Sibirsky Extreme 2012 - The Toughest Ride of Them All

[casperghst42]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Well depends on the construction or if its plywood or what ... certainly they can be a lot heavier than that. This mob in the States makes motorcycle crates from wood that weigh 377 lbs (171 kgs) http://www.crateoutlet.com/blog/tag/motorcycle-crate/. So it varies on the topside for sure.

Factory shipping crates just use cardboard for the sidewalls and top and have no base plate - just a frame for the forklifts. Some use lightweight 3 ply, while like the guys listed use solid sheets for the walls and base. So on the top side there is a lot of variance to the weight. But the bases have to be solid as they are moved around by forklift, so there is only so low the weight can go and still be affordable. But you definitely dont need a wooden sheet for the walls, or top or even for the base (as mentioned OEM shipping crates have none of those) ... unless they are being stacked. Your guys must have crated them pretty solid.

Terrys was 246 kgs and mine 250 kgs I believe. I just averaged them to call it 248 kgs each. We had no tops or sides on our boxes, just framework.

There was a German guy at the German HUM in October who have manufactured a crate which is made out of cardboard (except for the base), and all major carriers have approved of it. He ships bikes for a living.

Casper

[tee bee]

Originally Posted by Tony P

LOL, Bigdon.

I doubt that Iker's record (38seconds) will ever be broken.

But I remind you my own 'longest' record (43 minutes) is wide open to takers!

I,ll try to break your record,next time Tony...

[Gale B.T.]

Originally Posted by tee bee

I,ll try to break your record,next time Tony...

Terry


My vote is to keep this particular record in what we can call "the original 3" since that is all many of us have as evidence

Hello Tony

my vote and 2 cents
gale

[yotes65]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

We rote up into the backwoods of the Altai. The first 50 km, to Ulagan, was sometimes asphalted. But in line with our recent fate when it came to weather, as soon as we got off the asphalt, rain started falling. We continued along on a gravel road through pretty countryside (and light rain) until we hit this stunning valley:

Simply Gorgeous, it is because of places like this that I want to purchase an off road compatible bike to explore “off-the-beaten-path” places like this.

I’ve started reading this a few weeks ago trying to catch up… currently on page 110. I find myself wanting to blow off work & homework just to read… however I can’t. So I will catch up in due time.

I apologize if my following question has been covered somewhere before page 100 & I missed it or if is cover in the next 100+ pages I still have to read… What would you & the group estimate the cost of this trip for each one of you? Knowing a rough estimate would help the rest of us plan & save for such a trip.

Thank You to the Sibirsky Extreme 2012 Crew for putting together a wonderful tale of riding through faraway places that millions can only dream about… however not this guy.

Someday… Someday…

[Deseret Rider]

Originally Posted by Blackbert

Iker. ... Hell of a guy. Hell of a rider. Fond memories of our time in the Pyrenees a few years back. On and off the bike.

I'm not surprised he pulls a stunt like that. Real daredevil with great riding skills.

It looks like that finally washed out-----a faded memory of a wonderful evening?

Now---onward ! What will we see next?

[vintagespeed]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

To be fair ... I think Steve and Erik didnt realise what kind of rider he was and how well prepared he was....Bear in mind, a Basque talking to a 2 Norwegians in English in Siberia is going to be subject to occasional misunderstandings.....

wow this RR just keeps on delivering the goods! greatest story yet told, Iker, #1!

[EtronX]

On the road up to Zhigalovo we started on the proper off road part. From here on it would be next to nothing of hard surfaces until Magadan. As normal Walter and Terry rode quite hard, but we were able to keep up. Midway up Erik and I stopped and agreed that we should do some filming. I rode ahead and rigged up the video camera, but no Erik showed up. I waited for ten minutes before I headed back. A couple of click back he was standing by the side of the road. He was not a happy camper. It turned out that the subframe for the fairing was cracked. We patched it up as good as we could and continued the last bit. When we got to Zhigalovo I noticed that I also had a crack in my subframe. Sit happens and then you fix it

A couple of years ago two guys came through Zhigalovo on two KTM's. They needed some alu welding done and some small shop did it for them. We were to head over to that shop the next day. We spent the evening dismounting everything.

A new dawn came and we headed over to the shop with the alu frames.




After a little while a guy named Alex came over and said he worked there. We asked if he could help us. He was not sure if they could weld aluminum so he called his boss. Negative answer Bad new for us. But Alex was very keen on helping us. He asked us to wait a few minutes and took off. Four minutes later he came back in an old diesel Mazda. A decent size joint in his in his mouth and Vodka by his side. He told us to jump in The adventure continues




We headed over to a shipyard. In the middle of Siberia It didn't look right...




Lena is a pretty big river in Russia. It is also one of the main transport veins in the region. Maybe a shipyard is not so out of place anyway

If you have to deal with government or businesses of a certain scale the bureaucracy in Russia is interesting. Everything takes time and you need to talk to lots of people and get many stamps. Same here. We went through many offices. From the managing director and his secretary, whom I bet was a local champion shot putter, to the engineer who calculated the price. It took three hours. I practice Yoga quite a bit. Now I went to my Zen place Things work better then

When we were done at the shipyard Alex insisted that we should follow him home for a cup of tea. We could not say no after all the help he had given us. He took us home and served us tea and pulled out his guitar. Then he blew us away. The man could both sing and play He told us that he used to play in a band in Severobaikalsk before he came to Zhigalovo.




The house next door.




We did spend some time listening to Alex before we insisted we had to go and get the bikes done. He really did not want us to leave. This is the genuine Russian friendship and hospitality. We, in the "Civilized" world, do have something to learn...


Later that day it was time for food. Walter was leading the way

[Brunssd]

Originally Posted by EtronX

Later that day it was time for food. Walter was leading the way

Abbey Road?

[BordenBmw]

Originally Posted by Brunssd

Abbey Road?

[Lornce]

Originally Posted by Brunssd

Abbey Road?

Thought the same thing when I saw that.



Brunssd, Let's go retrace their route.

Show'em what KLR's can do.

[GSlite]

Ha! Brilliant photo. Had to do this to it. Hope you don’t mind.

[Twinmike]

Originally Posted by EtronX

the way we walk Genesis live

great pic

[sion]

Originally Posted by brunssd

abbey road?

аббатство дорога

[jordiakof]

Originally Posted by jacekrsx

great report, can't wait for more BAM

and this guy Iker, wow, I mean WOW!!!, YIHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

AUPA IKER, YIHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!! : Clap: Clap: Freaky

[Brunssd]

Originally Posted by Lornce

Thought the same thing when I saw that.



Brunssd, Let's go retrace their route.

Show'em what KLR's can do.

Sounds great but I think I'd take something else the next time. I can still remember the lectures about bringing that "Ketayets krep" to Mother Russia and expecting to find parts. Anything but a Kawi was the strongly worded advice.