Ola Chicos

 And happy new year to everyone.   May the year 2023 be good on the motorcycle side...

So what has been happening since my last post.   Well, bit less cause it would be difficult to do as many things as I did in last few months.   But still managed to do few things.   

Did my usual saturday ride with Motorzone, and spent saturday 2nd dec with some lads following tracks of Dubai Intl Baja track.   

Might do this next year, but first have to learn Navigation and roadbook technic.   Have secretly started already.   Just need to save some cash to buy new navigation tower.   

Then following week, or week before, can't remember for sure.  Went for the 2nd session of X-enduro challenge.   Did not perform as good as last time but can always blame it on teammates....

Next one will be individual in Jan.  If time allow, will really see what am worth on max enduro bike.  

Then on last day of the year, despite suffering from a big cold, took a long ride with X-enduro in the Showka area 

 Great way to finish the year and start thinking about new project for next year.   First on the map, full track day in international circuit with Furioza in Feb, then Dubai International baja for my first rally raid in Dec, a off-road ride in Oman, and perhaps a ride in Lebanon, Uganda will have to wait due to Ebola outburst.  But in the meantime some more rides.

And to finish, some random shite stolen from the internet

*the idea is to die young the latest possible 

Love this 911 4x4, and it says a lot since am not into cars...

well......

great race bike conversation on 1200 sports I think

big apple 

girls from the 90's 

Ola Chicos

 It's been full speed motorbiking lately with tons of things happening.   

First, I went racing on circuit with Furiosa Racing in Dubai.  Had wanted to do that in a while but never found the time

Book myself 3 sessions of 4hr racing with professional coaching.   If you gonna do things, do them right.   Have to admit was a bit anxious about trying out circuit racing.   Was I gonna lay the bike down like Rossi, or was I gonna stand up on it like a tree ?  My only experience on sports bike had actually been on Buell Cyclone, which I had purchased to keep the registration card for a build and sell it in part.   I drove it few time and it was very fun.  But you feel so powerful driving a sport bike that I quickly realize, my next journey would be 6 feet under if I kept going with it.  Doing it on a circuit solves that problem and brings another dimension.  

To start with I had a great bike. 

The session were built into five 25 min track session followed by 5 sessions of class coaching to analyze what went right, went wrong and what to focus on.   

First test was to change into the gears and feel comfortable.  That in itself is a challenge. 

And then off onto the track.  Being new to the scene, I set myself a the back of the pack, just to observe, gain confidence with the bike but mostly cause I didn't want to slow anyone down.  The first few laps are safety laps so everyone can get into the circuit design, and then we are left on our own with only instruction of not overtaking in corners.   The Coach stays in the back and analyzes everyone driving skills.  

Well, no bragging but did pretty well.  Check out my video on 2nd training session. 

So that was fun, and will continue for 2 more session.  Saturday was back at my usual desert riding camp of Motorzone for some dune bashing and KTM presentation of their 2023 models. 

Then, I went off to India for work, and why not coupled work and pleasure.   So after 2 days of work, I took off on a rented Royal Enfield Himalayan to explore the outscur of Mumbai with the intention of doing a 3 days tour around Mumbai.   

Day 1's aim was to reach Mashrej Ghat up.  A good 6h30 ride.  I had to leave early to get out of Mumbai rush hour before the sun rise.  So, with the help of my friend Kaizad from the Holiday Shoppe who gracefully managed to rent me a bike and offer to meet me at the Gateway on India and guide me out of Mumbai craziness.   I was out of Mumbai in 1h, which normally would have taken a minimum of 2h, even on motorbike.....

Then made my way through villages 

After spending the night, I took off to reach the coast with the objective to reach Murud.  Same here, another 6-7hr ride.  

To reach Murud in the evening in a fabulous guest house..

Day 3 was spent riding back to Mumbai following the coast to Alibag, and then Mumbai.   Best summary of my trip can be found on the below video.  

Riding in India has some particularity.  First, they drive on the left hand side.  Keep left and overtake right.   Taxi, and everyone else, hoot for no reason, swerve across entire roads to pick up passengers and do not follow any rules.  In some places, there are high concentration of pot holes.   Rules is slow down, and ride slowly.   Vehicle may be slowing down to turn right and then turn left.... go figure.....

After the Mumbai trip, no time for rest.  And immediately hopped on the Beamer to head out to the mountains of UAE for a 2 days clinic with Chris Birch for some maxi enduro training in the gravel and waddis.   Fabulous experience.   Chris is top class, very humble bloke, having won Romaniac and taken 2nd in the Dakar back in the days.   He is now KTM ambassador for big adventure bike.   The clinic was mostly based on improving your riding, but for me, bike setting and body positioning was what I got out of it.      

 

And to close the chapter, gave my beloved XT some TLC by changing new spring in the front fork, changing rear suspension and gave her the 6 days look.   

Saddly, after one hour of riding, I broke the clutch cable, so now awaiting to receive a new one from Europe.   This might take a while.   

That's all for now folks.... Next time for new adventure....

Ola Chicos

 all right campaneros, back into action.   As mentioned in previous post, been a little bit more active on the motorcycle scene.  So, every saturday it's desert riding with Motorzone Dubai.  

That's me 2nd fm the left.  Forget about me, just enjoy the view.  Simply fabulous to start weekend with this scenery and the immensity upon which we ride on.  Difficult to describe really....

On the beamer front, it went from good to bad and then really bad.   So, as I was about to take a nice sunday ride with X-enduro, I realise the rear wheel wasn't turning smoothly.   Went to Touratech for a second opinion and then after opening the shaft, we discovered the rear shaft was broken (or just about to be).   Bummer, had only rode the bike for few months.   

The mechanic was bit puzzled with it but did confirm it was somewhat usual on Beamer.   After doing some research, it appears to be true.   Funny enough, got a message yesterday thru whatsapp group that BMW were recalling all their 2014-2018 model to change the shaft as it was subject to rust due to condensation and that lead to failure.   Looking at my shaft that's what exactly happen.   Also, spoke to few owner that confirm the same, especially for those riding intensively off-road.   

And that's when it becomes tricky to live in a "non-bike culture" country.   Access to parts is difficult and can sometimes take forever 👿!!!  Touratech suggested they order a second hand from Germany.   So, I figure, bike's already old and mostly used for off-road so not really a need to get a new and expensive one.   So, gave my green light.   Part was supposed to arrive with 2 weeks.   After 4 weeks, still had not arrive.   Not sure who was to be blamed for the delay 👺, but eventually after 4,5 weeks, the part had finally arrived. 

 And as you can see (or not), they send the wrong shaft !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!🙉

So, Touratech felt really bad and decided to canibilize another 2nd bike they had in stock and removed its shaft to put it on mine.   So 5 weeks after the original incident, the bike was finally on the road.   

Meanwhile, back on using the XT 500.   

I had not started it since april after purchasing the GS but the "mother of all modern adventure bike" started on first kick.  The XT 500 is simply the GOAT.  I just love this machine.   

But I felt bad that I hadn't treated her well, so my softer side took the best of me.  I decided she needed a little TLC.  So, went online and ordered some new front fork spring, brake shoes, rear suspension, headlight, a 6 days enduro number plate and numerous little things to show her, how much I value her, and appreciate her.  I'll do a piece when she'll get her lifting.   

So, as I drove the XT around town, and the CRF in the desert, I kept busy with few motorbike events.  First, I attended the 2nd Annual Dubai Motorcycle Film Festival.   

And met, the camera man that did the "round the world" series with Ewan Mc Gregor.  

A really nice, down to earth type of guy.... 

One of the good thing about going to this Film festival apart from watching some great movies, is that I found a nice little bike bar nearby called Moto Rauch & Staub, 

 A really nice and chilling place.   

The following weekend I was off to South Africa, but unfortunately not for motorbiking but to car racing at the AMG driving experience 

Had done the same type of course in the UK few years back, and although it can be fun, I found it far from being on motorcycle.   Still a nice day out and different type of impression.   

Back in Dubai, was time for the beginning of the off-road riding season with all the dealer showing their 2023 model with possibility to try them out at the X-enduro ground at Khamila.  

Took the opportunity to the new Harley Davidson Pan America.  It handles surprisingly well for such a big machine.  

Also rode the KTM 1290 and the 890, but they are comparable to the BMW in my opinion.   I wanted to try the 690 but KTM had not brought any of them.  

And after 5 weeks I was back on my BMW, ready for the X-enduro Challenge.   A fun contest amongst 8 teams of 3 drawn together randomly and competiting over 8 different drills, from salvage to agility.   And my team took 2nd....

And for today's blog, few pics of Sigourney Weaver, 

See you next time, for new adventure....