Bit about us, the Turkana gang

OUR SPIEL…THE LOWDOWN ON THE GANG OF MISFITS THAT GOT TURKANA GEAR A REALITY.

Four friends with a passion for motorcycle adventure and travel came together with the same belief in offering soft luggage waterproof products that will add value to other motorbike enduro adventure riders and overlander travellers.
Our métier and that of all the people and businesses being part of this game depends on your love and happiness with our product.

We never forget or take it for granted.

Michnus & Elsebie: From Corporate Life to Motorcycle Nomads

Way back—was it a decade or two ago?—South African couple Michnus and Elsebie decided to embrace the ultimate dream: travelling the world. Hailing from Gonubie, South Africa, they left behind their comfortable lives, sold most of their belongings, and hit the road on two trusty BMW F650 GS Dakars.

From Office Jam to Globetrotting

Before hitting the road into their grand adventure, Michnus and Elsebie slugged the professional world—Elsebie crunching numbers like a geek and Michnus running the insurance maze. However, after slugging it in the corporate rat race for years, they came to the realisation that life was more than just a 9–5 job. They took the risky decision to become entrepreneurs and established their own successful brand (ATG-All Terrain Gear) selling outdoor accessories, adventure gear, and motorcycle soft luggage.

Their love of adventure motorbike riding gave rise to this company. They blended innovation and functionality to create and market soft baggage, especially for adventure motorcycle riders. They were able to travel independently after building and subsequently selling their company, allowing them to pursue their goal of seeing the world.

The Journey Begins – PikiPiki Overland

They’ve been on the road for over a decade, racking up miles and memories across countless countries! On their journey, they’ve stumbled upon jaw-dropping views, quirky cultures, and memories that are hard to shake off.
In 2015, they find themselves on a deserted beach in Mexico’s Baja California. Talk about a plot twist! Here’s where they crossed paths with fellow adventurers Peter and Leonie, sparking the birth of Turkana Gear—a brand all about crafting bloody tough, practical gear for adventure enduro motorbike addics.

Mixing what you love with what you know best

Their adventures on the road—handling gear failures, pushing boundaries, and figuring out what really works out there—are now central to how Turkana Gear develops its products. Their practical know-how, along with a strong entrepreneurial drive, promises that each product is designed to handle the challenges of global adventure riding.

What are they up to these days?

Michnus and Elsebie are out there globetrotting, snapping breathtaking pics, and spilling the beans on their adventures through their blog, PikiPiki Overland. Their stories inspire others still since they show that dreams may come true with will, desire, and a readiness to venture into the future.

Peter & Leonie: From Amsterdam to Anywhere on Two Wheels

Peter and Leonie are two adventurous Dutch people who love the great outdoors, adventure bikes, functional gear, and savouring a good beer. In 2013, they made a life-changing decision: “Let’s quit our jobs and ride the world.” It was one of the most important choice they ever made.

Leaving Everything Behind to Chase their Dream

Peter, a technical pro, and Leonie, the legal eagle, started on two modified Honda CRF250Ls and took off from Amsterdam. So began a three-year escapade filled with unbelievable adventures, hitting almost every continent—just leaving out Australia and Antarctica for a rainy day!

Their straight perspective is that “you only live once.” For Peter and Leonie, this motto is about living fully, exploring the planet while they can, and delaying a typical “work until you drop” stance.

An Unexpected party On a Mexican Shore

So, as fate would have it, one evening on a beach in Mexico, they met fellow travellers Michnus and Elsebie, and it did not take long for the four of them to realise that their shared experiences and similar views on a few important things in life can lead to great things—so Turkana was born!

After three years, many a mile on their trusty Honda’s and riding alongside the beaten path on their own adventure trail, feeling what it is to live and basically going wherever they wanted to go, they returned home with new ideas and views on life. Read all about their travels here: amsterdamtoanywhere.nl

Adventure Shapes a New Perspective

Back in the Netherlands, they decided to start their very successful motorcycle accessories business called Bartang (www.bartang.eu) and with their combined experience of travelling hundreds of thousands of kilometres on the back of an adventure bike, that knowledge is put to good use in developing and creating our Turkana products.