The Long Way..Part Three

[pheepster]

Shit. I would have thrown my bike on the back of a truck going across the Mojave last summer if would mean that I didn't have to ride into that hot hairdryer blowing in my face.

Personally, I like that they loaded the bikes up... on the trucks, on the train, on the plane. Part of the adventure; those parts made it more than just a tour. They rode some shit; they aren't the best riders. But they were traveling. Good stuff.

Plus, now I know what not to do if I ever get to do something that extensive.

Parts were crap and it's fun to make fun of them, but at the same time I'd gladly have a beer with them and take Eve back to my tent.

[BikerBill]

Years ago I did a bit of touring up north into eastern Canada. My whole kit didn't cost me $2000. I paid a bit under $1500 for a Honda 750. I got my tent and sleeping bag at KMART for a total of $40 odd dollars. I rode almost 4,000 miles in just under three weeks and camped all but one night. I rode several long stretches of gravel roads during that trip. My riding partner was riding a 1968 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide. The year was 1976. Of course we didn't cross any rivers or deliberately drive thru any bogs but we did cross a creek or two. No small feat on an Electra Glide!

Last year I rode to California with the same guy. But this time I was riding my Harley-Davidson Road Glide and he was on his new Ultra Classic. My tent cost nearly $300. The bag and sleeping pad another $225. Of course it was much better gear. Over 8,000 miles in 26 days. We're planning a trip to Alaska for our next adventure, but I don't want to ride my Harley on those crappy roads so I plan to buy a BMW R1200GSA. I demo'd a new one last month and loved it. Any suggestions about what luggage to use? I looked at the BMW Adventure bags made by Touratech. I think they were listed as 41 litres for the right side and 29 litres for the left side. I have talked with some owners that used the Micatech bags, but I don't know if I like the side opening doors or not. Any other suggestions about what equipment to use on the Beemer would be appreciated.

[pheepster]

Originally Posted by BikerBill

Years ago I did a bit of touring up north into eastern Canada. My whole kit didn't cost me $2000. I paid a bit under $1500 for a Honda 750. I got my tent and sleeping bag at KMART for a total of $40 odd dollars. I rode almost 4,000 miles in just under three weeks and camped all but one night. I rode several long stretches of gravel roads during that trip. My riding partner was riding a 1968 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide. The year was 1976. Of course we didn't cross any rivers or deliberately drive thru any bogs but we did cross a creek or two. No small feat on an Electra Glide!

Last year I rode to California with the same guy. But this time I was riding my Harley-Davidson Road Glide and he was on his new Ultra Classic. My tent cost nearly $300. The bag and sleeping pad another $225. Of course it was much better gear. Over 8,000 miles in 26 days. We're planning a trip to Alaska for our next adventure, but I don't want to ride my Harley on those crappy roads so I plan to buy a BMW R1200GSA. I demo'd a new one last month and loved it. Any suggestions about what luggage to use? I looked at the BMW Adventure bags made by Touratech. I think they were listed as 41 litres for the right side and 29 litres for the left side. I have talked with some owners that used the Micatech bags, but I don't know if I like the side opening doors or not. Any other suggestions about what equipment to use on the Beemer would be appreciated.

A hotel.

[BikerBill]

Pheepster,

No shit! I figure they did the best they could under difficult circumstances and the trucks were the only way to get it done. I wonder why they didn't ride further up the eastern coast of Russia? Aren't there any roads up in that part of the country? The Alaska Highway was probably like a super highway to those guys after riding in Mongolia and Eastern Russia. I have never ridden to Alaska but I hope to do it soon. I plan to ride all the way to Prudhoe Bay AK. I rode across the desert last summer too. I bugged out early to beat the mid-day heat but I still got cooked. The pool at the campground that night was welcome indeed. Five days prior I was pelted by rain and sleet as I rode across Wyoming in a 50mph wind. My riding buds laughed their asses off at me for bringing a heated jacket liner and gloves, but they weren't laughing in Wyoming! It was mid-June and 42F that day. They shipped some gear back home so I know they figured they had too much stuff on the bikes. I guess the extra weight and all the crashes were too much for the sub-frames on the GS' and they just broke due to the abuse.

[BikerBill]

Pheepster,

Yeah, hotels are nice every now and then. But I like camping most of the time. When my wife rides with me we camp at Holiday Inn.

[NordieBoy]

Originally Posted by Guy Jinbaiquerre

unless you count loading your bike on a big-ass truck as a normal part of adventure touring.

Out there Kamaz'ing is all part of the experience.

[BmwRudy]

Originally Posted by BikerBill

. Any suggestions about what luggage to use? I looked at the BMW Adventure bags made by Touratech. I think they were listed as 41 litres for the right side and 29 litres for the left side. I have talked with some owners that used the Micatech bags, but I don't know if I like the side opening doors or not. Any other suggestions about what equipment to use on the Beemer would be appreciated.

I don't like side openings, but its a individualistic thing. For me its either Jesse luggage or the BMW TT bags. My 09' GSA has TT bags and I love them. Last month did a two up, 5000 mile, 80 percent camping ride and had plenty of space with tent and sleeping bags strapped on top. I have Jesse bags on my Dakar and love them as well. Way more durable then the TT but if you dont lay them down it doesn't matter.

[lemieuxmc]

• Hey Charley! Good on you!

I loved watching the films. I think you were in over your head at Dakar, but I admire the way you gave it your best shot. I would love to ride along for a bit when you pass through the S.D. area. I think you boys would enjoy the part up through Borrego Springs/Ranchita/Idyllwild. Lunch is on me.

[juames]

Anyone hear anything re: Long Way Up?

[Benjava]

Originally Posted by juames

Anyone hear anything re: Long Way Up?

"Long wait up"

[BikerBill]

BMW Rudy,

Hey thanks for the reply! In June '08 I loaded my Harley Road Glide up for a 5 week ride and hit the road. I packed too much gear and shipped about a third of it back home after a week or so. I camped all but four nights on that trip. I was able to pack everything inside of the bags and top case once I downsized my load. It had been about 33 yrs since my last long ride so I guess I forgot what I really needed to pack. In 1976 I rode a '73 Honda CB750K3 up into eastern Canada. My whole outfit including the bike only cost me about $1500! I carried two spare changes of clothes and slept in a $20 sleeping bag. The tent cost less than $40. Nearly 4,000 miles in 18 days. My best friend rode on that trip too. We've been buds since we were 5 yrs old. The 2008 trip actually lasted for 26 days and covered 17 states with total mileage of just over 8,000. My wife had knee surgery 8 weeks prior and was not able to go, but she told me to go anyway. She had a set-back so I headed home early. She's put up with my adventures for over 30yrs and never argued once about any of it.

Anyway I plan to buy a 2009 BMW Adventure but don't know a whole lot about the bikes and their quirks or what the best bags are. Don't plan on riding across Mongolia or Russia anytime soon. The worst roads will likely be gravel or maybe dirt tracks in Alaska. My plan is to ride to Alaska and then ride to Prudhoe Bay. Plan to keep the Harley but don't want to trash it on the bad roads and the Beemer seems like a good bike for that trip. I put about 20 miles on the GSA during the demo ride and liked how the bike felt. I have heard the R1200GSA have had issues with the fuel controller, and electrical systems but I just don't know enough GSA owners to learn about everything. I think the BMW TT bags/top-case would accomodate my gear and I could strap the tent and sleeping bag across the passenger seating area in a dry-bag.

BTW, I loved LWR. Have not seen the other two films yet. My daughter bought LWR and we've watched it many times. She was the reason I got another bike after nearly twenty years without riding. I might have bought a Beemer if I had known I only lived about 50 miles from a dealer. I have logged nearly 60,000 miles on the Road Glide since June '07 without any real issues.

Bill

[macgart]

I liked LWR, LWD, and Dakar. In my opinion, what comes across as whining is just the boys trying to express what they are feeling while doing the trip. It might have been a bit boring if they'd just been completely stoic.

Sure, there are some really hard core adventurers out there, but I sill give Ewan and Charlie the credit they deserve. Adventure, like beauty, is all in the eye of the beholder. One mans cakewalk is another mans adventure. JMHO.

[BikerBill]

MacGart,

I agree with you about Charlie and Ewan's whining. They were just trying communicate how difficult it was at times. I wonder how many adventure trips they had under taken prior to LWR? And their first trip is three and a half months long as they ride around the world! Not bad for beginners. BMW probably doubled their sales of R1200 GS Adventures because of LWR alone. The local dealer says the R1200GS/Adventure is by far their best seller.

My adventure riding has been totally(as much as possible) on paved roadways. I prefer US highways and state backroads to the interstate even though my H-D can eat interstate miles with ease. Interstates seem to steer us away from points of interest and that just defeats my purpose of riding so I avoid them if at all possible. I almost always camp when I tour so riding backroads really adds to the experience.

Bill

[roadhamr]

i like the creativity of the boys not letting an obstacle stop them if you have to load your bike on a train to get through an area then i guess that is what you do. the whining is a product of being pushed to the limit physically and mentally. they are after all actors. i was an actor and i can tell you i never met one that had much of a backbone. i was as close to a steve mcqueen as you would ever get. and that is a stretch!
i just dont understand why they would ignore the warnings that said you cant go then it is impassable. maybe something was lost in translation? i suppose being a canadian i have the luxury of seeing a spring melt every year and understanding how it dratically changes the terrain.

[sonicapollo]

By Any Means 2 (aka Sydney to Tokyo) probably was the best of the post LWR. I do think they should have half an episode of planning, but it turned out well. Mr. B. has gotten the handle of being a host versus a bloke on tour, and it shows. I think they could make a show for smaller tours, of a few episodes a trip.

If they really wanted to make BMW happy, they would get 800GS machines and ride NYC to Jelico and do the TAT, then up to AK and ride to Prudoe bay.