Northern Gravel Adventure Riding Club

**suzieq** · 7th January 2012, 06:09

Originally Posted by suzieq

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlWRHUWnhe8

http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html

[Stage Program] - Stage 5 (05/01/2012)
CHILECITO - FIAMBALA : 177 km (cars & trucks) / 265 km (bikes & quads)
★ Rankings before the start ★
Bike : 1. DESPRES (FRA), 2.COMA (ESP), 3. RODRIGUES (PRT)
Quad : 1. MAFFEI (ARG), 2. A.PATRONELLI (ARG), 3. M.PATRONELLI (ARG)
Car : 1. PETERHANSEL (FRA), 2. DE VILLIERS (SA), 3. ROMA (ESP)
Truck: 1. DE ROOY (NLD), 2. STACEY (NLD), 3. BIASION (ITA)

NOW FOR SOME WET WEATHER FUN TRY THIS:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...ENR5p0PfyouGtg

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Iaian's bike a total incineration

http://www.facebook.com/cat.longman/...2989856&type=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7Ug8Wn8f8Y

**suzieq** · 7th January 2012, 06:33

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Chris Birch in action during the 6th stage of Dakar Rally from Fiambala, Argentina to Copiapó, Chile on january 6th, 2012 © Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool

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Cyril Despres and Ruben Faria in action during the 6th stage of Dakar Rally from Fiambala, Argentina to Copiapo, Chile on Jan 6th, 2012 - (courtesy Marcello Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool)

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Marc Coma in action during Dakar Rally XXX Argentina on December 29th 2011 - (Marcello Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool)

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Johnny Aubert in action during the 6th stage of Dakar Rally from Fiambala, Argentina to Copiapo, Chile on Jan 6th 2012 (courtesy Marcello Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool)

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Mohammed Balooshi in action during the 6th stage of Dakar Rally from Fiambala, Argentina to Copiapo. Chile on January 6th 2012 (courtesy of Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool)

LATEST NEWS CHRIS BIRCH WEBSITE
http://www.chrisbirch.co.nz/

**suzieq** · 7th January 2012, 06:50

well I for one was pleased with cancellation of the Dakar stage as it meant I got an unexpected full night's sleep. Now I am ready to hit the weekend here! Off to Waiheke today to see Kaleidoscope's show, then out to town this evening with the girls.

You so deserve a break Monica

**suzieq** · 7th January 2012, 06:54

So, you've seen the cool Dakar bikes with the massive fuel tanks, big fairings and oh so many lovely gadgets with more buttons than you'd ever know what to do with!

Ever wondered what they do?

Stan Watt takes MCN's Michael Guy through the gadgets one by

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=hERWTagfZV4

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showp...&postcount=245

**suzieq** · 7th January 2012, 07:09

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...kA&h=NAQGsRvXO

**suzieq** · 7th January 2012, 08:38

Originally Posted by suzieq

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...kA&h=NAQGsRvXO

BRAND-NEW! The T-Shirt for BMW GS riders! “You may go a little bit faster but I can anywhere!” Exclusively available at www.BeemerGS.com!

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**suzieq** · 7th January 2012, 09:10

http://toyotablog.co.za/blog-entry/r...kar-rally-2012

**suzieq** · 7th January 2012, 11:12

Originally Posted by suzieq

http://toyotablog.co.za/blog-entry/r...kar-rally-2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUUY8...E93E56&lf=plcp

**suzieq** · 7th January 2012, 14:51

Originally Posted by suzieq

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUUY8...E93E56&lf=plcp

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Neduro...33369226695489

**suzieq** · 7th January 2012, 17:10

http://www.chrisbirch.co.nz/

**suzieq** · 7th January 2012, 17:47

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My friend from overseas thought to provide ME with some afternoon entertainment, MY bridge shot and HIS bridge shot.

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MY LOW suspension GS650 beemer - out riding the Lake Waikaremoana track a couple of years ago. Jim decided we would do a nice longggg ride. We left Taupo about 9am and rode thru Desert Road/Waiouru, then took in Gentle Annie before lunching at Napier beachfront for a short stop. From there over to Wairoa and then to start the Lake Waikaremoana track (3:30 in the afternoon???) I told Jim i was unsure if i would make it out BEFORE dark, but answer THE BIKE HAS LIGHTS........... and yes looking at the pic the bike does indeed have lights. The further in we traversed it just kept getting darker.

A couple of weeks BEFORE we went thru a bmw group was scheduled to also go thru but the Opotiki servo contacted to say there had been a major wash out, so a good portion of the track was flooded out and there were also major slips on quite a few sections. Music to my husbands ears as we most definately WERE doing the route. So on entrance from the Wairoa side of the track there had been major debris and MUDDDD. The river had washed up a lot of the trees onto the track and my bike slipped and skidded all over the show. I did stage a park up at one point and looked UP the hill at JIM thinking what on earth is this?????? But footing the feet down in the mud with such a heavy bike to support it soon became evident that was NOT an option. So onwards and upwards and keep the gas on. It was better skidding and sliding all over the place and keeping the bike going forwards. This seemed to go on for ages, but soon the mud levelled out. Having NO nobbs on the bike also did NOT help. I just had standard dual purpose ANARKEE II tyres on. Not good in the mud at allll.

The exit stretches from the Lake Waikaremoana is a combination of gravel portions and then sealed portions. There was also plenty of the big thick chunks of the white rock they had used on portions of the track to repair the slips. I could not see a thing so just ploughed thru it all with the bike careering every which way. Nearly veered into the bank at one point, but I spose when you cannot see the road in front of you, you just hit the gas and go for it. At that time of night I would not expect toooo many vehicles on the track, but there were loads of 4 x 4 vehicles travelling thru the track, another new one for me. A good thing becoming now dark, I could see the oncoming lights of the vehicles. I do rember asking Jim how long he thought it would take us to GET THRU here. Answer, AS LONG AS IT TAKES.

So nearly 100kms over this lot before we exit out thru Murupara and into Rotovegas and then home TAUPO> (about 800kms of riding thru the day) Keeping up with JIMZ big F800 on this return stretch back to Taupo and no roadside lights, the beams from the GS did not provide me with that much lighting either. It was one heck of a FAST trip thru here also. The bikes were tapped, good I could not see the speedo, was concentrating on gunning it out of there and trying to spot the rear tail light on the back of the F800. My bike was working hard on this ride, tapped to the max on the road sections home and could not see the road at alll thru this section. It was a long days ride and pitch black by the time we made TAUPO.

I think I was done by the time we reached Taupo. We parked up at the local Maccas for a stop, parked up the GS and climbed up the stairs. I had not stopped to think of the state of myself. Never gave it a thought, I WAS THE viewing in the small Taupo establishment. Covered from head to toe in mud. The bike was caked also. I WAS THE ENTERTAINMENT. I also had not realised I had parked my bike off camber, being tired you lose being in touch with a few of the very basics, the ride home also just as important as the journey thru the day.

So climbed on board, Jim had exited the car park by now, I leaned the bike over and she took me clean over on my low side. Yes the bike was racing and ready to go, key in ignition front wheels spinning, lights on. I was thrown clean off face first on the concrete pavers, and the GS was purring away also face down. hmmmmm Now, believe it or not, a gentleman who was on holiday from Jamaica with a rastafarian t on and dreads to match. Huge chap. Unbelievable, what are the chances??????? Well he rushed over to me, grabbed my adventure jacket and hoisted me off the deck like i was a 10kilo sack of spuds. It was nothing for him. Embarrassing. I am normally used to picking myself up off the deck so i did struggle with being helped. The whole of maccas had now also come running out as well as. OH DEAR. He then picked up my heavy GS650 like it was a 250cc and threw that up also. That man was STRONGGGG.

People very very kind and very helpful, but a trifle embarrasing for me having done such a big ride over the day and ending my thunder LIKE THIS. Now this is something Jim is forever remembering.

**suzieq** · 7th January 2012, 19:58

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xd8...vel#rel-page-1

**suzieq** · 7th January 2012, 20:56

http://www.mxlarge.com/news/5929-las...-gear-gear2win

**suzieq** · 8th January 2012, 06:35

[Stage Program] - Stage 7 (07/01/2012)
COPIAPO - COPIAPO : 419 km > Follow the live !!!
★ Rankings before the start ★
Bike : 1. DESPRES (FRA), 2.COMA (ESP), 3. RODRIGUES (PRT)
Quad : 1. MAFFEI (ARG), 2. A.PATRONELLI (ARG), 3. M.PATRONELLI (ARG)
Car : 1. PETERHANSEL (FRA), 2. HOLOWCZYC (POL), 3. ROMA (ESP)
Truck: 1. DE ROOY (NLD), 2. STACEY (NLD), 3. BIASION (ITA)

http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html

EXPERIMENT THE ACTION FROM THE INSIDE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uiFv...2&feature=plcp

KTM's lead Dakar riders Cyril Despres and marc Coma are off on Stage 7 - a loop of timed special from Copiapo to Copiapo in Chile of 419 tough kms in the Atacama Desert, the driest place on the planet.

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BIKES STAGE 7.....and they are off on what sounds like a long day in the saddle. 13 have left start so far, and 3 of them through WP 1.

In From Monica

"]looks like Chris finished in 34th-ish today, overall 32nd gotta see what happens once everyone is in - but made up lots of places!! but all done for special stage 7 - now the liaison and that's it! lonnnngggg day today hoping he doesn't sleep in the desert ...

KTM Racing
Coma and Despres 1-2 in Stage 7 of Dakar 2012. Marc gains about two minutes on Cyril in the overall standings but Cyril is still 7 minutes 48 ahead going into the rest day in Copiapo, Chile.

**suzieq** · 8th January 2012, 08:06

We are attending DB1K along with well over 100 riders so far, and still time for more entries for this event.

Jim has been working many hours in our garage so titled JIMZ GARAGE preparing the KTM450EXC for those more challenging sections of the ride.

The KTM450EXC has never looked so good. LOL. The KTM is getting a make over. Jim also used the newly modded out KTM and test rode it on the Chris Birch support ride, along with a 10Litre fuel can on the back along for the ride also. I must admit those factory KTM stickers do look the part. A shame. The new safari tank not quite so nice to look at, but still in the TEAM OJ theme which is good.

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