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Discover the world on two wheels with Moto Morgana

By Moto Morgana

For adventure riders Tom and Caroline of Moto Morgana, the whole world is their playground. Since they first rode off to explore the globe aboard their 701 Enduro machines back in 2016, they’ve ridden through Europe, Africa, and North and South America.

With the Belgian couple planning to discover more corners of the earth in the near future, now is the perfect time for them to recap their incredible journey so far.

Read on and be inspired to start your own adventure.

**Let’s start with the question why ? Why are you travelling the world?**

“Now that is a tough one to start with. But three main reasons come to mind. One, curiosity. Caroline and I both have a very curious nature. We want to know about the world outside the safe bubble that we live in, in our home country, and we want to see and experience things with our own eyes. There is a huge gap between the perception you get from the media, or society, and what the real-life situation really is in a faraway country.

We like to learn about other visions, opinions, and perspectives, and listen to what other people have to say about daily life, politics, religion, and the environment. We sometimes get messages from people saying that we must be out of our minds to travel to Iran, Saudi Arabia, or Central Africa… Well, we can honestly say that Iranian society is one of the warmest we have ever experienced. Saudi Arabia is one of the safest countries we have ever been to, and Central African people just have a great sense of humour and self-deprecation. It all comes down to broadening our minds.”

Tom is catching up with locals along the way, using their knowledge to navigate further. Picture: MotoMorgana

The second reason is for us to step out of the ordinary. The daily grind is not really what makes us happy. Doing the same thing over and over again, just because everybody else does it, in a safe and comfortable environment, is not what we want. We need more variation, more excitement, and we are consciously willing to sacrifice security and comfort for that. Not knowing what tomorrow will bring is what we like best, regardless of whether it turns out good or bad.

Our third and final reason is the addiction to the excitement, and with that comes the adrenaline. We both are fanatical adventure riding enthusiasts. Taking our bikes to the other end of the world, riding an amazing dirt track, and ending the day by pitching our tent in the middle of nowhere while looking out on jaw-dropping scenery is just magical. It makes us feel alive. We so much prefer this over a brand-new posh car, designer clothes, and mind-numbing TV shows.

Caroline relaxing after a long day of riding, enjoying the peaceful desert evening by the camp. Picture: MotoMorgana

On my very first trip ever, I was 16 years old, and I travelled through Europe by train. I saw two offroad riders on a boat from Italy to Greece. We were bound to railway stations and had to wait around a lot for the trains to arrive. However, those riders were free to go wherever they felt like. They just breathed freedom. I knew back then that one day I would travel the world on a motorbike. Around 20 years later I met Caroline and soon after, she got her first bike, and we started travelling together on two wheels. It quickly became a true addiction for the both of us. After many shorter trips, we finally decided to give it a go and travel full time. Now, we have been on the road for four years, and we haven’t regretted it for a single moment.”

Riding and exploring the untouched terrain of the desert mountains. Picture: MotoMorgana

Would you agree with the well-used cliché that it’s the journey, and not the destination that matters most?

“We couldn’t agree more, to be honest. If it were just about the destination, we could take an easy flight and avoid all the hassle of actually riding there. Not knowing what the day will bring, or where you will end up in the evening makes the true adventure. We always say that adventure travelling is 90% pure fun, but also 10% of it is a horrible misery. Things do go wrong. There’s sickness, accidents, breakdowns, horrible weather, bad food… But you need the bad to appreciate the nice things even more.

Furthermore, the journey takes you along unknown places you would never visit otherwise. You get to meet people out of the safe touristy context, and that is so much nicer than just being dropped at your destination. The world is so much more than the shiny brochure from a tour operator.”

Tom and Caroline encountering unexpected company along their way. Picture: MotoMorgana

Best and worst – adventure isn’t always easy, or enjoyable, so what are your most memorable moments, both good and bad, to date?

“The worst moment: having malaria on top of a salmonella infection in a remote town somewhere in Nigeria. It was crazy hot, there was no running water, no electricity, and the hospital was way below standards with some pretty weird medical practices. The doctor was more interested in setting up a partnership with me for importing second-hand cars from our home country, than fixing us up. But his pills worked and he finally got us back on our feet.

The best moment: the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s biggest salt flats in Bolivia. Caroline was exhausted after a few days of pretty intense high-altitude offroad riding on the Altiplano. She sat down in the middle of the Salar, next to her bike, with nothing but white flat salt around her under a clear blue sky. The overwhelming beauty of the salt flats brought her to tears. She couldn’t stop crying. It was such an incredible moment.”

The best moment of their trip: the Salar de Uyuni, the word’s biggest salt flats in Bolivia. Picture: MotoMorgana

How do you cope with technical issues, crashes, breakdowns? Can you somehow be prepared for this and if yes, how? Does it affect you mentally in any way? Do you carry special spare parts or do you react spontaneously?

“We can proudly say that none of our Husqvarnas have ever been on the back of a truck or a trailer. Neither have we been stranded. Did we have breakdowns? Of course. It would be a miracle if that wasn’t the case. When riding offroad, you never know what is going to be around the next corner, so the odd crash every now and then is part of the adventure. And don’t underestimate the amount of stress the heavily loaded bikes have to endure after a horrible stretch of corrugations, or an endless series of water crossings.

Even the best equipment can fail. But you can somehow prepare for that. If you know that the two main tools of the average African bush mechanic are a welding rod and a hammer, you know you’ll have to manage repairs yourself. We know our bikes pretty well and wrenching has always been a hobby of mine. Together with the experience of many years of travelling on bikes, it allows for the right selection of spare parts and tools to carry. I am not trusting anyone else working on the bikes. That way I keep track of everything that is fixed, whether it is a definite fix or a temporary one that needs to be monitored closely. Every now and then, we fly in new consumable parts whenever something is not available locally.

Tom meticulously maintaining their equipment for the upcoming ride. Picture: MotoMorgana

Does it affect us mentally? Not so much to be honest. It is more fun to ride than to repair your bike of course, but over the years we just learned to live with it. It is an unavoidable part of the trip. And the feeling you get after fixing your bike yourself in the middle of nowhere easily makes up for the negative feelings associated with a technical breakdown.”

Can you break down an average day of travelling (if that’s possible)? Is it always a case of wake up, eat, ride, then repeat, or do you prefer to make every day different?

“We do not ride every single day. Doing that for four years straight will probably just drive you mad. So, there are days that we visit things, write articles, organise practical stuff like visas, SIM cards, permits, or we’ll connect with friends or simply relax. But a typical riding day starts with waking up, breaking down our tent, packing our stuff, and finding some food if we don’t already have some. We always discuss the final destination of the day over breakfast. That works best for us. Then we ride, skip lunch, and hope to arrive at a place where we can buy food from before dark. We try to find a good camping spot and pitch our tent or find a cheap room. We cook dinner on our camping stove or find a cheap place to eat out, and we usually go to sleep pretty early if we’re out in the bush. We occasionally go for a beer, depending on the place and the availability. Needless to say, all sorts of interesting, unexpected things can happen in the course of the day.”

Riding through the vast desert and embracing the beauty of endless sand dunes. Picture: MotoMorgana

Maintaining both bike and body is essential in order to enjoy and complete any marathon journey. Did you have any set routine for maintaining your 701 Enduro? Which spare parts need a regular change on a trip like that? Also, did you have any set routine for maintaining yourself?

“As for the bikes, there are the obvious things to keep an eye on – the tyre pressure and wear, chain slack and wear, and of course, the oil level. Any weird noises or behaviour usually triggers us to further investigate. It needs to be said that some circumstances push our equipment way beyond the usual wear and tear. Sprockets with missing teeth, chains stretched way beyond the limits, tyres worn down to the canvas. We definitely try to avoid this all, but when parts are not around, you sometimes have no other options than to move on. We always carry sufficient high-quality engine oil and never skip an oil change though. Air filters are closely monitored and washed when required, especially in dusty environments, while components like chains and sprockets are usually easy to find and replace.

As for ourselves, the workout you get from riding the bike is enough to keep us in good shape. We try to eat healthy foods, although finding fresh vegetables and fruits can be quite challenging in some parts of the world. And in case of sickness, there’s always our medical kit with basic medicine. We also have a direct line with Caroline’s brother who is a general practitioner, just in case. And if needed we just go see a local doctor. The latter can be quite an experience at times though.”

Surrounded by rocky formations and endless sandy terrain, Caroline is enjoying her ride through the desert. Picture: MotoMorgana

What kind of relationship do you build with your 701 Enduro machines? You selected the bikes for good reasons, but because of the magnitude of what you have and will do, does it become more than just ‘a bike’ ?

“We have a special relationship with the bikes for sure. It kind of becomes a partner on such a long trip rather than a piece of equipment. Both bikes also have a character, and we both know our own bikes the best. Many people give their bikes a name, although we don’t, but we do talk to them. On a cold morning for example, we might encourage them to start. Or we can be angry at the bikes if something breaks. But most of the time, we have a good understanding with them. After all, they’re doing a fantastic job.”

Which Technical Accessories helped you the most during this extreme trip? Did you miss any other upgrade in terms of Technical Accessories?

“The Long-Range Tank is a no brainer. Going from a 13L fuel capacity on the standard 701, to 25L with the extra front tank, makes the difference between a day trip bike and a bike suited for long distance travelling through remote areas. As for comfort, the windscreen gave us a little more protection from the elements, and our pivot pegs allow for smooth and easy shifting while standing up. Heated grips are definitely great when it gets colder, especially on longer riding days. As for protection, we think good hand guards and a decent bash plate are a must. For ease of maintenance, we would definitely recommend washable air and oil filters as they avoid the hassle of trying to find replacement filters in countries where big bikes are not common at all.

Do we miss other upgrades? Not really. To be honest, the only real essentials are the tank, the bash plate, and the hand guards. But some of the other upgrades are nice to have or to make maintenance a bit easier on long trips like this.”

Skid plate: With its high-strength aluminium construction, the Skid plate provides excellent protection for both the engine and exhaust system.

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Handguard kit: The wrap-around design ensures a secure fit, protecting fingers and controls at all times while deflecting wind and debris away from the rider’s hands.

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Additional fuel tank kit: Extend your ride time and reduce the frequency of fuel stops with the Additional fuel tank kit. Along with the extra tank, a new seat, bodywork, and graphics are included for a straightforward installation.

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How would you summarise your trip so far and what do you still want to achieve?

The ride so far has been amazing and we are both so glad we decided to go for it. Going on this trip has been the best decision of our lives so far. It made us so much richer, and I don’t mean that in the financial way. We learned a lot and it changed us as people for the good. It also made us stronger as a couple. The original idea was to travel for five years and see a good deal of the world. But we are a bit behind on schedule. We still have to make it to The Stans and Mongolia, we’d like to travel through the eastern side of sub-Saharan Africa, and we would love to make it to Brazil one day. Unless something bad happens, our trip won’t be over any time soon. We’ll see how it all works out, but the plan for now is to keep riding, exploring, and making memories.

Tom De Mits and Caroline Van Damme from MotoMorgana. Picture: MotoMorgana

Feeling inspired? Start your own journey and join the Husqvarna Trek 2025 this October in Portugal. This year’s edition features a three-day, long-distance riding experience and offers the perfect introduction to true offroad motorcycle travel. The event is open to all riders of Norden 901, Norden 901 Expedition, 701 Enduro, or 701 Enduro LR machines. Places are filling up fast, so be quick and register now to create memories that last a lifetime.

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