Well, it’s definitely time to update this. I begin to realise that life moves faster than my blog does. The old version of this page, which I include below for posterity, was written about 5 years ago in a different time and a different career. Here we are in November 2025, lets see what life looks like in 2030.
I am Tim Hewitt, the writer of all this waffle. My curious career path has led me to teaching, currently at the Freie Waldorfschule Schopfheim, in the south of Germany – where I teach all kinds of stuff. I was born in England and raised in Scotland, but have lived in Germany for about ten years now. Trust me, it’s better here. No boats needed to travel, for a start. But for a thousand other reasons I won’t bore you with here.
The career path has been a winding one, starting with a somewhat misguided misadventure as a military reservist via the “thrilling” world of IT management, going so far as to be boss of my own little company. Diversions into farming, cheese production, BMW tour guiding and a u-turn from a few years as motorcycle mech were taken along the way. Truth is, when I look back at who I was 20 years ago I see a stranger.
The road travelled has taken me all over Europe, some of Africa, I’ve tickled Asia and ridden a big chunk of South America. It’s almost all represented here on these pages. I have evolved from “Adventure Rider” on a big fat Tiger 800 via “all the gear and no idea” trail rider on a Husky 701 to end up as I am now – experienced old hand on 90s DR. Truth is, when I look back at who I was 5 years ago I see a total wanker. But the posts remain as they are, unedited.
These days I am active in the TET community and making my way slowly around most of the route. If you’ve any questions, if I can be of any assistance, do let me know.
Old Version, 2020ish
Hello, it’s always a little awkward to write about oneself but here we are. I guess I’ve written enough online dating profiles; I should be used to it. I also, probably, shouldn’t admit to that. I’m Tim, the titular Dirtbike Jesus. The purpose of the site is to share knowledge and experience; be it travel stories, technical guides, advice or opinions. That and show off a little, of course. But if you’ve come to this particular page you probably want to know something about me.
I’m a child of the 1980s, 37 at the time of writing. I’m currently a motorcycle electrician and tuner at Sound of Single in the south of Germany but I’ve done many things before now, from IT management to farming and cheesemaking. Born in Kent I moved up to Scotland as a kid, escaped Brexitistan six years ago and live in the heart of Europe now. I grew up in the countryside but spent most of my youth stuck in front of a computer screen; travel wasn’t even a blip on my radar back then. I’m trying to make up for that now. It wasn’t until my mid 20s I got myself a motorcycle. The little Honda CB125 was intended for commuting, but I was quickly hooked and – after breaking my arm on my first attempt at the test – quickly moved on to a spectacularly ugly Yamaha XJ6 Diversion. The marketing blurb of the Adventure world won me over and I traded it for a Triumph Tiger 800 XC, which took me on a few continental trips which seemed terribly exciting at the time.
It wasn’t until I wrote that first Tiger off (whoops!) and moved to Germany that I discovered trail riding. Sticking with what I knew I started out on a Tiger 800 XCx, which was far too heavy for real off-road use. I took it to Morocco and the Balkans but it held me back. I traded that poor, abused steed in for a Husqvarna 701 Enduro and never looked back – the real fun on two wheels is on light bikes, off the tarmac, into the rough stuff. I’ve now raced Hellas Rally in Greece and bashed various bikes along assorted trails from Argentina to Armenia.
I consider myself to be a fairly average trail rider, mechanic, writer and photographer. But I hope the sum of that average is enough to make this site interesting, or at least useful. Enjoy!