Hello mates,

​I am Italian but I lived in Australia for five years. I intend riding CSR in July '20. I am looking for someone or a group to ride it with, without a supporting vehicle south to north.

If you know about this almost legendary 1800km long route already, you are aware that it requires technical expertise, physical fitness, special bike setup, off-road experience (preferably in Australia) and heavy preparation. I am already at a good level of preparation myself.

If you are interested and perhaps also looking for a partner, please let me know and we can discuss details in PM.
Please, only serious people apply.

interested. how long did you have in mind for this?

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Squily

Sorry I did not reply earlier, I was away.

I have done a detailed program for 11 days + 1 rest day.
Some riders told me that it can be done with less time, but i do not mind if it takes 2 weeks

Do you have any idea on this matter? Have you been researching CSR?

What bike do you have?

Yes, I've been doing some research.

Bike: CRF1000 AT and/or XR600

Quite a few ideas/issues

1. According to CSR facebook page, the station and roadhouse no longer do fuel dumps. So you have to carry all your fuel
2. There has been a drought over much of Australia and the Kimberly is very dry at the moment - many of the perennial rivers have dried up completely. Unless there is good rainfall over the coming season, I won't even consider doing the CSR next year - I want to see it when its at its best, not the end of a long drought.
3. Doing the CSR is only half the challenge, logistically it is >2800km from Perth to Halls Creek. (Over 3000km from I am). So three massive days, or 5 days riding just to get there. And because of the distances, tyres and bike maintenance could be an issue to.
4. Cost of permits are excessive IMO, but a necessity. With the cost of fuel, etc, it becomes quite costly and something I need to save up for

I've no specific interest to do the trip unsupported, and been planning it with a guy from work and my folks (in 4x4's) with the idea to trailer the XR up to Halls Creek and ride it form there, whilst they carry my fuel, food and swag. My folks can't make it in July (they only return from overseas in August). We were originally thinking of doing it in September, or 2021.

There is also the matter of enough leave from work (minimum of three weeks).

If I do it unsupported, I was thinking of using a sidecar on the AT, which would give me more options for carrying fuel, make it safer (lower risk of falls) and less issues with tyres and maintenance.

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Squily

I have a KTM 690 setup for desert travelling (suspensions and so on), already in Australia.
IMHO, for this project lighter is better.

1. Yes, no more fuel drops, but it is still possible to refuel at Parngurr and Kunawaritji. So, one has to be prepared to ride about 800Km (Wiluna-Parngurr) which is the longest stretch. I will be carrying around 56LT of fuel, between standard fuel tank, Safari and auxiliary tanks .
   
   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Squily There has been a drought over much of Australia and the Kimberly is very dry at the moment - many of the perennial rivers have dried up completely. Unless there is good rainfall over the coming season, I won't even consider doing the CSR next year - I want to see it when its at its best, not the end of a long drought. Doing the CSR is only half the challenge, logistically it is >2800km from Perth to Halls Creek. (Over 3000km from I am). So three massive days, or 5 days riding just to get there. And because of the distances, tyres and bike maintenance could be an issue to. Cost of permits are excessive IMO, but a necessity. With the cost of fuel, etc, it becomes quite costly and something I need to save up for

At the moment (things may change in the future), I would be coming from an an Australian place even further than you My plan is to send new tyres (or even supplies) at Wiluna Post Office for pick up. You may consider that.
A sidecar, although I personally haven't heard of a similar setup before, might be a solution. I suppose, it would need to be properly constructed and with right springs. One does not want it to become a hindrance, rather than a problem solution

One thing that bike riders have to consider is that a lot of the track is closely bordered by holly grevillia which has very tough sharp spiky leaves that make it near impossible to ride in the wheel ruts forcing you to drive on the loose central section

A side car might be problematic even if you make the wheel spacing to fit in the wheel ruts because you need very big clearance over the central hump, and because the uneven drag will likely send you spearing off into the bush



https://photos.app.goo.gl/BoHNd2b25naxffMV7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/BoHNd2b25naxffMV7


https://photos.app.goo.gl/rf1kTeeCVYQrcx1s6

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Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

I don't know if the plant you are referring to is what is often called "slappy stick"
However, for the same reason the old method of extra protection for hands and bags becomes most effective!

I've been working on a distance of 1000km, not 800 (as reported in the CSR Facebook page), but even that does not include fuel for exploring off the main track. And no way any of my bikes will only use 56l for 800km. The AT is more frugal, but with sand work it'll probably use upwards of 65l. The XR is even worse and I won't even consider using it unless I have a support vehicle (frame is not strong enough to carry the additional weight required).

Lighter is better, but power-to-mass ratio is more important IMO. The AT loaded up handles and rides better than the XR loaded, but the XR is better than the AT unloaded.

I have plenty of sidecar experience, not to worry. I know how to set it up and what works offroad and what does not. If it's not going to work, I won't use it.

Don't trust the postal service. I've had to mail tyres before and apart form the excessive costs they charge now, I've also had some bad experiences when the tyres didn't show up - e.g. in Katherine NT the tyres showed up two weeks after the postal service said it would be there and we ended up loosing a lot of time. Wiluna is only a few few hundred kms from me, so not an issue for me. Halls Creek is another story.

Any specific reason you want to do south-north? I was told north to south is a better option.

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Squily

Some nice scalloped dunes for you to set your THREE-WHEEL DRIVE side car up for

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ju5p1xt7W41xDxm17

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Gv4xSKbzvRsdei738

Corrugated clouds

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fmuE3Y3iHT9pUAyV6

To match the corrugated road

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6KVMWtrmYs5brhrX8

Not all sand either

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZsiKTVQCXVD5k7YK8

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Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

The hardest to setup on the hack is corrugations. If the wheelbase don't oscillate correctly, the bike drifts uncontrollably (not to mention shake itself to pieces).


luckily I don't have to go far for testing LOL

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Squily

IMO, distances on CSR FB page are not accurate for everybody. I mean, I do not intend to visit all wells or go "rideabout". For example, according to HemaMaps, Wiluna-Parngurr is 762Km, but it could be slightly more.

I have no particular preference for south-north or viceversa (I am still looping back to Coober Pedy). I also spoke to various riders with past experience and, in my view, it is mainly if one wants to face the obstacles earlier or later. There are pros and cons in both options.

I take your suggestion on board re postal service. I will use it with plenty of time ahead.

Spoke to a guy yesterday who did the CSR unsupported in 2018.

He says 800km range is fine if you don't go exploring. He missed some of the wells.

He also says South to North is the best, as most 4x4's do it North to South, so the approach for bikes is easier and not chopped out.

He also recommended doing it in May as soon as the temperatures start to drop, that way you eliminate traffic. He reckons July is peak season and the sandier/softer tracks would be in a worse condition

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Squily

I agree on all accounts, that is what I heard too.

May, however, is definitely too early for me. It is true that July is peak season, but it can work out to your advantage in case of emergency or simple assistance. I was told that to get firmer sand is best to ride in the morning.

Had a little meeting with the family and mates and we've decided to commit for May 2021. Works into everyone's timeframes better on this side.

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Squily

(Thanks for letting me know)