Four Years Around the World on a Triumph - Jupiters Travels

I purchased this book after reading about it in a motorcycle article. I found it to be a pretty good read, although I find it hard to believe someone in the 1970's would choose a triumph motorcycle to do this trip on, knowing their history and reputation during the 70's! I thoroughly enjoyed Ted Simons' writing about his experiences and would recommend this book.

A well done burst of enthu; written exceedingly well and an eye opener to anyone who wishes to do a RTW. Missionary-on-a bike, Ted wows with down to earth situations. I am inspired to do the same. My way. ( No paper trails) (Haha)

Thanx Ted n thanx the store.....
( I realised that the indian/the store sells cheaper!!)

Really enjoyable read. He has a way with words and it is much more of a Paul Theroux type travelogue than a the autobiography of a guy who travels the world on a bike. It other words, a writer on a bike rather than a biker with a pencil.

A griping tale of man and machine exploring the world. Many, such as myself, have dreamed of it but for various reasons have never done it. I was enthralled and memorized! Could not put it own. Beautifully written with smashing details! I ride, but even if you don't it is wonderful. A metaphysical journey into a man's soul.

This book grabs the adventurer in all that read it and demonstrate how attainable it is. All that is required is getting your butt away from the computer and TV, sit astride your machine and interface with humanity.

This is a great personal adventure story about a man's search for himself. His around the world travels on the seat of a Triumph 500 is the vehicle for his adventure. Excellent book that I could not put down. I recommend that you then read Dreaming of Jupiter, Ted Simon's sequel to Jupiter's Travels.

Great read. You certainly need to marvel at the courage and fortitude of Ted to take on this epic adventure. Even with today's technologies, this would be challenging, but in the 70's fantastic! Well written, a few gaps I'm the story but these do not detract. Highly recommended!

What a trip, and what a journal.Insightful and gripping narrative make it the best of it's genre.A rollickin' ride in search of oneself.Ted Simon goes on rideabout 73000 miles sharing his soul in an amazing and capturing way.I want to meet the guy.

Shipped quickly, got it before the due date, and I absolutely love this novel. No complaints and 100% satisfied. Ted Simon definitely illustrates a beautiful adventure that inspires me to get up and ride.

The description of the condition of the book was completely correct, and I received the book, safely packed well within the time limit.
I have red Jupiter's travels many times in Dutch, but I like to have this 1979 hardcover first edition.
I can advise everybody to read this book.

Having read this book several years ago, I went back and re-read it just a month or two ago. Simon is an amazing personality. The fact that he set out some 30 plus years before "Long Way Round," and "Long Way Down," on a shoestring to successfully experience the world by motorcycle is an remarkable and riveting travel story. Simon's adventures are not to be missed by anyone interested in motorcycle touring, camping, or just as an armchair Iron Butt wannabe.. The world was a vastly different place in Simon's time. I recommend this travelogue wholeheartedly.

I have been reading Jupiters Travels on and off for a couple of months. If you are a motorcyclist or an adventurist at heart it is worth reading. You will mentally put yourself into the situations you might never get to experience unless you make a round the world trip. What I struggle with is the same as another reviewer pointed out. Right when Ted gets to some meaty descriptions of the people and culture it just kind of ends and leaves you hanging, wanting more. It is also worth reading for a glimpse back in time - the section on Africa I think is the most interesting for me.

There aren't many books like this and you should read it if you like adventures. Ted clearly accomplished an amazing feat. Just be prepared for a book that is a little disjointed at times.

Brave guy to under take this trip. Cost him, but he learned a lot. If he had to use a Brit bike the Triumph 500 was the best choice, although those early 70's bikes were nowhere as reliable as what we have now. The advantage is that they could be maintained and repaired by a handy guy. The disadvantage was they needed a lot of maintenance and repair.

I have been reading Jupiters Travels on and off for a couple of months. If you are a motorcyclist or an adventurist at heart it is worth reading. You will mentally put yourself into the situations you might never get to experience unless you make a round the world trip. What I struggle with is the same as another reviewer pointed out. Right when Ted gets to some meaty descriptions of the people and culture it just kind of ends and leaves you hanging, wanting more. It is also worth reading for a glimpse back in time - the section on Africa I think is the most interesting for me.

There aren't many books like this and you should read it if you like adventures. Ted clearly accomplished an amazing feat. Just be prepared for a book that is a little disjointed at times.

Brave guy to under take this trip. Cost him, but he learned a lot. If he had to use a Brit bike the Triumph 500 was the best choice, although those early 70's bikes were nowhere as reliable as what we have now. The advantage is that they could be maintained and repaired by a handy guy. The disadvantage was they needed a lot of maintenance and repair.

Jupiter's Travels is an incredibly interesting true story, however the author makes several major amateur writing mistakes throughout the book that destroyed the experience for me.

First off, the narrative changes from past to present at whim, which throws off the flow of the book. Amateur mistake.

The second strike against this book is that the author is constantly using unnecessary flowery metaphors. Metaphors should be used to clarify and better describe a thing or concept that is unclear to the reader. Metaphors should not be used to describe what a giraffe looks like. We already know what it looks like, so it's useless and a bit annoying to hear about how the giraffe "was stretched out like a ..." I often found when reading this book that the flow was disrupted by these poorly used similes and metaphors.

I have respect for what Ted Simmon did and accomplished, and I find his story inspiring. However, I could not finish this book because it was too agonizing to continue stumbling over his writing.