Neil Harvey
Tour Guide
I’m Neil and live on the south coast of the UK, looking out over the Solent. Motorcycles have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. At 14, I was riding a rather ropey Lambretta around the local fields, before progressing onto mopeds and passing my motorcycle test just a week after my 17th birthday. I didn’t know it then, but two wheels were going to become a fundamental part of who I am.
At 18, I set off on my first motorcycle tour with my best friend, heading for the French Alps and the South of France. We had a tent and sleeping bags strapped to the motorcycles, old leather jackets, jeans, a pocketful of cash and a map of the whole of Europe that wasn’t much use for navigating anywhere!
Away from motorcycles, I began my working life as a firefighter before changing direction and heading to university. I went on to build a career in IT as a project and transition manager, working across Europe, the US and the Nordic countries and across a wide range of industries.
That career taught me a great deal about planning, organisation, leadership and working with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Perhaps the most useful lesson has been that plans sometimes change, and what really matters is how you adapt when they do. That’s something which translates rather well to life on the road.
More recently, working as a contractor has given me greater flexibility and, importantly, more opportunities to get out on the motorcycle and add to those touring miles.
When I’m not riding, family comes first. Over the years I’ve also played rugby at county level, enjoyed sailing and windsurfing, and somehow found the time to renovate two houses.
For me, being part of the Magellan team is about sharing the sense of adventure that made me fall in love with motorcycle touring in the first place. There will be spectacular roads and stunning views, but it’s the people you meet and the experiences you share along the way that make a tour truly memorable.
As J.R.R. Tolkien put it: “Not all those who wander are lost.”
Ride with Neil on a future tour