Advice: The Darian Gap on a Ural?

Scott Schilder is thinking of taking a used 2004 Ural Patrol from Prudhoe Bay to Tierra del Fuego, but first he'll ride it from Dallas to Belize by way of Cancun, then through Guatemala and up the west coast of Mexico to Nogales, to Phoenix, Tuscon, Tombstone, then back to Dallas. (Some test ride!) He asks:

I have lots of questions--some I intend to discover the answers while on the trip, others it might be prudent for me to know the answers before I leave. If I live through that trip, I would like to drive up the AlCan Highway and maybe on to Prudoe Bay. The ultimate adventure, though, would be to ride from Prudhoe Bay all the way to Tierra Del Fuego. Maybe attempting the Darien Gap on a Ural?

I had fun thinking about this one. Go, Scott! Because I'm not going to do it. (Famous last words.) First, I'd be remiss if I didn't recommend joining the Internet Sidecar Owners Klub. The folks there are the source of infinite knowledge on sidecar motorcycle modifications, trips, and capabilities of the machines. I'd be surprised if somebody hadn't tried to take a sidecar bike over the Darian gap

Having done the USA and China on Ural or Ural-like bikes, I have to say that the ability of this bike to slog through mud, water, shale, to climb up hills, even navigate riverbeds a foot deep in the kind of large smooth rocks a 2-wheeler would sink in, is phenomenal. It's also excellent for carrying all the gear you need on a big trip, plus hitchhikers. It's also very easy to fix, and doesn't need any precision parts. Tolerances are "generous."

There's a book about such a trip -  Odyssey to Ushuaia: A Motorcycling Adventure from New York to Tierra del Fuego - I haven't read it because it was not reviewed well, but maybe some valuable insights could be gleaned from it. Better reviewed is Helge Pedersen, author of 10 Years on Two Wheels, which as you probably know, is a coffee table book with glossy photos and lots of maps. I seem to remember photos from the Darian Gap that showed his dragging his bike through it with ropes. A quote from his site includes this telling information

Helge is the first motorcyclist ever to ride overland from South America to North America via the infamous Darien Gap—80 roadless miles of virtually impenetrable, bug-infested jungle and swamps, nothing but Indian trails—emerging in Panama City three weeks later with infected legs and broken bones. Crossing the Darien proved to be his most difficult endeavor.

But hey, he did it! And so have others. I wonder if something as wide as a sidecar motorcycle - even equipped as it is with serious off-road capabilities - can get through. Adventure Rider has a thread and also this guy just did it on a GS - the trip, not necessarily the Darian Gap. I think he went around.

I can't wait to hear about your adventures, Scott. Hope you'll be blogging!   

Got advice for Scott? Comment below or email him here.

Comments

[Scott Schilder]

I test rode the 2004 Ural Patrol today. Wow! Although I knew that it would be different, I never imagined it would have been what it was! My first impression was that it wouldn't always just go straight when I wanted it to (like when I shifted), and turning was a monster effort! I had to dig deep within myself to understand why I would consider driving such a piece of machinery at all, let alone for a long trip.
But the more I rode it, the better I handled the lurch to the left (into on-coming traffic) every time I shifted. I could see the looks in the eyes of the people in the oncoming lane every time I shifted. They thought, for sure, I was coming right into their lane! However, the more I rode it, the less effort I seemed to exert to turn (ok, not really). Hopefully that will get better with use and familiarity with the machine. (I'm looking for affirmative support here!)
I used those rubber knee pads on the gas tank to their full Russian-intended purpose, I'm sure. Maybe it's my enduro upbringing, but I found it much more manageable when I sqeeeeezed that tank with my legs (especially when cornering).
Since I didn't get to "open-it-up" out on a long road, I'm not sure how the 62MPH top speed will be. If it's a smooth ride at 62MPH- fine. But if there's head shake and wobble and handling issues and it becomes a religious experience at 62MPH, then I have to dig deep within myself (again) to understand why I would consider driving such a piece of equipment.
Will it grow on me with time, or will it be on E-Bay in 6 months with only 600 more miles on it (willing to swap for a KTM Adventure or BMW GS)?
Any thoughts, you Ural riders?

[WorldRider]

Carla - The Darien Gap is a mixed bag. While Helge did it, he wasn't the first, Robert Fulton did it in the 30's (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1884313051/rivercitybeem-20) and from what I can tell Eric Cleveland opted to fly over the gap to Bogata as I did a couple years back. It's a treacherous piece of real estate and not for the tame of heart. There are primitive tribes, drug runners, terrorists and who knows what else. Why didn't I do it? Well I was alone and if you see the pics in Helge's book, it doesn't look like a lot of fun. So on a Ural? I don't know. If he's got some support and others, give it a try. Better yet, would be to put it on a plane and spend more time enjoying the beautiful colombian people and the other colorful locals that make South America such a wonderful place to ride...

But I just finished riding through Syria... now that's an adventure but I'm sure much, much tamer than the in famous Darien Gap!

ps: I red Odyssey to, it's light, fun and easy. He writes well and a cast of characters makes it for a fun book for motorcyclists and others...

great blog thanks to Cecilie to introducing it to me!

[James Barnwell]

Scott,
Did you purchase the 04 patrol?. Is the manual "driving The Ural Sidecar Outfit" in the sidecar-it should of came with the new bike.READ IT!, and practice the exersizes.Take a sidecar safety course.
The pullind/drifting on acceleration/decelleration is normal.you will get used to it.Thank goodness you have not flown the chair-yet!
Good luck! Urals are the most fun you can have on three wheels.

[James Barnwell]

Scott,
Go to IMZ Ural.com. Log on to their web board.