Does anyone know anything about Charley and Ewen´s plans to do the Long Way Up in South and Central America?
Last I heard it was sceduled for 2009.
We´re in the area and would like to ´bump into´them on their way north, if they are actualy doing it now.

Johan

Hey jc. Yeah I heard this here People.co.uk - Ewan's UP for a new Long Way. Theres also an article in the MCN that dates to 2007.

I heard there was to be a 'long way to go' which I seem to remember was a similar route. More recently I read in the times that Ewen fancied taking that trip on his own, without filming it.

I have mentioned in other threads that these shows seem to be a little fake and the blokes annoying to watch in one way or another. Thing is, if it weren’t for these guys I wouldn’t be sat here writing this. I can happily watch any of their adventures (especially race to Dakar) more than once a year.

This being said maybe e+c are not going 'public' with this trip, maybe they are there now??? I sure hope they are.

Shouldn't think it will be this year. I seem to remember reading somewhere that By Any Means 2 was given the go ahead by the BBC not too long ago, and will be on the TV this christmas so I would imagine that is being filmed round about now (or soon anyway). Maybe next year for Long Way Whatever it is?

I hope he gets the chance to do it.. this way! It seems to me that for the other two shows he was not happy with the filming schedual.

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2000 Africa Twin
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I hope so too.

It's the best comeback against the critics (myself included) if they do a ride without the fixer and back up trucks and the spare bikes and the.....

Three bikes (I guess they'd need a security guy) and write the book about it afterwards

Andy

yeah that would be cool. how bout some different bikes (tink its already come up some where before). the guzzi stelvio? trek k amazonas (how cool would that look actually in the amazon!) or my dream machine the guzzi grisso (funny that on a trip the MG factory at lake como, ewen joked whilst sat on a grisso/breva saying "can we the panniers on ere charley?')

Didn't they fancy KTM's before the TV company made the BMW deal?

Could be a kick in the teeth for a big sponsor and affect future paid work if they switched though. Could even be a contract clause by a sensible sponsor; no BMW, no Long Way ????? title for the book?

Anyhow, think of all those poor wannabes everyone tells us about, doing three miles a year on their 1200GS's. They'd have to sell their GS's and buy new bikes. The second hand market would be flooded. BMW shares would crash. On that basis alone, allow me to reccomend the 1994 MZ ETZ 251. Decent long distance tool, easy to fix and I've got 1 and 7/8 in the garage right now. I'll even let them have the DM's, ex-MOD trousers, shooting jacket and **** pot lid that matches the bike.

Andy

haha i would love to see that! i think your theory about bmw going broke because e+c switch bikes is fantastic! especially if they picked something like an MZ or jawa lol! i have to admit the GS is a smart looking brute, but evertime i see one i crack up a little after seeing that video on you tube with adolf; "you bought me a GS!!!!! Id rather f*****ng walk!!"

Just to stick my oar in... Brave to start an E+C thread considering the negative response to prior ones (cue the slagging, or not?). But so far so good, good luck to 'em - but the interpersonal bitching in the Long Way ? to date i could do without. I wonder if ktm pulled out of the sponsorship as they might not appreciate the poss bad press of the bikes not making it with a clean sheet... Anyway i look forward to the series

yeah i seem to remember a chap from ktm coming to visit them and voicing his doubts at the lack of russian visas, and the very tough road of bones section. he said that he had to get a boat/train to pass that part of the trip. what a different (motorbiking) world it would be if they had said yes???

i tink it was charley who was pro ktm.

BMW got the gig and we are still argueing about what it shows. Does the welding-duff ECU-new bike from the back up truck thing make you love or hate BMW's more than you already did? Does the fact it was cut out of the film make a difference?

Personally I think the love it/hate it nature of BMW's brand made it a lot safer for them than say KTM or Yamaha. An unfilmed ride followed up by a book over which you'll have a final say is a safer bet.

Andy

We're all the way south in Southern Chile now, haven't ran into e&c yet, so I gues they are not on this rout at least.
Yeh, I hope they get to do it the way the rest of us do it, at least I'm sure they will enjoy it more.

I gues time will tell. . . . .

johan

PS: I'm happy with my GS, and got it before e & c got their first bikes (1150), and still rides it! Dont have the luxary of rich and fame like them. . .

JC - enjoy your time there. You are in a spectacular place. Safe travels.

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Go slow, be well.

Well Charley's facebook page says he's off to do BAM2 in May so that's him and Russ Malkin out the picture, and Claudio's been in Afghanistan and is now editing a film for Channel 4 so I guess you won't be seeing any of them in South America for a while.

Maybe Mr E & Mrs E are riding together?

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Folks, it's just my opinion........

I personally couldn't care less if C+E never get on a bike again.

"We're hardcore," they say over and over again. And then they proceed to get everything handed to them for free, they get specialist SAS training to deal with bandits, they get "fixers" at every bend in the road, they ride through a river then describe it as "the biggest challenge of our lives", they have a tough 200 mile day then get a 5* hotel in which to recover, they camp out for a few nights then think they have almost become nomads of the land, they throw thespian tantrums with a few swear words to boot and they reckon they are "pioneers" for motorcycle travellers.

NO THEY AREN'T. They're 2 spoilt boys who happen to like bikes. Don't get me wrong, I am quite sure we would all jump at such a trip if given the chance and I have no gripe with them for taking advantage of the opportunities that have presented themselves. In fact, I would even go as far as to say....well done chaps, you manipulated your positions well.

But "hardcore" ?????
Not on your nelly, C+E, if you want "hardcore" just take a look at the guys who did Mondo Enduro and Terra Circa.........and lots of other people who submit their travel tales on sites such as this one (which doesn't include me by the way coz my bike travels have never gone outside Europe. But then I'm not claiming any titles either!). I'd like their shows much better and I'd respect them much more if they simply got on with the trips and stopped making reference to how they are experts, tough guys, macho men and whatever other ludicrous claims they make. Coz they really aren't any of these in comparison to other everyday bike travellers.

Like I said earlier......it's just my opinion, but I believe it's an opinion based on fact (and not jealousy!).



Chris

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"Life is too short to drink cheap wine!"