There are two options to reach Iceland: drive to the northern end of Denmark and from there embark on the Norröna ship, which in two or three days, depending on the sea conditions, arrives at its destination after a stopover in the Faroe Islands; or sit comfortably aboard a plane that, after a few hours of flight, lands at Keflavík International Airport. The first option would certainly be fascinating, but for a matter of time we choose the second, sending the bikes directly to the place.
Three weeks before departure we go to Ducati and insert the Best Grip spikes on the Pirelli Scorpion Rally tyres (and we assure you that, once the job is finished, there are no shortage of blisters on the hands!), after which our Multistradas are ready to sail. On Valentine's Day - the ideal date to leave for a new adventure with our beloved V4s - we, too, take off.
Welcome to hell
Legend has it that Iceland is protected by four landvættir, or mythological guardians - an eagle, a giant, a dragon and a bull who can, depending on the situation, have a benevolent or hostile character towards man. Well, obviously something must have made them angry just before our arrival, because as soon as we set foot on the island we are swept away by a wind that seems to want to uproot us from the ground.
The next day, fully equipped, we are ready to travel. The sun is shining and the wind seems like a distant memory. Because of the snow, the first kilometres seem like hell: the white blanket, crushed by the passage of cars and frozen, makes riding very difficult. In the evening we reach Vík í Mýrdal, a village squeezed between the sea and the glaciers that with its 320 inhabitants stands out - we're not kidding - as one of the most populous centres on the entire south coast of the island.
This story is from the July 2022 edition of Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2022 edition of Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin
Without panniers he was adventuring nowhere - so at least Bertie's got something sorted now
BMW R 12 nineT
Chad gets a track day surprise when BMW's R 12 nineT turns out to be surprisingly fun on track
Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX
After testing the Voge's abilities on a long ride, it was time to take it to the Cotswolds and see how it would manage on the rougher stuff
Portuguese Perambulations
Nearly over before it had begun, a brief workshop stint allows Spain and Portugal to be explored
Highway to Heaven
Three friends take on the challenge of riding the length of Canada, from Vancouver in the southwest to Inuvik in the north. The road is long, the conditions merciless, and wildfires are tearing through the country. To top it all off, the final leg of the journey is the ultimate test of gravel riding skills, nerves, and courage - it's the legendary Dempster Highway...
Battlaxes at the ready!
We tend to take tyres for granted, never really looking at them in any detail, or at how they work, just hoping that they keep us shiny side up at all times. Even in the wet
Ducati Riding Experience
When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...
Four pot flyer
Many said that sports bikes, and particularly bikes in the traditional Supersports class that was populated by 600cc inline fours, were dead. Maybe they spoke too soon?...
Eastern adventurer
With an increasing interest in smaller capacity adventure bikes, the market expands with a new entry
First Time Lucky?
It's ironic that the first all-new MV Agusta model to hit the marketplace right after Italy's No.1 trophy brand was acquired by Austrian giant Pierer Mobility, owner of off-road titans KTM, should be the company's first dual-purpose model of the modern era, powered by MV's all-new 931cc three-cylinder engine that's destined to form the basis of a whole series of new models in coming months and years.
