10,000 mi
Distance
16,000 km
Kilometres
33
Days
25
U.S. States
Suzuki DR650
Motorcycle
🇵🇰 Pakistani
Passport
For Shan-e-Ali, the USA Loop was never just about distance. It was about motion — the philosophy that has defined every mile of belikeshan.
The Expedition
Shan-e-Ali completed a 33-day, 10,000-mile (16,000-kilometre) solo motorcycle loop across **25 U.S. states** on a **Suzuki DR650** while travelling on a **Pakistani passport** and carrying the **Pakistani flag**.
The ride crossed northern, western, southern and eastern regions of the United States — from the snow of Yellowstone to the red rocks of Monument Valley, along California Highway 1 and Route 66, through Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
What the Road Demanded
- Snow and severe cold in Yellowstone during July
- Sleeping in a soaked tent after rain and snow
- Extreme Arizona heat of approximately 45°C / 113°F
- A motorcycle crash near Monument Valley in the Arizona desert
- Three severe thunderstorms while riding toward Hot Springs, Arkansas
- Long isolated roads, rapidly changing weather and solo decision-making
After the crash, Shan-e-Ali checked himself and the motorcycle and chose to continue.
The Story That Mattered Most
The expedition became a cultural exchange. In small American towns and rural communities, people frequently asked about the Pakistani flag on his jacket. Some said he was the first Pakistani they had ever met.
In Hardy, Virginia, he stayed with a couple connected through the motorcycle community — the first Pakistani they had ever hosted. Their wooden home was more than 100 years old. Their approximately 130-year-old dining table was in third-generation use. The stay included dinner and meaningful conversations about Pakistani culture, American life and motorcycle travel.
These encounters allowed both sides to learn about one another beyond politics and stereotypes. That is the story of the USA Loop.
Key Locations
Yellowstone · Wyoming · Montana · Badlands · Monument Valley · Utah · Arches National Park · Arizona · Pacific Coast Highway · Redwoods · Oregon · Route 66 · Adrian, Texas · Cadillac Ranch · Fort Worth · Hot Springs, Arkansas · Tennessee · Hardy, Virginia · Washington, D.C.
Gallery
51 photos — click any image to expand.
Timeline
The Loop Begins
Solo departure on the Suzuki DR650 — 10,000 miles ahead, Pakistani flag on the jacket.
Snow in July
Severe cold in Yellowstone National Park. Sleeping in a soaked tent after rain and snow.
The Crash
A motorcycle crash in the Arizona desert. Checked himself and the bike — chose to continue.
45°C Desert Heat
Extreme heat of approximately 45°C / 113°F crossing the desert.
Three Thunderstorms
Three severe thunderstorms in one day riding toward Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Human Connection
Stayed with a couple who had never met a Pakistani before — dinner, stories, and a 130-year-old dining table.
Loop Complete
25 states. 10,000 miles. One flag. The journey that carried Pakistan across America.