TRAVERSE 47
to absorb the pace. Now, success is measured not by speed but by the smiles at the end of the day.
“ You need to show what’ s possible,” he says,“ but you must never discourage people.”
Romano builds his curriculum around confidence: no ego, no comparison, just progression. Riders who swear they could never manhandle a big adventure bike find themselves cresting hills and crawling rocky climbs minutes later. The goal is not to create professional competitors, but capable, aware, respectful off-road explorers— riders who can assess terrain, pick lines, and stay safe.
The right bike is central to that. None of the centres simply hand students a 240-kilogram flagship and hope for the best. Honda’ s own fleet spans the full ladder: the approachable CRF300L, the adaptable CL500, the capable Transalp, and finally, the emotional favourite— Honda’ s CRF1100L Africa Twin. The Africa Twin is always present, but never forced. Thorpe is blunt about it.
“ You don’ t go from nothing straight to an Africa Twin,” he says.“ That’ s a tough step.”
Instead, graduates earn their way to the big twin, and often discover the exact reasons the model has become a cult machine. Romano, naturally, can’ t hide his affection:“ Africa Twin is more off-road. More beautiful. It’ s a superb machine.”
Geography gives each centre its edge. French high country, English moor, Italian river valley— the terrain is different, but Europe’ s density allows extraordinary variety. Mud, rock, deep ruts and hardpack can appear in hours, not days. Frétigné is emphatic that learning to respect the land is as important as learning to ride on it. Technique alone isn’ t enough; riders must understand how to exist responsibly in the wild environments that make adventure riding so rewarding.
Ask each of the three men what success looks like, and the answers align. Frétigné wants riders to walk away carrying knowledge they’ ll use anywhere in the world. Thorpe wants the post-ride moment when relaxed shoulders and wide grins quietly reveal just how much confidence has grown. Romano wants emotion— the sense of connection only felt when you cover ground by motorcycle, breathing landscapes zippered together by dirt tracks. None mention trophies. None mention pace. All talk about unlocking the possibility of adventure.
And when they’ re asked what they would say to the hesitant first-timer, their unity continues. Don’ t selfteach. Don’ t fear failure. Find professionals. Learn properly.
“ With the right tools, it’ s easy,” Frétigné insists.“ And it’ s safer than people think.”
These are not schools for daredevils. They are accelerators for capability and confidence— places where riders discover what they are capable of with guidance rather than grit, curiosity rather than bravado.
Honda’ s racing team may stand on podiums half a world away, but its adventure centres are arguably just as important to the future of off-road riding. They produce not champions, but explorers. Not competitors, but travellers. Riders ready for deserts, mountains, forests or moorland— because someone who once chased victory now chooses to teach them how. TRAVERSE
TRAVERSE 47