Sibirsky Extreme 2012 - The Toughest Ride of Them All

[LethPhaos]

Catched up - stil as great a report as it was when I started following :)
The more I read about 690's, the more I'm loving my own. I never thought it would be a good bike to travel with... I might have to come back from that opinion. Depends offcourse on the roads/tracks you'll be traveling on.

[Colebatch]

Originally Posted by Adv Grifter

Well thought out and detailed comments on various bikes and ADV travel. Should be required reading for everyone.

I think this is the best option overall. But why not start with an X Country?
Why the X Moto? Is there a significant difference? Or even another Virginal
X Challenge?

Xmotos are generally cheaper and have much more in common with the xc. The whole airbox assembly and faux tank area is completely different on the country. The x moto is basically identical, except for the wheels and front fender - neither of which I need or could possibly need. Unlike X-Challenges they are very unlikely to have been ridden off road, meaning the only jarring the bike has ever encountered are asphalt bumps. They are typically a fair bit cheaper than the X-challenges too.

Berg hasn't gone round the world yet. But another team mate, LukasM is going to take his rtw. My Berg will be the least traveled of all the husaberg adventure team bikes

[ROD CURRIE]

We were discussing traveling on a light bike. The natural extension to this is to travel light oneself too, For me that would mean in clothing terms I carry 4 socks, 4 jocks, 4 Tees, a fleece, some zipleg pants that convert to shorts and my camping gear. Tools and spares and that's it.

If the guys featured are looking in, the pics below are not meant to belittle or offend anyone. If I have offended you I truly apologise unreservedly. So:

In the early days it's too easy to think-I'll take this tool or that spare jacket just in case, and this below can be the result. This was a lovely guy that did the TAT with us in '06. Hi Ron!

The scary thing is this is AFTER he'd sent 70lb weight of gear home and he still didn't have a tent at this point. He actually only fell off twice ( unlike ..err...some) but it took 3 of us to lift the bike back up as the weight distribution..............perhaps hadn't been as well thought out as it might have been. Even more impressive he did the whole trip end to end with the bike packed thus.




Here's another just to the left (as we look at it) of me and a pal who rode with us on a later trip. This was another really nice guy I think on his first trip. He's on the mighty KLR (all bow) and seems to have entered one of those competitions to see how much gear you can get on a bike. That thing on top of the saddle is one of those cases you see people dragging around an airport and he must have had 3 weeks clothes in there..21 jocks, 21 tees ..a bicycle frame, stepladder. Not sure if the mailbox in the pic was on the bike too. The upshot of this was we set off on the trip and within 10 miles were on flat wide fire trails that will carry a large truck. The KLR unsurprisingly handled like a drunk pig and he had a couple of nasty scares that meant he baled from the dirt and hit the slab. Our group never saw him again, although I'm sure and truly hope he had a great trip on the slab. As Lomax The Magnificent says- "overweight is underprepared"

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[Tracks1]

Originally Posted by ROD CURRIE

We were discussing traveling on a light bike. The natural extension to this is to travel light oneself too, .... As Lomax The Magnificent says- "overweight is underprepared"

The first place to start is with BMR (Body Mass Ratio), strength and overall riding fitness.

The bottom line is, it's a total weight package which includes CofG (Center of Gravity) and Neutral Point for stability management and this includes the rider too as they are the largest weight load component..

[sion]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Hey look, its Tom Hanks

[vintagespeed]

Originally Posted by sion

Hey look, its Tom Hanks

naw, i think that Stalin. (ba dum chi)

[ROD CURRIE]

Originally Posted by Tracks1

The first place to start is with BMR (Body Mass Ratio), strength and overall riding fitness.

The bottom line is, it's a total weight package which includes CofG (Center of Gravity) and Neutral Point for stability management and this includes the rider too as they are the largest weight load component..

Indeed. I didnt make it clear, it's the little guy in the red crash hat, behind the KLR who's the pilot.

[bigdon]

After watching this vid I would prefer the Russian Mud and Water to the pavement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXz4P6EpX3s&feature=player_

[D K]

Walter,


Would you ever consider a Husky TE610, the carburated models? 2006 to 2008?
They seem pretty reliable and relatively light also.

D

[capeklr]

Originally Posted by elias

Am i the only one here that believes that Yana is really hot woman? Havent seen any comments (i think).

Agree with you, she's hot.

[kahlgryndiger]

Yes ... she really is ...

[gregMo]

Awesome its like being back in Russia on a long trip knowing East and the West a little I find it very confusing the label "Wild West" now days... its totally opposite, the wild is on East, especially east Russia... You've got to love it: Guns & Vodka (speaking of the Vodka, Walter had his word here before and mentioned Polish Vodka as far supreme to others... is that true? Please elaborate on your experiences, and that goes to all the gang members...
Great RR, so addictive it gets you higher & higher (whatever it means )

Waiting for more .... still waiting....

[Deadly99]

A girl with three shot glasses in front of her, a beer and a gun.....

Thanks for taking the time with the report, quite enjoying it

[6USMC6]

Originally Posted by gregMo

Awesome its like being back in Russia on a long trip knowing East and the West a little I find it very confusing the label "Wild West" now days... its totally opposite, the wild is on East, especially east Russia... You've got to love it: Guns & Vodka (speaking of the Vodka, Walter had his word here before and mentioned Polish Vodka as far supreme to others... is that true? Please elaborate on your experiences, and that goes to all the gang members...
Great RR, so addictive it gets you higher & higher (whatever it means )

Waiting for more .... still waiting....

Years ago I rode as a courier in Washington, DC and I spent a bit of time in the USSR Embassy for functions.

When the Soviets (Russians) served their best vodka - it came from Poland. The finest vodka that I have ever had came from Poland and their Hunters Vodka rivals the best Brandy made. An opinion? Yes. But over the years, I have had the opportunity to drink copious amounts of the best from both countries and Polish vodka is by far the best.

[Colebatch]

Originally Posted by 6USMC6

When the Soviets (Russians) served their best vodka - it came from Poland. The finest vodka that I have ever had came from Poland and their Hunters Vodka rivals the best Brandy made. An opinion? Yes. But over the years, I have had the opportunity to drink copious amounts of the best from both countries and Polish vodka is by far the best.

Totally agree ... Big difference.

GregMo : Russian vodka is brutal ... it makes you wince when you slam it down. Even the super expensive top of the line Russian stuff.

Polish vodka is smooth as silk. A mid tier Polish vodka trumps a top tier Russian vodka any day. You slam one down and you wait for your throat to jump out and slap you in the face (as it does with Russian vodka) but it doesnt.

Try a Zubrowka bison grass vodka from Poland.... chill it in the freezer, and take a shot. Its as good as vodka gets