Sibirsky Extreme 2012 - The Toughest Ride of Them All

[GiorgioXT]

Mousse suffer a lot from road riding , particularly with loaded bikes. Friends with lot of experience told me that even with dakar-spec mousse 150 kms at 120 kmh on tarmac are enough to destroy it .
Then I tried anyway and got the confirmation (apart the efforts, just the money literally burned away...)

[Gravel Seeker]

Originally Posted by EtronX

This is a short, but true story, about Erik and our newfound friend Alex. .....snip....
I just love the Russian boondocks

Good one

[Adv Grifter]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Its not a rule. I would guess its cause they (KTM) havent got it at a level they are happy with - KTM have always been slow movers to EFI ... later than than all the other major manufacturers. The Honda bikes this year were injected, and two of them were in the top 10. The Husqvarnas were injected, and one of them was in the top 10. Joan Barreda Bort won 4 stages, more than anyone else this year - on his injected Husqvarna. The Yamahas were injected - and two of them were in the top 10.

I think its just a matter of time. Three of the top four marques this year were running injected bikes. Only KTM hasnt made the switch yet. And as mentioned above, KTM is always behind the curve when it comes to injection. They are behind BMW/Husky and the Japanese brands on all their bikes switching to EFI, road bikes, enduro bikes racing bikes. I guess they dont put the same amount of R&D into FI as the other brands.

Good comments Walter!
I think KTM's approach using Carbs for the Dakar was a wise choice.
ALL the competition had F.I. or fuel related problems on one or more of their Dakar race bikes ... so perhaps KTM are proceeding with caution until all the bugs are known and can be addressed?

But keep in mind KTM's AMA Super Cross bike (Ryan Dungey) has used Keihin F.I. for two years now ... and I think the race bikes in Europe are F.I. too now. (??)
Also ... production KTM 450's are now F.I., according to reports, and of course the 690 has been F.I. from the start. KTM don't have the deep R&D pockets of BMW & Japanese but I think they've learned a lot from their 990 series twins. I predict F.I. for KTM Dakar bikes by next year.

Seems for your trans ocean submersions ... you guys are better off with simple Carbs. Elec. components and water don't mix too well.

I'm quoting back one of your comments on soft bags to a women prepping for Latin America who insists on hard bags. Her rationale? Security. And yes, she has a lap top! Cheers!

[dashmoto]

Originally Posted by Adv Grifter

Seems for your trans ocean submersions ... you guys are better off with simple Carbs. Elec. components and water don't mix too well.

You know all the bikes on this trip are fuel injected right?

I'd much rather dunk an FI bike in water. Solid state electronics are pretty robust. Carbs have nice overflows/breathers to allow them to fill up with water and require draining.

[Colebatch]

Originally Posted by Adv Grifter

I'm quoting back one of your comments on soft bags to a women prepping for Latin America who insists on hard bags. Her rationale? Security. And yes, she has a lap top! Cheers!

You know how dangerous that is, dont you.

You know I love going against the perceived wisdom. So quoting me is not recommended. Unless you want to get a reaction ...

Non traditional thinking is often unpopular. ... doesnt matter how much you prove it works.

Youre going to get us both in trouble young man !!!

[Franck B]

Originally Posted by EtronX

Just as Alex arrived Erik realized he had to take a dump. Not in five minutes, but now A bit frantic in his eyes he tried to explain this to Alex with not much success He was getting quite desperate when finally Alex got it He jumped over a fence and indicated for Erik to follow him. Erik jumped over with the speed of a man in need. They went to the back of the building and there was an old outhouse with two doors. Erik jumped in through one and squatted down. It was pretty filthy, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. Then he realized there was no paper. He called Alex who gave him some old newspaper that was lying on the floor.

Due to the fact that these were strange conditions to Erik shit, literarily, stopped up. Then Alex, now next door, called out for paper. Erik wobbled to the door, stretched out and gave some well used newspaper to Alex who thanked him and finished up. Then Erik wobbled back and concentrated on the job at hand. As he got more comfortable with the situation and the surroundings he relaxed a bit more and got back to business. Then the door opened and Alex was there starting a conversation with Erik So there was Erik, squatting down with his pants on his knees in an old dirty outhouse in Siberia trying to take a dump and Alex wanted to converse ten inches in front of him This was totally normal for him it seemed

That´s serious piece of adventure . I guess it would have happened a few days earlier, than the words of Steve and Erik to Iker would have been "Just you with this big bike and without "ring of fire" wet wipes ? But do you know what is the BAM? And the VITIM? And their local toilets?"

[geolpilot]

Women are better with soft bags.

[Tony P]

Originally Posted by Franck B

ust you with this big bike and without "ring of fire" wet wipes ? But do you know what is the BAM? And the VITIM? And their local toilets?"

Sorry. I didn't record Waypoints of my 'rural visits'.
But I can give general directions of where to avoid if required.

2009 is not that old so PM me sooner than causing a stink on this Ride Report.

[goatroper]

[QUOTE=EtronX;20603317]



I appreciate your "going to town" shoes. Did you pack those?

[KustomizingKid]

Keep it coming!

I just want to thank you Walter for sharing so much information and providing products for the community. I am about to start prepping my personal bike and your reports and bike build thread are invaluable.

[redroom]

I've been following this RR in lurk mode and enjoying it mucho--please keep 'em coming and thanks for the story, photos, tips, etc., etc., thus far.

This link came to me tonight and I toss it into the mix as it somehow seems germain.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...?device=iphone

[Adv Grifter]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

You know how dangerous that is, dont you.
You know I love going against the perceived wisdom. So quoting me is not recommended. Unless you want to get a reaction ...

Non traditional thinking is often unpopular. ... doesnt matter how much you prove it works.
You're going to get us both in trouble young man !!!

No worries, she's a reasonable girl, not a pigheaded teutonic! ,has an open mind and respect for those with "The Knowledge". YOU GUYS ARE the experts. Period.

I'm just throwing it out there to her ... what she ends up doing is her choice. I back the Sibirsky soft bag method 100% and have no problem defending that choice. I left hard bags behind decades ago for any sort of off road or mixed ON/OFF ride ... after the ones on my R100RS nearly crippled me.

Even just doing mild dual sport I prefer soft luggage. Some westerners are overly suspicious and paranoid in unfamiliar environs about theft ... they believe hard bags keep their stuff safe. Wishful thinking.

[MADSTROM]

Originally Posted by redroom

I've been following this RR in lurk mode and enjoying it mucho--please keep 'em coming and thanks for the story, photos, tips, etc., etc., thus far.

This link came to me tonight and I toss it into the mix as it somehow seems germain.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...?device=iphone

I couldn't stop reading it. Words fail me ... That is such a tragic story, so, so, so sad .

[Renaissanceman]

Just a slight detour while we wait for the next installment...

I came across this article on Genghis Kahn and the search for his burial site. It contains links to a project Nat Geo is working on. Anyone with a computer can download google earth images and look for anomalies in the landscape. You tag them, someone else decides if they look promising, and then, (this is the fun part...) someone gets to go out and investigate the most likely locations
Anyway, I thought it kinda tied in with the whole google earth route planning process, and the interest around GK.

Cool stuff - check it out: http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2...n-genghis-khan

Needless to add, but I must... I'm really enjoying the format - it's fun to get a little adv every day. And I really appreciate the insights into the cultures and people you encounter, both present and historical - Thanks for taking us along!

[Colebatch]

Originally Posted by Renaissanceman

Just a slight detour while we wait for the next installment...

I came across this article on Genghis Kahn and the search for his burial site. It contains links to a project Nat Geo is working on. Anyone with a computer can download google earth images and look for anomalies in the landscape. You tag them, someone else decides if they look promising, and then, (this is the fun part...) someone gets to go out and investigate the most likely locations
Anyway, I thought it kinda tied in with the whole google earth route planning process, and the interest around GK.

Cool stuff - check it out: http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2...n-genghis-khan

Well there is a related documentary here of the Nat Geo search in Mongolia this summer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohCCW4EWXaQ

Basically they reckon they probably found it.