Ewan McGregor’s Motorcycle World Tour: The Long Way Round Story

roadtrip moto has a way of turning a simple route into a life chapter—especially when it’s done the hard way, on real bikes, across real borders. In 2004, Scottish actor Ewan McGregor and his friend Charley Boorman set out on what became Long Way Round: a three-month motorcycle journey filmed as a 10-episode documentary series. It’s still one of the references riders cite when they talk about “going big”—not because it’s perfect, but because it’s committed, messy at times, and genuinely ambitious.

The video series is easy to find online today; the original article also shared a trailer.

Long Way Round: a documentary built on distance, time, and friction

Long Way Round exists in several formats: a 10-episode TV documentary series, a book, and a DVD box set. The premise is simple and brutal: around the world by motorcycle, over roughly three months, for a total of 31,000 km, starting in London and finishing in New York.

The route crosses Europe, then heads deep into Asia—with the kind of long, monotonous days that test concentration—and continues into North America, from Alaska down to New York. In practical riding terms, that’s not “a long weekend”: it’s an expedition rhythm, where you’re often stacking several consecutive riding days and where fatigue management matters as much as navigation.

Planet Ride tip (pro pacing): on multi-week rides, the safest way to hold the distance is to plan “compression days” every 4–6 days—shorter mileage, earlier arrival, time to service the bike and reset sleep. It’s what keeps small issues from becoming trip-ending problems.

The bikes of Long Way Round: why the BMW GS choice mattered

At the very start, the team reportedly intended to ride KTMs. The manufacturer eventually stepped away from the project, and the duo left on modified BMW R1150GS Adventure motorcycles instead (often loosely referred to as “BMW GS 1200” in casual conversation, but the bikes shown for that trip were R1150GS Adventures).

That decision shaped the whole feel of the journey. Big GS Adventure bikes bring:

• Long-range touring comfort for back-to-back days.
• Load capacity for filming gear and spares.
• Stability on fast, open roads—and a certain weight penalty when conditions degrade.

On a ride that includes remote stretches (think long gaps between services and variable road quality), a large-displacement adventure bike is as much about logistics as it is about romance.

Their inspiration: Ted Simon, the original long-distance storyteller

McGregor and Boorman didn’t invent the “ride around the world” dream. The series openly nods to Ted Simon, whose first round-the-world ride began in 1973, sponsored by the Sunday Times, on a Triumph 500cc Tiger 100 Jupiter.

The connection isn’t just symbolic: the two riders meet Ted Simon in Siberia during the journey—one of those moments that underlines what long-distance motorcycling really is: a chain of stories passed rider to rider, decade after decade, across the same windswept places.

What still feels true when you watch it in 2026

Even if you’re not planning a round-the-world trip, Long Way Round stays relevant because it shows the fundamentals: border stress, bad weather days, the psychological weight of distance, and the reality of traveling with a team. It also highlights a timeless truth: on a ride of that scale, the route is only half the job—the rest is preparation, timing, and the ability to adapt when the plan breaks.

From a rider’s perspective, it’s also a reminder that “big” doesn’t mean “fast.” Over three months, the average progress required by 31,000 km is demanding but not insane—until you factor in rest days, filming days, delays, and the unpredictability of remote regions. That’s where the trip becomes earned.

You want to ride a BMW GS?

The original article ends with a simple call-to-action, and we keep the same intent here: if the GS spirit speaks to you—long horizons, varied terrain, and the pleasure of a bike built to keep going—start with a route that matches your real riding style (and your available time), not just the myth.

Explore our motorcycle trips worldwide.

Mini-FAQ

Is Long Way Round still available to watch in 2026?

Yes—it's generally easy to find online via mainstream video platforms or for purchase in series format, depending on your country.

What motorcycle did they actually ride in Long Way Round?

They rode BMW R1150GS Adventure motorcycles prepared for the expedition, despite some common confusion with later GS models.

Do you need a huge budget to do a “Long Way”-style roadtrip moto?

Not necessarily. The scale (months, continents, shipping, visas) is what drives cost. A shorter, well-designed 8–15 day route can deliver the same intensity with far less complexity.