Those Van Vans are incredible

Bury_Dave

Registered user
Joined
Sep 7, 2010
Messages
1,251
Reaction score
1
Location
Suffolk, England
I can't remember if it was I or someone else who posted of the 2010 trip but here in ADVRider is their 2011 trip.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=722141

They show you don't need a big bike and that in fact a smaller one can be better for some things. Although it is best that they all have the same sized bike than a range of them.

They also find some great rides and post up excellent photos and route info.

Apologies if this has already been posted. Couldn't see it though if it has.

Well done lads ! :clap:bow

Dave
 
How on Earth did they manage that??? I mean they all they had was a topbox each!! How did they manage without aluminium panniers, ortlieb roll bags and extra fuel cannisters:D
 
The writer Robert Louis Stevenson - himself a great adventure traveller - once said that:

" A more a man carries over and above what he needs, the more careworn he becomes".

Still relevant to me personally but I appreciate that there are people who actually like to carry loads of kit. That's why they are forced to but the 12's ;-)

And they were staying in hotels and B&B's every night :D

Still a good effort though ! :D
 
Van the man......!

Don't ever let Touratech get a hold of one of those or it'll be the end of 'minimalist touring' forever

Everyone knows you can't ride a 'bike' on a gravel road without 100+hp, crashbars, extra lights, huge fuel tank, extra fuel cans, protectors for everything whether it needs protecting or not, offroad skills course level 1&2 and a gaudy great Twat Suit......!

Fantastic trip report and i've been looking at these wee bikes with interest for ages.

Maybe its time to take the plunge and enjoy riding a bike for what it isn't.......Rather than what it is.....If that makes sense......!

FP.:thumb
 
To be fair, that guy was returning earlier than the others so even if he took kit down with him for them, they would still have to bring it back themselves.

But regardless of a back-up truck, aren't you supposed to make it look like you are Ewan and Charley ? Even if it means packing bubblewrap in the luggage ? :)

Most of them were wearing jeans and combats too just like normal people do and most un-Tosser-like. The concept of basing yourself in one area for a time and travelling light during the day.

I'd love to see a cost breakdown of their trip.

Dave
 
richie said:
I know some people here like those wide tyred bikes, I have ridden a few and in all honesty would prefer a XR250 to any of them, maybe I am missing the point:blast
Click to expand...

I think you are missing the point ------ they're all in a Van Van owners club and on VanVans :D The difference is that when they go to the supermarket, no-one thinks 'pretentious prat' like they do to all us GS owners. Little do we know that they do much more than that.

No-one is proclaiming them to be the best bike (I agree that your option might be better for how you want to ride) but that it can be done on them. Maybe they don't want to ride at speed or do huge jumps or ride like they're in a motocross event ? Maybe they just like gentle, steady riding with their mates and taking time to chat, have their type of fun with relatively few thrills. Just chilling and enjoying the scenery. :nenau

Horses for courses and no one way is right for all. OK, philosophical mode now off. :)
 
I'm after 2 off these for next summer as I've promised my lad I'll take him to the Alps or Picos on them for his 17th Birthday present - Dads duties and all that ;)
 
Bury_Dave said:
To be fair, that guy was returning earlier than the others so even if he took kit down with him for them, they would still have to bring it back themselves.

But regardless of a back-up truck, aren't you supposed to make it look like you are Ewan and Charley ? Even if it means packing bubblewrap in the luggage ? :)

Most of them were wearing jeans and combats too just like normal people do and most un-Tosser-like. The concept of basing yourself in one area for a time and travelling light during the day.

I'd love to see a cost breakdown of their trip.

Dave
Click to expand...

I know those Van-van boys well..."Ort Dunlo" is a good mate.

They have a whale of a time generally and I sometimes feel a touch jealous because it is so appealing in a back-to-basics way……..:beerjug:
 
The Penguin of Death said:
I know those Van-van boys well..."Ort Dunlo" is a good mate.

They have a whale of a time generally and I sometimes feel a touch jealous because it is so appealing in a back-to-basics way……..:beerjug:
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. They look a good bunch of un-pretentious lads. One of them (who's name I don't immediately recall) bought my Kawa W650 off me earlier this year. Smashing bloke.
 
I still kick myself for selling my last one, but I'm having a good look for my new one at the moment.

I had on in the 70s and it was brill, then they brought the four stroke out, and it was just as good.

Ace tools:bounce1
 
Got myself one of these bikes about 6 months ago after a load of Vanvaners turned up at our camping weekend in the Suzuki owners club,they came from all over the country for a weekend in Kenbridge near dumfries:D,great bunch of guys:blagblah:beerjug:and on the single track roads around St Mary's loch and sweetheart abby they were plenty fast enough:thumb.Use mine for wee runs and going to work(100 mpg)a lot easier to get out the shed than the gs or the gsx11
this is mine the day I picked it up,then rode it from south of Durum to Falkirk with a couple of others:thumb
2011_v10.jpg

2011_v11.jpg

2011_v12.jpg


great little bikes
 
Are they not a bit slow for touring? ( said by someone who is interested in a smaller lighter bike)
 
Seamaster said:
Are they not a bit slow for touring? ( said by someone who is interested in a smaller lighter bike)
Click to expand...

It depends on how fast you want to go, and how much you want to see really and the fact that I'm now an old fart 40mph top speed is plenty fast enough:thumb2
 
6.5l of fuel... how does that work then..?

I'd love one, if it had a big(ger) tank :thumb2
 
DavidJames said:
1.4 Gallons, apparently 100mpg - so 140 miles to a tank........I've heard of KTM Adventures doing worse than that.
Click to expand...

Very true, but I'd still want more :augie

140 miles range is pretty minimal...



(Is this the most boring Post ever..?)
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.


Back
Top Bottom