Eastbound, to the Stans

IN !!!!

Hi Inmates,

Thanks for your enthusiasm! Since we will be spending some time together, I thought I introduce myself and my ride.

I’m in a bit of an unusual position. I can’t actually ride a bike for long stretches of time. I run a cosmic microwave background telescope at the Geographic South Pole.


My work place, about a km from the Geographic South Pole

I spend up to 9.5 months at a time at the Pole. Naturally, we have no bikes there. A snowmobile is as good as it gets.


That’s the Cryo Cavalry in full swing

It’s actually a great place to live and work.


Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in the winter


The Geographic South Pole

I ran our last evolution of the telescope through three successful years of observations. Eventually it was time to leave and live life to the fullest.


My ride home: A New York Air National Guard LC-130

On my trip to Iran I enjoyed the gravel roads and off road sections the most and I knew I wanted a lighter bike that was more suited for that purpose. I don’t spend much time in any one place and thus neither had the time nor the place to endlessly tinker with a bike, which is a bit of a shame, because I like doing that. I love the Internet age. Information on just about anything is readily available and I don’t have to make all the mistakes myself anymore :d. I read a lot on ADVRider and the reasoning and practical experience with the BMW XChallenge, thankfully well documented here, here and elsewhere, convinced me to go that route. It was just a matter of finding a low mileage, used bike, ordering the parts and throwing them on.


The bike, right after I bought it

So, I spend about four weeks in early 2013 buying a used bike and ordering the parts. While waiting for the parts, I had a quick four week dash to Istanbul, Egypt, and Jordan, sadly not on a bike. After my return I went to Holland to get progressive fork springs and a new rear shock installed at Hyperpro in Alphen by Prutser and spend three days at Erik’s Hot Rod Welding workshop, installing all the parts (Xtank, fairing, luggage rack, front fender) he had waiting for me while enjoying his and Dianne’s outstanding hospitality. The day before I left Geir rolled in on his XChallenge and we spend an evening enjoying Erik’s amazing cooking while drinking and sharing stories.

So, this is the bike all prepped, just before I left:

Even though the DRZ is a good bike but if it is compared to such a bike as yours the XChallenge 650 fully loaded ready to go it makes the DRZ look like a "made in china" toy

The XChallenge was also on my list of bikes to use for my trip but fate handed me the DRZ last minute

And with spending 9.5 months at a time do people move there familys out there? if not it must be a single mans/womens job ?

Also are you running mefo's

man.....your photos are amazing!!!!!!!!!!

Looking forward to this...thanks for sharing!!

FFFFKKK. Another epic ride report.

I'm gonna ride along with your report, thank you.

Totally In!!!! Steffen, looks like you'll be traveling very light..... Love the Tenere nod.

you have the F800 GS front fender on there ... Did Erik or Prutser make up some brackets?

I have heard all about you from my time at Pole. Unfortunately we just missed each other....

I cant wait to see this report!

I'm in!

Definitely in
I'm not toomuch of a FB fan, but this time it helped getting me here

Are you who I think you are? Did Trudy and Lance stay with you this summer?

Yes, Erik made the brackets. I measured the clearance on your bike at Prutser's workshop and Erik worked of that.

Heh, heh, glad somebody got it. The bike came with a scratched RHS sticker. The BMW steeler wants EUR 40 for _ONE_ sticker. Printing a set of my own was less than 10.

Not traveling quite that light. You'll see.

Subscribed and looking forward to this ride report.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is going to be a great one!!, I can tell!. Bring it on mate!!.
Cheers from Paraguay

I'm in!