Husabergs to Monglia/Siberia
 

Hey there folks

After a failed attempt due to logistics(APEC summit in Vladivostok in Sept last year) I will be returning to Mongolia/Siberia next year as I have 'unfinished business'. We missed out on a huge area we wanted to see so wish to return and try to finish our travel plan. However this time we will be on motorbikes instead of in the Land Rover.

We plan to start in UB head North into Russia and go around East side of Lake Baikal. Onto Lena River barge and follow Vilyuisky Tract. Magadan BAM etc.

We have Xchallenge(for myself) and XT250 (for my very short legged partner michele). We are about to buy two Husabergs (FE570/450 )

We would like to take the Bergs on this trip just for a bit of fun even tho they are not the best choice and the other bikes are more 'sensible'

However Michele copes better with less weight (and more power!!) and she is actually the one pushing for the 'enduro' spec bikes to go!!

Would you risk taking these bikes and minimal gear for a 6-8000km trip with potential for crap fuel. We would run low power mode and change filters etc.

Realise there is lots of info on ADV about set up but I am looking for advice from you guys in the field.

FE570 is known for its reliable engine and I really like the idea.

Your thoughts??

Walter C you out there somewhere?? I know you have talked of it but not done it - yet??

I guess the worst that can happen is we break down a lot so no difference to taking the poor old Land Rover really ;-)

Thanks in advance

Callum

I would do it.

If I was going to Mongolia this year it would be on my Husaberg 570. If I get back to the BAM again it will be on my 570.

Add some aftermarket fuel tanks and lightweight luggage and its perfect. I dont know how the berg will run on the occasional 80 octane fuel .. maybe buy a litre or two of octane booster in UB.

I wouldnt let it put you off the idea tho.

You would have a total ball in Mongolia on a 570.

I am a bit distracted with other things this year otherwise I would be spending my time working on Adventurising my Husaberg for exactly that sort of ride.

Thanks Walter

We are actually looking at next year before we travel again.

Yes from what I read (although no Berg experience-yet) there is no reason the bikes could not do this sort of trip.

I agree about Mongolia. Lots of big wide open spaces to let the bikes 'fly'.

What would be the impact of running low octane fuel? Would they just run like a dog and potentially get hot?

Lots similar boggy Siberian type areas here in Tasmania to get some practice in. Mossies are a little less fierce however!!

It does look as if Adventure riding is heading down the enduro end of the spectrum - at long last:thumbup1:

Thanks again

Callum

Well my take on it .. is that in the 1990s, it was enough to ride across a continent - be it Africa, South America or Eurasia ... back then when many of the main roads were dirt, there was no communications, and no info on what to expect ... just riding the main route down Africa or across Russia was already a supreme adventure and you were one of just a handful of people that did it - even locals didnt do it. That was cutting edge. Thats where the notion of Adventure Motorcycling was born. I remember doing the Tokyo to London trip in 1994, on main routes across Russia, Siberia and Kazakhstan etc, and every major motorcycle magazine in Europe wanted to buy and run the story. We sold that story a dozen times in Europe alone in different countries. If you did a story TODAY about riding a bike across Russia or Kazakhstan on the main routes, there would be zero interest from the media. Its no longer interesting. Its no longer an adventure. Its no longer cutting edge. Thousands of people do it every year.

Today, all these main routes are asphalted, lined with truck stops, motels and coffee shops, and interesting sites are surrounded by hawkers selling chinese made tourist tat. The concept of "adventure motorcycling" has to move forward or else it will become meaningless. I couldnt do the same ride today and still call it an adventure. The developing world is changing fast, and Adventure Motorcycling has to keep ahead of the development if it is still to be an adventure.

In my view, if adventure motorcycling is still all about trying to get to interesting rarely seen places, then it has to get off the main routes, and that means getting off the highways and the asphalt. Thats why it has to become more off-road focussed. That means lighter bikes, capable of reaching places tourist buses cant get to.

There are two concepts around today ... Motorcycle Travel/Touring (overlanding), and Adventure Motorcycling. They are both perfectly valid and great fun and have their own adherents. And if you want to travel the world, then seeing it from the back of a motorcycle is the best way to do it. But realistically, its not really credible to call a ride to the Dolomites in Northern Italy "Adventure Motorcycling". Almost by definition, Adventure Motorcycling has to be the sharp, pointy, cutting edge of Motorcycle Touring.

The idea of exploring Mongolia on a couple of 70 degree Husabergs is a really cool one and gives you so much more scope to really get out into the wilds and explore.

There were a bunch of ride reports on Mongolia I read this last year and I am really pleased to read more and more people getting off the "Northern Route or Southern Route" standard take on the country and taking some risk by venturing into the wilds. One of favorite reports from Mongolia this last year was this one ... http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=818258

Interesting not for the fact that the authors are Americans (you rarely meet Americans there ... foreign bikers in Mongolia seem to be about Europeans 70%, Russians 20% and Aussies and Kiwis the rest) but because they have just flown in there, grabbed some local Chinese made bikes and just really went out exploring and adventuring. A great read - take a look.

Thanks Walter

A great reply and I tend to agree with you.

No doubt you have seen some of the MotoSiberia stuff from the two Polish guys. Between yourself and them certainly pushing the boundaries and its great to see.

The term 'adventure motorcycling' is perhaps no longer appropriate is it becomes more 'mainstream'.

I have found a 2009 'brand new' Husaberg so it just needs my name on it as I will never find another.

Fuel range is no issue as there are plenty of tanks available. Fuel filters similarily widely available. I guess the issue is carrying gear really. Its all very well going 'minimalist' and 'light' but there is still a bare bones minimum tent/mat/sleeping bag/water/food/spares/change of clothes and photography+nav .But it still takes up space. And the big Berg was certainly not designed to carry gear.

My partner (Michele) 5'1'' and a bit!! and 50 kilos struggles with getting her feet-or even foot- down so we need to lower one of the bikes and thats a dilemma too.

However the rewards will be worth it I'm sure .

Thanks again for taking the time to reply

Regards

Callum:thumbup1:

Hi Callum,

I you need some advice adventuring it - talk to Richie Nyhouse at Valley Force Husaberg - Home he has worked as a mechanic for a Husaberg Rallye team. Nice guy I grew up with him.

Cheers,

Craig

Adventure Biking always was about Enduro based off road riding
 

I kinda disagree with your premise that Adventure biking may finally be turning in the enduro direction. I disagree with it, because for me Adventure Motorcycling historically always was enduro and off road focussed.

Chris Scott in the Sahara on his Tenere's in the 80s and 90s, Austin Vince and gang on their DR350s - all just dirt bikes with big tanks. And the bikes that really kicked off the first adventure motorcycling boom: Honda's 750 cc Africa Twins were just a derivative of the Dakar winning NXR 750V. BMW won the Dakar in the 80s on their dealer ready Adventure bikes - R80 G/S and R100 GS. Cagiva won it in the 90s a couple of times with its adventure bike, the Elefant 900, that you could also just buy from your local Ducati dealer. Adventure bikes historically always were tough, off road, enduro bikes with long range fuel tanks - historically VERY closely related to the exact kind of bikes that could survive and win the Dakar - just with engines and suspensions in a different state of tune. KTMs 950 Adventure is the most recent example, very closely derived from their Dakar winning 950 Rally.

The Adventure concept has been hijacked in the last 9-10 years by marketing folk who naturally enough are looking to maximise profit - as is their job. Maybe cause "Travel bike" or "overland bike" doesnt sound sexy enough.

For me Adventure Riding/Biking/Motorcycling always was and still is off road focussed. The other stuff, like riding from London to India on a big GS on main routes loaded up with aluminium boxes is "overlanding" - and these days its all asphalt. (mind you, I think Overlanding too has to move forward lest it become "Lonely Planet on 2 wheels" tours - a completely predictable process of travelling to the next lonely planet hostel, day after day - seeing the same sights, eating at the same restaurants, and photographing the same scenes as everyone else, because thats what the guide book recommends - at some point you lose the ability to call it independent travel.)

I have heard the argument that adventure is subjective ... and that one persons adventure might not be an adventure to others, but that simply dilutes the concept and makes it meaningless. Valentino Rossi might call it an adventure after returning to the pits after a track training session on an oily track. A Scooter riders definition of adventure riding might be racing thru the laneways of London's West End at full throttle at midnight while trying to avoid drunk pedestrians. If urban scooter riding and professional track racing can also be adventure riding then the concept has no meaning.

I personally have always loved reading the reports from guys like Sambor on his exploratory rides in Central Asia and Afghanistan, Swinarski's 2009 ride to Chukotka, Pete Forwood's rides, Sjaak Lucassen's rides. They all share something with videos like Austin Vince's Mondo Enduro or Terra Circa or Chris Scott's Desert Riders that makes them so enjoyable: the fact they were not even sure what they were trying to do was possible ... thats the common thread ... thats the essence of adventure -at least for me.

When I up and down some snotty snow covered tracks on my 990 today I thought it was an adventure! :D

Truth be told what I rode was great fun on my big girl, but I would have been able to do a lot more exploring on my old 450EXC.

If I wasn't travelling two up most of time an adventurised 690 would be my pick, the one Rod Curry had on the recent Sibersky Extreme would be perfect.

If I could trust a 450-550cc dirt bike engine to keep going for 20,000ks without major mechanical work I would choose one of those.

Edit: I should add all the above said their still nothing like the experience of the doing 100mph+ down gravel roads. Everytime I do this on the 990 I get grin on my face that is hard to remove.

No it doesn't, Walter, context is everything. I couldn't disagree with your post more even after the heavy editing.

I do get that for some, the off road element is everything and the very essence of adventure but, to take one of your original analogies, the trip to Nordkapp by one of the German pensioners might be every bit as much of an adventure for them as the BAM Road is for you.

Like I said, a scooterist might find it an adventure to dodge drunks in the city at midnight.

Yes it is an adventure for him ... but is it adventure riding? Similarly it might be an adventure for someone to ride to Nordkapp, but is it adventure riding? It might be an adventure for a novice rider doing his riding training. Is that also adventure riding? Is it adventure riding to ride a bike to the office each day, because his bike has an "adventure" sticker on the side of it. It might be for the guy who does that. The feats of Nick Sanders are incredible ... the man is a machine. but is it adventure riding? Are we not allowed to have an opinion on that? If Nick says he considers it adventure riding, then it is adventure riding? Are we wrong to have an opinion? I have seen many others on here voice opinion that what he does is not adventure riding but never seen them criticised for having that opinion. I ask again ... are we allowed to have an opinion on that - whether Nick Sanders record breaking rides are Adventure Motorcycling? Whats your view? If yes - we are allowed an opinion, then we are effectively defining adventure motorcycling objectively.

My opinion is that I say none of the above is Adventure Motorcycling. You might think if its an adventure for the rider then its adventure riding. I disagree.

Whether something is an adventure for the rider and whether its adventure riding are two different concepts. You have implied they are the same. The former is obviously personal and subjective. That latter not necessarily so. The latter is a term coined by Chris Scott back in the early 90s, and since he created the term he also defined it.

There are plenty of other terms out there ... none of them imply anything greater or lesser. Overlanding, as I mentioned above, is one. Its not my cup of tea, and in my view its not adventure motorcycling. Just my view. The fact that I do or dont put someones travels into the category of the kind of trip that I personally would like to do, or that I personally consider to be adventure motorcycling has never stopped me providing planning help and assistance to others over the past 20 years. Almost daily I write emails or PMs of advice and help to others planning such trips. Almost weekly I meet up with bike travellers and pour over maps and atlases advising them of how I might plan a route or what will be interesting. I certainly dont need to agree with someones definition of adventure to put a lot of effort into helping them with their trips. If you are implying I am demeaning people or their trips if I dont call them an "adventure" by my definition, then clearly thats not the case. I simply defend the view that "Adventure Motorcycling" has some objectively defined qualities, while the concept of adventure is purely subjective.

Everyone should be planning the type of trips that suits them, their tastes and their mentality. Yes, everyone has different comfort zones. Yes, everyone has a different concept of "adventure". But also, I will continue to view the concept of Adventure Motorcycling as objective, not subjective.

I have spent my whole 20 year riding life with "adventure motorcycling" from the start, so I feel quite protective of the term. It stands for something for me, that it may not for you or for many other people. The term is kinda pointless to me, if I am told to accept it means anything and everything.

Hello

Hmmm ok wow er um!!

Hopefully nobody is offended on this thread as that was never the intention. Sure there are always different points of view and that is a healthy thing.

Anyways thanks for taking so much time for your replies. Obviously this is something very personnal to us all. I think as you say for those like Walter pushing the 'remote envelope' (an extreme enduro with luggage maybe) adventure motorcycling is one thing. For some , sadly owning an 'adventure bike' (with panniers and an adventure sticker) and going for a latte is somebody elses adventure. Horses for courses I guess.

I have done quite a few overland trips which at times have been 'an adventure'. Usually when it turns to shit!! Both on bikes and by 4WD. But as experience grows and we broaden the comfort zone and seek more of the challenging aspects of travel are we chasing 'the adventure' . I guess seeking out the unknown and dealing with whatever gets dealt for me is where I am coming from.

So again apologies for perhaps inappropriate context or wording.

Walter I have picked your brain in the past for information and it was very greatfully received. I hope I can be permitted to do so again.

Now can we get back to Husabergs? Please?

Craig thanks for your reply and I will make contact.

Walter what sort of weight were you carrying for the Andes Moto Extreme? How much is too much for a bike with no real subframe. I reckon Michele and I will need 20 kilos each not including fuel. Reasonable?

Tried to get my name on the Berg today but work turned to shit and time escaped me. Bugger.

Thanks again

Callum

I get that and don't mean to be in any way disrespectful to the fantastic journeys you've had that I've enjoyed reading about tremendously nor the excellent advice that I've seen you give.

As you say, for you there are some absolutes about adventure riding and I guess there are for me too. I tend to use a broader brush but in line with Chris Scott's original definition says that adventure riding is, "a challenging journey into the wilderness or a significantly strange country".

I'm guessing that we simply disagree on the final five words in his definition; you see it as off road only and I don't. I believe that a tarmac trip to Morocco, Iceland or Ushuaia is an adventure despite not being off road, whereas you would not. We're all entitled to opinion and do sympathise with the frustration of the marketing hype that suggests you can stick Dakar decals on your BMW and be just like the great adventurers while heading to Starbucks or commuting to work.

The Nick Sanders question is an interesting one and I'm going to have to reflect more on it. I guess it falls within "my" definition but I have little time for him or his exploits. Mmm. Good challenge. :-)

Callum

Sorry for the hijack!

Paul

I am sure no-one is offended Callum. Discussion is indeed healthy.

We used Giant loop coyote bags (30 litres) and had them stuffed pretty full. Probably around 10-12 kgs ... But you could go a lot bigger.

The Giant Loop Great Basin is about 50 litres so takes 15-20 kgs of stuff without having to worry about luggage racks.
(see this guy has done that So You Want a Lightweight Adventure Travel Bike….)
Tho I would avoid the big blue box on the front and skip the obsession with frame plumbing.

Bear in mind these bikes will be designed not to collapse when riders weighing 120+ kgs go over jumps on them while sitting on the seat. So an extra few kgs in luggage for lighter riders will not stress the plastic subframe.

Anything short of hard luggage will be fine

The big blue box?? What you dont like it ha ha. Yes very interesting mod - but not to my tastes! Very clever ideas however with tapping into the frame.

Good point about the subframe regarding weight. I'm 70 kilos and Michele 50 so both 'lightweights' really.Minimal luggage should not be too much of an issue.

I guess the biggest question will be with low octane fuel as we mentioned. I have no idea the implications of that except loss of power and generally running like crap. Might see if I can find more info on that one.

Reckon you could find octane booster in UB? Once you get to know the place it is quite amazing what you can find there.

Every where I have travelled and everywhere I have broken down(which is a lot in the old Land Rover with 400,000ks on the clock!) something always happens to allow recovery. Two light weight bikes should be no different. But what would the damage be from crap fuel filter aside??

Is there much of an enduro racing scene in Russia? Certainly lots of potential for it.

As for what to pack gear in well we are not stuck for choice really.

Will keep you up to speed with progress as we put our plans together.

(On a side note Michele is now talking about a KTM Freeride instead of a lowered Berg. Easier for her to manage for sure but thats a whole different ball game in bike prep!!!)

Regards

Callum

A Freeride eh! I assume you are talking the 350, great little bike, if I wasn't such a fat bastard I would have one of these for trail bike riding (when I eventually finish travelling). I wonder if you can get something to increase the range (ie bigger tank).

When I was in Samara I met a bunch of blokes into Enduro Racing so I think there is one. Remember the Russian's also made to the Speedway World Cup - so they have an active dirtbiking scene.

In terms of recovery I think your right, Walter told me you can't go anywhere in Mongolia without seeing people. (Different to the Australian outback).

A lot of octane boosters are crap - and dont really boost octane rating much at all. Australians ones seem to be the best out there. You might want to ship some with your bike.

Take a look at this article on octane boosters:
Octane Boosters | Fuel Tech Experts
The top two in this international test were two Australian products.
1st NF Octane Booster Racing Formula – 250 ml treats 80 litres RRP: $29.95
Octane Improvement: 99.6 (+2.8 RON)
1st Nulon Pro Strength Octane Booster – 500 ml treats 60 litres RRP: $20.95
Octane Improvement: 99.6 (+2.8 RON)

The former appeals to me as it gives more bang for volume buck. If you took a litre of that stuff each you would be able to boost 320 litres by 2.8 points ... or to put it a more sensible way ... about 100 litres by about 10 octane by using it in stronger concentrations than standard. Carrying a litre of the stuff each would be light and easy, and you are unlikely to be buying more than 100 litres of 80 octane fuel. The main towns in each aimag (region) have 92-95 octane fuel which will be fine.

Thanks Walter

Sounds great if we could get the bikes via sea and land to UB but we are trying to send them airfreight. I guess we could just sneak it into our checked in baggage???However that could go badly wrong too!!

But logistics for this sort of thing is fun so where there's a will etc ....

Was reading yesterday that mapping software is available via official Husaberg web site but haven't had a chance to look at that yet.

Off to the whoooosaberg dealer in Tasmania tomorrow:thumbup1:

Callum

Craig - yes the 350 KTM Freeride - just the right size - same block as 350 EXC so maybe an engine swap could be a goer?? If michele decides to go down that route then I reckon we will just build a tank for it ourselves. but I'm still pushing the lowered Berg idea. Its easy to bribe Michele with the thought of more horse power ;-)

Might try airfreight into Novosibirsk/Barnaul as UB is proving a headache!

It would be real nice to travel through the Altai again.

Only adds another few thousand ks to the overall trip plan ;-)

Callum

Octane booster - macht dir keine sorgen
 

Don't think you'll need to worry if you add the ignition mapping switch. Not unlike the ignition retarding switch/connection on the KTM ADV 950s (which has only two options, "normal" and "retarded" (spark). My 950 rode fine on premium from Frankfurt to near the Russian/Kazakh border south of the Aral Sea. Then retarded spark timing went from there to UB via the 'Stans without any issue. The bike sat for 11 months with delicious 80-octane (!) and fired on barely a kiss of the starter button.

Anti-knock sensors use piezo devices tuned for a certain frequencies . . . fuel impact is metered dynamically. On the Husaberg the manually switched variants (TrailTech, etc) there are three options -"mild", "wild" "stock". Presumably "mild" is fairly substantially retarded. These switch are inherently hackable (add a resistor) for further ignition retarding. The engine will make less peak HP but . . . both the 950 and FE570 have considerable unnecessary reserves. :)

Finally, the simple fact of throttle body FI will help reduce low-octane impacts, though perhaps marginally in cooler or more humid environments and more in hotter/drier climes.

FWIW - I'm riding my FE570 in Mongolia/Siberia next year and fuel quality is not even a small concern (after appropriate filters have been added to the bike) though fuel CAPACITY is.

Well the first and most important part of this project was to get a Berg!! Husabergs to Mongolia/Siberia would not exist without 'The Bergs'!!

So I just bought a brand new 2009 FE 570. The last new 570 in Australia!!!Result:thumbup1:

Michele will go 450/390 so plenty of them around. About to go home(to Scotland) for a few weeks so more to follow as things progress.

Genghis thanks for the info on fuelling. Thats good to know. Fuel range for the FE570 and other 70degree Bergs is no big deal really as there are plenty of tank options.

Callum

Progress? Or not!!

Finally one new Husaberg FE 570 in the shed having a few little tweaks!

As far as flying bikes goes.... A BIG DEAD END!!

Somebody somewhere out there surely wants to rid me of a few $$$ to stick a couple of bikes on an aeroplane to UB???

Will keep at it.

Callum

Airfreight at last.
 

Ok so finally getting somewhere.

I have found and Australian based company called Cargo Master (Air Freight, Freight Forwarders, International Freight, Sea Freight, Sameday Air Freight, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide,Hobart | CargoMaster | The Smart Choice) who are happy to freight the bikes by air to UB in Mongolia.

I slightly over estimated the size of the crates we will use as 2 square meters which gives us a weight each of 334kilos!!! Basically they go cubic size vs weight and whichever is the larger we get charged for that size/weight. So the estimate for 2 crates of 2 cubic meters is approx $6500 Australian dollars.

I reckon we can get that down with small crates (We have two used for Yamaha WR 450s) and obviously weight is no problem as we will be no where near what is allowed.(Husabergs only weigh approx 120kilos with bigger tanks bash plate etc)

Next thing we need to try and figure out is how we will go with customs at UB airport(last time we were there to collect a package it was a nightmare!!)
Will they have the paperwork we need to temporarily import the bikes as they will already be 'in' the country rather than coming in from the border.

Will use the guys at Oasis as a contact and see how we go from there.

Anyways now for the fun stuff. Planning a rough route and building bikes.

Callum

Hi Callum,

Man that is pricey - what about sea freight to Sth Korea (I would imagine there are plenty of empty RORO returning there for another load of Hyundais). New SK ferry to Zarubino and ride to Chita and enter Mongolia in the east? A bit longer but $6500?

Whose tanks are you putting on the Bergs?

Hi there Craig

Yes it is pricey but I reckon we can get that down to $4500 all up with careful packing of the crates - maybe!!??

I guess we are looking at air freight as opposed to sea for a number of reasons.
1 - a one way route
2 - getting into Mongolia is relatively easy
3 - the SK ferry to Vlad route (from chatting to those who have done it - a couple of Aussies we met at Oasis last year - Andrew and??? maybe) said it was a pain in the ass and they wouldn't do it again
4 - if we ship direct to Vlad from Aus there is potential to be hanging around for a couple of weeks to get our hands on the bikes
5 - if we start in the UK again the bikes will have blown up by the time we reach Mongolia ha ha!!

Just a case of looking at cost , simplicity and time and weighing all up. Plus it would be good to know how easy it is to fly bikes into UB as it could save a few rather boring kms and wear and tear on non ADV bikes.

Will be using the front and rear Safari tanks to give us approx 25 litres . I have been liasing with Vally Force Husaberg in Ferntree in Melbourne and they will help us with the bike builds.

I have looked at the 70 degree tanks from the states but they fill so slowly that filling them up from a Russian fuel bowser could be an explosive nightmare!!! Will pass on that idea.

Good to hear from you. You coming with us ;-) ??

Callum

That sounds good - is Richie N still at Valley Force?

I would like to come - still tooling about in North America riding the TCAT on my big 990 (300kgs on the scales the other day, but still fun), but I need to go back to work I think.

I am planning a cross Russia trip in a few years so need the brass for that. Thinking on a WR450. I want to do some of what Walter did last year but exit through eastern Mongolia up to Chita, then to Tynda and then try to follow the way Anadyr the MotoSyberia guys did a while back, something a little different to standard BAM/ROB everyone else is doing.

Yeah we have looked at MotoSiberia stuff. Not sure what I think about the raft idea though!!

Difficult times for Valley Force at the moment with the impending demise of Husaberg.(A bad move on KTMs part IMHO but there we are!). Not sure what their plans are. Will be visiting them over the next week or two.

One of our problems is Micheles physical size. She is 5'2'' and weighs 50kilos. Much as she never gives up(she rode with a broken leg for 3 hours last weekend - fibia - riding a WR450)it just makes picking bikes up and man handling them around difficult.

We will be going to the HUBB meet at Cavendish VIC in mid October so might see if I can find a couple of other willing parties that need would like to come along. Everybody I have spoken to in Australia about this trips feels Siberia is too far away too dangerous and the trip will be too hard. What a shame. They don't know what they are missing- from what I have seen anyways.

We would like to get as far North as we can and just do a bit of exploring really. Will have a rough route figured out and just go from there.

It does seem like the ROB/BAM area is getting 'popular' but that can work for and against I guess. We didn't make it last year so still need to go visit.

I'm still trying to tame the 570 as it is different animal completely compared with the docile Xchallenge!!

Enjoy the TCAT.

Safe travels

Oh did you know Sibylle is almost finished at Oasis and has a one way ticket to Germany. That will be a change!!

Callum

Stuff me Siberia dangerous? Idiots. St Kilda nightclubs are dangerous Siberia is safe by comparison. I know which I would rather take my wife to. As far being remote parts of central Oz have less people than Mongolia. Some people have no clue.

I knew from being in Oasis last year she was planning to go home. (She had few D&Ms with my wife).

Sent from my GT-I9305T using Tapatalk 2

Hi Callum,

I think you made a good choice with the Husaberg for this kind of trip.

Make sure you test the luggage setup well before leaving home, with the rear Safari tank it might need some fiddling. Also the fuel line routing from the rear tank can be problematic (I met 2 stranded riders at the Tuareg Rally this year because of this issue), although Valley Force should have experience with that.

In any case I would highly recommend the 70° subframe tank, given that it adds 4 liters capacity without any additional weight or bulk the extra 2-3 minutes per fill-up should not really be a real deal-breaker for you while traveling - if it wasn't for me on a long-distance race!

Enjoy the prep and later the trip,
Lukas

I reckon it sees 15-20 a year now doing the BAM - Tynda - Yakutsk - Magadan. Some of those are in groups of 5, most are in 2s or 3s. It may seem crowded but its probably because pretty much all trips are active in the area in the 6 weeks between mid July and late August

Thanks for the advice guys.

I'm still deliberating over the 70 degree tanks. I guess my concern is the fill rate. As you know Russian fuel pumps can be all or nothing at times and if the fuel is coming out of the pump too quickly and not settling in the tank quick enough then we could have a potential problem(fuel + hot exhaust!!).

I have emailed Dale at 70 Degree Racing to ask his opinion.

I'm still experimenting with luggage. Really we need to go ultralight . My options are Kriega(which I really like) Giant Loop or Wolfman Rolie bag system. If I put the rear Safari Tank on it will be difficult to keep everything in place.

Bike prep will be bare necessities only
Fuel filters
Cush drive hub
A few protective bits -rear disc/caliper and chain guard
May strengthen rear plastic subframe a little if necessary
Tanks
Barkbusters
Steel sprockets

Any other suggestions?

Regards

Callum
Any other suggestions

Your concern is unfounded. The 70° tank fills through the main filler, so in the worst case the main tank will appear full even though the 70° is not full yet, and then the level drops a bit more a few minutes later as the level equalizes. It's really a no-brainer IMO if you can afford to pay for the tank up front, as you can sell it later and recover most of your money.

If you do get one, tell Dale to send you the updated instructions for the venting hose he also sent to me. And get yourself a brass 90° elbow with 6mm and 1/8" NPT ends, these are only a couple of bucks on Ebay including shipping.

As for other bits:

Must have: bash plate, fan kit (OEM), radiator guards (BPD),

Nice to have: rally bash plate (Scheffelmeier), better seat (Renazco or Rayz), steering damper (if you like to go fast, Scotts or Fastway), bigger footpegs (Fastway, CJ Designs, aftermarket side stand (Promoto Billet)


For all additional technical info you should really read through this thread on ADV, lots of experienced traveler on Bergs there:
The Husaberg 70º FE Adventure Traveler Thread - ADVrider

Thanks Lukas

Have done the radiator guards . Fan kit I will add to the list.

Bash plates we will go with Force Accessories with 2 litre water tank.

Will check out some of your other suggestions.

You used Giant Loop on your S America trip. Would you use it again? Do you reckon there is a better option?

Do you think there will be issues with rear Safari Tank , 70 Degree tank plus luggage. My concern is strength. I am reckoning on between 12 to 15 kilos of luggage to go on the rear.

Rear Safari tank takes 10 litres and front takes 7.5 litres. This gives total of 26 litres leaving standard subframe as is.

If I replace subframe with 70 Degree tank and go with front Safari that gives me 20 litres total.

My thoughts are leave the 70 Degree tank for now (much as it would be great here in Tasmania) . I weigh 70 kilos , rear Safari 10 kilos, plus 15 kilos luggage means less than 100 on rear subframe. Don't know if I want to push that out much further for fear of potential problems. (My 570 already has Akrapovic bling music maker fitted so lost a little weight).

Is the 70 Degree tank as strong as standard plastic Berg subframe or stronger?

Maybe I need a 1200GSA support truck ;-)

Callum