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Welcome to my website! Enjoy and have a great ride....
1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I'm Marc, 33 years old and based in Berlin at the moment. I've been a freelance musician all my life and have been touring around the world with several different bands until 3 years ago. Covid hit us and all tours and shows were cancelled. That's when I got into filming and traveling by motorcycle. I grew up with dirt bikes and mopeds but bought my first “real” motorcycle (the good old Honda Dominator ) 4 years ago and started doing long trips right away. I started watching travelers on YouTube just like you (I think you're the first channel I started watching) and got hooked immediately. I bought my first action camera 3 years ago and started my YouTubechannel soon after. Couldn't stop doing it and here I am, in Scotland on EVE, my new electric motorcycle.
2. What made you decide to travel on an electric motorcycle?
Well, one of the reasons I'm doing any of this is watching the Long Way Round with Ewan and Charlie over and over when I was basically a teenager. I always wanted to be like them. To me, they were the coolest guys in the world. So, in 2019 they filmed their Long Way Up on electric bikes and it blew my mind. I knew from the first second I saw it, I am going to do this one day. Here I am now, plugging in.⚡
3. Why did you choose the Zero Motorcycle SR/F?
To be honest, when I came back from my Scandinavia journey on the Honda I knew it was now or never. I started contacting every electric motorcycle company there is but nobody was really interested in my idea of going around the world on an electric bike. I couldn’t afford a new one ‘cause they are just ridiculously expensive. I found EVE on eBay marketplace, 10.000km with a built-in extra quick charger for a fair price in Bavaria and I bought it the same day. I would have bought an Energica or Livewire if I would have seen a good deal or if it would have been available. To me, they are all on the same level. I test-drove a Zero ds for an hour a few weeks before but that was about all the experience I had in advance. This UK trip is mainly to get to know the bike, what it can do and what are the limits. She’s doing alright so far.
4. I believe you are the first person to document what it is like to travel Europe on an electric motorcycle. What is the response from the public?
People are afraid of charging time but I gotta say, I spend more time talking to random people about the bike than charging. Nobody out on the road has seen anything like it before and they’re all very curious and super positive about it. So are most of my audience on YouTube, even though they miss the old Honda a lot. (She’ll be back on screen one day, I promise). Sure, there are also many critics and they are watching my every move now. I try my best to make it clear in the videos that I’m not here to sell anything to anybody or promote this brand or save the world. It’s just a personal decision I made because I know it’s the right thing for me and what I do. So far I’m happy and it fits my workflow and the way I travel very well. I love it.
5. Would you say Europe is ready to be explored by an electric motorcycle?
Europe, especially Western Europe is long ready for this. I knew that before; this is why I chose to do my first leg of a world journey here in the UK. I’m not saying it is easy or convenient, it’s not! It’s still complicated to charge at charging stations and the system needs to be improved but it is absolutely possible, chargers are everywhere so far. And the worst case, I plug in at the next restaurant. No big deal.
6. What for you is the biggest difference between riding the Honda Dominator and riding the Zero Motorcycle SR/F?
It’s a whole different experience. Going from super loud single cylinder…to hearing the birds while riding through the woods, from numb hands because of vibration…to buttery smooth. From a whole pannier full of tools and spare parts…to now basically nothing, from high maintenance old-timer…to I don’t even need to think about brakes for 20.000km. Also, very important for filming and stuff: no gearbox or clutch. It’s a different world, and I’m never gonna buy an ICE bike ever again. Probably ;)
7. You are now traveling Europe on a motorcycle, do you have plans to venture on more adventures outside of Europe?
Yes! I will be taking EVE around the world. That’s the plan.
8. What made you decide to try and make a living on YouTube making motorcycle travel videos?
I started filming my first trips and journeys on the Honda and realized after my first Europe trip, this is something I could see myself doing for a while. I’m used to this sort of lifestyle anyways, traveling was always a big part of my musical career. I also really like pushing myself, learning new skills and for the last 2 years I’m obsessed with YouTube. Making videos, trying to get better at filming, faster in editing, reaching more people and meanwhile staying independent as a freelancer like I always have been, doing what I enjoy most. Right now, I enjoy traveling on my electric bike a lot! YouTube makes it possible for me to just go out and do my thing.
9. I have heard that you edit your videos on your iPhone, and as a fellow video creator, I feel I need my laptop. What tips can you give aspiring motorcycle vloggers?
Yes, my first journey I did on an iPhone, I switched to an iPad when I went to Iceland. To me, it’s the fastest way to edit my videos. Plus, I can edit a whole video on 1 single charge. It’s super light, doesn’t crash, it’s basically indestructible (compared to fragile laptops) and to be honest, I rarely use my MacBook Pro for anything anymore…I’m gonna sell it for sure. But all this doesn’t really matter as you know best probably. A good story is all that matters and how to tell it. That’s what I’m working on the hardest, to tell a good story every day about my day. The story is king as they say in filmmaking. It’s not super hard, all you need is a beginning, a middle part and an ending and you’ve got yourself a good video. That and just being yourself on YouTube can get you very far I think, even if you just have an iPhone or one helmet camera. But what do I know, I’m in the YouTube business for 5 minutes and I just hope I can do this for a while.
10. You produce very high-quality content on YouTube that I am sure everybody would like to see. Where can we find you?
Thank you so much, you’ve been a big inspiration to me and many other people worldwide! I’ll be trying my best to keep doing what I do and hopefully, end up on the other side of the world at some point with my electric motorcycle EVE.
https://youtube.com/c/MarcTravels
Your reply
Hi Noraly. Yes it's a shame your Adventures are nearly at an end, enjoying every second of it. So that's something you may think about,using an Electric bike for your next Adventures. I'm not convinced yet about Electric bike's, but you could prove me wrong. Stay Safe.
Les moore
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Hello Noraly, from Derbyshire England. I am a complete "petrol head" when it comes to motorbikes. I love the noise and the smell etc. I can't see me getting into Electric bikes anytime soon but never say never. Loving your trip north, what a fantastic place Alaska is.
Dave.
Dave Marriott
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Hi there Noraly,
I hope all is well over there.
What a amazing trip you have made so far, although Corona did put delay in it.
You finally achieved your goal before the winter takes a hold of Alaska.
I am wondering were you will be headed in the next episode, will it be a left or right turn?
I am following Marc for some time now, started with his Dominator adventures, and his 11 Unicorns YouTube-channel with Maree.
I hope they will be having a great time making their wish come true, like you do.
But I hope that Marc will listen more carefully, when advice is been given to him, by expert motorcycle mechanics whenever some mechanical problem crosses his path.
Thanks to you I am following Sinewan, and Ed March who is having a minicar adventure in the Moab Desert at the moment.
For the time being, stay healthy and be on the upper side of your beloved Alaska.
Robert from Amsterdam.
N-Max155
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Youtube has been rubbing Marc's channel under my nose for a bit now. As my time is finite, I so far rejected the offer.
🥴 …but that chap sounds really interesting. There I go, I guess. 🥳
The really interesting bit with electric motorcycles will be charging them from foldable solar cells. Add 10Kg of these to your luggage, stay in one sunny place for a few days, have your fuel for free! The commonly available foldables make up to 300W, so expect to have 200W. Three sets of them will be 600W or 0.6KWh/h, so a ten hours charge will be a ~10% (With the Eco ~30%) range extender. Any wall socket will provide three times as much, of course, but let's wait how the technology evolves there! There's only ever some ~1.4KW/m² of solar radiation available at mid-European latitudes of course, but flexibillity and tickness of the cells may enable riders to carry way more solar cell area one day.
@Les Moore:
Bet your bottom dollar that a brilliant certain someone has already finished her trip through Alaska quite some time ago, had a nice holiday from travelling and spent time with friends and family, planned new adventures and hit the road already, filming, editing, uploading. 🤗
There's not stopping itchy fee… boots. 🤗²
Zweispurmopped
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Hi Noraly, I have watched every one of your videos since you left your push bike in the car park and set off for India. I love your adventures and very professionaly put together videos.
I've been watching Marc too for a good while and love his laid back style. It's very brave of him to use an electric bike and I know he gets some not very complimentary comments about it. That's a shame. I admire him for doing it.
I've loved your latest adventure and now it is nearing it's end I'm wondering what is next. I'm sure we will find out soon.
Take care and have fun.
Graham Toxopholist
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Glad to hear that you enjoy my videos!
Noraly
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Been following Marc for a short time now (back when he had the single engine bike). He’s pretty upfront with his comments, and is easy to follow. At the beginning of his electric bike tour, I was curious how the range would dictate his travels. I was pleasantly surprised on how well the timely breaks fit in. Last, it’s a little late, but if Marc had started his travels in the US, he might have received a better deal (less cost) on an electric motorcycle. Request; would Marc lengthen his videos to 15 minutes +?
Dhturk
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Hi Noraly,
Thanks for season 6 excellent content, With regard to this blog of Mar and his E Moto I think this opens an opportunity for you in season 7. Your questions are spot on for someone looking to venture on an E Moto. I liked the fact that it’s less maintenance and worries as compared to a gas buring Moto. It will be challenging to go across the world on an E Moto as you will need to spend more time planning your routes, where to go relative to available charge points along your way. It would be cool to see if you could re-produce one of your seasons on a E Moto specifically seasons 6 see how close you can stay to your mapped pathways. Good luck on your next adventure looking forward to seeing you complete your seasons 6.
Happy Trails 😀
Germán Gutiérrez
G man
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I like his comment about making a good video. What do you have to do to make a good video? You certainly aren't going to please everybody no matter what you do but, does a video need to have something huge happening to be a good video? I guess the drama statement gets people to click to watch but, the Itchy Boots videos I watch over and over the most times aren't those more than the other ones. For me, my all time favorite is Roosterkoek at Ouberg Pass. It would be interesting to know which videos other people choose as their favorite. It would be interesting to know which Itchy Boots video is Noraly's favorite. I do like watching the old ones and I bet other people would too if they did it more. Maybe they need encouragement.
Jerry Milburn
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Every Itchy Boots season has a different flavor and holds unique opportunities to learn, explore and add to a bucket list.
But Season 6 was especially fun to follow because once you got to the US it felt like 'home'. I have been in every state, province and territory you passed through and on many of the roads you rode. Especially in Canada where you explored some fantastic areas and took the time to detour for some amazing video/learning opportunities. (E131 is still a favourite).
John in YVR
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Thanks John, glad you liked Season 6!
Noraly
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I’m enjoying season 6 and really curious what’s on tap for season 7
I also follow Marc’s channel he’s a fun guy to watch.
Safe Travels!
Leo Brenneis
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Thanks Leo!
Noraly
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