Photos from 10,741 Km Ride this summer

mikecbrxx

mikecbrxx

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If anyone is interested...its not all bikes, here is the link to my Picassa album containing 400+ photos from preparing my X through to riding it around Kazakhstan and home this summer.

I have put a brief description on each photo and they are (mostly) in the order they were taken in. Viewing as a 'slideshow' is probably easiest and is an option.

Some of these photos have appeared already on ADVRider, but most haven't.
 
Nice job prepping the bike :thumb2 Did you have any issues on the trip?
 
Peak said:
Did you have any issues on the trip?
Click to expand...

Yes a few;

Collision damage with rocks :D Split foot brake lever and bent hard parts from Hotrod. Think it would have been much worse without the hard parts though...probably a destroyed foot brake mechanism. The bash plate took heavy punishment but did its job and was marked but undamaged.

Some falling off damage, mostly bent hand guards (minor though) :eek: As Walter has said before, these bikes crash well :rob

Nearly drowned the bike on the first day on a river crossing. With only a small part of the left hand side of the airbox out of the water, the bike ran underwater for about 30 secs before I could kill the engine. No water taken in. I was using standard airbox and cover with a Uni-filter inside. The seal on the air intakes appears to work well :D

The most serious problems, from an overall trip perspective, was the reduced fuel consumption and the regular issue of the main tank not sucking fuel from the X-Tank. We think this was due to the heat but I have a personal theory that it may have something to do with mounting the main fuel filler cap the wrong way round causing a seal problem. Not proven though.This is easily solvable in a workshop, I will have a small electric fuel pump mounted somewhere as backup for the next trip. On this trip, I managed to scrounge a siphon pipe (eventually) and transferred fuel via my fuel bladder.

The fuel problem was an issue because some of the routes had long distances of nothing between fuel stations. The longest I did was 450kms between Zhezkazghan and Kyzylorda. No fuel between these 2 major towns at all. Fortunately, and why I don't know, I flagged down a motorist 90kms into the route and asked where the next fuel was. I ended up having to return the 90kms to Zhezkazghan to fill up again (brim the tanks) and fill my fuel bladder. Ran out of fuel (almost) at 365kms out of the 450 and that was traveling on a fuel conserving 80kph all the way!. In normal temperatures and roads, I would make 450 at that speed, easily, on main tanks alone.

The only other thing was that my halogen lights got very hot and I burned out 2 wires feeding the H9 bulbs on my headlight. Fortunately I had 1 spare and I cannibalized the main beam connector after that. I am going to change my 90mm Hella halogens to Hamsar LED lights over the winter.

So, as you can see, nothing major. No punctures or mechanical breakdowns.
 
mikecbrxx said:
the regular issue of the main tank not sucking fuel from the X-Tank. We think this was due to the heat but I have a personal theory that it may have something to do with mounting the main fuel filler cap the wrong way round causing a seal problem. Not proven though.
Click to expand...


Interesting! I have an XCountry with the XTank. I wasn't aware that there was a right way for the bike's filler cap to go on but have often wondered. In my case though it doesn't seem to make a difference as the XTank works a treat.

Mind you I'm on the road all the time and in UK temps so not quite as extreme as your experience.

Viv
 
mikecbrxx said:
Yes a few;

Collision damage with rocks :D Split foot brake lever and bent hard parts from Hotrod. Think it would have been much worse without the hard parts though...probably a destroyed foot brake mechanism. The bash plate took heavy punishment but did its job and was marked but undamaged.

Some falling off damage, mostly bent hand guards (minor though) :eek: As Walter has said before, these bikes crash well :rob

Nearly drowned the bike on the first day on a river crossing. With only a small part of the left hand side of the airbox out of the water, the bike ran underwater for about 30 secs before I could kill the engine. No water taken in. I was using standard airbox and cover with a Uni-filter inside. The seal on the air intakes appears to work well :D

The most serious problems, from an overall trip perspective, was the reduced fuel consumption and the regular issue of the main tank not sucking fuel from the X-Tank. We think this was due to the heat but I have a personal theory that it may have something to do with mounting the main fuel filler cap the wrong way round causing a seal problem. Not proven though.This is easily solvable in a workshop, I will have a small electric fuel pump mounted somewhere as backup for the next trip. On this trip, I managed to scrounge a siphon pipe (eventually) and transferred fuel via my fuel bladder.

The fuel problem was an issue because some of the routes had long distances of nothing between fuel stations. The longest I did was 450kms between Zhezkazghan and Kyzylorda. No fuel between these 2 major towns at all. Fortunately, and why I don't know, I flagged down a motorist 90kms into the route and asked where the next fuel was. I ended up having to return the 90kms to Zhezkazghan to fill up again (brim the tanks) and fill my fuel bladder. Ran out of fuel (almost) at 365kms out of the 450 and that was traveling on a fuel conserving 80kph all the way!. In normal temperatures and roads, I would make 450 at that speed, easily, on main tanks alone.

The only other thing was that my halogen lights got very hot and I burned out 2 wires feeding the H9 bulbs on my headlight. Fortunately I had 1 spare and I cannibalized the main beam connector after that. I am going to change my 90mm Hella halogens to Hamsar LED lights over the winter.

So, as you can see, nothing major. No punctures or mechanical breakdowns.
Click to expand...

Wow! Not bad for 10,700 kms hard riding. Looks an awesome trip. Can't wait for mine!
 
:thumb


Theres a slight change that i'm at Russia riding next summer.
 
The ethanol in modern fuels attacks the rubber seals for the petrol tank causing the them to become porous. Mine got so bad that fuel would leak from round the cap. Obviously it also caused problems when I fitted the tt front tank, connected to siphon through the main tank breather.

There are 3 to replace, the o ring on the filler neck can be bought from BMW, there is an o ring on the lock barrel which is a standard size and easily available, the awkward one is the seal for the cap itself. I ended up buying an offcut of 2mm viton rubber sheet and cutting the shape with a Stanley knife. The only other alternative was a new cap.
 
Dahoum said:
Thanks - I enjoyed that :thumb2

Any problems/advice with the soft luggage?
Click to expand...

No problems with the soft luggage. Having small bags limits what you can take so the bike remained light. The Wolfman panniers and the USPro 20 top bag all remained waterproof despite complete immersion in water. I arranged the load so that I only ever removed the top/tank bags to take into hotels. The panniers had camping gear, rations and spares. Not disastrous if they went missing....which they never did. They were NOT locked onto the bike either. It's relatively easy to find parking that is guarded and the guards themselves usually park bikes right in front of their huts so they keep a good look out.:thumb

Now, having said that, I will probably not use the same system next time. I am thinking of adopting the Magadan panniers, and just have a small(ish) top bag to replace the tank bag. I have never liked tank bags and this trip just reinforced that dislike. Its a personal thing.:jager

With this new setup, 1 bag will contain camping gear and spares, and the other will have clothes and other items. External pockets for additional water/fuel etc. The inner bag containing clothes can then be removed and taken into a hotel etc. Top bag will be for more extra water, daytime snacks and electronic stuff/cameras.

One of the important lessons from this trip was that I underestimated water requirements in the Kazakh summer heat :augie I had a 3 liter hydration system but no real means to carry more. This was simply not enough, especially when intending to camp and be away from towns.

The only other comment I have, and its one that I received, was that my setup looked neat. No bits tied on or hanging off straps. Everything was neatly stored in bags. Nothing got destroyed during crashes and nothing dropped off the bike. I really think that is the way to go. :blagblah If you can't get it in a bag, don't take it! (Ok, tyres excepted :D)
 
mikecbrxx said:
I am also heading further east in SIberia. Would like to think it will be next year BUT, sorry to say, It may have to be 2014.
Click to expand...

Whats your plans for the year after next?
 
Peak said:
Whats your plans for the year after next?
Click to expand...

Obviously depends on how much time I can get. Being self employed it will depend on how much I can save to keep things ticking over at home as well as paying for the trip. However, 5 weeks would be a minimum I would hope.

Options would be-
1) Do western BAM and then ride on to Magadan. Maybe get to Baikal too.
2) Ride the Altai/Tuva route, visit lake Baikal and ride on to Magadan. Maybe include Mongolia and/or some of the BAM.

Doubt I would ride all the way due to time so will probably ship to somewhere like Novosibirsk or Astana. How that would work out am not sure yet. If shipping inside Russia, may ride to Moscow (about 3 days hard riding) before the trip so that I take the bike into Russia myself (easier than shipping). From Moscow the bike can go by truck. I can fly home and continue working until it arrives and then fly out to meet it and start the trip.

For the return it would be similar. Truck from Magadan to Moscow while I come home to start work. Then fly to Moscow when it arrives and ride home.

Actual details need to be worked out and largely depend on available time.

What about you ?
 
viv said:
Interesting! I have an XCountry with the XTank. I wasn't aware that there was a right way for the bike's filler cap to go on but have often wondered. In my case though it doesn't seem to make a difference as the XTank works a treat.

Mind you I'm on the road all the time and in UK temps so not quite as extreme as your experience.

Viv
Click to expand...

I think there is a right way, with the 'high' side to the front. However, whether this had anything to do with the problem is not proven. Next time I will have a mechanical means to transfer the fuel rather than relying on the vacuum feed.

For your X-tank, do you have the high insert in the tank for the chain? If not, be careful as it is possible to hit the insert with your sprocket and this will puncture the tank.
 
rossi said:
The ethanol in modern fuels attacks the rubber seals for the petrol tank causing the them to become porous. Mine got so bad that fuel would leak from round the cap. Obviously it also caused problems when I fitted the tt front tank, connected to siphon through the main tank breather.

There are 3 to replace, the o ring on the filler neck can be bought from BMW, there is an o ring on the lock barrel which is a standard size and easily available, the awkward one is the seal for the cap itself. I ended up buying an offcut of 2mm viton rubber sheet and cutting the shape with a Stanley knife. The only other alternative was a new cap.
Click to expand...

Thanks rossi. DO you remember the size of the standard seal you mention? Also, where is this viton rubber available?
 
mikecbrxx said:
What about you ?
Click to expand...


Well that is the million dollar question!

I'm going to pack work in and the plan is to have six months travelling. What I wanted to do, and I'm trying to figure out if this is feasible, is...

Get to Magadan via Kazak and Mongolia then I'm trying to see if there's a shipping agent who'll take the bike to Vladivostok so I can ride it back home. I have heard on the HUBB that it is doable. I want to head back and then spend a bit of time in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. A friend of mine has just shipped out of Vlad and has a contact there that I'm trying :cool:
 
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