Justine Tibesar’s Remarkable Journey

Marie Justine Tibesar’s 22,000-kilometer motorcycle journey from Saigon to Europe in 1931-1932 represents one of the most extraordinary feats of endurance, courage, and determination in early motorized travel. What makes her achievement even more remarkable is that she purchased her FN M70 motorcycle just days before departing, had never ridden before, and had no mechanical knowledge.

Physical Obstacles

The physical challenges Justine faced were formidable from the very beginning. Just days after starting her journey from Saigon on March 16, 1931, she suffered “a severe fall and had to stop for 10 days” in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This early setback might have discouraged many travelers, but Justine demonstrated remarkable resilience by continuing her journey after recovery.

The motorcycle itself presented physical challenges. At 350cc, the FN M70 was considered small even by 1930s standards, yet it was tasked with carrying not only its rider but eventually a sidecar and supplies across some of the world’s most challenging terrain. The physical toll of controlling this machine hour after hour, day after day, would have been immense, particularly for someone with Justine’s slight build (documented as 5’4″).

Her route through Southeast Asia required navigating through jungle terrain with minimal infrastructure. As she moved toward Singapore, the tropical climate and dense vegetation made progress difficult and physically taxing. She faced river crossings where “the motorcycle gets stuck again and again in river courses in Siam, crashes on impossible roads, again and again, nights in the open air, in the desert, without knowing exactly where she is.”

The decision to add a sidecar in Beluchistan to carry additional water and fuel supplies created new physical demands. The asymmetrical balance of a motorcycle with sidecar requires different handling techniques and greater upper body strength, especially when navigating uneven terrain. As she noted herself, “A loaded sidecar was too heavy for my small 350 cc FN, but I was still able to cross the Sin Desert very slowly.”

Perhaps most impressively, Justine had to overcome these physical obstacles without proper protective gear. The concept of motorcycle safety equipment was rudimentary in the 1930s, with none of the specialized clothing, helmets, or protective padding available to modern riders. This left her more vulnerable to injury with each fall and exposed to the elements throughout her journey.

Weather Conditions

The weather extremes Justine encountered across her journey were potentially life-threatening. Her route took her through some of the most climatically diverse regions on earth, requiring constant adaptation to new environmental challenges.

After leaving the tropical heat and humidity of Southeast Asia, Justine faced the scorching deserts of Beluchistan and Persia. She described the desert sun simply as “a sun that hurts” – a powerful understatement that speaks to the extreme conditions. In these regions, daytime temperatures regularly exceeded 40°C (104°F), with surface temperatures much higher. Without modern cooling systems or specialized heat-resistant clothing, Justine was fully exposed to these conditions hour after hour.

The deserts presented another weather-related challenge: extreme temperature fluctuations. Desert regions often drop below freezing at night after blistering days, requiring travelers to prepare for both extremes with limited equipment. Given her minimal luggage capacity, Justine would have had few resources to mitigate these conditions.

Water management became critical during desert crossings. The high temperatures accelerated dehydration, while the scarcity of reliable water sources meant careful rationing was essential. This explains her decision to add a sidecar specifically to transport additional water reserves – a necessity for survival rather than comfort.

As her journey progressed into the mountains of Turkey and later into Europe, she would have encountered entirely different weather challenges. The high elevations of mountain passes would have brought cold temperatures, possible snow, and thin air that affects both rider and machine performance. The fluctuating weather conditions of different elevations and microclimates would have required constant adaptation with limited resources.

Sandstorms would have presented another weather hazard in desert regions. These sudden, violent events can reduce visibility to zero and cause mechanical damage through sand infiltration. The motorcycle’s air intake and moving parts would have been particularly vulnerable, potentially causing breakdowns in remote areas.

Throughout her journey, Justine would have faced the effects of seasonal weather patterns across multiple climate zones with minimal information about what conditions lay ahead. This uncertainty added another layer of challenge to her already demanding expedition.

Health Issues

The physical toll of Justine’s journey manifested in several serious health challenges that threatened not only her progress but her survival. Her medical background as a nurse may have provided some advantage in understanding and treating her conditions, but the severity of her illnesses and the limited resources available created genuinely life-threatening situations.

After arriving in Persia at Douzhab, “fatigue, the strong heat and especially the poor water that she had to drink momentarily got the better of her strength and courage.” The combination of physical exhaustion, extreme heat exposure, and contaminated water led to “fever and sunstroke” that left her bedridden for 10 days. In remote areas with limited medical facilities, such conditions frequently proved fatal to travelers. She credited her survival partly to having brought quinine with her, writing “thank God I had taken quinine with me – I cured myself.”

The health challenges Justine faced went beyond acute illness. Chronic conditions like dehydration would have been a constant threat throughout desert regions. Without modern understanding of electrolyte balance or access to specialized hydration solutions, maintaining proper fluid levels would have been difficult and dangerous. Malnutrition was another likely concern, as the limited food available in remote areas might not have provided adequate nutrition for someone undertaking such intense physical exertion.

The physical effects of prolonged motorcycle riding would have created additional health concerns. Vibration injuries, including numbness and circulatory problems, are common among long-distance motorcyclists even with modern ergonomic designs. The 1930s FN M70 offered minimal cushioning against these effects. Exposure to engine heat, especially in already hot environments, would have added another layer of physical stress.

Later in her journey, Justine faced another serious health threat when she arrived in Baghdad during a cholera epidemic. Cholera, an acute diarrheal infection caused by contaminated food or water, had a high mortality rate in the 1930s before modern treatments were widely available. This put her at risk of being quarantined when trying to enter Syria, forcing her to alter her route and head north instead. The decision to change course rather than risk exposure demonstrates Justine’s practical assessment of health risks.

Sleep deprivation would have been a consistent health challenge throughout the journey. Nights spent in the open air in unfamiliar and sometimes dangerous environments likely resulted in poor quality sleep, which in turn would have affected judgment, reaction time, and overall physical wellness. The cumulative effect of inadequate rest over such a long journey would have been physically debilitating.

Mechanical Problems

Despite having no mechanical knowledge, Justine had to contend with various motorcycle issues throughout her journey that would have challenged even experienced mechanics with proper tools and parts.

The FN M70 was known for its reliability, but reliability is relative in the context of a 22,000-kilometer journey through extreme conditions. The motorcycle’s air-cooled single-cylinder engine would have been particularly vulnerable to overheating in desert environments, potentially causing seized pistons or other internal damage. The primitive cooling systems of 1930s motorcycles were not designed for the extreme heat Justine encountered.

Fuel quality presented another significant mechanical challenge. In remote regions, fuel was often contaminated or of inconsistent quality, which could lead to carburetor problems, fuel line blockages, or damage to the engine itself. Without modern fuel filters or additives, Justine would have had limited means to address these issues.

Sand and dust infiltration was a constant threat to the motorcycle’s mechanical integrity. Fine dust particles could penetrate bearings, chains, and moving parts, accelerating wear and potentially causing catastrophic failures. In the deserts she crossed, keeping these elements out of the motorcycle’s systems would have been nearly impossible.

As she noted: “At every stop, I had to protect my machine against the curiosities of the natives who showed an indiscreet taste for mechanics. Their familiarities with my motorcycle caused me a breakdown, one night in the middle of the jungle of Cambodia.” This highlighted another dimension of mechanical challenges – protecting the motorcycle from well-meaning but potentially damaging interference.

When alone in the steppe, “technology fails, but she manages to repair the bike.” This suggests an impressive ability to troubleshoot mechanical issues despite her lack of formal training. Without service manuals, specialized tools, or replacement parts, Justine would have needed to improvise repairs using whatever materials were available locally.

The addition of a sidecar in Beluchistan created new mechanical challenges beyond just the additional weight. The asymmetrical load on the frame and suspension could cause premature wear or failure of components not designed for such stress. The connection points between motorcycle and sidecar would have required regular maintenance to prevent dangerous misalignment, especially on rough terrain.

Tire punctures and damage would have been frequent occurrences on the primitive roads and off-road sections of her journey. Without modern tubeless tires or repair kits, each puncture would have required significant effort to address, potentially involving complete tire removal and manual patching.

The fact that Justine completed her journey with these limited mechanical resources speaks to both her adaptability and the fundamental durability of the FN motorcycle, which survived conditions far beyond its intended design parameters.

Language & Culture

Justine was documented as speaking Flemish, French, and German, which would have helped her navigate parts of Europe but left significant language barriers throughout much of Asia and the Middle East. These communication challenges extended beyond mere convenience to potentially life-threatening situations where her ability to secure food, shelter, directions, or assistance depended on bridging linguistic divides.

In regions like Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, India, Persia, and Turkey, Justine would have encountered dozens of languages and dialects with little commonality to her European language skills. Without modern translation technologies or widely available interpreters, she would have relied heavily on gestures, drawings, and the limited multilingual vocabulary of trade languages that existed along international routes.

As a European woman traveling alone through culturally conservative regions in the 1930s, Justine faced unique social challenges. In many of the areas she traversed, women were expected to be accompanied by male relatives or guardians, with strict codes governing female behavior in public spaces. Her independent travel would have been viewed with suspicion or disapproval in certain communities, potentially limiting her access to assistance or services.

Dietary customs and food availability presented another cultural challenge. The unfamiliar foods of different regions, combined with religious or cultural restrictions on certain food preparation methods, would have complicated her ability to maintain adequate nutrition. During religious observances like Ramadan in Muslim countries, finding food during daylight hours could be particularly difficult for travelers.

Cultural differences extended to local interactions with her motorcycle, which became an object of fascination in many places she visited. As she described it: “At each stop, I had to protect my machine against the curiosities of the natives who testified to an indiscreet taste for mechanics.” This curiosity, while understandable in regions where motorcycles were rare or unknown, created practical difficulties in maintaining her vehicle’s condition.

Different cultural attitudes toward time, appointments, and schedules would have required constant adjustment. The Western concept of precise timetables often contrasted sharply with more fluid approaches to time in various Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, affecting Justine’s ability to plan her travel effectively.

Navigating different economic systems and currencies without modern banking infrastructure presented additional cultural challenges. Methods of payment, bargaining expectations, and gift-giving customs varied significantly across the regions she traversed, requiring cultural sensitivity to avoid offense or exploitation.

Religious practices and holy sites along her route required specific knowledge and respect. Proper behavior at temples, mosques, and other sacred spaces varied widely, with serious social consequences for inadvertent transgressions. Awareness of religious holidays and practices would have been essential for navigating these communities successfully.

The colonial context of the early 1930s added another layer of cultural complexity. Many regions on Justine’s route were under European colonial administration, creating complex power dynamics between local populations, colonial authorities, and European travelers like herself. Navigating these relationships required political awareness and sensitivity to avoid becoming entangled in colonial tensions.

Navigation Difficulties

Navigation proved to be one of Justine’s most persistent challenges in an era before GPS, reliable maps, or established international routes. In the Sin Desert, she described how “Runways, sometimes hundred meters wide, criss-cross in all directions. Once I got lost and had to go back to the starting point.” This single anecdote reveals the fundamental navigation problems she faced throughout her journey.

The cartographic resources available to Justine would have been rudimentary by modern standards. Maps, where available, were often inaccurate, outdated, or lacking detail for remote areas. Scale and projection inconsistencies between maps of different regions would have complicated route planning across international boundaries. Many areas on her route had never been properly surveyed or mapped at all.

Without reliable maps, Justine would have depended heavily on local knowledge, which presented its own challenges. Language barriers often led to misunderstandings about distances, conditions, or directions. Local concepts of distance frequently used time-based measurements (“two days’ travel”) rather than standard units, making accurate planning difficult. Regional conflicts or territorial disputes sometimes resulted in deliberately misleading information being provided to foreigners.

The absence of proper roads in many regions forced significant detours or alternative transportation methods. As documented, “there is no road in the north of India, she has to follow the paths next to the railroad line.” Similarly, the impossibility of crossing the mountains of Burma by motorcycle required her to take a ship from Singapore to Calcutta – a significant navigation compromise.

Natural features that served as navigation landmarks could change dramatically with seasons or weather conditions. Rivers might become impassable during rainy seasons, while desert landmarks could be obscured by sandstorms. Mountain passes might be blocked by snow or landslides with little warning. These environmental variables required constant reassessment of routes.

The colonial boundaries and restrictions of the 1930s created additional navigation challenges. Certain areas were restricted to foreign travelers without special permits, forcing detours regardless of geographical logic. Military zones, particularly in politically sensitive regions, might be suddenly closed to travelers, requiring last-minute route changes.

Nighttime navigation would have been particularly challenging. Without adequate lighting on remote roads or trails, Justine would have been limited to daylight travel in many areas. When forced to travel after dark, the primitive headlight of the FN M70 would have provided minimal illumination for path-finding.

The fundamental concepts of wayfinding varied across cultures she encountered. Western navigation typically relies on cardinal directions and measured distances, while some traditional navigation systems use landmark sequences, storytelling elements, or other approaches unfamiliar to European travelers. These conceptual differences would have complicated Justine’s ability to interpret local directions.

Perhaps most remarkably, Justine completed this navigation challenge without radio communication, weather forecasting services, or any means to call for assistance when lost or in danger. Each navigation decision carried potentially serious consequences, with limited information available to inform these choices.

Achievements That Defined a Pioneer

Justine Tibesar’s journey stands as a remarkable achievement on multiple levels, extending far beyond the simple accumulation of kilometers traveled. Her accomplishments must be understood within their historical context to appreciate their true significance.

Firsts & Records

At just 22 years old, Justine completed a 22,000-kilometer motorcycle journey from Saigon to Europe—believed to be the first woman to complete this route solo by motorcycle. This achievement came at a time when women in most countries had only recently gained basic voting rights, and gender-based restrictions still limited female independence in numerous ways.

As noted by motorcycle historian Bernd Tesch: “First Woman riding solo overland Asia – Europe at all. First Motorcycle riding Asia – Europe with a solo bike.” These “firsts” weren’t merely personal achievements but pioneering moments that expanded the boundaries of what was considered possible for women travelers.

Her journey occurred during a transitional period in global transportation infrastructure. Many of the international highways and standardized routes that would later connect continents were still undeveloped or nonexistent. Her crossing of these regions helped document the possibilities and challenges of transcontinental travel, contributing valuable knowledge to future expedition planning.

The timing of her journey—during the early years of the Great Depression—adds another dimension to her achievement. Global economic instability made international travel particularly challenging, with currency exchange complications, reduced services in many regions, and heightened security concerns. Completing such an ambitious journey during this period of economic uncertainty demonstrated exceptional resourcefulness.

Resourcefulness & Adaptability

Justine demonstrated extraordinary adaptability, from learning to ride a motorcycle in just days before her departure to navigating across vastly different terrains and cultures. She obtained her motorcycle license on March 13, 1931, and departed on her journey just three days later on March 16—an astonishingly compressed learning timeline for such a demanding skill.

Her decision to add a sidecar when faced with desert crossing challenges exemplifies her practical problem-solving abilities. Rather than abandoning her journey when confronted with the water and fuel requirements of desert travel, she modified her transportation approach to accommodate these needs. This adaptability extended to route planning as well, as she adjusted her path when faced with obstacles like the cholera outbreak in Baghdad.

Her medical knowledge as a nurse proved valuable throughout the journey, allowing her to treat her own illnesses and injuries in remote areas. This self-sufficiency was crucial in regions where professional medical care was unavailable or inaccessible to foreign travelers.

Financial resourcefulness was another critical aspect of her achievement. Unlike many early long-distance travelers who relied on wealthy patrons or institutional support, Justine appears to have managed her expedition with limited personal resources. Her earlier work with the Wanderwell Expedition’s Work Around the World Educational Club had trained her in self-supporting travel techniques, including selling postcards and delivering lectures.

Mental Fortitude

Perhaps most impressive was Justine’s unwavering determination in the face of setbacks that would have deterred most travelers. After recovering from serious illness in Persia, she continued her journey despite the hardships already endured. Her philosophy, borrowed from Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, guided her throughout: “Everything is possible, you just have to want it with all your heart, then it succeeds.”

The psychological challenges of solo travel through remote regions should not be underestimated. The isolation, uncertainty, and potential dangers would have created significant mental stress throughout the journey. Without modern communications to maintain contact with family or friends, Justine faced these psychological pressures with remarkable resilience.

Her perseverance through three separate desert crossings of approximately 1,000 kilometers each demonstrates exceptional mental toughness. In environments where the monotony, heat, and physical discomfort could easily lead to poor decision-making or abandonment of goals, she maintained her focus and determination.

The gender-based skepticism she likely encountered throughout her journey would have created additional psychological pressure. Female adventurers in the 1930s frequently faced dismissal or discouragement from officials, fellow travelers, and local populations. Overcoming these attitudes required not only determination but confidence in her own capabilities despite societal messaging to the contrary.

Technical Achievement

Upon completing her journey on January 22, 1932, Justine arrived at the FN factory in Liège where she was welcomed as a hero. She had proven both her own extraordinary capabilities and the reliability of the FN M70 motorcycle, which had carried her across continents despite the punishing conditions.

When asked about the technical aspects of her journey, she stated simply that she “had no idea about motorcycle mechanics” and had “just trusted her intuition.” This admission makes her successful completion of the journey all the more remarkable, as she overcame mechanical challenges through observation and improvisation rather than formal training.

The technical achievement extends beyond her personal accomplishment to the documented performance of the motorcycle itself. The FN M70’s ability to withstand the extreme conditions of her journey provided valuable real-world testing data that influenced future motorcycle design and durability standards. The motorcycle’s performance across such diverse environments—from tropical humidity to desert heat to mountain cold—demonstrated its exceptional engineering.

The journey also contributed to the technical knowledge of long-distance motorcycle travel logistics. Her experiences with fuel availability, spare parts accessibility, and maintenance requirements in remote regions provided practical insights for future transcontinental motorcyclists. These lessons informed both individual travelers and motorcycle manufacturers interested in global markets.

Legacy of Inspiration

Justine’s achievement was celebrated in her time, with newspaper articles and magazine features documenting her arrival in Europe. When she returned to Belgium, she was welcomed as an “intrepid Arlonaise” who had “just crossed Asia, the Middle East and Europe on a motorcycle.”

Her story has continued to inspire subsequent generations of women adventurers, particularly in motorcycle travel. Early female motorcyclists like Theresa Wallach and Florence Blenkiron, who crossed Africa in 1934-35, followed in Justine’s tire tracks, expanding the boundaries of women’s long-distance motorcycle travel. Modern women adventurers frequently cite early pioneers like Tibesar as inspiration for their own journeys.

The significance of her journey was perhaps best captured by her own matter-of-fact statement upon completion: “The 22-year old girl had just covered 22,000 km.” This understated acknowledgment of her achievement reflects the practical, determined approach that characterized her entire expedition.

In an era when women’s independence was severely limited and international travel was the domain of the privileged few, Justine Tibesar shattered expectations and demonstrated that determination could overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Her journey remains one of the most impressive yet under-recognized achievements in early motorized travel history—a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for adventure, resilience, and groundbreaking achievement regardless of gender, age, or experience.