After touring 17 nations, biker’s adventure ends with motorcycle stolen in UK

A motorcyclist who had traveled through 17 countries and planned to continue his journey after a brief stay in the UK had his adventure abruptly cut short when his bike was stolen just an hour after he parked it at Wollaton Park in Nottingham.

Yogesh Alekari, a 33-year-old rider from India, was left devastated when his KTM 390 Adventure motorcycle, along with his belongings and money, was stolen by a thief and two accomplices.

With 180,000 Instagram followers and 16,000 on Facebook, Alekari had been documenting his journey since departing Mumbai on May 1.

He had already traveled through Iran, China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and several European nations, including Germany, Belgium, and France. His next plan was to ride across Africa after completing his UK visit.

Speaking to The Independent, Alekari said he had locked his bike and considered the area safe since it was crowded with families and children. After leaving for breakfast, he returned an hour later to find his motorcycle missing.

He broke down and contacted the police, but they did not take his complaint seriously.

“They told me they would call back, and I waited in the park, but they never did,” he recalled.

The theft was captured on a mobile phone camera by a visitor in Nottingham, showing three men stealing the bike.

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“I wanted to go from Spain to Morocco, then along the western coast of Africa, from Cape Town to Kenya, and finally fly back to India,” Alekari said, adding that he had traveled through countries like Iran and Turkey without incident, and was shocked such a crime happened in the UK.

He also mentioned that some people had warned him about theft in the UK, but he believed Nottingham to be a safe place.

Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident and stated that Mr Alekari must be deeply distressed after traveling so far and having his long journey cut short in this way.

A search has been launched, and anyone who spots the bike or recognises it as stolen is urged to report it immediately, authorities said in a statement.