Scooters in the Sahara 2013

[(RIP) Dennis]

Following the very successful 2012 trip to Bansang Hospital in Gambia I am pleased to announce that there will be another chance to undertake this fantastic adventure trip in 2013

The plan is to leave the UK from Portsmouth on 11th October 2013, returning on or about the 12th November. The trip will consist of approx 12 riders on Honda C90s plus support 4x4.

If you are interested in either taking part or feel you may be able to assist in any way please drop me an email to:

[email protected] and I'll send you back further details, costs, etc.

This will be a mixed group and applications from couples and female riders are particularly welcome.

To date we have a fleet of approx 20 C90s running at Bansang Hospital but some now need to be pensioned off or butchered down for useable spair parts so the arrival of fresh bikes is always a cause for much celebration.

 

[Crapaud]

Always happy to help with this venture. Can assist with collecting/moving people/bikes/spares.

Also my workshop is available for anyone to use and I'm happy to help service/overhaul any C90 before it sets off. We did a few before the last trip and they got there OK.

 

[Ash]

Always happy to help with this venture. Can assist with collecting/moving people/bikes/spares.

Also my workshop is available for anyone to use and I'm happy to help service/overhaul any C90 before it sets off. We did a few before the last trip and they got there OK.

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

Cheers Sid..... but, but, but.... what are them C90's doing lurking there. No wonder we have such trouble finding them...YOU are hoarding them all

 

[Humbug]

Dennis,

I emailed you about this but it bounced back.

I've noticed that the email address above is incorrect.

It should read:-

[email protected]

HTH.

Andy

 

[Crapaud]

Cheers Sid..... but, but, but.... what are them C90's doing lurking there. No wonder we have such trouble finding them...YOU are hoarding them all

I think all of them were collected and ridden to The Gambia.

Just seen these on ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370666049718?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Don't know what the quality is like but wonder if its worth an approach to them to see if they would do a deeply discounted price if they were going to The Gambia as they would not need to cover any warranty.

Let me if you want me to investigate further.

 

[Fanum]

Just seen these on ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370666049718?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Don't know what the quality is like

Fantastic...I want one!!!

Sid.......the overriding principle and thus the success of all the c90's that have been taken down so far has been rooted in the fact that they are so generic and easy to understand......


Every village in Mauri, Senegal , Mali and Gambia (the four countries that the Bansang hospital has in its catchment area) has a couple of people who can and will strip down and repair a C90......These Chinese copies could be great, as long as there are no updated electrickery bits in them, everything is basic and simple and can be fixed with a 10 and 13 mill spanner, a hammer and an axe (essential for bending the controls out again, DAMHIK )

The other way to go (maybe ) could be something like the Honda CTX200 AG, which we saw dozens of in Gambia, including a couple kitted out with a stretcher bearing sidecar

As Anita &Co have 20 odd C90s though, I reckon it'd make sense to stay with the tried and tested C90 or Yamaha T80...easier to send service spares and kit for with one model, and easier to support en-route too



GO T.I.T.S

EDIT......'Deeply discounted' ?

I like your thinking, but why not go the whole hog and ask for sponsorship in other ways.....proving their own copy model's reliability, huge publicity, photos etc, that's got to be a valuable carrot to dangle in front of them

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

Actually most of the parts (including engines) are interchangeable. However we took 4 brand new Riders C90's out this year and they are the biggest load of crap you will ever ride!

I fly out with Anita next week and to be honest I'll be amazed if I find any of them still running. We took them as a trial as the C90's as we all know are getting ever more scarce and ever more expensive.

Hopefully we will find enough decent ones for next years and then who knows probably swap over to Innova's would be my guess.

 

[BAKERMAN]

You want a Engine for life

http://www.symuk.co.uk/symba_100cc.html

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

.... and watch it disintegrate around you as you ride !

After our experience of the Chinese copies on the Scoots trip this year I wouldn't give one house room, In fact Belle and Nadine set off for Mongolia on two brand new ones on out return and one of them after countless problems abandoned one and had to finish the journey on a secondhand 125.

The two big issues are the quality of the steel/aluminium used; bolts just shear off or drop out, and the quality of the bits and pieces; i.e. the screws that hold the wires to the indicators are so tiny they just drop out of the plastic moulding. Chains and sprockets are completely Knacked after just a few thousand miles as are Tyres, rim tapes slice through inner tubes causes regular flats.

Just a few of the myriad of issues with the bikes.

No give me a trusty old C90 anytime!

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

Dennis,

I emailed you about this but it bounced back.

I've noticed that the email address above is incorrect.

It should read:-

[email protected]

HTH.

Andy

Well spotted that man....it was an initiative test Hmm!

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

Just on my way home from Bansang and was wondering if we have any Structural Engineers on the Forum ?

We have a a big problem with the new Childrens ward caused by subsidence following work on the main road that runs adjacent to it, and I would like to try to get someone who knows a lot more about these things to have at least a talk about it and possibly even fly/ride out to Bansang to take a look.

I haven't discussed it with Anita yet, but will do so on Wednesday

 

[Humbug]

Well spotted that man....it was an initiative test Hmm!

I must have passed because I've just heard from Dennis that I've been one of the lucky ones chosen to go this year. Ever since I met Jaq in 2005 I've wanted to do this. Chuffed? You bet. Now to lose another stone and get myself fitter after my recent accident. Now I've got a chance to be thankful for the life I've got and give something back to those less fortunate.

 

[Deleted account 231002001]

I must have passed because I've just heard from Dennis that I've been one of the lucky ones chosen to go this year. Ever since I met Jaq in 2005 I've wanted to do this. Chuffed? You bet. Now to lose another stone and get myself fitter after my recent accident. Now I've got a chance to be thankful for the life I've got and give something back to those less fortunate.

Well done Andy, I'm sure you'll have a great time.

 

[Lord Snooty]

I must have passed because I've just heard from Dennis that I've been one of the lucky ones chosen to go this year. Ever since I met Jaq in 2005 I've wanted to do this. Chuffed? You bet. Now to lose another stone and get myself fitter after my recent accident. Now I've got a chance to be thankful for the life I've got and give something back to those less fortunate.

Well done Andy, who knows, when I retire I might get to do this also.

 

[Fanum]

Don't FFS feel you need to wait until you retire to do a trip like this.......

Many or even MOST companies will give people a month's unpaid leave to go do it....it's in their interests usually, they can add it to their 'social responsibility' page on a website


Beyond that though, if you want to do it, just fekking do it.......I lost my job the second time around, but I've never for a second regretted the decision.

It's hard, it's expensive, it's knackering, it will make you work hard, beg even, trying to raise the money required, but it will change you, for the better, make your world view expand in ways that are pointless trying to describe, and I guarantee you'll look back on it in years to come and be glad you did it


Can you imagine lying on your deathbed and saying to everyone

"I'm so glad I didn't ride across the Sahara desert on a fucking Honda C90 when I had the chance to......That month I spent at work instead was so much better!"

JFDI

 

[paintman]

It's hard, it's expensive, it's knackering, it will make you work hard, beg even, trying to raise the money required, but it will change you, for the better, make your world view expand in ways that are pointless trying to describe, and I guarantee you'll look back on it in years to come and be glad you did it

Spot on.

 

[Deleted account 231002001]

I follow Dennis on FB and he is currently back out there doing fantastic work.
Very easy to donate and it takes less than one minute from clicking on the link to giving a few quid.

http://www.scootersinthesahara.co.uk/

 

[Deleted account 231002001]

If like me, you believe that we should be helping people in Africa but just couldn't bring yourself to donate to the shite that was comic relief, then why not support a charity closer to home and helped people you know?

 

[MATKAT]

Bansang

I am with you on that one Jim.

If anyone needs further convincing to contribute to this extremely worthwhile cause just go to www.theoldgrumpy.blogspot.com just to see the amazing effort being made.
Oh, and it is a great read, given Dennis's personal circumstances and tragedy the last 3 years