TRAVERSE 7
EDITORIAL
As 2025 draws to a close, motorcycle travel sits at an interesting crossroads. The past few months have seen an unmistakable surge in riders choosing slower, more intentional journeys— an antidote to a world that has spent the year accelerating. October’ s unusually warm start across Europe stretched the touring season, filling late-Autumn mountain passes and Balkan backroads with riders determined to squeeze in one last adventure before winter sealed the borders of possibility. In North America, the shoulder season saw a noticeable rise in cross-country travel on lightweight dual-sports, as riders sought out simplicity and lower costs amid another year of economic pinch.
Meanwhile, Southeast Asia’ s peak season opened with a quieter revolution: far more women on the road, far more solo riders than even five years ago, and an undeniable shift toward small-capacity machines that prioritise connection, ease and accessibility over raw horsepower. Rental fleets across Thailand, Vietnam and Laos reported their highest-ever demand for 150 – 250cc models— proof that the future of travel may well be found in the low-displacement lane.
On the industry side, manufacturers spent the final quarter of the year recalibrating after a turbulent eighteen months. The flurry of new mid-size adventure releases hinted at a broader pivot: brands finally understand that riders want machines built for real-world travel, not spec-sheet arms races. Range, repairability, suspension that works straight out of the crate, and fuel efficiency have quietly replaced the obsession with towering peak power numbers. Even the electric segment, once loudly hyped, took a more grounded
A CULTURAL SHIFT
step forward as charging infrastructure improved in major urban centres. Yet for overlanders, range anxiety remains a deal-breaker, keeping internal combustion firmly in place as the long-distance companion of choice.
But perhaps the most striking trend of late 2025 is cultural rather than mechanical. Across continents, rider communities have become more self-organising, more inclusive, and more vocal about what travel should represent. Grassroots meet-ups, women-led off-road weekends, and multicultural riding collectives have grown in both scale and confidence. Online spaces have softened, too, shifting away from the chest-beating bravado of earlier years toward storytelling, vulnerability and shared experience. Riders are increasingly rejecting the performative,“ look at me” style of social media travel and returning to something more honest: the simple joy of being out there, helmet on, engine humming, world unfolding.
In an era anxious about borders, uncertainties and crises, motorcycling has reasserted itself as one of the last forms of freedom that remains both accessible and deeply personal. As December settles in and the engines cool for the festive season, one thing is clear: motorcycle travel is becoming less about escape and more about belonging. And if the final quarter of 2025 is any indication, 2026 will belong to riders who value purpose over polish, miles over metrics, and community over comparison.
Leigh
TRAVERSE 7