Motorcycle Misadventures

More on sidecars in China

Awesome. In the second part of the show about Riding in China Jim and Bill talk about my 1998 trip in China, and the second trip last year with Teresa and Diny - 1st 5 minutes.

Augusta and Adeline Van Buren Women's First Motorcycle Trip

It was the summer of 1916. Women didn't have the right to vote, nor were they considered equals to men. But they did have the same tenacity, courage, and creativity that women have always had, regardless of the recognition they received for their talents and abilities. This is the story of Augusta and Adeline Van Buren, two sisters who journeyed from New York to California, the first women to do so on solo motorcycles. Augusta and Adeline Van Buren Women's First Motorcycle Trip

Kawi C14 Super Sport Trip Report Part III: Palm Springs

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V
I had expected to park next to the GS Chris rode through Cuba on his Mi Moto Fidel trip when I arrived, but I hadn't knows he sold it. "I really really miss it!" he said, looking longingly at the C14. "Now you've made me want to get a bike, now." His choice is the GS Adventure - 1200cc's with a 35" seat height - a bit out of my comfort zone, I thought, but then, I am feeling pretty comfortable on this 1400cc Concours. It's the seat height that daunts me.

Sidecar on the Darian Gap? Give it a miss.

In July I blogged about Scott Schidler's idea to tour on a Ural sidecar motorcycle from Prudhoe Bay to Tierra del Fuego. Some old sidecar hands replied with some wise advice, and everyone agreed that, dreams or no dreams, giving the Darian Gap a miss is the best idea.

But Scott hadn't even tried the Ural yet. Once he did, he wrote: "Although I knew that it would be different, I never imagined it would have been what it was! . . . 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."

Alan Karl wrote, "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."

I thought the toe-in might have been a bit off, and suggested getting advice from a sidecar forum. James Barnwell wrote in to advise reading the manual Driving A Sidecar Outfit and to practice the exersises suggested in the manual, and to take a sidecar safety course. "The pullin-drifting on acceleration/deceleration is normal," says James. "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."

I agree. It doesn't handle like a motorcycle -- there's none of that leaning, flying feeling. It's more like driving a handicapped sportscar, one with three wheels and handlebars instead of four wheels and a steering wheel. Why do I love it, then? Well, that's a complex question. For now let's just say it's that je ne sais quoi.

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.

Don't Worry. I'm Here!

I met Rebecca Johns on Whidbey Island in Washington State a couple of months ago, where we were both attending a seminar on public speaking. I liked Rebecca on sight - first of all because she was unloading her mountain bike off the top of her car, which had Montana license plates, and then because of her fabulous, generous smile.

She was there because, as a personal coach, she finds herself asked to speak more and more often to groups to share her wisdom on personal and professional transformation. Her speeches were both moving and hilarious; one related a conversation with a client that went something like this.

    Rebecca: So, let's talk about what you want out of your sessions.
    Client: Well, I really don't know.

    Rebecca: Well, if you did know what you wanted, what might it be?
    Client: Well, I want to know what to do from now on.

    Rebecca: What would you like to do?
    Client: I don't know.

    Rebecca: Uh huh. So, if you did know, what might it look like?
    Client: Well, it might have something to do with travel.

    Rebecca: Good. So where would you travel?
    Client: I don't know. And anyway, my husband wouldn't let me go.

    Rebecca: Oh. But if he would let you, where would go?
    Client: Well, maybe somewhere in Africa.

    Rebecca: Wow, what's there for you?
    Client: Something with kids.

The other five of us at the seminar were in absolute stitches -- until we realized that so much of our life is like that. We know we want something but we can't articulate it. Maybe nobody asks us what that something might actually look like. Even more disturbing, maybe we don't even ask ourselves. Why? Maybe we're afraid of making the changes it takes to create that life.

Today when Rebecca and I were talking on the phone I realized that maybe as much as 90% of the fabulously wonderful things that have happened in my life happened because I managed to get over the fear it took to take the steps, to make the changes that allowed those things to happen.

For me, my first adventure was forced. As many of you know, I waited years for my husband to go on a motorcycle trip to Europe with me, and finally I became impatient enough that I went alone. (The American Borders story.) Of course my marriage was over when I returned.

Today, a friend of mine told me that her husband has asked for a divorce -- a journey she didn't want to take. She's one of the most adventurous women I know, but normally she envisions and creates her own journeys. I described the situation to Rebecca on the phone today, and she said, "Did you remind your friend that she's an adventurous woman? That she's there for herself?"

Hmmm. "There for herself?"

When she was in her twenties, Rebecca got divorced and then went to South America to travel around. She said, "Sometimes I'd get scared, then I'd remember, "Don't worry, I'm here!"

She cracks me up, but I'm going to tell that to myself more often: "Don't worry. I'm here!"

So here's to all of us who are there for ourselves. Or will be, now that our new mantra is -- let's say it out loud . . .

Don't worry. I'm here!

Thanks, Rebecca!

Rebecca Johns is a great personal coach, and she said it was okay to publish her contact info. She's based in Bigfork, Montana and does in-person and phone coaching. You can find out more by contacting her via email at rjohns@aboutmontana.net or phone her at 406-837-2029.