Sibirsky Extreme 2012 - The Toughest Ride of Them All

[O'B]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Well you can take a 1200 Adventure on these roads too (no one has yet I believe) ... the point is the heavier the bike is, the less fun it is. And the more willpower you need. 3 years ago Tony P took a dakar with metal boxes ... only a little bit lighter than a Tenere with metal boxes. And he was 67 years old.

I said before I wouldnt take a Tenere because its too similar to my bike, just a load heavier, less power and drinks more fuel. Same reason I wouldnt take a Dakar ... tho obviously Dakars can and have done this road. I wouldnt tell someone to get one for a trip like this when they can get something much lighter.

Terry took an XT660 3 years ago on these roads - the very basis for the XTZ660, without the fairing and big tank ... and he swapped it for a 30 kg ligher X-country when he got back. Like TonyP, the point is not that you cant do it on a heavier single ... the point is if you have a choice, try and choose something lighter. Even reading Ikers blog once he got to Tynda, he said a 690 KTM would have been a far more sensible choice for the BAM Road than his 990, and the guy is a riding god.

Steve was a beginner off road and took a F800GS and thats even a few kgs heavier than a Tenere ... and I fully approved of him coming with us, despite the fact he was on a heavy bike and was new to off road. I never told him his bike wasnt suitable so dont come. I just told him its going to be harder work for him. He just had to work a lot harder doing it than the rest of us.

And he switched bikes to an XC as soon as he finished in Siberia.

I never said these roads (Western BAM) arent feasible on a Tenere. Eastern BAM maybe ... Eastern BAM is much much more difficult. If I was going back to the Eastern BAM again, then I would definitely take a bike even lighter than my XC.

This might be a year that the Eastern Bam is possible. After reading your reports it seems that it is entirely dependant on the weather, Here in the Pnwet there is talk that spring is going to come early and we are going to have a dry spring and summer. Of course we hope for that every year. All those swamps you were riding through would have to be a lot more dryed out. It seems you have to monitor conditions like the surfers do and be ready to go when the conditions are right. It would be quite a feat to ride the whole road. A light bike would certainly have to be used. I must say this is the best RR I have read. A lot of your photos reminds me of the PNW. With the rain, scenery and roads.

[EtronX]

Fellow adventurers

I am currently upgrading my IT department. As soon as this is done (tomorrow) I'll come back strong. The new iMac 27" should be great for editing video. There will be more clips coming in the next few days. Both from where we are now in the thread and earlier

We got some nice riding clips, some river clips and last but not least rail road bridges clips

Disco clips Submarine clips H**l, we even have nude clips

[O'B]

Walter has anybody ever ridden the entire Bam as it sits now? If so when was the last time it was ridden?

[EtronX]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

I decided to jump in and check it out. I tried to walk across and find a way ... but everywhere I turned was too deep. At one point the depth and current swept me off my feet and I began drifting downstream, unable to get traction with my feet due to my buoyancy. When I finally regained my feet, now 20 - 30 yards downstream from where I lost my feet, I decided thats enough. I cant even walk across the river, there is no way we are going to get the bikes to ride through it. Now soaking wet up to my chest, I returned to the guys waiting by the shore and told them we would have to backtrack 8 km to Kuanda township and see if we can find a truck to take us over.

Coming ashore again from the Kuanda River Wet from the top of our heads to our soles For those who wonders, the water was cold and the current strong

[enduro0125]

Originally Posted by 09Prodigy

In other words.. Please don't call a Basque a Spaniard.. It is like calling a Canadian an American.

No,it's like calling a Québécois a Canadian.

[EtronX]

When you do the BAM and ROB you inevitably have to cross a river or two.

Some you drive through with ease.

Some you drive through with difficulty.

Some you try to drive through.

Some will challenge your persistence.

Some you will conquer.

Some will conquer you.

But all will make your feet look like this

[EtronX]

Originally Posted by O'B

Walter has anybody ever ridden the entire Bam as it sits now? If so when was the last time it was ridden?

In Tynda we met Max. He rode the whole eastern BAM two years ago with some girl I can't remember the name of. Western BAM quite a few has done.

[09Prodigy]

Originally Posted by enduro0125

No,it's like calling a Québécois a Canadian.

[kyns]

Originally Posted by EtronX

Coming ashore again from the Kuanda River Wet from the top of our heads to our soles For those who wonders, the water was cold and the current strong

Why not strip before going in the water, then you would at least have dry clothes to put on, while waiting for the truck...?

I would at least remove most clothes and shoes when going in the water to investigate, or to ride across.

Is there a reason you guys like to get your gear wet all the time ? Or are you guys just stupid ? It must have been getting cool there allready...

[enduro0125]

Originally Posted by 09Prodigy

Perhaps, but a much better example than the other.

[EtronX]

Originally Posted by kyns

Why not strip before going in the water, then you would at least have dry clothes to put on, while waiting for the truck...?

I would at least remove most clothes and shoes when going in the water to investigate, or to ride across.

Is there a reason you guys like to get your gear wet all the time ? Or are you guys just stupid ? It must have been getting cool there allready...

With the amount of rivers we had to cross we would have to strip the whole day This takes forever...

If you go barefoot you might step on something you don't like. Then the trip might be over.

Eventually all your stuff dries.

[kyns]

Originally Posted by EtronX

With the amount of rivers we had to cross we would have to strip the whole day This takes forever...

If you go barefoot you might step on something you don't like. Then the trip might be over.

Eventually all your stuff dries.

Ok, makes sence.

I know i would get sick, if i had to ride wet like that for days.

[PaulRS]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Yes ... the greedy fu@ker on the bridge could have made an easy 5000 rubles in 2 minutes ... but he wanted to screw us for 25,000. It was enjoyable seeing him staring at us as we rode the truck over.

I myself would have been mighty tempted to give the guy the finger.

But then again, like you said, the next town is just a phone call away...............................
Might be a bad idea to upset the powers that be in those regions.

Good job, carry on.

Paul.

[Yamezz]

Walter et al, if I can back track for a second to Mongolia; where do the little towns you came across get their power? We saw that the gers have solar panels, but do the little isolated towns have diesel generators?

[Fishbonker]

Originally Posted by EtronX

When you do the BAM and ROB you inevitably have to cross a river or two.

Some you drive through with ease.

Some you drive through with difficulty.

Some you try to drive through.

Some will challenge your persistence.

Some you will conquer.

Some will conquer you.

But all will make your feet look like this

I've seen better looking feet on a cadaver.