Author: Mike Deny

Few individuals embody the resilience of the human spirit like Dave Barr, who, despite being a double amputee, traveled around the world on various Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Barr stands out as one of the premier long-distance motorcyclists, authoring several books chronicling his adventures and earning two Guinness World Records for his remarkable journeys. Unfortunately, on November 7, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer passed away at the age of 72.

Born in 1952 in Los Angeles, California, Barr was the foster son of Guy and Lucille Barr, both of whom contributed to the U.S. military efforts during World War II. Following in his foster father’s footsteps, he served in the U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War and later fought for the South African Army in Angola in the early 1980s.

During his military service in Vietnam and Angola, Barr embarked on his inaugural cross-country motorcycle journey using a 1961 Harley-Davidson Panhead. He then acquired a 1972 Harley-Davidson FX Super Glide for subsequent travels.

While stationed in Angola, Barr experienced a life-changing injury that led to the amputation of both his legs. Although his military career was curtailed after this incident, his extraordinary journey as a motorcyclist was just beginning.

Returning to the U.S. in 1982, Barr modified his Super Glide to facilitate the use of prosthetics and pursued his goal of traveling the world, aiming to visit some of the most extreme terrains on two wheels.

From that point forward, Barr completed extensive journeys across Africa, Europe, Australia, and South America. He also ventured into some of the world’s most difficult landscapes, such as the Chilean Andes, the Australian Outback, the Arctic Circle, and the Sahara Desert, alongside many other breathtaking locales.

His incredible expeditions were immortalized in several books, including Riding The Edge and Riding The Ice.

In recognition of his remarkable achievements in motorcycling, Barr was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.

The AMA and PSB offer their heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Dave Barr.