Yamaha off road experience (long)

Welcome to Bonwick world.

I'm amazed at his powers of persuasion / blackmail.

You think!?

 

Seems completely at odds with my vision. I always pictured it as more of a
bike that would come up to you in the pub and ask "Are you looking at my
exhaust?" The only reply possible being "Well you just threw me off the
back."

Kind of like the electric rodeo cow kind of thing which is uncomfortable to
sit on whilst stationary and somewhat terrifying when on the move, with the
throttle behaving very much like a two position electrical switch (front
wheel up or stationary.)

In short I always considered it a barking toy with a one side of town to
the other tank range. An interesting other perspective has been presented
by our crazy travelling Aussie.

 

Nah. That's the old CR500s (or KX500s).
Truly user unfriendly devices, the pair of them.

A CR500 once gored my brother's foot right open[1].
Stuck a footpeg right through it and peeled it open
so it resembled something more akin to a kebab.


[1]Silly twat shouldn't have been wearing trainers.

 

I'd say it's pretty well certain that Steve and I will be entering
with a couple of others possibles and if we manage to finish I'll be
well chuffed.

I've never ridden in the desert and originally I was going to look at
just going down there and doing my own thing but entering a rally
gives you a kind of security blanket in that they'll recover you and
get you out of the shit if things go wrong. That's actually taking a
more sensible approach but if you think that's lunacy it's up to you.

If the whole idea falls apart it'll not worry me because I've got
plenty of other things I want to do on bikes before I pack in riding
them so I'll not be getting bored.

 

You and me both. He manages to make the most extraordinary anbd lunatic
schemes sound quite reasonable.

And you suspend disbelief and think: "Yeah, sounds like it might be
fun..."

if you're very, very lucky then reality kicks back in and you think:
"Hold it. This Bonwick...."

 

That'd be where you failed when it came to the Elefant.

I wonder how many people would have said they were interested in going
to Morocco for a week to thrash off road bikes around the desert if it
wasn't an organised trip? My guess is that there would have been more
yet they'd have to sort out routes, accommodation, ferries etc for
themselves whereas the way we're doing it that's all done for you.

 

Only to the gullible.

I'm quite proud that he appears to have given up on me.

Yes, I am aware that there could be other reasons ...

 

We're saving you for a rainy day.

 

His goading doesn't work on me, hence why I've never frozen my arse off
in Germany in the middle of winter.

But a desert rally sounds genuinely tempting. The deciding factor will
be cost and whether I think I'm capable of doing it without serious
injury, not whether Bonwick Sr calls me a pansy enough.

 

That's the killer for me, or I would've bought a bike already for it.

That's a complete non-reason.

 

I know. Serious injury is pretty much guaranteed. It's mostly the cost.

 

Take out a loan then if you die you don't have to pay it back.

It's the only sensible way to approach the matter.

 

Just thinking if we presented them with a full 12 at one go there may
be a rate cut. Although the pressure is not so great on the finances
now I know I won't be paying WUN for Hurdy Gurdy lessons

Boxerboy

 

your only chance with that is to go mid-week on a corporate day
arrangement. Their weekend slots will be booked out at full price.

 

http://www.yamaha-offroad-experience.co.uk/index.htm

Phone them and ask.

They run courses for clubs etc so you might find that if you talk
nicely to them they'll do something suitable. Doing it that way means
that anyone with their own bike, kit etc may get a discount but I
don't know.

They're planning to get 6 Teneres next year and then run 'adventure'
days or weekends where they supply the bikes and take you for longer
days around the fire breaks and easier trails with runs up to the
local dams. Not for anyone with short legs.

 

We were there on a Friday and it was fully booked. I wouldn't be
surprised if most days were the same.

On an unrelated note, I love the photo halfway down this...

http://www.enduronews.com/clubs/hafren.htm

 

"NB the fence that Howell landed on surrounds a mine shaft."

Eek.

 

See, this is exactly the problem with you, that *does* sound like a
perfectly reasonable suggestion in every way.

 

I thought this one was quite friendly.

http://www.neilamison.org.uk/supermoto/preston/DSCF0140.JPG

I suspect some on here will know Dave 'Lippy'. Managed to kick start
my totally flooded and no-way-will-it-start CR while wearing only
shorts and flip-flops.

Btw, Alex, there is a new MX practice track near Wolverhampton if you
fancy a play with the CR again some time.

flook

 

<perks>
Is there really - whereabouts?
I usually take the lad and his YZ85 to J4M54 near Telford.
The most vicious bike I ever attempted to start was a mate's old
air-cooled 500 KTM stroker hill climber.

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