Sibirsky Extreme 2012 - The Toughest Ride of Them All

[just jeff]

Originally Posted by ROD CURRIE

I've only ridden with one guy that has the skill to ride a big "dualsport" like a AT or 950 Adv through serious terrain, and he's doing the Dakar this year. The rest of we mortals just get exhausted (and scared) wrestling that much mass through sand, mud and rocks-and picking the damn' things up-hence the lightweight single pot bikes and disciplined packing.

But if you're looking for a bike that's slow, heavy, with shit susension, comedy brakes and unreliable too (why not go the whole hog?) do your brains in and try a KLR. It's the bike that does everything...badly!
Prepare for a storm of protest from KLR-ers. I'll apologise now. Sorry guys...only winding you up.

Hmmmm.....Well it seems that you guys have had all the same complaints about you bikes through the posts in this thread and as well have paid about TWICE the cost of the humble KLR to boot!!
Regards....just jeff

[enduro0125]

Originally Posted by CharlestonADV

Hummmm....aren't you the guy with the problematic KTM?

Originally Posted by just jeff

Hmmmm.....Well it seems that you guys have had all the same complaints about you bikes through the posts in this thread and as well have paid about TWICE the cost of the humble KLR to boot!!
Regards....just jeff

Two on the line.

[Snowlover]

Great report and incredible adventure. Truth known, they spent more on their clothing than I did on my KLR 17,000 miles ago. I wouldn't ever suggest I would take my beater on anything close to this magnitude, but the scales of expense, expectations and other things in life tip the scales how ever you want them to tip.

Back to the topic @ hand!!

[Adv Grifter]

Originally Posted by Beam(st)er

Hi Finnduro,
I think lighter colours would have been much cooler indeed.
I'm not sure but maybe lighter colours would have saved me from having a heat stroke...
Some more vents would have been better for sure!

Yea, I was wondering about that too. That Klim gear looks to me like Winter gear. Heavy, thick ... typical of the Ski gear Klim made before jumping on the MC bandwagon. In those temps it should be ALL MESH, full flow. But hey, free gear is a good thing I guess ... even if you Roast in it!

I do agree with very thin, wicking, high tech under garments ... but as soon as you stop ... they act just like another layer ... HOTTER. If you keep moving and it's not too humid, then cooling happens and prevents dehydration too. In heat I sometimes lose my jacket (I wear separate back protector and elbow guards) and just ride in a long sleeve jersey. But if over about 110F ... best to zip up and seal up. Actually cooler. Your sweat keeps you cool ... but you need LOTS of water.

Riding a lot in California and Mexican Deserts ... its full vent gear up to about 105F. Those Klim pants look a bit like snow pants? Good protection though.

The Klim Baja and Dakar pants are thin, pretty light ... I go lighter ... and no dark colors. Padded shorts under.

Water filtration system? Christ knows you guys crossed a thousand feckin' rivers.

Next time ... bring a nice floppy hat with a wide brim. Anytime you take your helmet off ... use your Hat. Makes a difference with Heat Stroke ... which can kill you.
Growing up in and working in the Desert year round teaches a few survival skills. (best one you did: FIND SHADE!)

[Colebatch]

We wanted to do about another 50 km before calling it a night. Before long we reached the road bed Rod mentioned earlier. Why would there be a road bed out here? It must have been related to the sensitive military zone this used to be until 20 years ago

Unfortunately for Rod, much of the last 50 km looked like this:




Until we reached the spot that Prutser, Beamster and I decided would be our campsite:



Terry came along, towing Rod, a few minutes later, and we all set about making camp: (you can see the abandoned washed out 1 metre high (3 ft) road bed in the background going across the screen)

[Colebatch]

So where are we headed tomorrow Rod?



Terry manoevered his bike into position as a windbreak ...



Rod summoned the fire gods:



A storm interrupted our dinner preparations and we all sprinted back to the tents for 5 minutes, but were soon back making dinner again:



And as we hit the vodka, I remember discussing with Rod and Terry about the isolation of this place. All of us had ridden in Mongolia, and between the three of us, very extensively. Our discussion was about how this was so much more remote here. In Mongolia, everywhere you stop, a nomad will appear within minutes from nowhere to greet you or stare at you. Here, we felt truly isolated. As if there wasnt another soul within 30 miles (the last un-named village 50 km back)

[far]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Interesting ... what is it?

I think is a crf suspension and sub frame wit the At engine and CR plastics
no much info only the weight of about 170 Kg

http://fotos.miarroba.com/fotos/7/f/7f0ab7a7.jpg

http://fotos.miarroba.com/fotos/5/d/5d671dc2.jpg

http://fotos.subefotos.com/ba1a9ee59...6bbd67e79o.jpg


And yours Ride Report is getting better and nicer pictures too.

[Colebatch]

Originally Posted by far

I think is a crf suspension and sub frame wit the At engine and CR plastics
no much info only the weight of about 170 Kg

http://fotos.miarroba.com/fotos/7/f/7f0ab7a7.jpg

http://fotos.miarroba.com/fotos/5/d/5d671dc2.jpg

http://fotos.subefotos.com/ba1a9ee59...6bbd67e79o.jpg


And yours Ride Report is getting better and nicer pictures too.

The third pic looks like it is still in the AT Main Frame ... not sure what frame is used for the bike in the first two pics

[ROD CURRIE]

Originally Posted by BELSTAFF

Touche, kind sir

Damn'....you got me!

[ac72]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

The third pic looks like it is still in the AT Main Frame ... not sure what frame is used for the bike in the first two pics

Yeah, the black one basically looks like an AT with different forks, seat and plastics. The other looks different and I think (although it might be the photo) that the swing arm is longer. Either way most of the weight is in the donk so you're kind-of on a hiding to nothing.

Anyhow, great report as usual. Were you not concerned about contamination from the A-bomb tests, especially with the dust you'd be kicking-up?

[jordiakof]

Originally Posted by ac72

Yeah, the black one basically looks like an AT with different forks, seat and plastics. The other looks different and I think (although it might be the photo) that the swing arm is longer. Either way most of the weight is in the donk so you're kind-of on a hiding to nothing.

Anyhow, great report as usual. Were you not concerned about contamination from the A-bomb tests, especially with the dust you'd be kicking-up?

in spain this AT superenduro

http://www.voromv.com/2010/11/prueba...perenduro.html

http://www.voromv.com/2010/10/africa...perenduro.html

[nachtflug]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

So we said farewell to this tiny little village in the middle of nothing:

Hi. I hate to ask again but this is fascinating. I have a world map at work where I keep staring it and visualizing these pictures. Could you google earth the location of this from a relatively large scale so I (and everyone else) can orient this area?

thank you.

ps. what is he using for fuel for the little fire? twigs? did you guys grab sticks along the way to haul for firewood? fascinating ride. that airhead is winning me (back) over. that thing is cool.

[ac72]

Originally Posted by nachtflug

ps. what is he using for fuel for the little fire? twigs? did you guys grab sticks along the way to haul for firewood? fascinating ride. that airhead is winning me (back) over. that thing is cool.

I think he's lighting an MSR stove by the looks of the fuel bottle. If you don't want to carry meths to prime it, you can use a little petrol from the main bottle but you do get a good flame and lots of soot all over the stove.

[ROD CURRIE]

Originally Posted by ac72

I think he's lighting an MSR stove by the looks of the fuel bottle. If you don't want to carry meths to prime it, you can use a little petrol from the main bottle but you do get a good flame and lots of soot all over the stove.

That's right. You can just see the red fuel bottle behind my leg

[Prutser]

Originally Posted by nachtflug

what is he using for fuel for the little fire? twigs? did you guys grab sticks along the way to haul for firewood? fascinating ride. that airhead is winning me (back) over. that thing is cool.

Rod was using a Chinese copy of an MSR stove.(there is a (long)story about the stove(s) which Rod might tell)
I brought a MSR WhisperLite.