Sibirsky Extreme 2012 - The Toughest Ride of Them All

[ac_elite]

Originally Posted by mbravo

Walter, having read this far through the thread, and also after browsing quite a bit through your bike build thread as well, I felt the need to ask your opinion - do you think a g650 Sertao is a viable platform for adventurization similar in spirit to what you have done with XC? Naturally, the more why's you could list, either way, the better :-)

Greetings Walter and crew and thanks for the phenomenal job - We love it -

I have the same inquiry as mbravo, and since we have a bit of time before Rod gets going and the Vikings return, what do you think about the Sertao as a basic platform for something like what your doing. I say like because I see the type of riding (terrain) you have been riding for the last few months as part of a greater journey that would also include a fair amount of city/road riding.

This been said assuming you properly ''Adventurize" (forks, shocks, rims, gear, etc...) would the Sertao indeed be a good platform, or does some of the electronic bells and whistles that comes with it makes it subject to too much breakage.

Thanks so much

[sasho]

Originally Posted by sonnyboy

It can only be interesting a conversation with vodka being common ground .

I can vouch with absolute certainty that speaking Russian gets quite easier and more "free flowing" with vodka

[dfhepner]

Originally Posted by Lornce

That idea's been around quite a while. Surprised it hasn't seen broader application over the years.

What about this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5NsmZcLAdM

[Creeker747]

Originally Posted by ROD CURRIE

So, In the absence of Viking-biking-porn we start back towards Moscow from when I met the guys tomorrow.
There'll be an overlap once Geir and the gang come back as my trip took a couple of weeks so you'll need to put up with us trampling over each other occasionally.

+5 Trample on!

[Scribe]

Dammit, now I want a Fordson Snow Motor!

[Blackalac]

Do you think the Fordson Snow Motor is OSHA approved?

[Deseret Rider]

Do you have anymore pictures of that Max guy? If so---please?

[Theshantha]

Dear Walter,

The best ride adventure I ever read. BAM road is one of my dream. I'm a poor fellow who lives in Sri Lanka and ride Honda XR250R. I did most of the Sri Lankan dirt roads when time/money permits me.

All the best for your future riding. If you have any plan to visit Sri Lanka let me know. My contact details theshantha@hotmail.com

Best regards
Theshantha

[Theshantha]

This is for your honor:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

best regards
Theshantha

[Colebatch]

Originally Posted by Lornce

That idea's been around quite a while. Surprised it hasn't seen broader application over the years.

Absolutely ... very strange they exist only in the world of bizarre engineers. But they seem so funky. Maybe fuel consumption is insane ?

[svestenik]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Absolutely ... very strange they exist only in the world of bizarre engineers. But they seem so funky. Maybe fuel consumption is insane ?

Also, since it so easily digs terrain, it is unsuitable for any type of road. You would have to leave it somewhere on the outskirts of your town and change vehicles. Good for remote places, but pass over the same patch of earth few times and you will have a quagmire there...

[azorat]

Originally Posted by EtronX

For the next week I will be off the grid. I am paying back and taking the whole bunch to Italy for skiing We have rented an apartment with no internet. ...

EtronX:
if I may ask: where in Italy?
I live in Trento - relatively near the northern border with Austria. If you are within reach, I would be honored to come and meet you and family (and offer you a beer as a very partial repayment for taking us along in your wonderful adventure on the bikes).

If you still read me, please send me mail at azorat@gmail.com

By the way: today the weather here has changes and it is raining in Trento - probably nice fluffy snow higher up in the mountains.

[Colebatch]

Originally Posted by Theshantha

Dear Walter,

The best ride adventure I ever read. BAM road is one of my dream. I'm a poor fellow who lives in Sri Lanka and ride Honda XR250R. I did most of the Sri Lankan dirt roads when time/money permits me.

I am very grateful, but I should say that I dont have a lot of honour, so be wary of doing too much for it !

The world is changing and what may seem impossible now financially may be simple in 10 years time. I have no doubt that Sri Lanka will grow much faster than western countries in the next 10 years and so too will your ability to do rides like this. 19 years ago I visited the dirt poor countries of China and Russia and Mongolia on a bike for the first time and the idea that they would be doing stuff like I was doing seemed impossible. Now adventure biking and enduro travelling are quite popular in Russia and I travel many times with Russian guys. This year in Mongolia I met ONLY russian adventure bikers. Mongolia itself has become the fastest growing economy in the world (18% GDP forecast for 2013 and about the same rate for the last bunch of years too) and UlaanBaatar has gone from an impoverished city cast off from Soviet economic protection with 3-4 cars sleepily making their way down the main street, to 24/7 traffic jams of Lexuses and current model Landcruisers. I guess the Chinese dont do adventure motorcycling yet, but they are the largest global market for many luxury products such as Omega swiss watches etc. This was unthinkable 19 years ago when I toured the impoverished country where the really really rich back then were lucky if they could afford a volkswagen. Now its all Range Rovers, Bentleys etc. Same in Russia. 19 years ago you were rich in Russia if you even had a car. Now half of Moscow drives current model Range Rovers.

If you have an XR250R now, I can barely imagine what you will have in a decade, but certainly your dream of riding the BAM road will happen if you keep your determination and keep the dream alive. And that pleases me.

[Colebatch]

Originally Posted by ac_elite

I have the same inquiry as mbravo, ... , what do you think about the Sertao as a basic platform for something like what your doing. I say like because I see the type of riding (terrain) you have been riding for the last few months as part of a greater journey that would also include a fair amount of city/road riding.

This been said assuming you properly ''Adventurize" (forks, shocks, rims, gear, etc...) would the Sertao indeed be a good platform, or does some of the electronic bells and whistles that comes with it makes it subject to too much breakage.

Thanks so much

Well i dont think the Sertao offers any potential that the XC doesnt, except 30+ kgs more weight.

The only advantage I see it has over an Xchallenge (or Xcountry if you are of the shorter persuasion), is that its probably better for someone who wants to make no modifications.

If you are going to spend time, effort and money adventurising, then you are better off starting with one of the much lighter XC bikes. They have same brakes, better engine (same basis but with 10% more power - 53hp vs 48 hp), better wheels, better standing position, and are more spacious. The F650 Dakar / Sertao are much more cramped in the leg due to a much shorter spacing between seat and footpeg.

If you definitely wanted a new bike, then look at the Husqvarna 650 Terra - again, same brakes, same engine / gearbox, more power, lighter and cheaper than a sertao. It handles better, is a 10 years more modern design ... And now that Husky is being sold, BMW dealers will probably offer them even cheaper !

I gotta be honest with you, I dont see a lot of upside for the sertao. Its not a bad platform, just that there are better options from exactly the same stable that offer the same engine / gearbox / brake /general engineering combination. Its very difficult for me to find an angle where I think the Sertao is a better choice. Every single angle seems to point to other bikes. Same engineers behind all of the above bikes. Mostly the same key components.

I dont think there is any notable upside in city / road riding in a sertao over an XC bike or the Husky. Again, same engine, same brakes, same size (21 inch) front wheel. If anything the Husky is said to have excellent handling on the road ... it is after all a much more modern design.

The level of electronics on a bike like Sertao or XC or Husky is very very low by modern standards. Its definitely not a major issue. A modern 1200GS will have about 10 times the electronic complexity. These really are very simple bikes whose only main electronic component is the EFI system. And BMW sourced bikes have very reliable EFI generally so to me its a non issue.

Chris Scott of Adventure Motorcycling Handbook fame reviewed the Husky here:
http://adventure-motorcyclingh.com/2...ra-quick-spin/

[sedd]

Originally Posted by Colebatch

Absolutely ... very strange they exist only in the world of bizarre engineers. But they seem so funky. Maybe fuel consumption is insane ?

additionally to gravity force, this kind of vehicle must overcome friction force between they "wheels" and ground.
It's a big waste of engine power, I think
So they could be used only on the soft ground with low friction...