As someone who’s spent a career immersed in the world of motorcycles – from industry launches and product reviews to cross-continental rallies and the personalities that shape our culture – I’ve seen firsthand how the essence of two-wheeled travel extends far beyond the specs of the bike. The machine is the conduit. The real ride? That’s in the stories we gather, the people we meet, and the places that change us. From small town shop tech to famous celebrities – we share the same passion for new experiences.
In The Moment Collectors, Asia, veteran overlander and respected author Sam Manicom has curated a collection that understands this truth at its core. The result is an evocative, 400-page anthology of travel tales that dives deep into the heart of what it means to ride through the world’s most vast and culturally rich continent – Asia.
Manicom has long been regarded as one of the great storytellers of motorcycle travel, and here he takes on the role of editor and guide, gathering 20 diverse voices – from round-the-world legends to first-time road warriors. The book is as textured as the terrain it covers, enhanced with hand-drawn illustrations and photography that add authenticity without distracting from the text.
What’s particularly notable for an industry professional like myself is the range of contributors. Some, like Paul Stewart and Heike Fania, are established names in the adventure travel community. Others, including riders writing publicly for the first time, bring a raw and refreshing vulnerability. This spectrum is what gives The Moment Collectors its staying power – it isn’t just a “greatest hits” of veteran road tales; it’s a living, breathing collection of perspectives.
Elspeth Beard – another legend of global motorcycling – pens the foreword with a fitting reminder: It’s often the interruptions that become the journey. She echoes Ted Simon’s iconic sentiment, and the book’s stories prove it time and again. Plans fall apart. Routes get rerouted. Illness strikes. And somehow, those detours become the very essence of the experience.
Maria Schumacher and Aidan Walsh’s Indian adventure is a perfect example. Inspired by a chance visit to the London ExCeL motorcycle show, they land in Delhi with only visas, helmets, and hope. Their journey is as unpredictable as the traffic, veering from moments of physical trial to emotional revelation. It’s not a polished, Instagram-filtered version of travel – it’s real, and for that reason, it’s compelling.
Later in the book, Manicom and Birgit Schünemann share a different kind of narrative – traveling through Vietnam not on ADV bikes but on $6-a-day automatic scooters. For readers within the motorcycle press, it’s a reminder that the machine matters less than the mindset. It’s the story, not the displacement, that leaves a mark.
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Each chapter transports the reader – from the remote white deserts of Chukotka to the high passes of Mongolia – without ever feeling formulaic or forced. As someone who’s viewed hundreds of rider submissions over the years, I can say with confidence: The editorial balance here is exceptional. Manicom’s curation is thoughtful, letting each story breathe while keeping a consistent rhythm throughout the book.
The Moment Collectors is more than a travel book. It’s a time capsule of the motorcycling spirit. It captures the essence of exploration, uncertainty, and resilience in a world that too often seeks control and predictability.
For those of us in the industry – writers, editors, manufacturers, marketers – this book is a reminder of why we do what we do. It reconnects us with the emotional core of motorcycling: the moment when the journey becomes more than the ride.
And for our readers, whether seasoned tourers or daydreaming commuters, this book doesn’t just make you want to ride – it makes you want to remember why you ever started. Five stars for Sam Manicom and for the contributing writers.
