There’s no doubt that the “Long Way Round” and “Long Way Down” are the most popular adventure motorcycling films of all time. Actors, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman are back and ready for more, planning a new ride for 2019. “The Long Way Up” will take the motorcyclists from Ushuaia in South America, through the US and into Alaska.

Russ Malkin, who produced the first two films, plans to rejoin the team as they travel through Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Central America, Mexico, North America and Alaska. Boorman estimates the trip will take “a couple of months” to cover the length of the trip.

Initially, McGregor and Boorman struggled to strike a deal with KTM, but gained sponsorship from BMW, using R1150GSs for the “Long Way Round”, then R1200GSs for the “Long Way Down”. We can’t help but wonder what they’ll use in the new film, especially since Charley is an ambassador for Triumph, and Ewan has worked with Moto Guzzi. With BMW’s new R1250GS on the horizon, it would be wise for BMW to support the series again. (How many bikes do you think the “Long Way” series has sold for BMW?)

News of this new film has already stirred up some criticism in the ADV community. Chase vehicles, substantial budgets, top shelf gear and fresh, big bikes – where’s the adventure in that?

McGregor and Boorman were not the first to traverse the world by motorbike. They weren’t the first to ride from Europe to South Africa either. Some consider their trips to actually be quite "comfortable" compared to some of the trips we've personally endured.  But, what they did do was create a wave in interest in motorcycle travel, while shedding some light on the works of UNICEF, the life of locals, and imagery of beautiful landscapes. The series, at the very least, is entertaining for any audience.

Adventure motorcycling is such a niche industry, especially in America. That being said, we’ll take all the exposure we can get, even if the ride isn’t in the most traditional sense, and especially since the "long way" runs through our neck of the woods. We can't wait to see it. What do you think about the next saga of the "Long Way" series? Let us know in the comments section below!