Monkey on Bike now rocks „Let's Dance“ 2024

Ann-Kathrin Bendixen, known by her pseudonym „Monkey on bike“, is a German world traveler, influencer, and author. After graduating from high school in 2019, she embarked on a round-the-world trip by motorcycle in August of the same year, inspired by a life-changing experience. She shares her adventures and experiences on social media and has written a book entitled „Biker Girl: How I Sought Freedom and Found Life„ published, which landed on the Spiegel bestseller list.

Shared adventures with Ann-Kathrin and a visit to Atle

Over the course of 2022, I had the pleasure of traveling with Ann-Kathrin several times as part of various Harley-Davidson events. She also joined me on my way to visit my friend Atle in Norway after returning from her tour of Iceland. We stayed with Atle and his family, and Ann-Kathrin quickly won their hearts with her friendly manner.

Harley-Davidson Germany presented one of its 2022 models Rick's Motorcycles custom-made Nightster and appointed her as brand ambassador.

From Nightster handover to Iceland and the interview in Norway: Ann-Kathrin's adventurous itinerary

Ann-Kathrin Bendixen has had many remarkable experiences on her journey, including challenging situations such as surviving with limited resources in extreme weather conditions and overcoming various dangerous situations. She reflects on her personal growth and development both as a person and as a motorcyclist. Her biggest goal is to stay healthy and continue to enjoy her freedom and traveling.

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Bikergirl: Ann-Kathrin's honest insight into the highs and lows of her world travels

In their book „biker girl„ she shares her experiences and adventures to inspire young people and encourage them to embark on their own adventures. She also talks about the challenges and negative aspects of her journey that she doesn't share on social media, including emotional issues such as sexual harassment, loneliness, and helplessness.

Her travels have taken her to numerous countries, including Western Sahara, South America, Southern Europe, Thailand, Iceland, and the USA. She usually travels alone, sleeps in the great outdoors, and relies on the bare essentials in her backpack to survive. Her motivation for traveling was to live life without regrets after suffering from a serious illness at the age of 18. Bendixen emphasizes the importance of health, freedom, and happiness in her life.

Monkey on bike most successful YouTube video to date

In July 2022, I had the opportunity to meet her when I was commissioned by Harley-Davidson to photograph the handover of the Nightster at Rick's Motorcycles in Baden-Baden. I also decided to film the handover myself—it made sense since I was there anyway.

The handover of the Harley-Davidson Nightster Custom, at Rick's Motorcycles in Baden-Baden

Harley adventure: On the way to the Harley factory and the Wacken Open Air festival

After this event, we traveled together to the Harley Factory in Frankfurt. She then continued on to the Wacken Open Air as part of the ‚Road to Wacken‘ tour, while I first returned home and then also left for Wacken a few days later. We met up again there and took part in the handover backstage on stage. That year, Harley-Davidson was sponsoring the festival and had provided a customized Harley-Davidson for a raffle.

From Wacken to Iceland

After Wacken Open Air, I accompanied her for a while before she continued her journey to Flensburg to prepare for her upcoming trip to Iceland—another part of her impressive plan. It's amazing what she does. Although I ride my Harley-Davidson a lot myself, I feel like an amateur compared to her. Those who have followed her Iceland trip will confirm that her adventures are truly extraordinary.

Adventure in Norway: Joint tour with Ann-Kathrin and special interview with Atle in Norway

In September 2022, I planned another trip to Norway on the Pan America to visit my friend Atle, who lives in Egersund, south of Stavanger. At the same time, Ann-Kathrin had planned to cross over to Norway via Denmark on her return journey from Iceland to travel to her base in the Lofoten Islands.

She spontaneously decided to join me and drove with me to Atle, finding the idea exciting. Bear in mind that she didn't really have time, as the initial weather reports predicted snowfall on the route to Lofoten, and her next trip to Thailand was already lined up immediately afterwards.

We had a free ride from the Color Line with the Superspeed ferry, on which we traveled together to Kristiansand after I picked her up from the Iceland ferry terminal. Even that was curious and typical of her: her ferry was slightly delayed, so we were the last to board the Color Line ferry, and the bow door closed right behind us.

Natural idyll by a Norwegian lake: between folding chairs and minimalism

We camped in Telemark, Norway, at a beautiful spot by the lake, which is more of an occasional activity for me, but almost part of everyday life for her when she travels. She is very organized in her world and values minimalism. Nevertheless, she loved my folding chair and sat in it all the time.

Before setting up camp, we stopped in a small town to shop, because of course we had to get something to eat. As befits travelers, we had our stove and everything else we needed with us. So we didn't have to go hungry, because the air makes you hungry.

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Challenges of a late tour of Norway

However, we were traveling in Norway at the end of September, which isn't necessarily the best time to camp so far north, and it was already really cold at that time. We were both exhausted from the trip. She had come straight from the ferry, but that's also pretty tiring. I had covered about 600 kilometers on the Pan America Special that day. The Pan America is absolutely suitable for touring. I had equipped it with the Sundowner touring saddle, which I can recommend to anyone who goes on long tours.

The next day, we drove to Atle's place together. There, I recorded the interview with Ann-Kathrin, which you can find on my YouTube channel She recounts her adventurous travels and how it all came about. Our joint tours, which I write about here, are only a small excerpt from her daily life, which she has chosen for herself and passionately pursues all over the world.

The interview with Ann-Kathrin Bendixen (Affe auf Bike) in Norway

Norwegian hospitality: How Ann-Kathrin Bendixen experiences warmth and culture

The hospitality of the Norwegians deserves special mention. We were welcomed into the family fold, including local cuisine in the family circle. What many people probably don't know is that Ann-Kathrin can speak a little Norwegian, which amazed me. This seems to be Ann-Kathrin's everyday life; she constantly meets wonderful people on her travels.

In the mountains with Affe and Atle

The next day, the three of us rode our Harleys into the mountains, to Atle and his family's hunting grounds. They hunt there once a year, for their own consumption or when they have visitors, like us, because the moose meatballs that Atle had prepared for us the night before were the local dish in question. But we didn't want to go hunting in the mountains; up there, a magnificent view awaited us, along with a beautiful gravel road. It was an ideal place to ride and take photos.

The plan was to take a few more nice photos, and Ann-Kathrin also really wanted to take the Pan America for a few spins, as she wanted to conquer the jungle in Thailand with it afterwards. Of course, she benefited from the lowerable ARH suspension, as she's not exactly a giant.

Farewell in Kristiansand and new adventures await Ann-Kathrin

Early the next morning, we drove back in very adverse weather conditions towards Kristiansand, where our paths separated. Her route took her further north to the Lofoten Islands. The weather forecast had predicted snow in some areas, so it wasn't really a good idea, but she went ahead with it and arrived safely in Lofoten. She's really tough, because driving across the Arctic Circle at the end of September is no real fun.

But that's what makes her so different, she sees things through, and when I think about Let's Dance I think she will give her all here too! She has my support, and I wish her every success in this new adventure!

Monkey on a bike on Stern TV

Text and image credits: Harleysite / Volker Wolf