Customer Reviews

Riding the edge

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From September 1990 to May 1994, Dave Barr rode a 1972 Harley Davidson over 83,000 miles around the world, despite the loss of both his legs from an antitank mine explosion in Angola in 1981. The idea was to help raise the awareness for people with disabilities. This isn't a "how-to" but a story about where he went, who he met, the people that helped, and the hardships with both his motorcycle and disability. If you have read Jim Rogers' Investment Biker, Rogers goes around the world on a thousand dollars a day while Barr does it on a dollar a day. A great read.

Dave Barr is an extraordinary human being to say the least. Despite the loss of both legs, very limited budget and an old 1972 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, he traversed six continents, covered 83,000 miles spent 3 1/2 years, crossed the Sahara, Namib and Gobi Deserts and circled the world both north to south and east to west and takes us along with him in the book. His exciting journey to raise awareness for people with disabilities is inspirational to us all, with or without disabilities. Also his sometimes humorus outlook on the diverse culture of the world, from the seat of a Harley, is an interesting anthropological study. I wanted to pack my sadlebags and go with him.

In this age of "adventure riding for the sake of the report", rather than riding for the sake of the adventure, Dave's book has a fantastic and refreshing authenticity. It is the story of something he was going to do, because he thought it important that he did it. Nothing more, nothing less.

And what a treat to be brought along for the ride. No fancy German motorcycles with full on support teams, no elaborate film crews creating "reality programming" by changing the experience they are claiming to measure.

Just Daves ride, in Daves words, with the incredible people Dave met. Straight from the voice in his head, right to the voice in yours.

A great read, highly recommended.

This book was recommended to me by a friend who had met the author briefly on this trip. (See Colorado bikers) Both my buddy's & the authors side of the story matched. <g> When I got the book, I found and read that part. Then I began reading the book. The book is well written, interesting, and the author has so overcome his handicap, that you have to keep reminding yourself what an incredible journey and person this book describes. Haven't finished it yet, but will soon.

This is a GREAT MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURE with lots of challenges for the wounded soldier, who feels a need to make sure the rest of his life will NOT be spent in a wheelchair with nothing to look forward to. You would think he'd choose an easy to ride motorcycle but, NO--he chooses this huge old Harley. And he goes ALONE! His challenges are great and the humor is great!

I was in the Unimog behind the "sabre" that Dave was standing in behind his beloved twin 30 cals, perfectly balanced weapons with captured Russian optical sights. We were way up in Angola,chasing some "terrs" who were on foot and had just turned into a narrow opening between two old fenceposts on the dirt road, when the rear wheel hit the landmine. A massive explosion, huge column of black smoke. Saw Dave fly up in the air and land on the burning vehicle. The driver, an American by the name of Lang Price rushed back in and pulled Dave off the destroyed sabre. Colonel Breytenbach who was sitting in the front seat was ok fortunately. But for Dave this was his last military campaign. An Alouette helicopter casuavact him out and we headed on to more patrols.
Later visited him in mil hospital every Tuesday evening with a flagon of red wine and we had a great time(much to the chagrin of the doctors and nurses!)After a long recovery, he was his old self again, skydiving and riding his Harley.One hell of a guy...........

Dave Barr has achieved what has to be the greatest motorcycle adventure ever. It would be an unbelievable achievement for a non-disabled person on a brand new, purpose built bike. The fact that he has lost both of his legs, rode a beat up old Harley, and had virtually no money throughout the whole trip, makes the achievement that much more incredible.

The book is very well written. Dave's narration is articulate and straight forward. He never gets flowery or verbose, but writes like he is sitting there telling you the story first hand. Throughout the book you can feel the stress and tribulations, blow by blow, as he overcomes each obstacle. It will always be one of my favorite books.

This is a book about a man who can set very difficult goals and overcome vast obstacles to accomplish them.

This is a book written by a man who is more ENABLED than you or me.

Whether his Harley's pipes are roaring across the Sahara or Dave's lost in the Gobi, the reader is with him, experiencing the daily hardships and joy of the journey. The reader gets the feel of what it would be like to actually do this journey himself.

What a guy !!!