The BAM Road - ultimate test of man and machine

Blackveg · Dec 13, 2012

Colebatch said: ↑

Prices are unfortunately things that cant really be helped. The problem is in making a VERY low volume, large format book with lots of colour pictures. Each one of those factors makes it very expensive. Its not a universal consumption book that can sell 50,000 copies and retail at GBP 19.99.

It was suggested I do it like most of the other adventure motorcycling books out there, small format, black and white, just a few pages of pics, much less text, much more general thoughts than specifics to help it appeal to as wide as possible an audience and done it for a normal adventure motorcycling book price of about 15 quid. But the pictures are such a big part of the story. To not do a book with those pictures in it kinda isnt the result I was looking for. Even if it means only 100 books sell instead of 1000. Its a specialised book covering a specialised topic and the landscapes and images are, to me, a part of that uniqueness.

The sad reality is the adventure bike market is small ... really small. A top selling ADV book, like the new book in the Haynes series - Great Adventure Motorcycling Routes book is going to sell 10,000 copies or so - in bookstores around the world, promoted in magazines, 4th book in a well established series etc. Thats priced at 25 quid. For 264 pages. If a book like that sells 10,000 copies, then I am never going to sell more than a few hundred, at best.

So for someone trying to make a book with loads of colour pics that might sell a few hundred copies if you are lucky, its not a viable economic exercise at any price less than what it is. As it is, no-one makes anything out of it, and loads of people have donated all their time for free. So when someone is unhappy with the price, they are effectively unhappy that the book even exists. Because it cant exist at a lesser price.

The reality is some people will want to buy it, despite the fact that its not cheap. Not everyone, for sure, but some will. I know there are a lot of people who wont be able to afford it, but there is nothing you can do about it. As it is I am doing all I can. To buy it thru normal channels (even Amazon) it would cost a lot more,. By cutting out loads of layers and doing it direct thru Adventure Spec its a lot cheaper. Its a unique topic, full of unique information and experiences. I kinda hope that people who are prepared to pay 30,000 USD for a tour across Siberia would think that 49 quid ($75) for a unique insight and record as part of their preparation is not so unreasonable. So if even just a handful of people want to buy it, then its probably worth making the book. The hundreds and hundreds of hours that go into it will never be paid for. So you do it simply for the aim of sharing the experiences.

Its really not a choice to make the book a 49 pound book. The only alternative was to not make the book in the first place.
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And after making it through this absolutely massive one month of your trek I want to hear the rest. It may take me a little while, but I will own this epic story.

Colebatch said: ↑

Of course there is ... who do you want me to get to sign it for you?
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Well, Titanium Tony comes to mind! I even if I have to stand everyone for a pint of two, I can only imagine the stories get better!

calibro · Dec 30, 2012

I would never said it better....It is really fantastic

Deseret Rider · Feb 9, 2013

I am late but just finished this read----and find that the book is still available on Amazon (and other places) but in paperback only? I would have liked to had a copy in hardback? Wondering if anyone knows where a hardback copy can be had?

6USMC6 · Feb 9, 2013

I've only seen it available in a soft cover edition and I don't believe it was available as a hardcover.

WVhillbilly · Feb 9, 2013

http://www.adventure-spec.com/defau...ling-expedition-journey-siberia-mongolia.html

6USMC6 · Feb 9, 2013

As I said, softcover only.

sion · May 1, 2014

cool BAM reference:

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2014/04/crazy-and-dangerous-railroads.html

scroll down to the last 2 pics

mr moto · Sep 2, 2014

I have just finished re reading this report all over again , and it is still Fantastic
BTW .... in Scotland BAM is an old slang word for a mad or crazy person Somehow that seems kind of appropriate

twinie · Jan 5, 2015

W-o-w!

Larry3020 · Oct 24, 2015

Haha I've just found it. Spent 3 days reading it. Fantastic
Seems the book is out of print.

LittleMac · Oct 24, 2015

Ditto !
What a report !!

Avidrider201 · Mar 31, 2016

holy crap! It took me 3 full days to go through this RR. I need to get back in touch with civilisation now. Incredibly addictive travel blog. Good work team Sibrisky!

wandrob · Apr 2, 2016

Excellent read.

klaviator · Jul 9, 2018

Over 2 years since the last reply to this thread. This is one of the most epic ride reports on this forum. I just started reading it again after the many years since I first read it. It is one of those must read ride reports.

stephenspann27 · Jul 9, 2018

One of my favorites as well. I'm not sure if it's possible to do this today with the current state of affairs in Russia.

keepshoveling · Jul 9, 2018

@Colebatch is putting out videos of sibirsky extreme on YouTube/fb too. Definitely worth a watch.

AteamNM · Jul 9, 2018

He is on FaceBook as well. His vids are incredible. On the Vitam crossing, is it doomed?

Yoggie · Feb 1, 2019

Just found this ride report after reading the recent inmate interview, this was amazing and thank you so much for sharing your amazing experience!

https://advrider.com/colebatch/

slime · Jul 3, 2019

Great RR...Thanks!

Andy Rich · Feb 8, 2022

@Colebatch
What an enthralling read. Last summer I unknowingly purchased the XT ridden by Terry on this trip & was pointed in the direction of this thread by someone enquiring about the whereabouts of the bike in a Facebook group. It’s been fascinating to learn of some of the history of the bike & what it achieved on this trip. If Terry has any more photos or anecdotes of the bike from the trip I would love to see them.

After removing a couple of chavtastic mods acquired over the years, it’s back to being used as intended.

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The BAM Road - ultimate test of man and machine

Blackveg Nunc est Bibendum

calibro Adventurer

Deseret Rider Been here awhile

6USMC6 -U-

WVhillbilly Long timer

6USMC6 -U-

sion sigh-own

mr moto Been here awhile

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