R5K member plans cross-continental 'journey of discovery' to World Ducati Week 2021

Members of MCN’s #ride5000miles group are planning to go large once the lockdown ends – and none more so than a US-based rider who is plotting a 7300-mile tour from his home in Boise, Idaho, to Misano, Italy, for World Ducati Week.

Tim Mills, 62, had hoped to ride to this year’s event, before it was cancelled due to Coronavirus and aims to make the journey aboard a 2002 Ducati Monster 620 Dark which he has owned from new.

“I got my first Ducati in 1996, having wanted one since I started riding in the late ’70s. This cemented the passion for me,” the Software Engineering Manager told MCN. “I have picked up a brochure for every Ducati since 1993 – until my local dealer closed in 2011 – and this event is the peak of the Ducati ownership lifestyle.”

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Tim expects the trip to last around seven weeks; cutting across around 2644 miles of North American tarmac to reach New York, before shipping the bike to London to complete the remaining 1020 miles to Misano.

After the gathering, Tim then plans to ride the bike back home, saying: “I want to take my time, and visit places and people that mean something to me along the way. I have lived a long time, and this trip is a ‘bucket list’ item, plus a journey of both discovery and reflection.”

“I want to ride out of my garage, all the way to the event, and then ride back; parking in my garage when the trip is done,” he continued.

Tim is now customising his machine; planning lashings of carbon fibre, lighter wheels and potentially a new paint job. Tim is also hoping to source a period Termignoni system and has carried out of all of the work himself, with his nearest Ducati dealership now 350 miles away.

Having only ridden in Europe once back in 1986, Tim says: “I don’t know what challenges to expect on this trip, but at this point in my life it is all gravy, so whatever happens it will be ok.”