How do you measure success? I measure success by what a person starts life with, as someone who achieves incredible things from humble beginnings has had mountains to climb that many others live halfway up. How does one achieve success from humble beginnings? Self-belief, hard work, and a positive mental attitude are the cornerstones to build upon. Never say never is a slogan repeated often in this short and inspiring documentary. This is no round-the-world, crossing the Amazon, floating on the Nile adventure. This is the story of a man who made his dreams come true, traveled the world, learned its lessons, and returned home to his wife and a simple life.
Born in 1935 in the Black Sea town of Ordu, Turkey, Osman Gursoy’s life has been defined by movement, perseverance, and an unrelenting desire to explore the world on two wheels. The second of seven siblings, Gursoy spent his childhood in a 200-year-old family home, walking an hour daily to attend school. His fascination with language began early, encouraged by a relative who gifted him a bilingual book. That gift sparked an enduring interest in English, a skill that would later open international doors.
After completing his schooling in 1946, Gursoy worked as a well-read cowherd before beginning a coppersmith apprenticeship. His “master” owned a BSA motorcycle—an object of intense fascination for the young Osman. Though the coppersmith never allowed him to ride it, the machine planted a seed of longing that would blossom into a lifelong passion. He spent his spare time polishing the bike, studying its components, and imagining what it would feel like to own one.
Gursoy’s life took a more formal turn when he was called up for military service. Stationed first in Denizli and later in Izmir, he devoted his spare hours to improving his English, even securing permission to attend a course at the Turkish American Association. Upon discharge, he returned briefly to coppersmithing before deciding, with encouragement from his former employer, to seek better opportunities in Istanbul.
Job prospects in Istanbul were limited, so Gursoy traveled to Yalova. A chance encounter with an electrician led to a job working among Americans at a domestic office. Starting as a waiter, he soon became a valued employee thanks to his English skills. An American colleague gifted him a bicycle, an extravagant item at the time, which Gursoy modified with a small engine and used to explore Turkey, riding as far as Kuşadası. He continued working with the Americans for four and a half years until he was laid off in 1966.
Fate intervened again on a ferry ride when he met a former coworker who suggested he seek work in England. Gursoy followed the advice, sent a letter, and had a job offer, work permit, and ticket in hand within months. He took a train from Istanbul and arrived in London, where he was ultimately assigned to a seaside hotel in a small town. He worked as a waiter and searched for a motorcycle to fill his spare time. A local shopkeeper eventually found him a secondhand Vespa. Riding that scooter brought back the joy he had once imagined while admiring his former employer’s BSA.
Determined to reunite with his wife (strangely not mentioned before in the story), Gursoy arranged for her to join him in England. Together, they traveled by motorcycle, exploring the countryside. The following year, he decided to return to Turkey on two wheels. He shipped the motorcycle to Paris, sent his wife ahead by train, and set out on a solo journey that took him through Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway—covering 8,500 kilometers before arriving in Istanbul.
Back in Turkey, he sold the Vespa—considered highly valuable at the time—and returned alone to England, where a new motorcycle awaited him. He made a resolution: each future journey to Turkey would be on a new bike. He equipped his machines with radios, intercoms, and helmet audio systems—remarkable features for the era—and mapped out increasingly ambitious routes. One route took him through Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. On another, he traveled the Adriatic coast through Yugoslavia. He was living his dream and had found a way to make it work.
By 1974, Gursoy had already crossed Europe multiple times.
Having explored nearly every corner of Europe except Albania and Finland, Gursoy turned his sights westward. He made plans to tour the United States. With support from his wife and help from friends, he shipped his motorcycle to New York. After landing at JFK, he retrieved the Vespa—needing immediate battery and tire repairs—and set off across the country.
In America, Gursoy experienced the extremes of the Arizona desert, where temperatures reached 53°C with 98 percent humidity. After reaching California, he opted to ride the Pacific Coast Highway near the Canadian border. Near the end of the PNW route, the gear lever on his Vespa snapped. A local German mechanic repaired it free of charge, even providing spare grease. Gursoy crossed into Canada with a newfound profound love for America and respect for her people, aiming for Montreal. On his 50th day, he reached Montreal, fulfilling his dream. The motorcycle had logged 16,000 kilometers. He returned to London and eventually tried to bring the Vespa into Turkey, but he faced a customs dispute that forced him to pay a substantial fee.
Today, the Vespa rests in his warehouse but still runs. She is smoky, but she runs. At 47 years old, Gursoy believes it’s still capable of 47 more, provided it receives the same care and affection he always gave it. He sees motorcycling not just as travel, but as education. His message to younger generations is clear: persistence pays off, and the words never say never are more than a motto—they are a way of life.
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