The Plan:
The plan was hatched over a Lemming's Lunch. Ride from somewhere in Europe to Vladivostok or the other way. Europe to Vlad won out for a range of reasons. Firstly the bikes could show up any faults before we hit the really hard stuff, plus we could develop a bit of road fitness. The original crew was to be Dave, Grant and myself. After a few false starts, Athens was decided on.
The bikes:
Grant had an old XT600 Yamaha, I had a 1983 XT600 Tenere and Dave said he'd buy a new Suzuki DR650. Grant said that all his bike needed was an oil change and a tune. We doubted that he was serious about the trip. My bike needed and received a total rebuild. Grant did drop out and Peter and Ben joined the team. Peter on an almost new DR650 and Ben on a 2006 BMW x-challenge. All bikes have been purpose prepared with upgraded suspension, large fuel tanks, panniers, GPSs, bash plates etc.
The plan was hatched over a Lemming's Lunch. Ride from somewhere in Europe to Vladivostok or the other way. Europe to Vlad won out for a range of reasons. Firstly the bikes could show up any faults before we hit the really hard stuff, plus we could develop a bit of road fitness. The original crew was to be Dave, Grant and myself. After a few false starts, Athens was decided on.
The bikes:
Grant had an old XT600 Yamaha, I had a 1983 XT600 Tenere and Dave said he'd buy a new Suzuki DR650. Grant said that all his bike needed was an oil change and a tune. We doubted that he was serious about the trip. My bike needed and received a total rebuild. Grant did drop out and Peter and Ben joined the team. Peter on an almost new DR650 and Ben on a 2006 BMW x-challenge. All bikes have been purpose prepared with upgraded suspension, large fuel tanks, panniers, GPSs, bash plates etc.
"We doubted he was serious about the trip". Nice, Newbold. Some of us still have to work for a living. You missed a good Lemmings lunch last Friday: Kingsbury, Ian Falloon, Rob and Andrea at their last supper and, of course, Blackbourn.
ReplyDeleteAll Brit was excellent but I didn't win the gate prize again.
Guy and Margaret were there and we had breakfast at Spud McKean and Jan's place. Guy bought Jan's Mercedes before we even got to the coffee stage. I'm taking Rob and Andrea to the airport tomorrow afternoon - so concludes another chapter in many people's lives. They've left me their VT500E to remember them by.
Hope you enjoy the SR500 Club newsletter, Paul. IT'S OUT!