‘Long Way Down’ begins

[WRT]

Seriously mate, have you seen some of their 'riding' -if you can call it that

Dude, just put a cork in it. I'm not going to comment on your ability, but as someone who grew up on dirt bikes, and rides MX now, I can say I have a healthy respect for how well those two guys do. Those are BIG bikes, carrying a lot of gear, ridden in very harsh conditions - you cannot even begin to comprehend how physically taxing it would be.

As for DR650's, they would struggle with carrying that amount of gear, and once laden down with that sort of weight they would be no easier in the rough stuff. And I bet they'd break down more often than those beemers too. Anyone who owns a dirt bike knows how much maintenance goes in to them. K's on dirt cannot be equated to K's on tarmac, your maintenance schedule for a sports bike drops from 5-10,000 kilometers to 50-100 hours.

Respect to those boys, and good luck for the journey.

[Babelfish]

Top notch news that the boys are getting back into it. BlankIndex mustn't have been paying attention throughout the long way around. Sure, the guys did their share of falling over...but some of the shit they did while learning was really well done. Remember, an experienced rider told them their route was impossible.

I'd suggest anyone bagging the trip point us in the direction of their video footage when they did it.

....bloody unusual for a south african to be blowing his own horn

[bistard]

Since the "Long Way Round",Charlie Boorman has competed in the Paris Dakar, I am not sure what Ewan McGregor has done,but they will be way more experienced & the new 1200 BMW is much lighter & user freindly than the 1150s they rode last time
I am looking forward to the new DVD when it comes out,great viewing & if it raises the profile of motorcycling worldwide I am all for it

[NordieBoy]

And Claudio is "The Dude"
Rocks up in "Long Way Around" only having ridden a scooter and cons his way onto the team and rides brilliantly.
His camera work is sweet as well.

[dnos]

Cool - I really enjoyed Long Way Round so look forward to seeing this one too.
Sounds like it will be another interesting trip and I really don't understand how anyone can bag them for it.
I wonder if the support crew are gonna stay a bit closer this time or do the same meet you at the border stuff.

[Macktheknife]

Looking forward to watching this one, really enjoyed the last one, just wish I could go with them!
Bloody good on them too, lots of respect for people who just get out there and do it. No shortage of people around the world who want to knock them and the idea and the back-up and anything else they can think of, I notice they are not willing to do more than talk a good game though.
I will be watching the website with interest for updates.

[crashe]

I have meet Charlie Boorman as did a few other KBers here in Auckland.
He is a really nice guy.

Postie and Bugjuice filmed the ride from Mt Wellington to the Big Boy's toys.
(Still waiting on that dvd boys !!!!)

Hell's teeth, the way those bikes were loaded up and Im not sure how well balanced they were at the begining, as one got dropped before getting on the road...
But trying to keep them up in some of those conditions would have been damn hard to do.

I say they did a fantastic job and I look forward to seeing the next dvd or watch it on telly.

[Swoop]

Look forward to seeing that. Good on them, raising bikes/biking in the public eye, once again.

[Chisanga]

I'm so fucking jealous. I would do the "Long Way Up" i.e. from Cape Town northwards... can't wait to see the series.

I think i must be a frustrated adventure biker

[ZeroIndex]

Dude, just put a cork in it. I'm not going to comment on your ability, but as someone who grew up on dirt bikes, and rides MX now, I can say I have a healthy respect for how well those two guys do. Those are BIG bikes, carrying a lot of gear, ridden in very harsh conditions - you cannot even begin to comprehend how physically taxing it would be.

As for DR650's, they would struggle with carrying that amount of gear, and once laden down with that sort of weight they would be no easier in the rough stuff. And I bet they'd break down more often than those beemers too. Anyone who owns a dirt bike knows how much maintenance goes in to them. K's on dirt cannot be equated to K's on tarmac, your maintenance schedule for a sports bike drops from 5-10,000 kilometers to 50-100 hours.

Respect to those boys, and good luck for the journey.

Top notch news that the boys are getting back into it. BlankIndex mustn't have been paying attention throughout the long way around. Sure, the guys did their share of falling over...but some of the shit they did while learning was really well done. Remember, an experienced rider told them their route was impossible.

I'd suggest anyone bagging the trip point us in the direction of their video footage when they did it.

....bloody unusual for a south african to be blowing his own horn

Gotta come clean on this... No, I wasn't previously paying attention throughout the Long Way Round... Carver came over, and we just jumped through it and found all the bins, and I left it at that... I felt a bit bad about giving ObiWan so much grief that I decided to actually watch it properly today... up to episode 4, and I have to take everything I said back... well, almost everything... yes they do actually ride very well, but still, the fact that Charley Boorman bins it twice before even leaving England is quite funny, especially considering the first one is right outside their building...

Ok, I'm done with this post now...

[carver]

im a experienced dual sport/ adventure rider, so is my dad, who did a similar trip, on a T500 suzuki, with one bin total

they are n00bs, they just dont go hard enough.,
pussy out off road and your in shite, ride on the throttle.
it was like a comedy for me.

[Teflon]

I'm from South Africa, and until January 2006, I'd never ridden a bike, and only got one in March 2006. I haven't done much in off-road riding, but chuck me on gravel (any mixture of it, even if it's wet clay), and I'll be quite happy to race along as quickly as possible, and I munted around for 15 minutes on a trials bike a few Sundays ago, so balance isn't a problem. I reckon I'd carve them up on the dirt. Also, shouldn't they have bought bikes that didn't need so much repairing... say for instance a DR650, which are known for being reliable on off/on-road touring over long distances... plus they're lighter than BMW's

I can remember you taking a short cut (off road) on that hyunsung.. nice jump

[Bob]

im a experienced dual sport/ adventure rider, so is my dad, who did a similar trip, on a T500 suzuki, with one bin total

they are n00bs, they just dont go hard enough.,
pussy out off road and your in shite, ride on the throttle.
it was like a comedy for me.

At the risk of being repetative - they openly admit to being inexperienced off-road riders. As I said earlier, the first episode clearly shows them being taken out by BMW to their off-road course to learn the basics.

This wasn't a manual/DVD of "how to off-road". This was two blokes who came up with an idea to ride the ride they did... and they did it. As someone stated above, an 'Expert' who had ridden the same (well not quite the same) route said it was impossible.

Given the above, isn't it all the more impressive that a couple of "noobs" made it, when an experienced expert said it could not be done?

All a matter of perspective.

[Chisanga]

Theodore Roosevelt said

It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

Echoes nicely my feelings on the matter

[SwanTiger]

im a experienced dual sport/ adventure rider, so is my dad, who did a similar trip, on a T500 suzuki, with one bin total

they are n00bs, they just dont go hard enough.,
pussy out off road and your in shite, ride on the throttle.
it was like a comedy for me.

Look at your fucking signature.