Long Way Round [DVD] [2004]

This is the extended version with 10 episodes rather than seven. In fact, the old first episode is now lengthened into 2, so the boys don't depart until episode 3. It is interesting to hear more detail about the problems they faced getting it all together, plus more footage of their Scotland trip and pre-project trip to Australia.
All other original episodes are present, except the last, which has been extended to 2 epsiodes to cover the North American traverse in more detail. Again, this is welcome, although the challenges to the bikes here seem to be more of the human variety, rather than the natural variety as in Mongolia. Added footage includes more of Alaska (bears, including a debate between the boys about the morality of shooting bears), a visit to the Harley factory and more words from the boy's better halves.
The final episode is more of a one year on retrospective and is a fitting conslusion, providing an insight into how the series was received and how it changed the crew's lives.
The other extras, on top of those on the original DVD are interesting, mostly of interview footage, but include comments from the cameramen, director and producer. They make interesting viewing for fans of the series. After viewing this, you understand more of what they whole team went through and a little more detail about some of the events.
Overall, this Special Edition is exactly what it says, and is worth buying if you already have the original and became hooked. It is clear that the producers wanted to utilise a little extra budget to produce a better product (which they couldn't do first time around as they didn't realise how popular it would be). The inclusion this time of subtitles in several languages is also welcome - even if some of the more expletive comments don't translate too well. I shall always enjoy lip-reading Charley when he says how he intends to show KTM what a mistake they made.
The other members of the crew, and Ewan and Charley's wives and relatives all get a little more coverage - which is interesting, as well as providing clarification of some issues that cropped up. It also emphasises the human side of the whole endeavour - and how much of an undertaking it really was, as well as featuring some of the other sponsors who helped the project.
I would also recommend the book to anyone who enjoyed the series - it provides details that aren't incuded in the DVD.

I have been lent this DVD by a friend of mine and both myself and my wife were hooked to the point that I'm buying my own copy so we can watch it over and over again.

It's impossible not to get emotionally attached to the guys as they undertake their journey battling against incredible odds. If it was a live documentary you would genuinely fear that the next episode may report the sad loss of one or both of their lives. The terrain and scenery of some of the locations is simply stunning but the dangers are all too evident and always in the back of your mind. What they achieved is an incredible feat for anybody but for two 'normal' bikers it is unbelievable and as a biker myself I can only feel an even deeper appreciation for the sheer difficulties they sometimes faced. They also meet some incredible (and incredibly kind) people along the way and as Ewen says 'it's a small planet....they are people just like us'.

The series contains quite a bit of swearing and some of the footage is very raw but this only serves to remind you that what you're seeing is what they experienced 'there and then'. During their time in Mongolia you can see it etched on their faces that the whole thing is even harder than they could ever have expected. They (and Claudio the bike riding cameraman) really were exposed to whatever may have come their way.

Funny, moving, inspiring and breathtaking in equal measures - everybody should watch this series documenting an incredible journey. Right, now where's the keys to the bike!

I bought this and it is good but since then they have brought out an extended edition. I have now seen both and the special edition is better giving you more of an appreciation what they went through. In the original they seemed to get fed up by the time they reached Canada/USA and there was hardly any detail but they have corrected this in the new version.