Simpson Desert

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  • #100545

    Reporting in on a 12 day ride I did with a group of mates to the Simpson Desert. We left Gunnedah on 18 August and travelled 5000km to the Simpson Desert via the Flinders Rangers, returning home on 29 August. There were 5 riders, Gaz on a KTM 640, Gav on a DR650, Bruiser on a DR650, Gavin on a DR650, me on a tenere and Hampo and James in the support vehicle.
    We travelled 500-600km a day on the way to the desert, camping at Cobar, Yunta, Leigh Creek and near Dalhousie Springs. The French Line was the route we chose through the Simpson, and we thought we would get across to Birdsville in 2 days. 4 days and 1100 sand dunes later we arrived exhausted at the Birdsville pub, and those were the best beers I have ever tasted!
    The French Line was a very hard ride, and what made it more remarkable that we made it was that 2 of the riders were on their “P”s and one flew over from England and only got his bike license the week he left!
    The trip home was via the dig tree, camping at Thagaminda and outside Walgett.
    It was an amazing experience and only possible with the tireless help from the support crew, the leadership and organisation by Gav, the point riding by Gaz, the Richard the Lion Heart riding by Gavin and the NT stories by Bruce.

    Cheers

    Jim

    #209749

    Nick Jackson
    Member

    Thanks for sharing Jim , sounds like a top ride mate ;)

    How was the Tenere in the sand ??

    #209750

    Ian Kersley
    Member

    Great ride Jim its on my bucket list as a maybe big ride . everybody i mentioned it to said i was crazy.

    cheers bones

    #209751

    Some extra photos

    #209754

    The tenere was magic – the engine pulled easily and the standard high gearing worked well. the front end was sometimes a bit heavy and bulldozed on the down hills, and it was a bit heavy so it was lucky I could offload my bags onto the support vehicle.
    Also it was a bugger to pick up when you dropped it in the sand.
    cheers
    Jim

    #209752

    IMG7D_1007.jpg[IMG]

    #209753

    IMG7D_1406.jpg

    #209765

    I,ve just got to do that one day. It looks awesome! Life is just too short eh. ;)

    #209756

    great Photo’s. Im planning to do a Simpson crossing in August 2012 on a Tenere 660 my mate on a DR650. It will be unsupported so will have to carry our own fuel and water. Just wondering what your fuel usage was for the Tenere and how much water you used. We are thinking it will take 3 days. Do you think this is possible.

    #213167

    Greg
    Member
    Tenere Andre wrote:
    great Photo’s. Im planning to do a Simpson crossing in August 2012 on a Tenere 660 my mate on a DR650. It will be unsupported so will have to carry our own fuel and water. Just wondering what your fuel usage was for the Tenere and how much water you used. We are thinking it will take 3 days. Do you think this is possible.

    I am interested in the fuel usage as well Jim, will watch with interest as well Andre and how they handle the sand loaded. We have been out and ridden big red empty but loaded :huh:

    TB

    #213168

    Sorry it has taken a while to get back. I am afraid I dont know our exact fuel usage as we had a support vehicle and fueled when necessary, sharing fuel drums. Water usage was high as we constantly sipped on our camelpaks, and I would guess you would need 10 litres a day.
    Speaking to riders who had done the trip a few times the crossing is constantly changing, depending on the weather and number of 4WD on the track. this will affect how much fuel you will need, and I found I was mostly travelling in second/third gear and keeping the revs up. Also we went the French line which is the harder route.
    It took us 4days/3 nights to cross from Hamilton Creek to Birdsville with a couple of beginner riders, so you should do it in 3 days.
    Hope this helps.
    Jim

    #213169

    TB any news on the overseas supplier for the rear rim lock?

    #217768

    Greg
    Member
    Tenere Andre wrote:
    TB any news on the overseas supplier for the rear rim lock?

    Shit sorry mate, real sorry actually give this a go. Like I said a little slow but it’s the same rim lock as I have

    TB

    #217770

    Thanks TB, sorry to hassle you again but the site does not actually tell you what size they are so did you just order the 17inch one for the rear. Thought i would ask before purchasing it from o/s.
    Thanks Andre

    #217773

    Greg
    Member
    Tenere Andre wrote:
    Thanks TB, sorry to hassle you again but the site does not actually tell you what size they are so did you just order the 17inch one for the rear. Thought i would ask before purchasing it from o/s.
    Thanks Andre

    No hassle here mate all good it does fit , I cracked my first one overtightening it and am Nick sourced the two we have now from OFF THE ROAD

    TB

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