Monkey on bike now rocks “Let’s Dance” 2024

Ann-Kathrin Bendixen , known by her pseudonym “Affe auf Bike” , is a German world traveler, influencer and author. After graduating from high school in 2019, she began traveling around the world by motorcycle in August of the same year, which was inspired by a life-changing experience. She shares her adventures and experiences on social media and has published a book called “ Bikergirl: How I sought freedom and found life ” which landed on the Spiegel bestseller list.

Joint 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 campaigns. She also joined me when she returned from her Iceland tour and we headed to my friend Atle in Norway together. There we were guests of Atle and his family, and Ann-Kathrin quickly won their hearts with her friendly manner.

In 2022, Harley-Davidson Germany provided her with a Nightster custom-made Rick's Motorcycles

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

Ann-Kathrin Bendixen has had numerous remarkable experiences on her journey, including challenging situations such as surviving with limited resources in extreme weather conditions and mastering 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.

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

In her book “ Bikergirl ” she shares her experiences and adventures to inspire and encourage young people to experience their own adventures. She also talks about the challenges and negative sides of her journey that she doesn't share on social media, including emotional topics such as sexual harassment, loneliness and helplessness.

Her journey has taken her through numerous countries, including Western Sahara, South America, Southern Europe, Thailand, Iceland and the USA. She mostly travels alone, spends the night in nature and relies on the bare essentials in her backpack to survive. Her motivation for the trip was to live life without regrets after a serious illness at the age of 18. Bendixen emphasizes the importance of health, freedom and happiness in her life.

Monkey on Bike is the most successful YouTube video to date

In July 2022 I had the chance to get to know her when I photographed the handover of the Nightster at Rick's Motorcycles in Baden-Baden on behalf of Harley-Davidson. 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

After this event we traveled together to the Harley Factory in Frankfurt. She then drove on to Wacken Open Air as part of the 'Road to Wacken' tour, while I returned home and also set off for Wacken a few days later. There we met again and took part in the handover backstage on stage. That year, Harley-Davidson was a sponsor of the festival and had a converted Harley-Davidson available for a raffle.

From Wacken to Iceland

After the 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. Even though I ride a Harley-Davidson a lot myself, I almost feel like an amateur compared to her. Those who have followed her trip to Iceland will confirm that her adventures are truly extraordinary.

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

In September 2022 I planned a Norway tour on the Pan America to visit my friend Atle in Norway, who lives below Stavanger in Egersund. At the same time, Ann-Kathrin had the plan to cross over to Norway via Denmark on the return journey from Iceland in order to go to her base in the Lofoten.

She spontaneously decided to join me and went to Atle with me; she found the idea exciting. Keep in mind that she didn't actually have any time, initial weather reports spoke of snowfall on the route to the Lofoten, and her next trip to Thailand was already scheduled immediately afterwards.

We got a free ride from the Color Line on the Superspeed ferry, on which we crossed to Kristiansand together after I picked them up from the Iceland ferry pier. Even that was strange and typical for them, their ferry was a little late, so we were the last to board the Color Line and the bow flap closed directly behind us.

Natural idyll on the Norwegian lake: between folding chairs and minimalism

We camped in Telemark, Norway, at a beautiful lakeside spot, which is an occasional activity for me, but is almost part of everyday life for them on their travels. She is very organized in her world and appreciates minimalism. Still, she loved my folding chair and sat in it all the time.

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

Challenges of a late Norway tour

However, we were traveling in Norway at the end of September and that's not necessarily the best time to camp so far north and it was really cold at that time. We were both exhausted from the trip, she came straight from the ferry, but that was quite exhausting. I had covered around 600 kilometers on the Pan America Special that day. The Pan America is absolutely capable of touring, I had equipped it with the Sundowner touring saddle, which I can recommend to anyone who goes on big tours.

The next day we drove to Atle together. There I recorded the interview with Ann-Kathrin, which you can watch YouTube channel She talks about her adventurous travels and how everything came about. Our shared tours, which I write about here, are just a minimal excerpt from her daily life, which she has chosen for herself and passionately pursues all over the world.

The interview with Ann-Kathrin Bendixen (Monkey on Bike) in Norway

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

The hospitality of the Norwegians deserves special mention. We had the complete family connection, including local cuisine in the family circle. What many people probably don't know is that Ann-Kathrin can speak some Norwegian, I was amazed. This feels like Ann-Kathrin's constant life; she constantly meets great people on her travels.

In the mountains with monkey and Atle

The next day, the three of us rode the Harleys into the mountains to Atle and his family's hunting grounds. They hunt there once a year, for their own consumption, or when visitors come, like us, because the elk meatballs that Atle had prepared for us the evening before were the local dish in question. But we didn't want to go hunting in the mountains, there was a great view and a nice gravel track waiting for us up there. An ideal place to drive and take photos.

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

Farewell in Kristiansand and new adventures await Ann-Kathrin

The next early morning, in very adverse weather conditions, we drove back towards Kristiansand, where we parted ways. Their route led even further north to the Lofoten Islands. The weather forecast had already predicted some snow, it wasn't really a good idea, but she went through with it and arrived safely in Lofoten. It's really tough, because driving over the Arctic Circle at the end of September isn't really fun.

But that's what makes her so different, she gets things done and when I think about Let's Dance , she'll give it her all here too! She has my support, I wish her much success in this new adventure!

Monkey on Bike on Stern TV

Text and image credits: Harleysite / Volker Wolf