Lights, camera, ignition

She joined the production crew on Game of Thrones and is named after a popular Yugoslavian shampoo… meet Riana, an adventurous rider whose work has taken her around the world

Words: Ana Ivančič

Riana Petanjek is a busy woman. The freelance journalist, photographer, TV presenter, producer/director, author and video editor earns her living travelling around the globe documenting the people and places she encounters along the way. And if she can explore countries on two wheels, even better. The avid Harley-Davidson^® enthusiast clocks up around 5,000 miles per year on her 2016 Harley-Davidson Street 750, which she bought eight years ago from Harley-Davidson Zagreb dealership. She completed a solo trip on a rented Harley^® in 2016, documenting her experiences in her first travel book, Salty Bananas, and has since written two more books.

Riana was born in Slovenia, raised in Croatia and among the places she has called home are San Francisco, New York, India, Amsterdam and Thailand. We caught up with her to find out where she has been and where she wants to go.

What does travelling mean to you?
For me, it’s about living – I earn money through travel, but it also makes me feel more alive than anything else. All my jobs have involved travelling, starting with my first job as a flight attendant in my 20s to shooting videos, TV shows and writing articles about travel over the years. Beyond being a job, travelling is the best way to explore the world we live in, connect with its people and discover more about myself. It has allowed me to expand my personal boundaries and grow as a human in the best possible way.

What are your top three travel moments?
This is a tough one, but Route 66 on a rented Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail^® Classic in 2014 would definitely be in my top three, if not still the best ride I’ve ever done. I also really enjoyed Alaska and Canada during winter two years ago, even though it wasn’t on a bike. I fell head over heels in love with Alaska and have been plotting how to go back ever since I left. As for the third spot, I think it has to be shared between Argentina – especially Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego – and the hidden parts of the Philippines, which I explored on rented bikes.

Are there any places you’d like to revisit?
I’ve ridden through Greece, exploring its coast and various islands on my bike several times, and I plan to do that again. Greece is the perfect summer holiday spot for me, offering incredible rides that I can’t get enough of. I’d like to do Route 66 again, but maybe not by myself. Every time I visit a country, I love without my bike I always want to return and experience it on two wheels because there’s so much magic in riding the roads. And I feel like I get to know a place much better when I’m on the bike.

Do you have a bucket list of dream road trips?
Japan on a bike is on the list and Australia could be my next big moto trip. As I’ve already mentioned, my love for Alaska is strong, so Alaska during the summer is a must.

What was your first bike and what is your dream bike?
I passed my bike test in 2003 and my first bike was Honda CBR 125. I love riding my H-D^® Street 750, but I fell in love with an H-D Heritage Softail Classic 10 years ago while cruising on Route 66, and that’s still my dream bike.

Does your height cause any issues on a bike?
No. And that’s one of the reasons I really love Harleys and find it hard to imagine riding any other bike. They’re perfect for women as they’re quite low, even bigger models like the Softail, making them good for those of us who aren’t very tall.

Do you maintain your bike yourself?
I used to handle basic repairs when I had a Honda, but with my Harley, I leave it to the experts.

Do you worry about anything when you ride, such as the dark, bad weather and terrible roads?
I have a healthy respect for all potential dangers on the road. Sometimes, I even feel a bit apprehensive about riding with other cars around me. But I view this as a healthy fear, as I believe that being aware of road dangers helps us become better riders. The funny thing is that as soon as I’m actually on the bike, all those concerns seem to fade away. But I do avoid riding in cold and rainy conditions, as I’m really not fond of it. I think riding my bike should be a pleasure not an obligation.