Austin Vince article

[OB1]

Here's a wonderful thread to read: Going Walkabout on an 800xc through Russia & Central Asia...and maybe beyond...

A young couple with minimal preparation set off from the UK to Australia, two-up on a Tiger 800XC. They are currently in Mongolia after a ride that would have tested the resolve of some of the best overlanders: knocked off a cliff by a lorry and then, on a completely rebuilt bike, the carry on only to drown the bike in a river. Yet still they have continued on with their journey!

These two are remarkable! B)

[gebrauchtwagen83]

Here's a wonderful thread to read: Going Walkabout on an 800xc through Russia & Central Asia...and maybe beyond...

A young couple with minimal preparation set off from the UK to Australia, two-up on a Tiger 800XC. They are currently in Mongolia after a ride that would have tested the resolve of some of the best overlanders: knocked off a cliff by a lorry and then, on a completely rebuilt bike, the carry on only to drown the bike in a river. Yet still they have continued on with their journey!

These two are remarkable! B)

They certainly are. Been following that since they set off

[DanielS]

Here's a wonderful thread to read: Going Walkabout on an 800xc through Russia & Central Asia...and maybe beyond...

A young couple with minimal preparation set off from the UK to Australia, two-up on a Tiger 800XC. They are currently in Mongolia after a ride that would have tested the resolve of some of the best overlanders: knocked off a cliff by a lorry and then, on a completely rebuilt bike, the carry on only to drown the bike in a river. Yet still they have continued on with their journey!

These two are remarkable! B)

Remarkable indeed, good link. Bloody nutters and exactly my type of adventure, minimal planning, just set off and do it.

Isn't it strange, most people seem to say how nice the Mongolian people are but so far they've only got bad things to say about them. I hope the next part of Mongolia has them finding nicer people.

I thought that bike would be a write off after that drop, it looked in terrible shape. Loving the Lada grill

[gebrauchtwagen83]

now that this thread has calmed down, id just like to finish off by saying that i must have the right bike :laugh: :laugh:

monu15.jpg (66.48 KiB) Viewed 1076 times

[chrisuk]

now that this thread has calmed down, id just like to finish off by saying that i must have the right bike :laugh: :laugh:

monu15.jpg

If you look closely at the front of the mudguard you'll spot a TT logo. Anyone see Austin's talk at the HU do in Ripley a couple of years ago on the topic of accessories made by that German brand?

[bowser]

been away for a bit and missed this thread, quite interesting the attitudes for and against, like most I don't 100% agree with either view.
I do agree %100 that to most people that idea of traveling long distance/rtw is something daunting and not to be achieved by the average joe, and that even now with a lot of people they actually think that you have to have xxxxx motorcycle to even attempt it. I was at a bike event at the weekend and was talking about a trip I want to do which is to ride to India and then around India, and was told "you cant do that unless you have a big BM off roader" and a shit load of cash to pay for hotels etc. Now I thought the guy was taking the piss but no, he was actually serious and had the idea that really was the only sort of bike you could use for the trip. This was not some easily impressionable youngster but a bloke my own sort of age, who has been riding for years, still cant believe he was not having a piss take but no he really was genuine, So I can see where some of Vince's arguments come from, its all very well discussing it HERE but as a representative sample of bikers we are not "average" by the nature of the site we are likely to be more informed etc than the average.
On the other side there is no way I would ever consider a long trip anywhere on a DRanything, I am 6'5" and they are all too bloody small, to some extent you have to be able to enjoy what you are riding or there is no point, by the same token I don't think I would want a 1200GS either, but hey I am just feking odd I suppose.

Re the comments on the various trips, I have spent more than a few hours myself in front of a camera and TV land is a very unreal place, I really enjoyed LWR not so much LW down, possibly because I have a desire to do eastern Europe and Russia etc but have no interest in ever setting foot in any part of Africa again. But its entertainment, and meant to be, ok it about 2 blokes on bikes on a road trip but its TV its entertainment its not real life doesn't make it bad but it does just make it a bit disingenuous sometimes, like the jump from KTM and all that bollocks about KTM not thinking they would make it!! they could and should have just come out and said that "BMW offered the bikes the spares back up and sponsor money to use their bikes, where as KTM would only offer the bikes and some spares", so we have decided to go on BMW's, everybody knows it now, the whole industry knew it at the time, its now no secret so why treat the viewer like an idiot at the time?

[-Ralph-]

like the jump from KTM and all that bollocks about KTM not thinking they would make it!! they could and should have just come out and said that "BMW offered the bikes the spares back up and sponsor money to use their bikes, where as KTM would only offer the bikes and some spares", so we have decided to go on BMW's, everybody knows it now, the whole industry knew it at the time, its now no secret so why treat the viewer like an idiot at the time?

Can you expand on this? Is there any proof?



LWR made comments on camera such as 'they don't wanna give any of the bikes? Correct', and 'they think that we might fail', then they broadcast it on TV presented as fact, in a documentary, not a fictional programme.

Now, this was negative publicity for KTM, BMW came out looking like the shining stars, and have profited massively from LWR and undoubtedly KTM took some reputational damage from it at the time. If what was said in the programme about KTM was not true, and Euan, Charley, Russ knew it was not true (ie: they made up a big act), then that is corporate defamation (a kind of organisational equivalent of libel against a person).

Why haven't KTM sued?

[gebrauchtwagen83]

KTM wouldnt offer them anything and they have said it was the biggest mistake in the companys history. the CEO said that he wishes he could have turned back time.

[chrisuk]

Stop press: CHER now CEO of KTM

[video width=425 height=344 type=youtube]BsKbwR7WXN4[/video]

[Bernard Smith]

....and a shit load of cash to pay for hotels etc.

disagree with the bike point he made as I did it on an 18 year old bike. Agree in some ways re. the hotels. The minute you stop ANYWHERE you will be surrounded and constantly harassed - even in the middle of 'nowhere' people will suddenly appear. It's a innocent harassment in many ways born out of pure curiosity but you will have not a minutes peace in my experience. Plus, the 'understandable' facilities and hotels will cost far more than most people realise......... it's a polarised society in many ways between the haves and the have nots......

Just a thought......