Sibirsky Extreme 2012 - The Toughest Ride of Them All

I don't know what's more bad ass, riding that bridge so fast or riding so many thousands of miles solo to do it. Congrats Sir!

It's funny how often this pic comes up on this thread and rightly so. But think about it folks....its not like they could cut off a branch from a nearby tree and test the depths of the water.

And you would have customers lining up out the door...


I know, I know.. still catching up.. at the moment only 50 pages to go...

What kind of bike is that Iker is riding? He has no fear and speed is his ally---something about momentum?

I like his attitude though I understand not his words-------

A 990 Adventure.




Thanks for the amazing RR. Colebach's reports are always top shelf stuff, this one is just a class above.

I wanted to thank you for the considerable effort you made to film this video. I just finished watching it and really enjoyed it. You have such a pashion for adventure moto, and an obovious interest in this part of the globe, not just in exploration but in its history and people. I appriciated the video more after reading several of your ride reports. HJ

Sorry for Off Topic.

Interesting. This has been modified from the album cover photo. Here the crossing stripes have been changed to possibly resemble a piano keyboard.

At the time, I lived just up the road by the red letter mail box on the left (Abercorn Place).

But a true story I love -
A friend of mine was passing about 10 years later and saw road workers stripping the tarmac prior to resurfacing the road. On impulse, he got the Foreman's permission and collected all the metal studs and pieces of tarmac from the crossing.
He then got a letter from Westminster City Council works dept confirming this was the first resurfacing for 15 years. Therefore he had the actual crossing the Beatles were photographed on.
Then he made a small series of presentation boxes with glass lids, containing pieces of the black and white crossing and a metal stud, together with the Council letter confirming authenticity. Very occasionally (to preserve rarity) he puts one in an auction of 60s pop/music memorabilia.

I will not say what they sold for except to say it was a very, very profitable chance encounter and bit of quick thinking.

Sorry for O/T

With the 40+ litre tanks.

After our rest day in Zhigalovo, we had breakfast ... (Terry likes his drinking yoghurt)


(pic by Steve)

packed up on an overcast day, rain threatening,


(pic by Steve)

and headed down a 300 km (190 mile) rough stretch of road (The Zhigalovo Road) towards the BAM ... from where we planned to turn right and head on to Severobaikalsk (North Baikal City) for the evening.


(pic by Steve)

Its a rough rocky road in the main, and when it wasnt rocky, it was muddy and slippery.


(pic by Steve)

We couldnt really go any faster than we did, as you can see from Steve's forks ... Using 220 of his 230mm suspension travel.

Also note the rim in the background ... this was the first full day offroad for the F800GS and it had a small ding in the rim already ...


(pic by Steve)


(pic by Steve)

But after 300 km of the Zhigalovo Road, we reached the BAM, and the villlage of Okunaisky.


(pic by Steve)

Then fuelled up in the first town with fuel we hit on the BAM, Ulkan, and prepared to continue along the BAM Road towards Severobaikalsk, the target for our day. (see also Steve's pics on page 203)


(pic by Steve)

That is one sad looking rim. Are you just trying to beat on it ( straighten ) a bit or is there any chance to have a replacement shipped ahead to somewhere along the way.

Walter what happened to you helmet camera?
i'm missing the shots you made in the beginning...

Hard Bastrad that Terry - it is hard enough drinking yoghurt, but through your eye!?!?

You know how this people is.
There is now something to be beatten and for sure someone will try it.
Guess your record also deserves an improvement, "The slowest Vitim river bridge crossing, with a bike".
Regarding Iker's record, well, those daring to brake it and reminding the promoter of this precious events, someone will take a "COLDBATH".

Wait - all will be revealed

I think you risk more than that. Your bike and luggage will be history, thats foe sure. If water levels are low you should be able to swim ashore - but when the water is high the volume of current has to be seen to be believed. If you managed to get ashore, in all your bike gear helmet and boots, in near freezing water, it could be miles downstream.

When the waters are high and fast I would give a biker less than an even chance.

I'm well aware of the dangers but think those arguments will only improve adrenaline...

Definitely true - you saw in the video how pumped up even a guy as skilled as Iker was after the bridge! And that was his third crossing of the bridge that day. Even for him his earlier crossings were slower and more measured.

Someone will have an accident there one of these years. It wont be pretty. I can only advise anyone trying to think carefully and have two practice runs there and back to get as familiar as possible with the bridge and its surface first before a third run for the record.

But lets leave further bridge talk till we get to the bridge. Its still a few days away.

Great RR and full of surprises

Vitim River Bridge will be clearly a challenge to be faced one day

Thanx also for the hints and links to other related stuff like the shipping crate shop

Walter, excelent RR as usual....

Can't wait to see new pics of that bridge. This one still resonates.

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Got me thinking I need to take a better look at my rims.:huh

Still scares the sh1t out of me too !

But as Colebatch says, save the bridge for later. There will no doubt be pages of comment and discussion then.

Yes the BAM is a rim killer!
That one in the pic on my Dakar there was an old steel rim from an old JAWA.
My original rim had bent beyond unbendability and the wonderful crew in Komsomolsk-na-Amur build this one onto my existing hub and spokes.

But, as you see - even that bent and dented.
And poor Steve hadn't reached the BAM proper yet! But he is smiling.