Ewan's bikes at Coventry Transport Museum - pics

[bikecat]

I think that Charley and Ewan had done more than most people, probably including those who criticise them.

One cannot take away that their series had done a lot for introducing adventure riding to the masses and non-riding public.

I've always wondered what happened to Jupiter's bike, now I know that its resting place .. thanks!

[LoneStar]

Very cool! Always wondered if his bikes were sitting in his garage

Loved LWR and can say it has brought many riders into the sport. Even my friends who don't ride loved watching it.

It's ridiculous that they get ragged on for having a support crew with them. They were filming a documentary and why in the hell would they risk blowing a film production and losing a few million dollars? I wouldn't. For some reason, some folks seem to forget they actually rode, pushed, crashed and drug those bikes around the world, as if that doesn't count

[Pickup man]

Charlie and Ewan revolutionized adventure riding in a sense, and have transformed many non adv riders into one.
Of course there will always be people criticizing them for the support crew etc.... but remember, they were making
documentary films and it was needed.

I have a feeling Charlies bikes are at his house and he still rides them.

[El Gato]

Originally Posted by LoneStar

Very cool! Always wondered if his bikes were sitting in his garage

Loved LWR and can say it has brought many riders into the sport. Even my friends who don't ride loved watching it.

It's ridiculous that they get ragged on for having a support crew with them. They were filming a documentary and why in the hell would they risk blowing a film production and losing a few million dollars? I wouldn't. For some reason, some folks seem to forget they actually rode, pushed, crashed and drug those bikes around the world, as if that doesn't count

This ^^

I have nothing but respect for what Charlie and Ewan did, both as individuals pursuing their passion, and as ambassadors for our sport. I loved the LWR and LWD series, and am thankful that I got to live vicariously through them in these series.

[johnny80s]

I have to say that those guys got me into adventure riding and long distance riding in general. I really loved the long way round. They are why I fell in love with the GS.

[Stig O'Tracy]

I owe my motorcycle renaissance to LWR. I watched it and got pretty interested. Then I lent the DVD to a mate who went out and got a license and then purchased a 1200 GS on the strength of his viewing.

About a year later he lent me the GS for a couple of weeks. Having not ridden for more than 20 years it was a little daunting but after 2 weekends I was hooked.

I bought an 1150 GS 3 years ago and more recently an 1100 GS (from an inmate in Missoula MT) which after 3000 miles of touring through the PNW I'm storing at my brother's place in Portland OR. The GS is the perfect bike for touring the backroads of Australia or anywhere for that matter.

If it were not for that Ewan and Charlie's efforts on the GSA's and their story I'd have missed out on some great places, meeting some great people and of course ADVRIDER.

I'll make it a point to get to that museum if I ever get back to London.

[Desert2202]

I agree, setting up all those shots would have been a pain in the arse, they did a fantastic job. I would love to see those bikes

Originally Posted by HoneyBunz

Charley and Ewan are awesome!
No other adventure riders did a better job of sharing their experiences with the rest of us.
Having camera and support crews probably complicated things as often as not.

[Lobby]

I think it's cool seeing the bikes that were used in the films. LWR was a great story told very well.

[Slippy Chips]

I can't believe people minimizing the LWR trip because they had support (or whatever reason). No matter how hard-core you or anyone else thinks they are THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE MORE HARD-CORE.

Why can't people appreciate the challenge they took on for what it was and not try to one up others. They rode a freakin motorcycle around (and down) the world! Maybe someone else did it without support. Well, maybe someone else did it on a bicycle. Hey, maybe the next guy will walk blindfolded while balancing a VW on his head.

It's an ADVENTURE and that is certainly what they went on. I, for one, got the fever for riding a GS from watching the entire series in one sitting. But I'm probably the least hard-core guy on this forum, so what do I know. If I meet Charlie or Ewan beers are on me!

[RetrogradE]

I saw the two bikes at SEMA about 8-9 years ago. ADV riding wasn't even on my radar back then so I didn't pay much attention to the bikes. I snapped a few pictures (which I can't find right now), though, and I remember even back then being impressed with the sheer size of the bikes--not to mention the amount of shit hanging from them.

Very cool.

[duke944]

Originally Posted by Slippy Chips

I can't believe people minimizing the LWR trip because they had support (or whatever reason). No matter how hard-core you or anyone else thinks they are THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE MORE HARD-CORE.

Why can't people appreciate the challenge they took on for what it was and not try to one up others. They rode a freakin motorcycle around (and down) the world! Maybe someone else did it without support. Well, maybe someone else did it on a bicycle. Hey, maybe the next guy will walk blindfolded while balancing a VW on his head.

It's an ADVENTURE and that is certainly what they went on. I, for one, got the fever for riding a GS from watching the entire series in one sitting. But I'm probably the least hard-core guy on this forum, so what do I know. If I meet Charlie or Ewan beers are on me!

I agree. I think those that don't are either jealous or haters - either way who cares?

[feldjäger]

Originally Posted by Denalidirt

I don't get it myself. I see dozens of GS all summer long loaded just like that. Some folks I had the pleasure of talking to had over 450 days on the road and 100,000 miles. all of which had no camera crew/ support truck. Fixed all repairs themselves and slept on the ground. Though I'm a fan of Ewan as an actor I don't think his bike is "special". MO
Take Ted on the other hand, he road for four years and covered 64,000 miles and 45 countries, in 1973. 28 years later he did the same thing, at 70yrs old, but only took three years the second time around.

I think what those guys did was bring adventure riding to a new audience. I'm willing to bet there were more people inspired by those two rides, than Ted. I still think KTM has regrets...

[PukaWai]

A museum? Oh bummer, I thought he'd still be riding that thing around. It's only got some 20k miles on it, barely broken in (pun intended)!
I didn't even know about their journey or film until long after I bought my 1150 GSA, and saw LWR for the first time only a few months ago. Haven't read the book yet, so I was wondering if anybody knows just how much support the much maligned support crew actually offered? I know they were there at borders, but even I call for support whenever I have to deal with bureaucrats. Seems like whenever sh*t happened, the support crew was not around and they had to deal with it themselves.
I think the film was great, although it dragged a bit at the beginning. , and you gotta remember this is a relatively low-budget affair when it comes to making movies.

[Lensgrinder]

Originally Posted by duke944

I agree. I think those that don't are either jealous or haters - either way who cares?

Or Posers.

I enjoy watching the videos over and over.

You all have said it well, I can't add to it, except that I agree.

[WindSailor]

Originally Posted by Lensgrinder

Or Posers.

I enjoy watching the videos over and over..

I do too. Most people are envious, including me. I simply can not afford to do that, and love watching videos of other people who can and do. Hats off to those guys who accomplished something that KTM said couldn't be done.

It's all about the adventure; the people, the scenery and the ride getting there and back.

And Ewan had shown the bikes can be fairly resistant to crashes. One of these days he's going to kick my ass if I don't leave that alone. It just goes to show that even celebrities can have bad riding days - or two - or three - or... Damn... got to leave that alone. Would have loved to see the unedited version.