Another ride report ... first trip Iceland 2021

[Timolgra]

We get back to the Samskip Autoplatz in Reykjavik. The cheery manager laughs wryly in that Icelandic way when I explain why I'm back to drop off 24 hours after I picked up.

We offload the bike and I leave it next to Tim's 640. I pull out my wallet and say to Jon Paul '25000 then?', but he laughs wryly in that Icelandic way and points to a taximeter(!) in the cab. Wrong location, he says, it's now 42000 (£240). I wave cash at him and he laughs wryly in that Icelandic way and says 35000. Honour satisfied I pay the man, take some gear off my bike and leave the bike in Samskip's capable hands.

A few weeks later I get the bike back, and a few weeks after that I get round to looking at it. Most of the clutch plates have disintegrated and been ground up. The oil comes out like grey treacle. Stripdown time - when I get round to it!

Pfffft, we just assumed you be able to limp back, had we known then I'm sure one of us would have given you a tow ...... not Sean on the Honda 250 obviously

When you showed us the photos later of the damage, I don't think I've ever seen a clutch in such a mess!
That's no ordinary clutch slip!

You were missed mate as I was looking forward to your company again and of course it's always fun to see how your luggage straps hold up

 

[Timolgra]

unfortunately not a good start to the trip for some. TBH , when we dropped of the bikes in Hull for shipping, I was a bit concerned that some of the bikes and gear looked a bit hardcore, there was my wifes wee CRF sitting there looking tiny and under prepped.

As it turned out sometimes less power is an advantage , the big powerful bikes probably had a harder time gaining traction on loose rocks, resulting in the carnage Tim mentioned earlier.

For anyone thinking about this trip in the future, I can highly recommend it , personally I found it challenging at times , probably due to lack of sleep with the fecking daylight 24hrs a day and screeching puffins, however I met some great folk , loved the wild camping , the scenery was spectacular , and Iceland offers so much different types of terrain to ride on.

Big thanks to to Tim for showing us around .

Thanks Sean, you were the real star of this trip and I know you were having trouble sleeping. I use eye patches although I'm sure if you asked nicely, then Fiona would have let you wear a pair of her knickers over your head
Well done!!

 

[Udders]

Shame the clutch out of a 640 wouldn’t fit! There was one just sat there waiting to be pilfered!
Or you could’ve hot-wired it and joined up again. That would’ve given Tim a surprise!

 

[ktmman]

hey go easy on the 250 , it done remarkably well, first(and prob last)time its beaten off KTMs!

Yeah the dreaded river crossings.... funny how I became a bit laid back about them after the initial "up to the headlight" crossing.

Hope to ride with you all again , just for a bit lionger next time

 

[ktmman]

then Fiona would have let you wear a pair of her knickers over your head ... sounds a bit pervy but I know what you mean lol.

I did actually have eye patches and ear buds , after a few days I had adapted...or was that due to the whisky running out?

 

[Timolgra]

Shame the clutch out of a 640 wouldn’t fit! There was one just sat there waiting to be pilfered!
Or you could’ve hot-wired it and joined up again. That would’ve given Tim a surprise!

Oy!! Don't even think about breathing near my bike .... besides, 640 clutches are bomb proof, so of course they won't fit a 690

 

[Timolgra]

unfortunately not a good start to the trip for some.

As it turned out sometimes less power is an advantage , the big powerful bikes probably had a harder time gaining traction on loose rocks, resulting in the carnage Tim mentioned earlier.

Thinking about this now reminds me of the decision to go up that climb which caused carnage on the first day.

Yes of course we're going up there!
The first time was with my wife, a woman in her 50's and most definitely not a strong rider. In fact she ridden up it twice as have a few GSs.

This is at the top which really is the beginning of a beautiful long trail, so I've really no idea what was going on just a few minutes behind us other than it all started to go wrong as Fi's BMW was being bounced all over the place and that's only from what I'm told. This in turn causes others to stop and get stuck where they otherwise wouldn't have

Anyway it happened, this is continuing from the top.

 

[Timolgra]

We press on around the West Fjords.

I'm combine a few days together here and details of places can be found in my previous trip reports

Fi, stays at the camp while we head out on a classic favourite.

Stu and Vince

End of another good day

 

[Timolgra]

We take the high road, closed but just about passable on a bike.

Mark

Sean's mighty Honda

And Stu

Much needed coffee stop

Camp with a natural hot swimming pool

Ugly buildings which used to be a boarding school. In these very remote regions children would normally board for weeks at a time, often walking long distances home again.

 

[Timolgra]

Wherever possible taking the old roads which are now unused, they deteriorate so badly they become great trails for bikes.

For some reason I didn't take many photos for a while, probably because I already have so many.
Anyway, we get right up north again to camp.

Next morning we all take a hot swim in a pool overlooking the sea

 

[Udders]

Stunning!

 

[TLSgazza]

There a lot more trail round the coast then last year Tim. Lol

Btw though I said I'd like to get a smaller bike and enjoy some of the more taxing trails! I think I've changed my mind. Looks like hard work on some of that.

 

[Timolgra]

There a lot more trail round the coast then last year Tim. Lol

Btw though I said I'd like to get a smaller bike and enjoy some of the more taxing trails! I think I've changed my mind. Looks like hard work on some of that.

Walk in the park for you Garry

 

[TLSgazza]

Walk in the park for you Garry

Stop tempting me.

 

[Timolgra]

I will get around to finishing this, just been a bit busy

 

[Timolgra]

We had a couple more great days of riding trails back towards the highlands although I took no photos.

Fiona's rejoined us but unfortunately has a big off with her BMW causing considerable damage to both her and the bike.

We patched them both up best we could and Vince accompanied her back to a big garage and cafe where we'd meet up in a couple of hours as I get a plan together.

Before we meet up the stars aligned and the rest of us were able to take a diversion from what was already a stunning trail to the top of a nearby mountain which I'd long fancied.
It was difficult and once again I was glad to be on this bike, but worth it for the view.

Although we could make the BMW rideable it was clear poor Fiona had taken a beating and sadly this was to be the end of her riding.

I called my good friend Dori who's a biker and lives in the north, he's always more than willing to help us out and sure enough was with us within 90 minutes. Although heading away from Reykjavik he took Fiona and her bike to their home where he and his wife, Steina, really looked after her, even taking her out for a very long drive in the Range Rover.

Coffee with Dori and Steina

Two weeks later Dori once again came to my rescue when we arrived soaking wet and freezing cold, can't thank him enough and one day I hope he'll ride with us as I know he'd love to

 

[Timolgra]

We start the next day with an easy, beautiful trail followed by a glorious road ride.

Then later a long trail into the centre of Iceland, a perhaps over enthusiastic Vince bins his 660 big time dislodging a huge rock and bending his radiator, we think luckily he landed on his head so no damage done , the bike's ok and Vince shrugs it off

We arrive in time to for a session in the natural hot pool and get some food on

 

[Timolgra]

Early into the next days ride there's always the potential for wet feet.

Several hours hard riding later and we're into my favourite area to ride.

The mighty Honda 250 still faultless.

At camp I climb up the hill to find phone reception just as a big group of horses pass by

 

[Timolgra]

Heading south through this stunning area

I have a plan to use a new trail with an unknown to me river crossing, luckily at an earlier crossing I meet a warden who tells me the exact line to take..... which is very different to the 4x4 line and also advises to checkout the natural bridge!

The crossing is just above this waterfall!

While others tackle the rocky and tricky natural bridge Stu and I watch a couple of 4x4s make the crossing, they're hitting huge rocks as they use what appears to be the natural line and would be impossible on a bike. We both look at the river for another 5 minutes working out the best line.
Stu also opts to use the 'bridge' but waits with me as I build up enough courage to listen to the warden's advise about the crossing.

Although deep and with a current I stick to the advise given and it go's without hitch, even if my heart was in my mouth at one point, and even gives me enough time to get round a take a pic of Stu on the natural bridge.

 

[Timolgra]

The trail continues to wind its way through these beautiful hills.
At the next river we can see ahead that we're in for a sand storm!

For perhaps 10 or more miles we literally couldn't see more than a meter or so and we were riding in soft sand. It was a bit of a fight as we couldn't see enough to ride at any speed, luckily we're back on a trail I know and helped by yellow marker flags across this desert and the gps zoomed right in we finally emerged into brilliant sunshine!

Iceland was certainly putting on a show for us today!!

Back into the sunshine