Kevin and Julia Sanders

In 2002, Kevin and Julia Sanders broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by motorcycle,[2] taking 12½ days off the previous record established by Nick Sanders in June 1997. They averaged 1,000 miles (1,600 km) each day on the bike and rode 19,461 miles (31,319 km) in 19 days 8 hours and 25 minutes.[3] The bike used was a BMW R1150GS. The ride took place between 11 May and 22 June 2002.

This motorcycle record also beat the existing car record for Around the World by 1 hour and 50 minutes, a record which allows two drivers to rotate the driving. Their Guinness World Record motorcycle ride now stands as the fastest overland vehicle around the world, although the Guinness World Records no longer recognises such attempts.[3]

The previous record for the Trans Americas route had stood at 47½ days. The Sanders broke this by over 12 days, doing it in 35 days. The ride started on 18 August 2003 and finished on 22 September 2002. The Trans Americas route covered almost 17,000 miles (27,000 km) of tough riding, rugged terrains and extreme weather conditions. They rode from Deadhorse, Prudhoe Bay in Alaska to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. The route went through Alaska, Canada, United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama. The motorcycle was then airfreighted over the Darién Gap from Panama City to Caracas, Venezuela. They continued the ride through Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina. The motorcycle used was a BMW R1150GS Adventure.

Guinness World Records no longer certifies new attempts at this record, but the rules that were in force at the time of this Guinness World Record were: 1. Route must be checked by Guinness World Records prior to setting off. It must start at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and finish in Ushuaia, Argentina. 2. It is permitted to fly over the Darién Gap, but the clock continues to run for the whole of the time. 3. In South America you must cross through Cartagena or Baranquilla in Colombia (to show you have ridden the full length of South America). 4. Same rider, same motorcycle throughout. 5. No traffic offences. 6. Maintain a detailed log book – for every stop, record location, date, time, mileage and when you start, record the date and time of starting. 7. Photographic and video evidence of journey. 8. Two witnesses each day to sign the log book. 9. Two independent witnesses of local standing to verify the whole evidence of the journey prior to submission to Guinness World Records.