Status Update
 

Sorry to hear that news Joren. Approaching a big trip the inconvenience of things like a broken body part or broken bike are truly magnified.

My Update:
Returned from a two week ride circling the western US on dirt roads and tracks rode part of the great divide route - it was epic! Some pics here: Instagram

I've been working ceaselessly to rehabilitate my bludgeoned motorbike ever since: Installed new cables, tires, sprockets, chain, oil changed, carb cleaned and needle replaced, valves checked, various bits bent back to shape, top box and surf rack installed, tools and spares are nearly assembled. Bike gets on the boat next week :eek3:

Vaccinations completed - yellow fever, typhoid, meningitis, measels, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, hepatitis, etc....etc..

Carnet is being processed now..

Finally broke down and bought some proper motorcycle pants as I realized that I may as well look like moto man all that time as it provides an obvious explanation of my persistent covering of dirt.

Tools and spares just about all assembled to send with the bike.

Hi, guys.

I am slowly recovering from my broken wrist, I’ll go to the hospital the 3th of September again and take a picture, than I hear if I need another week in the gypsum brace or not.

Paul: If not then I’ll call you Paul the next minute letting you know I will be in Calais next day(4th September) to meet you and drop some tires off, to be taken in the truck, as you agree.

Gary: Your flight ticket of the 29th of September. I've read that your trying to get an earlier flight, which is a good thing as it is a 2.500 km riding up to Gibraltar, but if you succeed please let me know as soon as possible as my employer really wants to know. If the 29th is definitive than let me know also, because I said it can chance.

Motomon: From which place or direction will you ride up to Gibraltar by that time, cause then we can ride along, maybe?


I’m sending my telephone number to you guys. I’m even suggesting to buy some cheap tablet. (I hate electronics), but I want to keep up a Blog as well, so…
Kind regards,
Jeroen.

Dropped my bike off with the shipper last Friday. I miss her already. :(

Joren - I'll call today or tomorrow to check on possible flight changes - keep ya posted. The reason that I'd like to come earlier is that I have friends in Madrid and Granada that I'd like to stop in and see on the way to Gibraltar.

I have a feeling that I'm going to end up slower than others pretty quickly as I'll be stopping at some spots in morocco for waves.

tech
 

I'm going to have an 11'' Macbook air and have an iphone too.

Hi guys,

Some questions again.

When I arrive in Accra, Ghana half December, I'll crate the bike and take it with me while I'm flying home.

First: Who knows things about freighting motorbikes by passenger plane? Things like prices?(is it cheaper or more expensive than your own ticket).
Is it possible to fix your ticket plus your extremely rare and bulky baggage in a couple of days, or is this a weeks operation, which has to be planned in advance?
Are there any difficult paperwork before freighting? Or any other things that I should know before.
I do know how to crate my bike (never done, but read about it) also I do have a carpenter in Ghana so he will help me.

Second: When is the group planning to arrive in Accra? I'm planning to be there at begin or half December as my girlfriend comes over to have a little holiday than in Ghana while I'm crating and planning my, her and Mr. Ténéré's flight home. The maximum date I can stay if necessary is 2nd of January as my employer is already complaining about my plaster arm now.

Gary: Are you planning to take tires with you while riding down to southern Spain? Because I've planned to throw them in the truck with Paul, because the are awkward and bulky to take with you on the motorbike, as you are looking up to 3000 km of European (boring) highway. I saw you where also considering to take a surfboard(XD), so I barely dare to ask, but if you like, you can throw them in too, if you send them to me, or Paul himself of course.

Kind regards,
Jeroen.

Hey all,

My bike is currently sitting at the port on Oakland, CA waiting to get on the boat for arrival at the Thamesport, UK scheduled for Sept. 19. I'm rather anxious about the timing of everything working out alright, but I suppose that I'm simply not yet in the traveling mindset of taking things as they come.

Joroen: I have a more street oriented tire mounted on the bike and only a spare rear mefo explorer. A pain to carry to be sure, but I fear that I will delay in morocco hunting for waves longer than some others of the group. I think that I have my surfboard mount dialed in well enough, but we will see. Thanks for pointing out some options tho..

http://bugsonmyboard.org/wp-content/...rf-670x493.jpg

Bike shipping
 

Jeroen,
I've shipped bikes by air a couple of times and it's usually not a difficult operation, but it depends on the airline and the airport. Once in Addis, they had a bunch of motorcycle pallets lying around and were happy for me to use one for free, super handy as I could prep the bike right next to the scales and no need to handle it again until I went to collect it from the fright forwarder in Rotterdam. No box needed just a pallet gaffer tape and tie downs.

One thing to remember that airlines charge by volumetric weight. That means you have to try to get the bike in it's smallest 'package', minimizing the volume it takes up. See here for an over-explanation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimensional_weight

The way the airlines look at it is that a tonne of lead takes up a lot less space than a tonne of feather pillows for example.

By removing the front wheel, handlebars and dropping the rear shock I can actually get my bike volumetric weight less than actual weight including panniers (also removed). Good luck.

Gary how did you fix the Pelican case to the rack? Just drilled it? I'm doing exactly the same and wondered if you have any tips.

Cheers
Cam.

Thank you Cam, that’s some helpful information.

Gary: still nothing chanced of your departure date from London, Right?

Kind regards,
Jeroen.

Hey guys,

Joren - Yep, my arrival date is still Sept 29.

Cam - yep, just drill thru the pelican case - they are super tough. Some m8 or m10 button head allen bolts, with big washers and thin rubber washers to seal it up. A metal plate underneath the rack with holes drilled to match the case holes can keep it from moving around on the rack

I like these bungee buddy things that are really easy to put on the pelican too: Bungee Loops :: Aerostich/RiderWearHouse Motorcycle Jackets, Suits, Clothing, & Gear

Yahoo - my bike is on the boat headed for London! :clap:

Holy Crap Gary, that thing must be like a sail in a cross wind!! :)

Its less trouble than you might guess from the look of it. I haven't encountered anything really extreme, but in normal moderately windy days I hardly know that its there. It does tend to attract plenty of attention tho..

Tank
 

Gary - I see you still have the small stock tank. You don't feel constrained by having to find petrol so often? Or do you carry an extra tank. I have the big IMS tank and carry an extra gallon. If you don't have an extra tank, then you can use my extra tank's fuel, and I'll even carry it for you. :thumbup1:

very generous of you to offer motomon! I've got the Acerbis 5.5 gallon tank mounted now - much better :-D

hy, guys,

I've a 23 litre tank originally on my Ténéré and an extra feul bladder of another 12 litre, together i have a range of 550 to 600 km so if anyone needs some gas, maybe I've some spare.

kind regards,
Jeroen.