@ Bruce, yes it's me, we met in Panama! :) where are you?

I have great respect for Nick Sanders, He's been all over the world. Before my trip I read his blog. I wish I had met him and shook his hand. Anyway I guess on a R1 on a sraight boring line on highway you could just go very fast and get some distance done. But bringing "normal" joes in this trip to just do boring miles done and call it an adventure, I still don't get it. I almost spent 2 months just in Mexico and had the best time of my whole life!

Maybe some people in the group will get tired in Colombia, realized how great of a place this is, how geat the people are, and say f*** this, I'm staying there for minimum 2 weeks! I wonder if the 22 of them will finish the trip!

..each to their own.
 

i understand that all of these riders that take part in one of Nicks rides are vetted. they are given a full run down of what will be expected of them and their abilities are assessed. some wont make it...some wil...but these are all adults and you pay your money and take your chance.

and as one post said here....a bad days riding is better than any good day in the office. i totally agree with that.

Simon and I have often also been called 'mad' as we have been doing the complete opposite to Nicks type of riding whereas he is super-fast our journey is slow and long. what has takenus 8 years in distance others could have 'done' in less than 2.

no, they will not have time to make friends with the locals...but maybe this is not the reason they want/can/are able to, make this trip.

people have a variety of reasons for wanting to ride a bike (sports bike, cruiser, big traily and so on) ...but at least they ARE riding one!

I understand that the route will take them up the Ruta 40 (not the 3) and this time Nick is riding the new Super Tenere.

Fully agree with you Lisa!
What a boring place it will be earth if we all had the same taste.....and way of travelling......:scooter:
They know what they are about to enter:helpsmilie:

Maybe it was the only realistic way (before retirement, maybe) that they could do such a long trip, that they want to do?

Maybe it´s everyone´s own business, where they spend their money, and what they do on their holiday?

Maybe there´s always someone, who has done a similar trip than you, and done it faster, or slower (and thinks, that you did it either too slow, or too fast?) And maybe there´s no one speed, that is "right", and in the end it´s better to do it any way you can, than just stay home?

Maybe some of them will be inspired by that trip, and having done it, are not afraid to later on do something similar on their own, and not hurry so much this time?

Just got into Trewlew, Jean wants to see some more Penguins :-)

I'm with you on the thoughts of the 22, if I was to do something similar I would prefer to either do it on my own or with no more than 3 others who could ride a similar pace.

A part of me understands the "go from A to B" as fast as possible, but not on a trip like this.

They are taking cruiser up the 40 ! Respect.

Bet Yamaha gave him the Tenere for free ..... I asked for one for this trip, but they ignored me :-(

So, Aprilia it was then .....:-)

..mmm...free?
 

hi BruceP
not sure if there is a cruiser amongst them....but I wouldnt fancy that on the ruta 40.

yes- Yamaha gave him the Tenere for 'free'. just as they have 'supported' hiim for many years with the R1's. however....Im not too sure I would call it 'free'. as always with sponsors you are required to fulfill certain terms and often its more than the 'pound of flesh'. despite the fact that nick as been working with/alongside yamaha for over 20 years, he still has to work hard on maintaining this relationship. producing many high quality books and DVD's and continually doing motorcycle shows and exhibitions. (hard work)

unfortunately nothing in this World comes for free..not even for Nick Sanders!

I am looking forward to hearing from Nick how this trip goes!

cheers

tolerance
 

hola amigos
i met a group of about 15 bikes a week ago in san cristobal de las casas and they were on a guided tour by edelweiss/roadbusters 248 days around the world and cost would come to 150000€ or there about.
not my piece of cake either,but it is their time and money.
so one thing those people maybe not learn is tolerance.
but one of the essentials of traveling should be to learn to tolerate other people up to a certain degree.
all the best geri

Wow! The money just boggles me but worth every wizzing memory i guess.

I wonder what my trusty old KLR would have said if I told her that we would be in Alaska in 8 weeks from TDF. Knowing that old girl, she would have had other ideas.

18 months, about $20 000, a beautiful wife, a baby and another home in Bolivia is what i got out of it. If you could package that deal, count me in.

Riding with 22 other people for 2 months. Yeah, that sounds like loads of fun. OTOH, the guy that collects the checks is cleaning up. Good for him, but I imagine he is going to earn every penny because that is going to be like herding cats.

Also, Ruta 40 is very doable on a big cruiser but youre not going to be able to run it at 100 mph like you can on a big KTM or BMW.

LOL.... Like it ! Very true.

I think the reason so many people find this kind of trip a bit, well, stupid, is not because of traveling fast. If thats your thing, fine, good for you.

However it amazes me that 22 people who could each easily do a trip like this solo, for a lot less money and maybe even be able to do it faster, are spending big bucks to be part of a clusterfk.

IMO, these people have more money than sense, and definitely more money than sense of adventure. Its not rocket science, its moto travel. You get on your bike and take off. Yes it is as simple as that.

Could any of you honestly have fun riding the total distance of the Americas with a group of 22?

22 riders
 

I could , especially if I get paid for it :thumbup1: . Joke on the side I did few group ride because they were well organized and I didn't have time to get all info and formalities before this trip . I met people in Africa and SE Asia which did group ride and loved it , many are renting a bike and just want to ride an adventure so be it , they may later on take some time to do it again and by themself if they feel like it.

In reality, it's not quite THAT simple ! As romantic as we like to dream it, there is usually a shit load of prep, paperwork etc to sort out ! For me anyway.....

Could I imagine doing that trip ??

I rather stab hot pokers through my eyes !