Norway: earliest possible date to ride to Nordkapp?

[pr0ne]

Hey all,

It'll be me on a Suzuki DR350 (I'll be getting spiked tyres if necc), and my mate in his landrover. We have three weeks to ride from the UK to Nordkapp and back. When would be the earliest time next year that this trip would be viable without my friend having to bring me back in an icy coffin!!

Cheers,

Neil

[AliBaba]

Where do you start?
Oslo-Nordkapp-Oslo is more then 4000 kms, so this means more then 200 kms every day and that’s pretty hard in wintertime.

It has been done in January, but June would be my favourite.

Here is a winter-story that involves Sweden: High Performance Riding


I think some of the roads are closed during the winter.

[indu]

How about February? People have done it on two and three wheeled bikes all year round. The road up to Nordkapp plateau is closed during the winter, but occasionally they plough the road up to accomodate the odd party of tourists who wants to see the total absence of the Midnight Sun (it's dark all day during winter up there, at least until end January). But it's cold though...

I'd say end May might be feasible. June better.

[pr0ne]

"Here is a winter-story that involves Sweden: High Performance Riding"

Thats very useful - thanks.

We'll be getting a ferry to either Bergen or Stavanger...... thanks for the input, keep it coming!

[Flyingdoctor]

I know that a group of Oslo bikers did it to be there at midnight 31st Dec 1999 to be the first to visit the Norddcap in the new millennium. But they're tougher than us poor mortals. I would imagine that the E6 will be open and passable but the windchill over the plateau will cut you in half. Good luck and I look forward to your ride report. Plenty of pics please.

[Joe C90]

depending on the kit, it is certainly feasible in the middle of winter. the serious bikers in norway use single cylinder air cooled machines with spike tyres, stick to the interior snow/ice roads, and if you don't have any serious whiteout conditions, it is doable. However, be prepared for riding at -40c, serious hypothermia if you aren't prepared.
the coastal roads are far warmer, the temp is influenced by the warmer sea currents, and is wetter and warmer, but, the roads are more risky due to the black ice.
A group from the netherlands went up in winter
Primus-borealis 2007

[AliBaba]

Originally Posted by Joe C90

the serious bikers in norway use single cylinder air cooled machines with spike tyres,

Hmmm....

[indu]

Hmm... (part II)



But I suppose these guys aren't die-hard winter riders - or at least not with a pristine version of a Triumph Rickman Matisse or speed four. Perhaps they have other bikes - say air cooled thumpers or sidcar rigs, as most have - as their regular winter hacks?

[Joe C90]

Hi Hans!
You are correct in pointing out that just about any bike can be used in winter! although if I was going to the really cold middle of scandanavia, I wouldn't like to rely on a 4 cylinder battery reliant, high performance watercooled motor, although there are plenty of nutters over there that do!

Am hoping to be back in scandanavia on a shed of a transalp sidecar outfit this winter, 2 wheels not being an option due to a gammy knee.

Are you playing out?

[indu]

Originally Posted by Joe C90

Am hoping to be back in scandanavia on a shed of a transalp sidecar outfit this winter, 2 wheels not being an option due to a gammy knee.

Are you playing out?

No, not at the moment. I've put the Guzzi under a major makeover, so it'll not be up running this winter. I'm looking for a winter hack, probably a Transalp or maybe an old Ural (again) or Dnepr or whatever. We'll see what I end up with. I'd really like to see your 'alp sidecar rig, though, so you MUST let me know if/when you're passing this neighbourhood!

[Joe C90]

Howdo!
Will send you a picture at some point.
Am going to be limited in what i can do this winter due to having had my knee reconstructed following a self inflicted racing incident, (basically I looped a c90 whilst in a 6 hour supermotoped race).
so I hope to retrace my steps up the fjords to the rally I went to this year, on the different site. I don't think it would be safe to go into the colder interior.
Also the outfit isn't really up to it. It needs a thorough rebuild before a big trip in 2009, most likely the snowdogs in russia. (samora park). That will be a serious trip, you interested???

[indu]

Originally Posted by Joe C90

Howdo!
Will send you a picture at some point.
Am going to be limited in what i can do this winter due to having had my knee reconstructed following a self inflicted racing incident, (basically I looped a c90 whilst in a 6 hour supermotoped race).
so I hope to retrace my steps up the fjords to the rally I went to this year, on the different site. I don't think it would be safe to go into the colder interior.
Also the outfit isn't really up to it. It needs a thorough rebuild before a big trip in 2009, most likely the snowdogs in russia. (samora park). That will be a serious trip, you interested???

Ouch - that knee incident didn't sound nice at all. Let's hope you recover 100 percent!

On your other note: Lessee... Oslo - Samara. That's some 4300 km's one way. Mid winter. Inland Russia. Temperatures might be around -30 centigrades, unless the winds from Siberia makes it cold. Hm. I'm really tempted...