1999 - a trip was planned... four lifetime friends headed for America, searching for the ultimate freedom in the saddle of a Harley-Davidson, riding the endless open road. Somewhere out there, between Monument Valley and Las Vegas,  the idea of California Sunriders was born. This epic voyage laid the foundation to one of the most successful vacation concepts of all times.  Since then we've shown thousands of riders and passengers the uniqueness and beauty of the USA.

 

He's an optometrist, he was a teacher at the Department of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Aukland, New Zealand, he's an interior architect and designer, but foremost he's a motorcycle aficionado with an undivided love for touring the world and in particular the United States.

 

Never really feeling "at home" in his country of origin and always having the urge for traveling and discovering something of the unkown, he knew something had to be done. "I can't even count the amount of times I just wanted to stay in some place and not go back". Any country could have had that effect; Greece, Italy, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Australia, but in particular the United States. And so it happened that one day family and bags were packed with destination Southern California, the place for a sun deprived German.

 

Over a decade later - now eventually feeling "at home" - he has not a single regret about the step he took back then. "Coming to the United States has offered good oportunities and has opened so many doors for me. I wouldn't have what I have today had I stayed in Germany." There you go...

Petra - daredevil on two wheels...she bought her first motorcycle when she was 18. That passion has never left and only grew stronger over time. Today Petra frequently finds herself clocking laps on the race track with her BMW S1000RR. "Safer riding conditions, no oncoming traffic and speeds up to twice the amount of a Harley help me equalize my need for speed" she admits.

 

With her two decades long professional background in logistics and key account management she brought in the perfect tools to cope with the logistical nightmares this business is accompanied by. "A guided tour is an assembly of about 20 different components which means dealing with 20 different things at the same time." From hotel reservations down to the last little detail like scheduling a transfer for a customer "I have to wear all kinds of different hats" she says.

 

"Only a few times have I questioned the step we took to leave everything behind and start our own business and looking back at the journey there sure was the occasional obstacle. But in the end it was all worth it and I wouldn't change a thing."