Sjaak Lucassen is a motorcycle adventurer who in March 2001 began a trip around the world that would end five years later. Sponsored by Clymer, he traveled through Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, North America and South America passing through the Amazon, Congo, China, Thailand, Sturgis as well as the Black Hills and more.

Definitely, the most impressive part about the ambitious rider’s achievement is the fact that it didn’t rode a BMW GS or a Kawasaki KLR, but the notorious Yamaha YZF-R1, a supersports motorcycle which, by its nature, has nothing to do with off-road traveling, desert and deep water crossing. So the bike was heavily modified for a challenge faced once in a lifetime, but it still remains an R1. For details regarding modifications and more, go to Sjaak Lucassen’s website.