The Cuba Option
Bike UK|March 2018

In 1996, adventurer Chris Baker shipped his BMW R100GS to Cuba. He learned a lot in three months and even wrote a book about it. It’s a great place to ride a bike…

Ben Lindley
The Cuba Option

Where are you right now?

I’ve just returned home from leading a National Geographic Expeditions trip to Cuba.

Back in 1996 you shipped your GS to Cuba. How did you manage that?

I’d been contracted to write a travel guidebook and saw an opportunity to create an adventure out of my research journey. I would ship and ride a motorcycle with a view to writing a travelogue which was eventually published by National Geographic. As a journalist, I was licensed by the U.S. government, but transporting the bike was a challenge due to U.S. embargo laws. Fortunately, I found a skipper with a license to run humanitarian aid and he agreed to take me across from Key West. I arranged paperwork upon arrival. It’s all much stricter these days.

What was it like riding through Cuba back then?

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 2018-Ausgabe von Bike UK.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 2018-Ausgabe von Bike UK.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS BIKE UKAlle anzeigen
Bike UK

Mae Rasys Ffordd Yn Mynd

Look out Isle of Man the Welsh are coming, August 2018…

time-read
2 Minuten  |
January 2018
Bike UK

Ready For Take-Off

Bike heads for Bolton to watch the first CCM Spitfires roll off the production line. Expect tales of proper engineering, an if-we-build-it-theywill-come business plan and bacon sarnies…

time-read
3 Minuten  |
January 2018
Bike UK

Motorcycling: The Next Ten Years

Imagine a world where bikes know where cars are coming from, and vice versa. A world where there are no traffic jams, far fewer collisions and no filthy smog. In this building a very different future of motorcycling is being created. And it’s got an awful lot going for it, especially for bikers…

time-read
6 Minuten  |
January 2018
Bike UK

The Cuba Option

In 1996, adventurer Chris Baker shipped his BMW R100GS to Cuba. He learned a lot in three months and even wrote a book about it. It’s a great place to ride a bike…

time-read
3 Minuten  |
March 2018
BMW R1200GS Rambler
Bike UK

BMW R1200GS Rambler

Accessory giants Touratech show how far the big GS can really go...

time-read
2 Minuten  |
April 2017
Suzuki SX-S750
Bike UK

Suzuki SX-S750

You have to feel a bit sorry for poor ols Suzuki,they tick all the right boxes with their new GSX-S,but it's still not enough.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
April 2017
Bike UK

Ride Like The Wind

Named after a Pyrenean breeze Triumph’s Tramontana tackles the Panafrica Rally and proves it’s more than just a PR stunt…

time-read
2 Minuten  |
January 2018
Bike UK

Into The Valley

5 November, snow storms shut the Stelvio Pass for what could be winter. 4 November, Ben Lindley pops through on a 2018 R1200GS Adventure heading for Milan, and EICMA. At least that’s the plan...

time-read
7 Minuten  |
January 2018
Bike UK

Ducati Monster 821

Revised middleweight takes style advice from Monster 1200, but is it enough?

time-read
4 Minuten  |
January 2018
Bike UK

Honda GL1800 Gold Wing

After four decades at the top of the tourer pile, the legendary Honda Gold Wing gets a thorough reworking for 2018. And Bike have already ridden it...

time-read
3 Minuten  |
January 2018