Triumphrat

rickykarate99 · 03-07-2006

So one of the BMW 1150's breaks down during filming (shocker!) and the guy replaces it with some Russian looking Ural type thang. Subsequently, he falls down a lot less than the stars of the film. He points out that the center of gravity and seat height is lower and he can just power through the mud and put his feet down in the shizzat. Query: wouldn't the Scrambler have made a better all-around the world ride than the Beemer? Simpler, more reliable, lower COG for mud-in-Mongolia?

Binnsy · 03-08-2006

Yeah but it wasn't invented then..... maybe a Tiger would have done a good job?

I read they only looked at the BMW and the KTM, maybe if the Triumph had initials like THM (Triumph Hinckley Manufacturing) they would have considired them?

I also read that BMW offered them a great deal (free bikes?) whereas KTM were a bit more frugal, so the Beemers got the deal.

Might have been better to ride different bikes to get a real test of equipment, but I guess that wasn't the purpose of the ride. Oh? the purpose was to have an adventure I think...with backup crew and camera men..

Still, a heck of a ride and one that I will never get an opportunity to do, so good on them.. :-D

johnyC · 03-08-2006

Binnsy,

I got the dvd set for Christmas last year, great stuff, worth getting yourself. I remember well when Ewan received the 'knock back' from KTM by phone, he gulped and said to Charlie: "they won't give us the bikes, because they think we might fail" Charlie then rips the KTM poster off the wall shouting "b*%@#!!!"

I vowed then I'd never buy one of their bikes on general principle. Hats off to BMW for taking the chance.

A more adventurous effort was a bunch of guys from UK who did a similar route on DR350's, I'm sorry but I forget the name of the dvd. something Mondo or Mundo in the title.

I have a dvd at home which shows the 1950 something entry of a team of scooters in the Scottish six day trial, as rough as it gets on two wheels, and they all finished. That is really worth seeing, you can get it from Duke Video.

Ricky,

I pick up my Scrambler on the 18th, don't think I'll circumnavigate on it though, just a bit of forrestry trailing.

Pete_Twizz · 03-08-2006

I believe the russian bike (250 2 stroke?) was easier to handle through the dirt, I seem to remember it wasn't carrying half the gear the BMW had been loaded with.
Given that the BMW had broken the frame at the point where the rear overhang causes greatest bending momoent, I'd guess that amount of luggage and the road(?) surface would have broken most bikes sooner or later.

I've noticed many 'factory' luggage racks have what appears to be a ridiculously small load limit (5kg). This is probably established as the load that the rack could carry indefinitely without causing fatigue even on the worst roads. If Ewan and Charlie had stuck to the stated load limits for their luggage systems and bikes, they would have been travelling with a few pairs of pants (shorts for the Americans!) and would have needed another support vehicle.

Pete.

ivar · 03-08-2006

IMO, BMW has in the last 10 years or so been very aggressive with "product placement" in movies - just watch any James Bond film for the last decade or so - BMW Z3 replacing the Aston-Martin DB7 etc. And driving a BMW Rockster where e.g. a Speed Triple would be more appropriate

ohiorider · 03-08-2006

I have to agree with JohnyC. If you haven't seen the "Long Way Round" DVD, buy it. Afterwards, you'll probably be questioning how any bike, Beemer, Triumph, you name it, could keep on tickin' after all this abuse.

Bob

Gohm · 03-08-2006

Scrambler would have also been good, the trip has been done on many types of bikes (vintage and new), including sport bikes (yes, off road even!) The ground clearance and suspension length isn't great on the scrambler but it could do it!