Gordon G. May

Gordon May is the author of eleven books on motorcycles and motorcycling.



Born in the north of England in 1963, he has been a keen motorcyclist for more than 35 years. Gordon’s first two wheel travel experience came in 1988 when he rode a 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet around India and Nepal for five months.



He went on to create and run a high-profile business making and selling men’s clothing in New Zealand for 10 years before moving back to the UK where his love of classic motorcycles led him to become a writer and publisher.

In 2008 he rode a 1953 500cc Bullet from the UK to India, ending at the Royal Enfield factory in Chennai. The journey resulted in his first travel book, Overland to India. This was followed in 2010 by a ride from the UK to Egypt and back on a 1952 BSA Bantam and his second travel book, Overland to Egypt. In 2015, Gordon rode a 1941 Matchless G3L, a former WWII despatch rider’s motorcycle, from the UK to Vietnam. His latest book, Overland to Vietnam, follows the bike’s restoration and preparation as well as the 11,500 mile journey.

Each book in the Overland To series includes details of the bike’s renovation plus a glossary of suppliers and sources of support and advice for motorcyclists who would like to undertake similar journeys.



Gordon is also the author of four books about Royal Enfield: Made in India, Made in Redditch, By Miles the Best and the Indian factory’s official 50th Anniversary coffee table book, The Legend Rides On. 

He owns and rides a collection of classic motorcycles, the oldest being a 1933 250cc Royal Enfield Bullet and the youngest a 1959 650cc Triumph Trophy. In a recent interview, Gordon revealed that he’s unable to fall asleep at night due to dreaming and scheming about future overland journeys, all on classic motorcycles.



Gordon is both a British and New Zealand citizen. He lives in Cheshire and has one son, Jacques.

For information on viewing the Overland To Vietnam Matchless at a UK motorcycle show or where you can hear Gordon giving a talk about his adventures, see:

www.overlandtovietnam.com