TV2 The Long Way Round

[T.I.E]

sometime at the begining of next month there is a new doco.
Ewan McGreggor and friend oops forgot his name looking at doing a RIDE from london to new york travelleing through many countries.
brilliant doco. from the beginning, logistics behind it, organisation, to the bikes they will be riding. the trips through the countries border patrols to accidents. as well as some awe inspiring scenery.
definately worth a watch. if ya wanna know more check it out. it is good.

[Beemer]

We were given the book of the trip as a wedding present. Haven't got around to reading it yet, but lots of piccies!

[T.I.E]

We were given the book of the trip as a wedding present. Haven't got around to reading it yet, but lots of piccies!

seriously the show has some really really good bits in it. stuff that blew me away.
and a few times they were packing themselves.
and serious the book would be fantastic.
excellent ill be popping out for a look.

[CPB]

sounds like a must see to me...cheers.

[Fryin Finn]

I've seen the DVD blah blah etc.
Bloody good - almost a must watch
:chase:
Charley Boorman is Ewans mate - just to show how much a smart arse I am

[clint640]

Yep, it is pretty good, seasoned dirt/adv riders will have a few laughs tho.

Cheers
Clint

[T.I.E]

Yep, it is pretty good, seasoned dirt/adv riders will have a few laughs tho.

Cheers
Clint

some of the riding is so funny to watch. and pot holes dam i though we had some good ones in nz. check some of those suvkers out. and their bikes were taking some punishment. waiting for them to break down.

[2_SL0]

Kewl, I been waiting for tis show. Is it in October?

[Beemer]

We got the book in hardback, but I saw it in paperback a few weeks back.

[Dutchee]

About time there's something worth watching. Hopefully it'll be the new series (like showing on UK tv now) - 10 episodes (dvd is 7 + extra footage).
Got the book & had to buy the dvd (had no idea who either of those guys were beforehand).
If you've read the book, the one thing that blew me away was the fact that the dr is so negative on the trip - Russ came across in the book as negative.
Yay to tvnz (I was sure Prime would grab it - doh).

[Blackbird]

Umm.... I'm pretty sure it starts next Wednesday at 1030 on TV2. Almost certain I saw that in today's Herald supplement (E.G)

[skelstar]

A bit suspicious that I havent read this really recently on the forums but the much vaunted 'Long Way Round' documentary is starting tonight on TV2 (I think) at 10:30pm. Can't wait.

Heads-up!!!

[Damon]

Yeah, here's a Link (http://www.tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488120/604881)

Pitty it's on at 10.30, it well worth seeing

[dawnrazor]

yeah TV2 missed a trick by putting it on so late, it got huge ratings in the UK and the DVD has gone platinium in its first week of release. Well worth a look, a bit of a feature length for BMW though

[skelstar]

Yeah, apparently the first epi is about collecting the gear for the trip, planning, and choosing which motorcycles to take. I can imagine its going to be:
"Well gee whiz Charlie I guess we should take the Beemer...".
"We kinda have to Ewan, its in our contracts...".

[erik]

thanks for that. I'm going to make sure I dont' miss it.

[Smorg]

looks real interesting will have to set a reminder

[MacD]

Yeah, apparently the first epi is about collecting the gear for the trip, planning, and choosing which motorcycles to take. I can imagine its going to be:
"Well gee whiz Charlie I guess we should take the Beemer...".
"We kinda have to Ewan, its in our contracts...".

KTM vs BMW, they trial both.

An excellent series, don't miss it!

[Eurygnomes]

Would someone in Wellington be able to tape it for me??? I'm out tonight celebrating handing my leather bound doctoral thesis in!!! :yes: :hitcher:

[Wonko]

In this highly entertaining series, fellow film actors and bike enthusiasts Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman travel 20,000 miles around the world by motorbike. They will encounter many troublesome situations on the way, ranging from extreme and threatening weather to impenetrable terrain, and will face challenges such as caviar fishing in the Caspian sea, wrestling with the Mongolian Olympic team and riding with the Canadian Mounties. Whilst throwing themselves enthusiastically into the culture of each new country - from Alaska to Mongolia, from Canada to Kazakhstan - the two friends will also have to rely on each other's good humour, as the journey tests their relationship and their stamina to the limits. Long Way Round is the action-packed account of the trip and a true portrait of friendship in extremis - as irreverent, engaging and articulate as Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman themselves.

[SpankMe]

Ha, KTM have no faith in their own bikes.

[skelstar]

Amazing looking bikes though (KTM). Look quite different to BMeers.

[skelstar]

Why the f*ck do they get all that Snap-on gear for 3 weeks of work?!?!?
Oh, yeah 120 posts!

[SpankMe]

Why the fuck does the camera man need a UK licence for??

[skelstar]

Might be the whole international bike licence thing or something.

[Wonko]

3 months work, not weeks.

All in the name of sponsership, just like the free bikes. I wonder how many sales Bmw got from this after KTM pulled out. Major fuckup somewhere at KTM.

[skelstar]

OMG they dont know what an MSR is!

[John]

fark those clips of whats to come they showed at the end looked abit fucken scarey good on them, still think they should have trained longer.

[onearmedbandit]

What an awesome doco, looks like some great episodes coming up. I'll have to get someone to record the next 3 weeks as I'm off to Japan again.

[Velox]

That was great!!! Anyone know how many weeks the doco is on for?
KTM must be soooo pissed off that they didn't go for it now eh?!!!

[aff-man]

HAHAHAHA KTM fucked up HAHAHAHAHA

The next couple look really really interesting / a bit dodgy especially the
1) crashed car
2) When they have that shot of the red smashed car and Charley says well here is where i think he hit Ewan...

Looks to be good though :Punk:

[Wonko]

Yeah it does look really good

I think it's 6 eps, but I could be wrong.

Car crashes, and spills, but man what a story to tell the grandkids.

Funniest part was Charlie dinging the side box after they had just wheeled the beemer off the truck.

[Krayy]

Damn...almost time to seriously think about upgrading bikes and now I've got some stupid ideas in my head about getting an Enduro Tourer!!

Looks like it'll be a good series if they ever get out of England and stop dropping their bikes every 5 minutes (and with 200kg of equip on board, thats a bugger to get back up).

I browsed through the book a few months back and what I read was pretty interesting stuff. Might have to go out and buy it now.

[Smoggie]

Not a bad series. Saw the first couple of episodes in the UK, before I moved over here. Then I bought the dvd. The first couple of episodes, they do seem to treat it like a 'Jolly boys outing'. Once they get on the road, it gets better; particularly once they get closer to Russia. Main disappointment, is they cover all of Alaska, Canada and the USA in the final episode! good entertainment though, and worth watching.

[skelstar]

I liked the look on Ewans face when he is on the chopper. Also I liked the comment 'this trip is about the motorcycles'.
To be honest, Im going to love this series and couldnt really give a toss that its about Ewan. That Charlie guy is a bit of a....ummm....Charlie :)

[sels1]

Would someone in Wellington be able to tape it for me??? I'm out tonight celebrating handing my leather bound doctoral thesis in!!! :yes: :hitcher:

I've taped it, not sure when Im going to watch it, if I go to the Welly drinks tonite and the cold kiwi 2moro

Congrats on the thesis Nomes

[Bonez]

Damn...almost time to seriously think about upgrading bikes and now I've got some stupid ideas in my head about getting an Enduro Tourer!!Just get a gb400/500 instead. Stick a bikini fairing on it and elephant ears, 320kms from 14 lts and you're almost there..............

[bugjuice]

that episode last night was bloody good. I've got a lot of respect for Ewan, and it's just gone up a few notches. Seeing their issues with a lack of a camera bike was bloody killing me. And then when they did get a camera man, he just fucked it all up for them!! I'd have both my nuts lobbed off to do that. I'd love to ride the world and film it, it'd be a trip of the lifetime. If anyone ever needed something like that, I'd be first in line.

UK lisences are meant to be recognised as international lisences, where as other countries' versions might not qualify (hence he couldn't convert his). Plus, they had to ride from London to where ever they were gonna get accross the ditch, which is only a few hours, but still, it's UK roads.

I found it all quite funny actually, like when they start off, then mention 'ok, we're leaving, but we have to stop round the corner to get fuel first..'..

and to go thru some of their training with them. That'd be fun to have a go at and learn. Couldn't believe KTM sent one of their dudes to have a chat with them, and he'd done something similar himself, for them to turn around and back out. Wonder what BMW thought then.. Even if they thought they wouldn't make it, you don't just pull out on the off-chance. It'd still get all their publicity from it. Plus they believed in someone despite the odds.. oh well. I guess they probably had to part with some cash for the beemers then. And all those tools too! nearly creamed myself when the stuff started rolling in

and seeing the previews of what's to come. Looks like an awesome adventure. When it flicked thru the last 30 seconds of what's to come, Ms Bug looked at me in horror, and said 'you'd go thru all that...?? why??'.. you kiddin? I'd do anything in the world to do that.

Some of the things it shows are daring river crossings (and getting stuck), what looks to be a very serious roll-over of one of their support trucks, Ewan's frame is found to be split on both sides, and they look to be in the middle of nowhere, run-ins with board crossings (almost mandatory per adventure), guns and gang trouble.. all sorts.. looks like it's gonna be good. Just wish I was the one filming..

[Smorg]

Yeah that camera man was a total mook....... "don't worry guys my mother will fly over" WTF was this guy thinking .

you really need to change that signature bug :puke:

[Beemer]

I must confess to a new-found respect for those guys after seeing last night's programme. Beforehand my husband had scoffed and said that they were doing it easy with support vehicles, etc., but even he was amazed at what they had to endure during the trip. Can't say I'd want to give it a go!

They were a bit disorganised though, I couldn't believe they were packing the support vehicles the night before - duh!

It certainly didn't show KTM in a very good light, I bet they are kicking themselves now. And those tools, drool, can you imagine getting all those tools to keep? :woohoo:

We got the book as a wedding present, but I'd be keen on getting the DVD - don't suppose it is on sale out here yet?

[curious george]

Very inspirational! Who else is keen?
MIght have to do a different route though. I fact, I might just start off with the ride to Wellsford next weekend..
Does the DVD have all the TV episodes on it?

[Smorg]

Very inspirational! Who else is keen?
MIght have to do a different route though. I fact, I might just start off with the ride to Wellsford next weekend..
Does the DVD have all the TV episodes on it?

I dont think my CBR will handle the terrain..........i'll give anything a go once though :rofl:

[vifferman]

Dang! I forgot it was on, and went to bed early.

I've been following this with a great deal of interest though (same thing, but without all the support team and whatnot):
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41699&page=1&pp=15

[crashe]

Twas great to watch the first episode..... now looking forward to watching all the rest of them... especially after seeing the last 30 second segment of whats to come.

Yeah it would be great to get a copy of the series on dvd....
Ok who has a copy of it, and are you prepared to copy off a few?

[SpankMe]

Just ordered the DVD (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006B3UE6/026-3849924-5114006?%5Fencoding=UTF8) from amazon.co.uk.

[Beemer]

Twas great to watch the first episode..... now looking forward to watching all the rest of them... especially after seeing the last 30 second segment of whats to come.

Yeah it would be great to get a copy of the series on dvd....
Ok who has a copy of it, and are you prepared to copy off a few?

Mmn, not a good thing to post publicly, do you know the fine for pirating videos, etc? You'd be putting the person who copied the DVD at risk here. :nono:

[bugjuice]

Just ordered the DVD (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006B3UE6/026-3849924-5114006?%5Fencoding=UTF8) from amazon.co.uk.
so, everyone round to Spanks when it gets here..
spanks spanks..

[curious george]

Or you can order it from the site itself http://www.longwayround.com/lwr.htm
note: Amazon America doesn't have it!! Fking americans!

[hondacmx450]

mmmm ktm well thay r missing out and rightly so bmw all the way pitty thay keep droping the bikes

[mikey]

my one ob was those guys were dropping the bikes quite a bit, who would want to ride a heavy POS with even more gear around the worl. its what a suppoort crew is for.

[bugjuice]

it was Ewan at first, but he got the hang of it. Then as they jump on to take off on their epic voyage, Charley bloody drops it within seconds!!

The support crew are only at the boarder apparently. Sounds to me like it'll be the 3 bikes (Ewan, Charley and the cam bike) for the majority of the way

oh, and who saw that ding too? They got the beemers dropped off by van, so Charley was pulling one out, went backwards onto the road, then rolled it forwards and clipped the van with the bike!! literally 10 seconds of taking ownership, and a ding in the saddle box already..

[unhingedlizard]

Sorry if this has been mentioned but i couldnt find it.

Did anyone watch the long way round last night? TV2 10.25pm?

Its the video dairy from Ewan Mcgregors trip round the world. Man it was good. This eposide was all the prep work up to when they actually left. Was well edited and funny as hell.

Remember, Wednesday TV2 10.25pm.

Looks like they have everything from beening shot at, to the support vehicle rolling to many many crashes. All in good humour.

[Skyryder]

Didn't see it, but with fuel prices the way they are I will be going the short way round.


Skyryder

[Bob]

Sorry if this has been mentioned but i couldnt find it.

Did anyone watch the long way round last night? TV2 10.25pm?

Its the video dairy from Ewan Mcgregors trip round the world. Man it was good. This eposide was all the prep work up to when they actually left. Was well edited and funny as hell.

Remember, Wednesday TV2 10.25pm.

Looks like they have everything from beening shot at, to the support vehicle rolling to many many crashes. All in good humour.

Keep watching - it is superb. I saw the series when it was first shown in the UK. My wife (we both ride bikes) and I decided to watch the first one out of curiosity... and were hooked. It really was a case of 'Stop everything, Long Way Round is on' each week.

And when it was finished, we bought the DVD of the series... and I got the book later as well.

You'll find yourself wanting to go out for a long ride after watching each week, it really is inspiring.

[XP@]

It was awsome!

Looks like they could have had a bit better project management...
But there again the trip is very possible on the smell of an oily rag.

No wonder Euans frame cracked, with the amount of gear they were carrying, totally unnecessary! But everyone who I've known who has done similar has ended up dumping or sending home a whole load of gear because it just wasn't required.

they should have gone to the horizons unlimited (http://www.horizonsunlimited.com) site which has the best information about RTW travel.

If only i had known about the camera man job... would have been on a plane back home like a shot!

[sAsLEX]

Just ordered the DVD (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006B3UE6/026-3849924-5114006?%5Fencoding=UTF8) from amazon.co.uk.


just googled "long way round torrent" *dvd* should be here in 15 more hours

[T.I.E]

yep brillaint programme.
wish work would hurry up and get the dam tapes in so i can see more them.

[TwoSeven]

I was pissing meself watching it. Typical rich persons way of doing things. Buy the latest machines, shite loads of useless equipment (heck, I'm surprised they didnt pack a jacuzzi) and throw money at it. Not very many folks would create a whole company with staff just to go on a bike ride (I suspect that was done so they could claim it all back via tax).

The pic is how I used to do tours (this is medium touring 5-10k miles). This part of my trip around france - my rig is the one on the right - note the support crew's machine on the left :)

Still - adventure touring (which is what they are doing) is damn'd exciting stuff. I'd like to do the russia leg sometime (but on a pushbike, or small motorcycle). :) :)

[sAsLEX]

yep brillaint programme.
wish work would hurry up and get the dam tapes in so i can see more them.

cough* google * cough * "long way round torrent" cough* first result.... nothing to see here cary on people.....

[LB]

.
.
I really enjoyed the first episode. Will definitely be watching/taping each week.
.
.

[geoffm]

TwoSeven - some thieving Frog stole ya motor!

[Postie]

Some of you may have seen a programme last week with Ewan McGregor called the long way round, its on TV2 tonight at 10.30.
its about Ewan McGregor and his mate Chralie..... someone. anyway, they are going from London to New York the long way round, i.e headed east through some pretty amazing countrys where people still poo in there drinking water.
Anyway, they managed to scab a shit load of supplies from Snap On tools, camera gear, riging gear and 2 brand spanking BMW GS (1150 or 1200's, i forget)

So watch channel 2 tonight at 10.30, you'll love it, its only the second episode so get stuck in

[bugjuice]

thanx for the reminder :niceone:
you're on a roll, now you you have full time work access!!

[Postie]

thanx for the reminder :niceone:
you're on a roll, now you you have full time work access!!

indeed... huraahhh.
plus i'm really quite now......all work is done........ hmmmm. maybe i should turn my phone back on and stop pretending that i'm here?????...................... :wait: .....................nah

[Beemer]

It's about Ewan McGregor and his mate Chralie..... someone.

Chralie? Is he Asian?

We got an email to remind us to watch it - the guy said it was called Around the World the Wrong Way! I worked out what he was talking about!

[k14]

Yeah after seeing the first one last week I downloaded the whole series and watched it on sunday. Well worth the watch, very highly recommended, was sad to see the end of it. Could have made 20 episodes quite easily i think.

[bugjuice]

no, charlie isn't asian.. watch it and see ;)

how many episodes are there?

[k14]

no, charlie isn't asian.. watch it and see ;)

how many episodes are there?
7 in total, 2-6 are from london to far east russia and then last is plane trip to alaska and down through the states.

[bugjuice]

only one episode on the states?! they could run this almost a day by day account and make for good filming/watching.. sounds like they strangled it a little, but I'm thankful they filmed it to start with!

[Sniper]

Cool. I might stay up and watch it

[pyrocam]

thanks for the reminder.
I caught the last show by fluke and found it really quite good. Ewen dropped his bike HEAPS though

[forty two]

Whew, thanks for the reminder, had totally forgotten and this looks like it could be a great series.
I'll bet KTM are kicking themselves for the loss of good advertising they have missed out of! :ride:

[cowboyz]

how often Ewen dropped that bike. You would think taking on an adventure like this you would be a very experienced rider!! I loved it last week. Funny how KTM pulled out cause they thought it was an impossible ride. Says something about KTMs or KTM management. not sure which. I was also surprised at the lack of organisation over such an adventure. Even coming down to leaving with no gas in the bikes??!?

And then there is the whole cameraman thing. That was damn funny. Who wants to go riding rounf the world without a licence? anyone?

[MacD]

only one episode on the states?! they could run this almost a day by day account and make for good filming/watching.. sounds like they strangled it a little, but I'm thankful they filmed it to start with!

It has been recently re-released as a 10 episode series (http://www.longwayround.com/lwr.htm). I suspect they've expanded the North American part for that market. The 7 episode DVD also has an "extra" which expands on the first part of the trip (UK to Prague) which is skipped over fairly quickly in original series.

By the way, they fall of a lot more further on in the trip! ;)

Also the trip was highly organised, I'm sure quite a few things (such as forgetting to fill up) were added for effect, including the Ewan/BMW - Charlie/KTM thing they had going last week . Remember both these guys are actors!

[What?]

...Funny how KTM pulled out cause they thought it was an impossible ride. Says something about KTMs or KTM management...
KTM pulled out because the bloke they sent to talk to the lads reckoned they couldn't do it, because they wanted to take a route he thought was too hard, because he wasn't hard enough to take it. No doubts held about the machine's ability, but there is a lesson there for management about accepting a single source of advice.

[BigB]

I have the book they wrote about the trip, talk about funny. They had some really good times and some really hard times. A very good read, can't wait to see the tv programme.

cheers

[erik]

Thanks for the reminder, I'd forgotten it was on tonight.
Caught it last week, it was good.

Just checked the TV2 website, it says it starts at 10:25, not 10:30!!!!

[pyrocam]

fuck petrol in the eyes!

[Lou Girardin]

Anyone record it?

[erik]

Not me. I figure if I want a copy to keep, I can download a better quality version than if I recorded it myself.

[Sniper]

Not me. I figure if I want a copy to keep, I can download a better quality version than if I recorded it myself.

Where from?

[erik]

Software: http://azureus.sourceforge.net/
http://www.torrentspy.com/search.asp?mode=torrentdetails&id=96366

[Sniper]

Thanks eric

[bugjuice]

last night felt like they rushed thru a bit fast.. I know they have a lot to get thru in a short time, but there was more about them off the bike, than on the bike and their travels. Hope the next one has a bit more meat to it. And some of those places they stayed in were as dodgy as! brave of them to do it, but I think their status and the cameras helped a bit there

[crashe]

They spent more time filming them at the 13 hour stop over at the border patrol.... or at flash homes partying.....

Yep I sure wouldnt want to get petrol in my eyes...

Hope next week is more exciting.

[Pixie]

its about Ewan McGregor and his mate Chralie..... someone. anyway,
Is that the 'Rose of Chralie'?

[Hitcher]

I have become a dedicated follower of this show. A DVD would be a good score, if we had a player...

[SpankMe]

The DVD I ordered from the UK arrived a couple of days ago. Definitely worth having.

[bugjuice]

thanx for the reminder hitch.. :niceone:

[erik]

Thanks from me too, I watch so little tv that I'd forgotten it was on!

[SpankMe]

Just been watching some of the extras on the first DVD. Definitely makes buying the DVD worth it. If you like the series I recommend you buy it. It only took a week or two to arrive from Amazon UK.

[k14]

So apart from the 7 episodes aired on tv how much extra stuff does it have? As in length of extra footage and what it covers, might be keen to buy it. How much did it cost?

[curious george]

Got mine delivered for $51.
Haven't see it all yet to know whats extra, but I hear stories of an extra special DVD version in the near future.

[pyrocam]

thanks for the reminder guys
was just about to goto sleep

keep up the good work

[Gremlin]

hehe, watching now and him complaining about the police escorts...

"aww I wanted to experience the country (Kazakstan - sp), I hope this isn't going to happen all the way"

photographing a camel they get a gun pointed at them from a passing vehicle.

"now I know why they are doing this"

[SpankMe]

Got my DVD for $42.20 from Amazon UK. Havn't watched all the extras, but there is at least another episodes worth.

Watched Ep 3 earlier. Currently watching The Filth and the Fury on SKY.

[TwoSeven]

I'm finding it interesting as they discover the realities of touring. I'd love to see them do it on a push bike. There was a comment about having riden 38 miles on dirt and feeling buggered. Try doing that on a push bike knowing you still have to do another 120miles that day. I notice that half their luggage has gone already :)

Still, makes me want to get back into touring again tho. Jelous now :)

[Motu]

I'm finding it interesting as they discover the realities of touring. I'd love to see them do it on a push bike. There was a comment about having riden 38 miles on dirt and feeling buggered. Try doing that on a push bike knowing you still have to do another 120miles that day. I notice that half their luggage has gone already :)

Still, makes me want to get back into touring again tho. Jelous now :)

They could aslo do it on foot,with no shoes! But they are doing it on motorcycles,which is what it's all about - watch and enjoy.

[strayjuliet]

I have to agree they could have filmed more of them on the bikes. It was still a good programme. I enjoyed it.

Wolf is reading a book called Jupiters Travels which I think is along the same lines.

[Wolf]

DVD is already deemed "must own", likewise the book. I might wait if there's going to be an extra special version of the DVD coming out - I'd hate to shell out good dosh and have to shell out again for the "extended release" or something.

Very educational - I've already ruled out Kazakstan as a place to visit when we do our world tour, now that I've seen what passes for food there :devil2:

If they'd wanted a cameraman they could've called me - A BMW R-something-GS each for Juliet and I and a couple of Suzuki JR50s for the cubs and we'd've been off like a shot.

[skelstar]

I havent spotted it yet but people did se the ad where they said that the DVD is available in NZ eh? Gave www.emi.co.nz as a reference. I havent checked it yet but im guessing it might be more expensive than getting it from overseas.

[SpankMe]

Hasn't been listed as a region 4 release at http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/ yet.

Bloody typical. Buy the DVD and then hear about the extra extended version (http://www.dvd.co.uk/product.asp?id=VTDVDX693). Oh well, wont be the first time I have brought the same movie twice.

[Wolf]

Hasn't been listed as a region 4 release at http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/ yet.

Bloody typical. Buy the DVD and then hear about the extra extended version (http://www.dvd.co.uk/product.asp?id=VTDVDX693). Oh well, wont be the first time I have brought the same movie twice.
And that's probably the one I was waiting for...

[k14]

Yeah says its being released on november the 7th here, http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000B5KEEQ/qid=1126694369/sr=8-4/ref=pd_ka_4/026-5370517-9357241

Will probably buy that one, 3 dvd's has gotta be a whole lot of footage. I'm guessing that it was alot more popular than everyone thought it would be so they thought they would re-do it and put out a heap more footage and double the money they make from it.

[unhingedlizard]

i have it already!!!

Was talking to Dad in the UK about it. Next thing, the entire series on DVD is sitting in my letterbox with 'happy early xmas' on it!!

[Wellyman]

I watched the some of the episode last night till my eyes got till droopy. Great show, good humor as mentioned.
WM

[FlangMasterJ]

Sorry I missed the trialling of the bikes. What KTM model were they looking at? The 950 Adventure?

[k14]

Yeah it was a 950 something, they wanted it but then ktm pulled out because some advisor guy said that their journey was impossible and they were going to fail, lol. Not the best ad for ktm.

[SpankMe]

Just watched Ep. 4 on DVD and it’s a good one with lots of biking, lots of really hard biking. So don’t miss it, especially since it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.

What amazes me is that those Beemer bikes will run on any crap fuel you find in the middle of nowhere, hand pumped from a petrol pump that looks like it’s been around since the 20’s

Oh, and they buy a Russian motorbike in Mongolia.

[Brian d marge]

I'm finding it interesting as they discover the realities of touring. I'd love to see them do it on a push bike. There was a comment about having riden 38 miles on dirt and feeling buggered. Try doing that on a push bike knowing you still have to do another 120miles that day. I notice that half their luggage has gone already :)

Still, makes me want to get back into touring again tho. Jelous now :)

38 kilopoofers on the dirt and they are buggered ...try a 4 hour enduro ...my average speed was 50 km/h over a long MX track for 4 hours ...only a break whilst refueling ,,,3 time ..didnt need it on the third time ,,I was just plain buggered
Actors ..haaa run for the limo and they would call that work ....
now In MY DAY .....acting was the reserve of the the Unemployed ...you had to act for 2 hours a day twice a week ...in order to to convince em to pay your Giro ....( unemployment money )
Acting ...,,,,Dont give me Acting ......Rada once concidered me as a replacement doormat ...I refused you know ...I took the umbrella stand job instead :moon:
I spit in the FACE of thes over paid 38 km ...oh I am tired ..European actors ......
Stephen D Watson R.A.P.A ( Royal Acadamy of Pissed Artisans)

[Krayy]

Hope you guys caught this last night. Talk about hard going! There are a number of things that struck me about this episode....

1. No matter where you are, and how desolate it looks, people still call it "home". Was a few funny moments when they're talking into their video diaries saying "Here we are, no-one around for miles", then a Mongolian "horde" of 2 or 3 show up.

2. If someone asks you "would you like some nuts?", make SURE they're not talking about sheeps balls!!

3. A $1k Russian motorbike is worth 2 BMW 1150GS's (until the gear box breaks)

4. Speaking of big Beemers, never take one into a bog FFS.

5. Before going on a world tour, learn how to pick up a big bike properly (http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/pickup.html)

6. have more than 1 days riding experience on the bikes you're gong to ride through some of the roughest terrain on earth.

7. When you start dreaming about being a "naked Obi-wan", it's time to stop.
Good show though.

[Hitcher]

I have become a devout follower of this series.

I had the same thought as your point 5 last night -- the bikes are way too big and bulky for the purpose to which they are being put. A couple of Dakars, or Transalps, or Caponords would have made their lives considerably easier. At least each would have been able to stand up their own machine unaided.

They also broke rule number one of arc welding on any vehicle: First disconnect the battery. They're lucky they didn't fry more than just the ABS controller.

[Blackbird]

Amazing the empathy you feel for these guys when having experienced biking stresses and traumas for yourself. Went to bed totally worn out!

[Krayy]

... A couple of Dakars, or Transalps, or Caponords would have made their lives considerably easier. At least each would have been able to stand up their own machine unaided...
I'm pretty sure they went for the bigger bikes due to the amount of gear they have to carry. Could have left the toolkits at home if they didnt know what to do with them though.

[Wolf]

Forgot it was on so missed last night's episode. :angry2: <-- only because there's no "kicking myself in the arse" smilie.

Missed 2 out of three episodes now, will definitely have to get the 3 disc set. And the book.

[dawnrazor]

was impressed how honest this series appears to be, its really warts and all telly, very watchable. No bloody wonder the DVD has shot through the roof in sales and BMW are reporting record sales of the GS.

[Mr Skid]

I'm pretty sure they went for the bigger bikes due to the amount of gear they have to carry. Could have left the toolkits at home if they didnt know what to do with them though.I think they were dammed when they had to go with BMW. I'd quite like a 1150GS for touring, but they were just too much for where they were going.

A KTM 640 Adventure with goodies from the hard parts catalouge would have been a bit more manageable.

I was also suprised that with all the luggage they couldn't find the space to carry a factory service manual.

[Postie]

I think they were dammed when they had to go with BMW. I'd quite like a 1150GS for touring, but they were just too much for where they were going.

A KTM 640 Adventure with goodies from the hard parts catalouge would have been a bit more manageable.

I was also suprised that with all the luggage they couldn't find the space to carry a factory service manual.


KTM had there chance, they said it couldn't be done, this point has been mentioned already, but they will be kicking them self's and each other for letting this opportunity go by, specially now the GS sales are rocketing

[Mr Skid]

KTM had there chance, they said it couldn't be done, this point has been mentioned already, but they will be kicking them self's and each other for letting this opportunity go by, specially now the GS sales are rocketingI appreciate that KTM told then to get knotted, just making the point of what I think would be a better bike for the job. I would have thought that considering the production budget, it wouldn't have been too difficult to afford of the forementioned KTMs.

Weight comparisons (dry) are 154kg on the KTM 640, and 232kg on the 1150GS.

[k14]

I appreciate that KTM told then to get knotted, just making the point of what I think would be a better bike for the job. I would have thought that considering the production budget, it wouldn't have been too difficult to afford of the forementioned KTMs.

Weight comparisons (dry) are 154kg on the KTM 640, and 232kg on the 1150GS.
I thought they test rode the ktm 950 somethingrather. Regardless they stuck one up ktm's rear end, I wish at the end they could show the guys ring up ktm and let them know of their success.

[Mr Skid]

I thought they test rode the ktm 950 somethingrather. Regardless they stuck one up ktm's rear end, I wish at the end they could show the guys ring up ktm and let them know of their success.I vaugely recall they demo'd the BMW F650GS Dakar, R1150GS, KTM 950 Adventure, and LC4 640. I can't remember whether they'd trialed the 640 enduro, or 640 adventure. Either way, they'd be similar weights.

[Motu]

I know how they feel with a big bike in those conditions,you just want a helicopter to come along and pluck you out.Body English pays a huge part in bike control off road,if your weight is insignificant compared to the weight of the bike there is very little you can do to influence the bike.Charlie is a pretty good rider,and he's helping the other two along,but you can see him in big trouble too.Confidence goes down,the whole bum trip feeds on itself.But oh,the memories,the sense of achievement...

When I saw the arc welder come out I thought - uh oh....

[SpankMe]

So do you guys think they are going to wimp out and head for Russia, or keep pushing though Mongolia ?

[Wolf]

Hope you guys caught this last night.
Nope. :argh:


5. Before going on a world tour, learn how to pick up a big bike properly (http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/pickup.html)

6. have more than 1 days riding experience on the bikes you're gong to ride through some of the roughest terrain on earth.
Point 5: And possibly have a lighter bike with less shit on it. I'd go for the R80GS Paris-Dakar or R100GS Paris-Dakar personally if I were going with BMW (which I probably would, since I like Beemers) and carry less stuff - like ditch what tools I couldn't use (as you suggest). After reading Jupiter's Travels, I'd ensure my panniers etc could be easily removed as Ted Simon recounted having to unload his bike to get it out of various situations. Pop the paniers off, right the bike using the proper technique, pop the paniers back on and "Robert is your Avuncular Relative".

Seriously, according to the Horizons Unlimited site, people have done world tours on titchy little bikes - they carry less gear, obviously, and it takes longer to get there but they do it. I know someone who does the most fantastic distances by push bike - he could teach university-level classes on "Carrying Only What You Need". Not only does he have bugger-all room to carry stuff, he has to move it using his own muscle power.

Smaller bikes and get someone who does bicycle touring to pack for you...

Point 6: Oh yes. Vitally important. Would suggest at the very least a couple of weeks hard-out riding around your own country starting with familiar roads and working your way up to ones you don't know - if you're not using the same bike you've been riding for the last few years.

I'd also suggest digging out the tool kit, strip the bike as far as you can, putting all the tools you use into a separate bag as you do so. Reassemble the bike ensuring you've adjusted everything properly as you go (using the tools from that bag) and when you pack, that bag of tools goes on the bike, all the rest of your tools can go back in the garage - no need for a full metric/imperial socket set if your bike only uses 7, 10, 12 and 14mm bolts. Better to carry just the sockets you need and use the weight and space you save to carry that extra long extension that you had to buy to get the sockets where you needed 'em.

Not only will you have all the tools you need/can use competently, you will be setting forth in the knowledge that you can strip the bike should you need to and you know precisely the state of the bike (everything adjusted, torque settings as per the workshop manual etc.)

When I took the Zundapp Bella 154 to Whangarei and back I knew that the tools I had would be sufficient to strip the bike down to almost nothing and I knew that the only thing on that bike that I had not completely dismantled and recently reassembled was the engine. I felt bloody confident that whatever happened, I knew enough to strip the bike completely, if it came to that.

I do like the idea that the BMW will run on any old crap fuel. Ted Simon's Triumph was like that - one of the reasons he chose it.

[SpankMe]

Yep definitely easier if you got a small support convey of 4x4s following you and a team to organize everything.

[bugjuice]

:brick: fukin missed it..
fortunately Postie recorded it tho. So I'll let you lot off this once..

[Mr Skid]

Yep definitely easier if you got a small support convey of 4x4s following you and a team to organize everything...and not even the support crew can keep it upright! :rofl:

[kerryg]

Shit..I had a look at that Horizons Unlimited site and now I just have to go....

Intersting point: you can buy a brand new Enfield 350 in India for about USD1200....cheap way to see the country

[Wolf]

Shit..I had a look at that Horizons Unlimited site and now I just have to go....
I have to wait until the boys are old enough to ride their own bikes, now. Juliet is pregnant again so we'll soon have three kids and we can only carry one pillion per bike...

I've racked up some serious kms over the years, love setting forth on long journeys on the bike and would love to give proper "Adventure Riding" a go (not that some of my long journeys weren't "adventures"). The World Tour is on the "To Do" list - after doing some proper adventure Riding around NZ (would be a nong not to do so, really. Best to come to grips with some of NZs more adventuresome trails before tackling "The World's Worst")

Oscar posted some links a while back in one of the other adventure ride threads - Farrrrrking spectacular pics. Do a search and have a look, if Adventure Riding flips your switch the photos will be a wet dream for you and to actually go on them you can buy an Enduro here and just go, no plane fares/shipping costs. Great practise for the big WT (World Tour, not the famous KBer of those initials) and you get to do it now to slake your thirst (or whet your appetite for more).

[Wolf]

I was also suprised that with all the luggage they couldn't find the space to carry a factory service manual.
Hah! Nongs.

"The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley" - even more so do the ill-prepared schemes.

I'd have said manual nested inside three zip-lock plastic bags and duct-taped to the inside of the lid of the panier where I can get to it without having to unpack the whole bike.

Also, unlike Ted Simon, if I were riding a twin I would carry two spare pistons... Apparently he rolled out of the Meridian factory on a 500cc twin with one spare piston.

[Motu]

If they had used XT600E Yamaha's there would be no need for a service manual,special tools or the need to keep picking up a heavy bike.Any Mongolian shepard could repair it with bones from a yak skeleton,the daily market would have some Yamaha they could rob parts from.The only place on earth you can't find XT600E parts is the USA.

[Hitcher]

So do you guys think they are going to wimp out and head for Russia, or keep pushing though Mongolia ?
Well, given that they've freighted Claudio's bike with its fried ABS chip to Ulan Bator, I suspect that Mongolia may have some appeal.

[XP@]

Hope you guys caught this last night. Talk about hard going! There are a number of things that struck me about this episode....

Missed half of it, my daughter picked some really inappropriate times to be :sick:


2. If someone asks you "would you like some nuts?", make SURE they're not talking about sheeps balls!!

If you are going to go to mongolia then expect to eat sheeps / bull balls to chow down matey and enjoy them (nothing a few swigs of local vodka won't hide)


4. Speaking of big Beemers, never take one into a bog FFS.

If you are going to take beemer, take an F650.
but any way throw away half of what you have packed before you set off.
re-inforce your frame, roads like that are a tad more than the bikes were designed for.


6. have more than 1 days riding experience on the bikes you're gong to ride through some of the roughest terrain on earth.

Met a austrian couple on transalps a couple of years ago, they had made it here from germany. She had ridden once before they set off. the young lady in question was extremely pettite yet she had had no thing more than a few minor ooops's at 0kph. Oh, and she had to get the bike to the border in a truck cos she didn't have a licence ( i think she was using a library card or something)

[TwoSeven]

The only thing I havnt been able to work out on the show yet, is where are they getting their fuel from (especially quality stuff).

[XP@]

The only thing I havnt been able to work out on the show yet, is where are they getting their fuel from (especially quality stuff).
Urrr... petrol stations... :Pokey: (well petrol in the eye, just ask Euan)

[Velox]

That last one was pretty depressing! Made me remember why I used to get so pissed off with my old ag! Better be not so frustrating next week.

[clint640]

[QUOTE=XP@]
If you are going to take beemer, take an F650.
[QUOTE]

F650's are close to 200kg.

I love my KTM, & I'll probably take it to Oz one day. but if I was going on a hardcore world ride I think I'd take a DR650, with suspension mods, a big tank & better seat of course. Air cooled simplicity is good.

Cheers
Clint

[Stroker Girl]

Amazing the empathy you feel for these guys when having experienced biking stresses and traumas for yourself. Went to bed totally worn out!

I know what you mean. My partner was getting very caught up in it all. As Hitcher mentioned, when the welding was going on, he was yelling at the T.V "Disconnect the battery you bloody fools"! Was quite emotionally draining seeing them continually getting stuck and struggling with the bikes. Brought back bad memories of the one time I did motox at Thunder Valley Park....... :shit:

[vifferman]

While it all sounds rather exciting, I must admit to being uninterested in the program, after following the account of Glen Heggstad doing essentially the same trip (only much longer) at roughly the same time, but without all the support vehicles and crews. Yup, no backup.

Currently Glenn isn't back home in his cosy apartment, but in Indonesia. He was going to come through Australasia, but ran short of funds due to relying entirely on funds from donations and from royalties from sales of his book about motorcycling through South America, where he was held captive by Columbian bandits. (He escaped, arranged for another bike, and continued his travels...)

[Oscar]

F650's are close to 200kg.

I love my KTM, & I'll probably take it to Oz one day. but if I was going on a hardcore world ride I think I'd take a DR650, with suspension mods, a big tank & better seat of course. Air cooled simplicity is good.

Cheers
Clint

Have you got a KTM Comfort seat?
Bloody good, and ridiculously cheap, to...

[XTC]

I think KTM were worried their bikes would get to much bad publicity due to the dubious reliability of their bikes over a trip such as this. I believe that both the KTM950 and 1150gs are just big road bikes...

[Oscar]

I think KTM were worried their bikes would get to much bad publicity due to the dubious reliability of their bikes over a trip such as this. I believe that both the KTM950 and 1150gs are just big road bikes...


So you've never ridden a KTM950?

[Motu]

Try doing this on an R1

[unhingedlizard]

gee, so what you are really saying is that ewan mac and charley should of thorouly researched this forum before doing a round the world trip?

When all of you saying they should have done this and they should have done that get back from your world trips, let us know how it went.

[oldrider]

Check out this site. www.geocities.com/Baja/9832/ and compare it to the long way round.
I will probably be bagged for saying this but I think KTM made the right decision.
These guys do some incredibly stupid things.It is entertaining though and it would have been bloody hard to do. They just seemed to make it harder than it needed to be.IMO. Cheers John.

[Wolf]

gee, so what you are really saying is that ewan mac and charley should of thorouly researched this forum before doing a round the world trip?

When all of you saying they should have done this and they should have done that get back from your world trips, let us know how it went.
While I get what you're saying, you don't have to have gone on a world tour to know what it would take and what would be wise. There are many on this forum who have ridden comparable distances to a WT (it matters not that those km were all ridden in the same country) and there are those here who have done adventure riding, NZ and Australian tours, both on and off-road riding, bicycle touring and all sorts of other things that would provide valuable insights.

Years of experience count for a lot - and you need not have taken massive world tours to know basics like "make sure you can pick up your bike by yourself", "don't take unnecessary stuff", "know at least the basics of repair and maintenance", "be familiar with your machine" etc.

When I do my World Tour, it will be after careful preparation and planning and a considerable amount of experience of Touring NZ. I fully expect that before I embark on my world tour I will know fairly well what I need to carry and what I should leave behind - I base this belief on the fact that my camping kit dropped from a 40-litre pack, with all sorts of shit strapped to it, to one less than 20 litres capacity and a small bum-bag containing a basic survival kit over a period of time. After a few tours of New Zealand I'll learn to leave the kitchen sink and the first three shelves of my personal library at home and carry shit that I actually may need.

[Motu]

No,being in the deep end totaly over your head is where all the fun and excitement,and more impotantly,memories are to be found.Meticulous planning would ruin it for me.Shit!....we forgot the kitchen sink! You can make do on the road.Ewan and Charlies original plan was just to go for a big ride - I wish I was famous enough for other people to make a big production out of it....

[Wolf]

No,being in the deep end totaly over your head is where all the fun and excitement,and more impotantly,memories are to be found.Meticulous planning would ruin it for me.Shit!....
In my experience, even meticulous planning still leaves plenty of room for adventure and memories. I planned the trip on the Zundapp fairly well - so I thought - but in retrospect realised that, when reassembling a bike that's been sand blasted and painted, flushing out the petrol tank is a wise step. I will never forget cleaning sand out of the spark plug every five minutes or so or trying to do so at speed with a huge truck bearing down on us.

And I don't know I'd ever describe my planning as "meticulous"...

[Timber020]

I would go for an xr200 with a large tank and mega comfy seat. Sure your average top cruising speed would be 80kmph but they are damn simple, light and easy to ride that it would be less like slogging over the rough stuff.

Met a german guy in Aus who was on a ct110 stepthrough who was racing his mate around the world. His mate was on some BMW and was about 4 days behind!

[TwoSeven]

Riding around NZ is not a tour, thats a ride. The difference between the two is that a ride can be done simply by putting your credit card in your pocket, a tour requires you take most of your own food and camping equipment tools and other equipment (the idea being you avoid civilisation).

Having done many of the latter, I can safely say that the first one you ever do will always be a botchup. Thats why most experienced tourers will always suggest that you do a couple of short tours first to try things out and learn what equipment works and what doesnt. A short 1 week 10k ride would be simple enough.

I watched the episode the other night and all they were doing was bitching about how tough it was because they suddenly discovered they werent fit enough to ride off road. All they have been doing is driving thru a bit of mud so far and whine about how they have to sit on the bikes for more than a few hours. Be interesting to see what happens when it rains/snows and they dont have any food.

Whats good about the show (apart from bringing back memories about making the same mistakes) is that it gives people who are interested in that kind of thing an idea of what its all about and you get to see a bit of the world you normally wouldnt. Although they must know that tens of pushbikers do that rout every year - its quite a common one (although the most common is up thru italy).

I had to laugh when they ditched the BMW for the old clapper - I was wondering when that would happen. Simple machinary that is easier to fix is always going to beat the expensive electronics :)

[Ixion]

I reckon if I had to do something like that I'd choose a geared down BSA Bantam. Slow as, but almost totally indestructable, virtually nothing to go wrong, if something does break it can almost certainly be fixed by a village blacksmith, they'll run on anything including kerosene, and I never found any terrain that they couldn't get through.(They used to be quite popular in trials)

Simplicity lightness and robust crudity are what's needed me thinks. And the lack of power would force you to cut your load to a bare minimum.

I don't think any modern bike could match the Bantam for sheer survival factor. Always breaking down, unlike modern bikes, but , unlike modern bikes , when it does break down it doesn't need more than the simplest of tools to fix (plus a good kick or two) . And an off never does any damage to a Bantam (or, at any rate, after a bit you can't distinguish new damage from old damage, and they still keep on going anyway). The other advantage is that if you use tyre with stiff sidewalls they can run reasonably happily with no air pressure.

[Wolf]

Riding around NZ is not a tour, thats a ride. The difference between the two is that a ride can be done simply by putting your credit card in your pocket, a tour requires you take most of your own food and camping equipment tools and other equipment (the idea being you avoid civilisation).
You can choose to do either anywhere. In NZ it is quite possible to set off with a motorbike, your camping gear and your own food and elect to stay off the beaten track (well at least we can up here in the North Island) and OTOH (as VISA is accepted world wide and there are a lot of "good" roads around the world) you can go for a "ride" through parts of Africa.

The great thing about touring is you can choose your route to suit you. If you don't want too much hardship you can see a fair bit of Europe, Australia, Botswana, South Africa and the USA without once leaving hardtop. There are some places in the world where you can't avoid rough goat tracks - but you don't have to go there.

Conversely, if you're feeling adventuresome you can take "the scenic route" and stay off the major roads altogether.

You can choose any bike from a single speed Raleigh to a Goldwing and carry any amount of provisions and equipment from just a credit card to full camping gear and a portable workshop.

Or are you trying to say NZ is too tame or that buying local provisions is "cheating"?

You could spend at least a week touring NZ by motorbike - unless you're pathologically incapable of travelling at under 140kph, like Madboy ( :devil2: ) - ideal for trying out equipment and refining things. There's any number of camping grounds around the place and you don't have to use the power socket if there is one.

[TwoSeven]

On a motorcycle in NZ I dont think you could count it as a tour, a long ride many, but not a tour. Ditto for the UK as well, its just too small. Best you could say is its a camping trip.

Doing it on a push bike or on foot, perhaps, but when I did my last ride here, I still thought of it as a ride, or a really really short tour (it was only 5k - so a bit wimpy, more of a warm up ride)

Its a little bit difficult to explain the difference as effort, difficult and hardship are more of a factor than distance - I suspect those who have done long distance tours will be able to explain more.

[bugjuice]

on now peeps..

[Motu]

They found God on their trip - Ted Simon in some bloody market!

[parsley]

Awww. I cried when his bike broke.

[Wolf]

Frigging beautiful scenery. At least they're having a decent adventure. Was good to see Ted Simon - his first book is on my bedside table.

[Krayy]

Awww. I cried when his bike broke.
Not a great advertisement for BMW having 2 bikes spines break in half. :laugh:

[Postie]

Not a great advertisement for BMW having 2 bikes spines break in half. :laugh:
thats one way to look at it, or you could realise that the bikes are not designed to travel round the world with that sort of weight on them. you could even say that its a great advertisment since they have managed to get to Russia, overloaded and lasted till then before breaking.

[Hitcher]

Isn't it interesting to see how others live. Quite happily too with no cell phones or internet...

[vifferman]

I watched the episode the other night and all they were doing was bitching about how tough it was because they suddenly discovered they werent fit enough to ride off road. All they have been doing is driving thru a bit of mud so far and whine about how they have to sit on the bikes for more than a few hours. Be interesting to see what happens when it rains/snows and they dont have any food.
Glenn Heggstadt (SP?) who is riding around the world on a BMW F650 has had to contend with kidney stones, and with riding with plastic tubes (stents?) in his kidneys. Yet despite all that, his accounts show little evidence of feeling sorry for himself, even though the hardships and privations he's faced are WAY worse than these chaspses have had to put up with.

[bugjuice]

I missed it last week - why is the camera dude on that old thing..? Did his beemer break too? Was it from that shot near the beginning where his bike is down that embankment? Didn't sound too good when it started again. But didn't explain that tht broke his bike... Sucks his gear got stolen aswell. In the middle of nowhere, and his stuff gets taken

And that roll over was nasty for the support crew.
And love Charlie's comments on why he wants his own tent.. at least he's honest about it!
Still loving the series

[forty two]

I missed it last week - why is the camera dude on that old thing..? Did his beemer break too? Was it from that shot near the beginning where his bike is down that embankment? Didn't sound too good when it started again. But didn't explain that tht broke his bike

He broke his beemer also, cracked frame. He did admit though that he was looking at the scenery and not in front of him and ran into a rather large boulder! :thud: Proberbly cant blame BMW for that one!! I thought the bike was being transported to a nearby town for repair but not sure now. Personally I believe BMW are getting great exposure even with the cracking frames, the guys admit quite freely that they have overloaded the bikes with all their crap.
Briliant series.

[nudemetalz]

Next weeks one looks great...with the river crossing and mud-bogging.
Looks like the Beemers will have been really put to the test.

[bugjuice]

He broke his beemer also, cracked frame. He did admit though that he was looking at the scenery and not in front of him and ran into a rather large boulder! :thud: Proberbly cant blame BMW for that one!! I thought the bike was being transported to a nearby town for repair but not sure now. Personally I believe BMW are getting great exposure even with the cracking frames, the guys admit quite freely that they have overloaded the bikes with all their crap.
Briliant series.
thoroughly agree. They do have excessive weight, and you can see that as they started off.. So far, with all the crap they've thrown at the bikes, they've done well.
If the bikes were designed to carry such weight, they would have put more than 4 tubes for the rear subframe on the bike.. I am surprised they didn't load anything up the front of the bike tho, to even out the weight distribution

[k14]

I missed it last week - why is the camera dude on that old thing..? Did his beemer break too? Was it from that shot near the beginning where his bike is down that embankment? Didn't sound too good when it started again. But didn't explain that tht broke his bike... Sucks his gear got stolen aswell. In the middle of nowhere, and his stuff gets taken

And that roll over was nasty for the support crew.
And love Charlie's comments on why he wants his own tent.. at least he's honest about it!
Still loving the series
Claudio's bike had a break in the frame (same as ewan's) from a fairly decent crash he had. They had it repaired by a guy in kazhastan (sp??) and when he arc welded it to fix it something happened to the abs braking system which screwed the brakes up. So they got it sent from wherever it was it got broken ahead to get fixed and bought a bike from the local markets (cost $1040usd) for that russian 2 stroke thingy. I don't know how they got his bike fixed though, one min he was still on the russian shitter and then he's back on his bmw. Was a bit confused, would have thought they would have said how they got it fixed.

[Postie]

its been said already, but WOW, seeing how people live in that country, its like a whole other species of human. We watch movies where aliens land in America normally, and the aliens are superior in intelligence and technology, i wonder how many of those people would have seen a camera or a motor bike? what do you think 3 guys with helmets on and silver bikes would look like to those people?? it must have been like a mini alien invasion for them. I don't think there tourism industry is booming.

[TwoSeven]

I missed it last week - why is the camera dude on that old thing..?

Thats not an old thing. Thats a brand new russian thing. Apart from a dodgy alternator, its prooved more reliable than the bmw's.

Anyone make out what it actually is. Cossack ?

[bugjuice]

Thats not an old thing. Thats a brand new russian thing. Apart from a dodgy alternator, its prooved more reliable than the bmw's.

Anyone make out what it actually is. Cossack ?
lol.. sorry, ma bad.. It looked in bloody good condition, so didn't know if it was just a new bike that's an old design, or just a well kept classic. I was hoping the former by the way the camera dude rides.. I so could have done a better job.. Ewan, are you listening?!?!!? damn it..

[Wolf]

Isn't it interesting to see how others live. Quite happily too with no cell phones or internet...
Gods! How do they survive?!?

[XP@]

Finally! they decided to dump a whole load of crap they have been carrying around... took them long enough though.

Breaking the frame makes for a good story... but isn't it a bit wiser to re-inforce your frame BEFORE you set off??? and note they have only repaired the frame, it dosent look like they added any braceing to it.

[Motu]

They put some plate over the butt welds,about all you can do really,unless you strip to bare frame and replace that section of frame rail....kinda extreme.The GS has been used for a lot of RTW trips,and the loading is pretty standard,I bet some banker on his RTW would take a few more luxuries than Ewan and Charlie,but it's the day after day pounding that takes the toll.

[dawnrazor]

Finally! they decided to dump a whole load of crap they have been carrying around... took them long enough though.

Breaking the frame makes for a good story... but isn't it a bit wiser to re-inforce your frame BEFORE you set off??? and note they have only repaired the frame, it dosent look like they added any braceing to it.

along with a host of other things that they would have done had they the benefit of any experience of doing anything like this before. So that said I reckon considering the logistical head fuck that putting together something like this is, a snapped sub-frame is pretty small change in the grand scheme of things.

[Wolf]

along with a host of other things that they would have done had they the benefit of any experience of doing anything like this before. So that said I reckon considering the logistical head fuck that putting together something like this is, a snapped sub-frame is pretty small change in the grand scheme of things.
So true. And even with experience of long tours or the specific motorbike involved, there would still be things you can't foresee. Ted Simon wound up having to bodge together a metal plate inside his pannier because the constant vibrations and jarring ripped the heads of the mounting bolts clean through the fibreglass wall of the pannier. In this day and age I would use one of the more resilient modern plastics - but I would not be surprised if something buggered up with them, too. Hell, I could clip a rock and smash the lock or the mounting bolts could shear.

You prepare as best you can and then be as ingenious as you can be on the road when the unprepared-for strikes. I wouldn't even begin to know what parts of a bike's frame would need reinforcing or where my load carrying gear would need to be strengthened or protected.

You could reinforce the whole frame (doubling the weight the engine has to move and you have to pick up) and mount reinforced paniers - only to drop the bike and put a hole in the side of your petrol tank thanks to a "conveniently located" (to whichever God has the wicked sense of humour, anyway) rock. Damn, didn't think to armour the tank or carry a spare, what with worrying about all the paperwork, medical supplies, camping gear, tools, snake-bite kits, water bottles, petrol cans, oil bottles, first aid gear, vaccinations....

When I go, it will be "well planned" - but I'm not putting any bets on it being uneventful...

[Motu]

I'm very impressed with how their Tourtech panniers are holding up to the pounding,I was having a look at them,and they appear almost undamaged.

Ahem....there is a mint set of Tourtech panniers and top box on TradeMe now,reserve met and at $500 now.What the hell do I need those for when all I do is day rides....tempting though....

[Oscar]

I'm very impressed with how their Tourtech panniers are holding up to the pounding,I was having a look at them,and they appear almost undamaged.

Ahem....there is a mint set of Tourtech panniers and top box on TradeMe now,reserve met and at $500 now.What the hell do I need those for when all I do is day rides....tempting though....


You have come close to getting abandoned at least once, and there was that time a led you miles of the track...

Perhaps you should take a tent.

[bugjuice]

on again tonight peeps.. apparently a good one..

[nudemetalz]

Well mostly great tonight,...but,...that scene with the wild bear being shot by the Ruskis was truly awful. Only killed so the Russian Truck Drivers could sell it's skin and gall bladder. Man, made me peeved off !!!!
Even Ewan McGregor commented on how bad it was.

[John]

Well mostly great tonight,...but,...that scene with the wild bear being shot by the Ruskis was truly awful. Only killed so the Russian Truck Drivers could sell it's skin and gall bladder. Man, made me peeved off !!!!
Even Ewan McGregor commented on how bad it was.
if you were in their position would you do it? I think somehow the worry of providing a meal to my family is more important than a bear sadly, if you have problems with bear furr take it up to the people that by it, its just like the 250 crisis.

[nudemetalz]

if you were in their position would you do it? I think somehow the worry of providing a meal to my family is more important than a bear sadly, if you have problems with bear furr take it up to the people that by it, its just like the 250 crisis.

Hey, Man, don't jump on me !! I was only expressing my opinion.
I can see your point, just that I hate seeing wild animals killed, that's all.

[John]

Hey, Man, don't jump on me !! I was only expressing my opinion.
I can see your point, just that I hate seeing wild animals killed, that's all.
I'm not I am just trying to show you how the truck driver saw it... ya know nothing personal just trying to be unbiased. Its all well and good when we gots our flashy jobs and incomes and gas stations and flushing toilets and such.

[Beemer]

That cameraman is the biggest dickhead I've ever seen! First of all he applies for the job and then tells them he doesn't have a bike licence in the UK. Then his mother has his passport (how the hell did he get into the UK in the first place?) so she has to fly there to drop it off. Then his bike gets wrecked and finally he leaves his bumbag on the back of his bike and his wallet, credit cards, tent, etc. all get stolen! I'm sorry, but he is a waste of space!

That doctor was very cheerful, wasn't he, bet they were glad to see the back of him!

I wouldn't have fancied those river crossings, I had my heart in my mouth every time the vehicles rolled forwards! As for McGregor's riding, well, I think he's a much better rider than I'll ever be even in my dreams. And at least he doesn't moan all the time when things go wrong!

[SpankMe]

That doctor was very cheerful, wasn't he, bet they were glad to see the back of him!

Yeah, what the fuck was his problem? These guys are out for an adventure and adventure has risks. That’s part of the enjoyment of it. Yep, glad to see the back of him.

Definitely one of the better episodes even thou it was mostly non bike.

[bugjuice]

Last night's episode was really good, imho.

I thought some of those river crossings before the support crew caught up, were daring enough. Two guys with a heavy bike in fast flowing water up to their waist.. no thanx.. I did think it would have been easier for them to have started up-stream and gone diagonally across, instead of square across. Could have helped a bit with the flow, but then the river might have only been crossable at that point.

It is truely the land that time forgot. Some amazing shots. Can't help but thing (just as Ewen was saying the same thing but for Scotland), how as a whole, a hill is a hill. And how much of that could look like most of NZ.. I guess there's only so much you can do with the land. It's the people that make the difference.

And the way the support crew were hammering that Mitsi thru the mud too! Looked like heaps of fun. Don't know how the heck that other van has made it so far. But it's doing well. And then the river crossings that made those huge trucks stop in their tracks.. amazing. And f'in cool.. would love to have seen that first hand. Love off road stuff. And chopping down trees to fill a hole in the road.. interesting to say the least! Was nice for a wee bit of a change to see them all trying to get thru it too, not just the bikes (even tho the show is focused on them), just shows that even tho the bikes go thru it all, the support crew have to too..

don't know about that bear stuff. Growing up in a western society and seeing things like this, it does make us upset. And it made me upset to watch too. That bear actually looked more like a cub to me. But I also side with Charlie, in that it's their way of life, and they need to live. We didn't get to the top of the food chain by accident, is one way of looking at it I guess. I don't condone this, but I can understand this. It's hard, but it's a way of life for some. It's like last week, when they're eating the testicals, and there's a kid suckin up the juice.. Most of us probably was a wee bit sick in the mouth and just have to swallow it back down. But to them, it's live as they know it.. I guess we all have our own box to think in

[Wolf]

I'm not I am just trying to show you how the truck driver saw it... ya know nothing personal just trying to be unbiased. Its all well and good when we gots our flashy jobs and incomes and gas stations and flushing toilets and such.
I note Boorman's take was that he could see why - that to them it's new tyres or an injector for the truck or something for the family - but he still doesn't approve of hunting for any reason other than food. He would have been more understanding if they'd eaten the meat, but they can't because it's likely to be toxic.

Big ups to McGregor leaping in boots 'n' all when it came to making the road passable and his focus being on getting "the group" through - right down to saying "it could get nasty, we could all wind up in the water trying to rescue them". The director was surprised he'd go in and McGregor seemed surprised that anyone would think otherwise. The way he jumped when the truck looked like it was going to go over and the real worry on his face regarding getting their support vehicles through.

And the amount of hard work they've had getting the bikes though - yikes. I was watching it and thinking "and I plan to do similar? When the kids are older? Fuck, I'll be in my sixties, that'd be hard enough to do NOW!"

Also thinking "would need lighter bikes and less stuff" and wondering how the hell you would lighten your load - the list of necessities for something like that would be enormous - camping gear, tools, spares, clothing to suit the climate emergency stuff - even stripping all those back to absolute necessities you'd have a lot of weighty shit to carry, weighing the bikes down.

Bloody educational programme.

[Motu]

Apart from lighter bikes of course,but they needed a 21in front wheel in those conditions,the 19 just gets stopped dead in the rocks.Of course I reckon I could do the Road of Bones on a trials bike,but with only a back pack,and it's not something you could RTW on.

But the conditions show where a 4x4 or 6x6 is better than a bike.The only place a bike gets passed off road by these things is in deep mud or deep water,almost impossible on a bike,plus the current in some of those rivers would sweep you away.Good on them for taking on as much as they could - that was an adventure no matter what way you look at it.

[SpankMe]

don't know about that bear stuff. Growing up in a western society and seeing things like this, it does make us upset.

Not me. I would have been the first one to leap out of the truck, rifle in hand, ready to get myself a bear trophy. :ar15: If it ain't endangered, it's fair game.

[Wolf]

Apart from lighter bikes of course,but they needed a 21in front wheel in those conditions,the 19 just gets stopped dead in the rocks.Of course I reckon I could do the Road of Bones on a trials bike,but with only a back pack,and it's not something you could RTW on.
That's pretty much what was going through my mind (Not saying I have the experience to take on the Road of Bones) - fair enough taking on a lot of that off-road stuff on a trials bike, but not with all that stuff on it - just the bike and rider.

I've ridden off-road unencumbered and I've ridden on the road with the bike groaning under the luggage; riding off-road with the bike groaning under the luggage would be another proposition entirely - that's probably half the adventure.

[Postie]

when the support crew truck was getting through the river and it lost one of the boxes from the roof rack, it looked like the whole 4X4 was gonna tip over............ i hope the driver had a spare set of boxers handy.....

[bugjuice]

i hope the driver had a spare set of boxers handy.....
they were in the box that fell off ;)

those river crossings were mental tho.. and to think that's a way of life.. hell yeah!! :headbang:

[nudemetalz]

Okay, I see all of your points regarding the bear, maybe I just saw it through an animal-loving perspective and not a way of life perspective that the Russians have.

[Wolf]

Okay, I see all of your points regarding the bear, maybe I just saw it through an animal-loving perspective and not a way of life perspective that the Russians have.
I'm an animal-lover too, and disapprove of trophy-hunting but I'm OK with pest destruction and killing for food. The killing of the bear is a grey area for me, though - they're killing it to sell the pelt and gall-bladder which, in this day and age, either directly or indirectly relates to getting food. Most people buy their provisions rather than grow them or hunt for them, so any income aids in that. Tyres have to be paid for, possibly at the expense of food (in order to ensure they continue working long enough to earn more money for food later) if the bear's pelt pays for the tyres it frees up the money that would have been spent on them - more money for food. And the truck keeps going, the blokes keep working and earning money for their families.

As I said, a grey area. I certainly understand it more than a person who kills a buck, takes the skin and the head and leaves the rest to rot in the bush just to put the deer's head over their mantel-piece or, worse, to win the prize at this year's Trophy Shoot. Sure, buck meat tastes like shit - testosterone- and adrenalin-laced and tough as hell - which to me disqualifies it as a target unless I were on a culling mission. I'd rather shoot a Hind - they taste better. And I'd keep the skin or sell it because to throw it away would be a waste.

[Motu]

If it was a Snow Leopard those guys would of done the same thing,it's ok to justify the locals in living the life they always have,but they lack a world,or long distance view,these same people killed the last Dodo.

[bugjuice]

these same people killed the last Dodo.
never liked her music anyway..

[Hitcher]

never liked her music anyway..
I think you have her confused with Dildo.

[bugjuice]

I think you have her confused with Dildo.
at least a dildo has an off switch when you're done with it..

[dawnrazor]

bloody hell warts and all television, mozzie savaged arse on the road of bones and crazy russian truck drivers, I reckon the last episode will be a rather dull affair in comparision

[InDeSkyz]

Does anyone have the book that I could borrow to read? Book shops are sold out and they rung me back saying the publishers wont be reprinting - wtf? O_o

[Macktheknife]

bloody hell warts and all television, mozzie savaged arse on the road of bones and crazy russian truck drivers, I reckon the last episode will be a rather dull affair in comparision


I dont know how they are going to top that one!
That would have to be the best episode yet I reckon, DAMN I want to do that! I am planning to RTW in several stages though, and include a few more hotels than they have on this leg of the journey. (so Im soft.. so what?) lol :laugh:
I think the bear had it coming, did you see the way he gave them the finger and then ran off?

[Timber020]

Love those ural trucks, they make a mog look like a remuera tractor.

[Beemer]

Does anyone have the book that I could borrow to read? Book shops are sold out and they rung me back saying the publishers wont be reprinting - wtf? O_o

They had heaps in Paper Plus last week, and I saw it in Whitcoulls in Palmerston North on Tuesday. I find it hard to believe it has sold out everywhere.

[Wolf]

If it was a Snow Leopard those guys would of done the same thing,it's ok to justify the locals in living the life they always have,but they lack a world,or long distance view,these same people killed the last Dodo.
The dodo was killed off by Dutch sailors for the simple reason "they could" - the bird was of no use as food, could not fly or even run very fast. They could just go up and bash it to death - which they did... "Because it was fun".

Bit of a difference between that and "food" or even "commercial gain".

[Wolf]

They had heaps in Paper Plus last week, and I saw it in Whitcoulls in Palmerston North on Tuesday. I find it hard to believe it has sold out everywhere.
Overheard a guy asking for the DVDs in Whitcoulls yesterday - and he was informed they've already sold out.

[T.I.E]

yeah i'm kinda lucky to watch them at work. on a slighty different format. they won't give me the rest as they are afraid i will spoil the series.
excellent prog. love the guns and the bloody camera man keeps bloody crashing.
i would of held the bloody camera.

[Motu]

The dodo was killed off by Dutch sailors for the simple reason "they could" - the bird was of no use as food, could not fly or even run very fast. They could just go up and bash it to death - which they did... "Because it was fun".

Bit of a difference between that and "food" or even "commercial gain".

I was meaning the ignorance,not the reason for the killing...the Dutch didn't know they were killing the last Dodo,or realise what it meant if they did....these Russians would kill the last Black Bear without blinking an eye,just because it was there,it's what they do,what they have always done....they can see no reason not to - Charlie and Ewan,and us,can see though....and it's a waste.

[nudemetalz]

Just a blatant reminder for those who may have forgotten (I nearly had !!)


Cheers
Chris

[bugjuice]

At 10.30 (forgot to add the time!)

[Sniper]

Thanks Guys, and now I have a big screen TV to watch it on. Yaya!!!!!!

[nudemetalz]

oops,... ten-thirty tonight !!!!!!
and, please,...no more bear killing !!!

(I'm not going there again)

[nudemetalz]

on in 15 minutes time !!!!!

[crashe]

Its actually on at 10.25pm tonight on TV2.

[XTC]

TV NOW site still has it listed for 10:25pm but the first 5 mins are always the same anyway so ya won't miss much.

[sels1]

Taping....taping....better without adverts

[Beemer]

I had to tape it because we were out seeing The World's Fastest Indian (don't miss it!) - got home about 15 minutes after it started so we'll watch it another night.

[gamgee]

i can't believe how restrained he was when that wigga rear ended him and said 'sorry i didn't see you' and the dick said it like it was ewan's fault that he didn't see him argh shoulda smacked him one, he might not have seen the fist

[Wolf]

Watched it on DVD last night, half watching it on TV now, getting pissed off with the constant fucking ads.

That bugger that crashed into Ewan's bike, imagine when he got home "Hey mom, I just ran into a famous actor - the proof is on the hood." "He signed the hood?" "No, mom, he dented it..." or maybe just "Fark, I nearly killed that dude from Star Wars..."

The fact that Ewan stayed upright is a testimony to what he learned in Kazakstan.

Hard-case contrast between Alaskan "gravel roads" and where they'd previously been - looked like a billiard table with texture compared with Kazak and Mongolia.

The reunions with their families was cool - especially when Ewan realised that "Lawrence from BMW" was his dad. Fucking Russ, the cunning bastard!

[bugjuice]

last night was a good end, altho a bit quick. The 'states n stuff is a long way. We only got highlights into it, and they must have covered heaps we didn't see.

Must have been nice to fit road tyres tho, and be back in an english speaking civilization again.. And the way they sprung their families back onto them. I thought Ewens dad was a nice touch. And how they knew something wasn't quite right when they were told their families weren't at that place they were staying..

Good series, I enjoyed it..

[XP@]

I think the series was excellent!
Really impressed with the way they captured the journey, as a journey and with none of the usual jazzing up for the cameras. The style also made a refreshing change from the dry sometimes condesending travel documentary.

I even donated to unicef cos it seemed like the right thing to do (since I am borrowing a "Backed up" dvd...)

edit : Just noticed , it scores well (9.6/10) in the IMDB! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403778/

[Wolf]

i can't believe how restrained he was when that wigga rear ended him and said 'sorry i didn't see you' and the dick said it like it was ewan's fault that he didn't see him argh shoulda smacked him one, he might not have seen the fist
You know you're in the USA when the drivers can't see three overloaded BMW R1150GS's - mind you, the guy seemed inseparable from his mobile so what's the bet he was yakking on it to his white "homies" when he smacked into Ewan's bike. Typical dumb-arse.

I'd've been saying "We survive fucking Kazakstan, Mongolia and the Road of Bones and the minute we get on "safer" roads some fucking twat who can't drive fucking-near ruins everything!"

[Back Fire]

I think the series was excellent!
Really impressed with the way they captured the journey, as a journey and with none of the usual jazzing up for the cameras. The style also made a refreshing change from the dry sometimes condesending travel documentary.

I even donated to unicef cos it seemed like the right thing to do (since I am borrowing a "Backed up" dvd...)

edit : Just noticed , it scores well (9.6/10) in the IMDB! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403778/

I thought I was mighty enjoying because it wasen't a "reallity" ( yeah right ) TV game show....

[XP@]

da da da ... bored at work... lunch time too long...

Ah what have we here, www.longwayround.com ah ha, what is this www.RacetoDakar.com but this is the long way round site...

It seems like Charley is going to do the Paris (well lisbon actually) to Dakar! F'in A!

At last we will have some decent coverege of one of the hardest and most exciting races in the world :niceone:

Best of luck to Charley, will he need it or wot!

[SpankMe]

<table border="0"><tr><td><img src="/images/Long Way Round.jpg" align="left" hspace="5">Long Way Round DVD (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006B3UE6/026-3137158-7039610) for sale $20</td><tr></table>

[k14]

Yeah i'm gonna wait for this one to come out, here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000B5KEEQ/qid=1129678382/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2_2/202-4524793-8570226) it has the 10 episode series that was rescreened over in the uk this year.

[DMNTD]

Hadn't heard of it until now. Good links to sites :niceone:

[T.I.E]

there is an interview with charlie boorman on bfm this morning sometime.
they won't say when except this morning.

[T.I.E]

been updated with a time of 8.15ish on 95Bfm
try that if you interested guys.

[MacD]

Charley's on in a moment. Live streams can be found here. (http://www.95bfm.co.nz/default,live.sm)

[T.I.E]

:2thumbsup thanks mac:2thumbsup

[Wolf]

Can't stand that stupid Hyundai Sports Cafe but it was on last night while I was waiting to watch (cough) LOST and they were interviewing Charley Boorman on it. For once they had something worth watching. He was talking about the Russian Mafia people they met.

[T.I.E]

Can't stand that stupid Hyundai Sports Cafe but it was on last night while I was waiting to watch (cough) LOST and they were interviewing Charley Boorman on it. For once they had something worth watching. He was talking about the Russian Mafia people they met.

excellent ill be watching that today thanks heaps.