stay in the british isles this time.

I have great memories of my first bike which was a Honda Monkey Bike so who knows, I love riding around the UK – there’s so much amazing scenery, I love just chucking some bikes in the back of my van and driving around the UK with mates.