Richard Hammond does his own lockdown 'Long Way Round' bike trip

# A Working from Home Tribute to *Long Way Round*: The 1929 BMW R52 and the Adventure of a Lifetime

There’s no denying that not everyone is狂热 about bikes. If you’re not one of those people who live for two-wheeled adventures, that’s perfectly fine—I’m not here to judge or figure out what’s “wrong” with you. However, even if biking isn’t your passion, chances are you’ve heard of the legendary *Long Way Round*—the groundbreaking TV show where Charlie Boorman and Steve McQueen embarked on a round-the-world journey on massive BMWs, taking the long way around.

In this article, I’ll be paying my own humble tribute to that iconic series. But instead of embarking on a global adventure, mine will be confined to the comfort of my backyard—a working-from-home version of *Long Way Round* if you will. And for this journey, I’ve chosen the perfect companion: a 1929 BMW R52.

## The 1929 BMW R52: The Genesis of Modern Adventure Bikes

The heart of this bike lies in its engine—a flat horizontally opposed twin air-cooled powerplant. This design has stood the test of time, with the first iteration produced by BMW as early as 1932. It’s not just a relic from the past; it’s still being refined and used in modern motorcycles today.

Interestingly, this model was the last bike to use its specific frame type before BMW transitioned to press steel frames. That makes the R52 something of a bridge between eras—a machine that inspired the very bikes Charlie Boorman and Steve McQueen rode on their global adventure. And if you think these bikes are just for enthusiasts, think again—they’ve also been spotted carrying dentists, junior managers, and young solicitors through the wilds of Kensington on their daily commutes.

## Setting Out on an Adventure: My Working-From-Home *Long Way Round*

With my trusty 1929 BMW R52 secured, it’s time to plan the journey. Alas, my “long way around” won’t span continents or oceans—it’ll be a single, uninterrupted lap of my yard. But don’t dismiss this as mundane; for me, it’s an exciting and moving tribute to the spirit of adventure that *Long Way Round* embodies.

As I prepare to set out, there’s something truly special about starting my journey from what feels like the origin point—literally the same spot where those iconic BMWs began their global odyssey. The engine is fired up with a quick tickle of the throttle, and it roars to life, a testament to German engineering excellence.

## Discoveries Along the Way: A Glimpse into the History of Motorcycling

The adventure takes an unexpected turn when I stumble upon another piece of history—a 1969 Porsche 911 T. Like the BMW, this car is a red gem from another era, with its 2.2-litre flat-6 air-cooled engine. It’s a contemporary of my bike in more ways than one—both were produced around the same time and share a legacy of engineering prowess.

But not all legacies are meant to endure. Just down the road lies a British motorcycle from the late 1920s, a stark contrast to the sleek German machines I’ve been admiring. With its solid rear end and single-cylinder engine, it’s a relic of an era when motorcycles were simpler—and less refined. This bike’s total loss oil system means once its job is done, the engine literally falls out of the crankcase in front of the back wheel. The brakes are rudimentary, and the lights? You switch them on with a matchstick. It’s a far cry from the sophistication of the R52.

## Reflections on the Journey: Biking, Adventure, and Life

As I reflect on this “adventure around my yard,” I can’t help but marvel at the parallels between the bikes of yesterday and today. While modern technology has certainly advanced, there’s something undeniably charming about these older machines—blemishes and all.

The British motorcycle industry, once a powerhouse, eventually fell behind as other manufacturers like BMW pushed forward with innovations. It’s a reminder that even in the world of two-wheeled adventures, change is inevitable—and sometimes, it leaves behind those who can’t keep up.

## The Road Ahead: More Adventures Awaits

As I bring my working-from-home *Long Way Round* to a close, I find myself pondering future adventures. Perhaps next time, I’ll venture beyond the yard—or maybe not. After all, there’s something uniquely satisfying about riding through life at your own pace, even if it means just circling your backyard on a 1929 BMW R52.

In closing, here’s to the enthusiasts who live and breathe biking, whether they’re tackling continents or simply exploring their own neighborhoods. And here’s to the rest of you—may you find joy in whatever adventure—or lack thereof—you choose to embark upon.

Stay safe out there, and remember: it’s not about how far you go, but the memories you make along the way.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enlook I do get it not everybody's madly in love with bikes maybe you're not and if you're not it's not down to me to work out what's wrong with you thing is even if you're not madly into bikes you're pretty much guaranteed to have heard of Charley Boorman and you and McGregor's legendary round-the-world trip on huge BMWs in the long way round well I am today I'm gonna make my own exciting and sometimes moving tribute to that great TV show with my own working from home long way around first of all I need a bike it's got to be this one 1929 BMW r52 it is the very genesis of the modern continent crushing BMWs that Charlie in you and Road around the world on now the heart of this bike is this engine flat horizontally opposed twin air-cooled they're still using them today in fact the first one of these was made by BMW in 1932 and refined it for this bike and this was the last bike to use this form of frame before they went over to press steel so this really is the inspiration for the bike that took charlie and urine around the world and since has moved dentists junior middle management and young solicitors through the wilds of Kensington on their daily commute so we've got ourselves a bike now I need a journey a mission well I am working from home so my tribute to a long way around can't take me round the world it is instead gonna be a full and uninterrupted lap of my yard am i working from home long way round my yard exciting travel documentary right let's get saddled up much to do this could not be a better point for this journey it genuinely is the origin of the bike they used in fact these engines are still seen pretty much as is today I love setting out on an adventure right starting fuel on quick tickle of the cob let's secure in there this sideways Kickstarter was a bit of an innovation at the time and makes it much easier and yes it will start because he was made by Germans this is exactly the sort of thing I hoped to come across during my great adventure on the long way around my yard look at that oh yeah what a fortuitous discovery on my great adventure this is another surviving piece of German engineering brilliant 1969 911 T apportion obviously and actually like the BMW bike pretty red only made the r52 for two years this had the 2.2 litre flat 6 air-cooled engine once again which they also made well between 1969 and 71 so not so many of these either this is actually the same age as me precisely only slightly better condition right the road beckons this whole adventure gets better by the second because look it's a contemporary of this bike well I say contemporary nearly it's from the same era because launched here ironically by the electric car charging point is a British bike from the late 1920s it's assembly and what's thrown away you can see the differences somehow it looks and is a bit more old-fashioned they've both got solid rear end is no rear suspension but this one just a single cylinder it had a total loss oil system which means we all once it's done its job ran the engine just fell out of the crankcase directly in front of the back wheel the brakes are rudimentary and the lights birra you switch them on with a switch on some main you switch the lights on with a match and the little tank of acetylene that run those lights is here which means you sit astride effectively a small Bob they did change things of the year after this but they were dropping behind and the British motorcycle industry failed who knew right onwards more adventure if we see the kidiots and when I took you up the stand it just oh oh that's lots of proper adventure Eric's got crashing it do you think less of me is your father now journey's end that is it for my working from home tributes to long way around my yard feature I hope you enjoyed it I might do that again actually stay safe youlook I do get it not everybody's madly in love with bikes maybe you're not and if you're not it's not down to me to work out what's wrong with you thing is even if you're not madly into bikes you're pretty much guaranteed to have heard of Charley Boorman and you and McGregor's legendary round-the-world trip on huge BMWs in the long way round well I am today I'm gonna make my own exciting and sometimes moving tribute to that great TV show with my own working from home long way around first of all I need a bike it's got to be this one 1929 BMW r52 it is the very genesis of the modern continent crushing BMWs that Charlie in you and Road around the world on now the heart of this bike is this engine flat horizontally opposed twin air-cooled they're still using them today in fact the first one of these was made by BMW in 1932 and refined it for this bike and this was the last bike to use this form of frame before they went over to press steel so this really is the inspiration for the bike that took charlie and urine around the world and since has moved dentists junior middle management and young solicitors through the wilds of Kensington on their daily commute so we've got ourselves a bike now I need a journey a mission well I am working from home so my tribute to a long way around can't take me round the world it is instead gonna be a full and uninterrupted lap of my yard am i working from home long way round my yard exciting travel documentary right let's get saddled up much to do this could not be a better point for this journey it genuinely is the origin of the bike they used in fact these engines are still seen pretty much as is today I love setting out on an adventure right starting fuel on quick tickle of the cob let's secure in there this sideways Kickstarter was a bit of an innovation at the time and makes it much easier and yes it will start because he was made by Germans this is exactly the sort of thing I hoped to come across during my great adventure on the long way around my yard look at that oh yeah what a fortuitous discovery on my great adventure this is another surviving piece of German engineering brilliant 1969 911 T apportion obviously and actually like the BMW bike pretty red only made the r52 for two years this had the 2.2 litre flat 6 air-cooled engine once again which they also made well between 1969 and 71 so not so many of these either this is actually the same age as me precisely only slightly better condition right the road beckons this whole adventure gets better by the second because look it's a contemporary of this bike well I say contemporary nearly it's from the same era because launched here ironically by the electric car charging point is a British bike from the late 1920s it's assembly and what's thrown away you can see the differences somehow it looks and is a bit more old-fashioned they've both got solid rear end is no rear suspension but this one just a single cylinder it had a total loss oil system which means we all once it's done its job ran the engine just fell out of the crankcase directly in front of the back wheel the brakes are rudimentary and the lights birra you switch them on with a switch on some main you switch the lights on with a match and the little tank of acetylene that run those lights is here which means you sit astride effectively a small Bob they did change things of the year after this but they were dropping behind and the British motorcycle industry failed who knew right onwards more adventure if we see the kidiots and when I took you up the stand it just oh oh that's lots of proper adventure Eric's got crashing it do you think less of me is your father now journey's end that is it for my working from home tributes to long way around my yard feature I hope you enjoyed it I might do that again actually stay safe you\n"