Brilliant videos i toured Europe on my zx10r one night when it was raining so hard i couldn't book a hotel i ended up asleep on a service station toilet i remember snapping my key in my petrol tank a stranger i didn't know took me back to his house and got his mate to get my key out of the petrol tank and let me wait to get my spare sent from England your right you meet good people every where well done on your journey
That's crazy the amount of bikes they had there! They did a great job of reinforcing the sub-frame. Umm. OK, I spoke too soon! Bugger! I was thinking that it all seemed too good to be true as I knew you missed Mongolia due to worries about the sub-frame. I've been watching Lavi & Ollie's trip around the world and in recent months saw the leg through Russia that they did last year. The Siberian roads look a lot better now than they did when you did your trip. But then, they look better in this vid than the Road Of Bones did for Ewan and Charley's trip back in 2004. Certainly a challenge for you on the Gixxer!
Gotta tell you, ya sold me on NOT buying a Suzuki ever again. I am a welder by trade, and I can tell you off the hop that Suzuki’s have piss poor welds. I know because I had a gs500 that was manufactured in Spain and the welds looked like absolute shite. My Yamaha r6 on the other hand...I am absolutely in love with the craftsmanship. Even the welds are perfect. 👌 Awesome videos! Wish I saw these sooner!
teapotone I just wanted to tell you real quick, I found out about your channel from another rider I met on the road! He was an adventure bike rider with a new bmw gs1250r, and I was asking him for tips on long distance trips and I told him about my bike(Yamaha R6). He led me to your channel and you are a legend! Simply inspirational, even against all odds! You’ve made quite the impact and I’ll be sure to share your story! Cheers!
Jared Thank you, I'm really enjoying doing the weekly vlog stuff now, just wish I had the camera and sound equipment I have now, when I was on the trip! Glad you're enjoying the vids and thanks for the feedback 👍
Wonderful, GREAT videos! Thank you for sharing this. It is fantastic to watch. You got a true follower! Subbed and liked. Also, that shirt is amazing. "Paddle faster, I hear banjos"
It’s always great to back over some of your content Bruce and share your adventures back in 2012; loving them and only sorry they don’t generate anything for you mate👎😩
Ha Ha thanks Gareth, it’s funny as I haven’t watched any of them but someone was asking recently in the comments about a specific bit in one of the vids, so I ended up watching the whole episode. It was the Chile/Peru one, brought back great memories 👍
Hi I have another question! Umm when you travel around the world by motorcycle , did you carry some mechanic tools to fix bike? or just carried food and camping equip? and Have you ever ridden V strom 250? is it nice to ride? Im keep searching v strom family (1000 , 650, 250) but only 250 model hasnt deploy in korea :(
Hi Junseo, I carried a small amount of tools, just the basics for my bike. I have little mechanical knowledge so if it broke down, I probably wouldn’t be able to fix it anyway so would need to take it to a local mechanic, and they would have the tools anyway. No I’ve never ridden the V Strom 250, I’m a big, fat guy so wouldn’t ever buy a small bike so I don’t bother test riding them. I’ve ridden the KTM 390 Duke before and that is a good little bike.
Haha! Irn Bru saves the day! You know that Hayabusa's got recalled for snapping rear subframes? I'm guessing it's a common Suzuki big bike problem of that era.
Hi! Im planning Motorcycle travel too and Im watched almost everything your trip video! And I have a question is sports bike really okay to ride at rough terrain? I dont think so :( (have a plan to buy suzuki v strom)
Hi Junseo, Thank you for watching the vids and I am happy you like them. Ha Ha, a Sportsbike isn’t easy to ride on rough terrain, but it can be done. But yes the V-Strom will be much more comfortable 👍
Thanks Jettman, it really depended where I was and what the roads were like. In Russia if I was on Tarmac, the most I did was about 1,400 miles in a day, but when I was in Laos up in the mountains on dirt tracks, it took me a full day to ride not even 80 miles.
Wow thats a lot! Im guessing there arnt many police in Siberia :D And you're a hell of a editor aswell! I have to watch every episod from the beginning now :) Im planing a trip from Stockholm to the alps this summer :)
teapotone ...I wasn’t meaning to be critical, I was just reflecting on the number of times the sub frame cracked. I’ve also heard of this happening with GSs too, but not often, so I wondered if a gsx was really designed to cope with prolonged use on gravel and dirt roads with a fair bit of weight hanging off the rear. It’s just a question of what (if anything) is fit for purpose. I currently have a big KTM, but prior to that I had an S1000rr which broke the magnesium headstock after being knocked over by a car while it was just parked in front of my house...brilliant bike on the asphalt and track, but not what I’d choose to tackle Siberia on (by the way, my wife is from Saint Petersburg so I agree with you on Russian hospitality...my grandmother was Russian and was the exception to the rule!!). Oh, and you’re absolutely right about the RHD cars in Siberia...I had this problem going from Novosibirsk to Barnaul in particular. Anyway I’m planning this trip solo in June or July. I’d rather go on the 690 Enduro R, but it’s not feasible for me to sell my 1290SA and swap (I used to live in Europe, but no longer, so not being an EU citizen and without a registered address etc, it’s not really possible to swap...plus my owner’s import permit to Australia is tied to the 1290SA etc etc). A question - would you recommend knobbies? Did you change tyres, as you started out on new Bridgestone road tyres.
Personally, unless you’re going to be doing some major off-road sections for prolonged periods of time, I wouldn’t bother with knobblies. My road tyres coped fine with everything thrown at them. Yes they could’ve been better in the dirt, but so could I, I’d never ridden off road until the trip. Just take what you know and you’re happy with 👍
Fair enough. But you say in this video your frame has snapped 4 times. Credit to you, you are proving you can go around the world on anything if you're determined, i'm just playing devils advocate.
Aye, but there are plenty of other people out there who ya e broken their adventure bikes riding the very same roads and terrain I rode on a Superbike. Breakdowns and mechanical issues will happen on any bike when you’re riding it every day and on any type of terrain. Just take whatever bike you are comfortable with 👍
I have gone from your crazy to do the trip on a sport bike cause you are going to have a hard time in certain areas to, your crazy to do the trip on a sport bike cause of the time spent in that position of a pig fucking a football. Cause breaking down has been the best parts of his trip. Take away all the video of related to him being broken down an just riding an you have a really boring video. The break downs brings in meeting new people, getting into peoples homes who you would never have meet if you were still grinding out the miles. An all those people an friends will be the memories he will remember years down the road from now, now the view of the side of a mountain. People make the journey.
The subframe snapped again just after Irkutsk so I had to make the decision to either risk it and ride down into Mongolia, or just keep heading East and try to get to Vladivostok, which is what I did.
Ha Ha, it’s all covered in the vids later on as I got asked that all the time. Any bike will do any trip, it’s just a question of whether the rider will. I had a GSX-R, I love my GSX-R, I wanted to do the trip on it, so I did. 👍
Brilliant videos i toured Europe on my zx10r one night when it was raining so hard i couldn't book a hotel i ended up asleep on a service station toilet i remember snapping my key in my petrol tank a stranger i didn't know took me back to his house and got his mate to get my key out of the petrol tank and let me wait to get my spare sent from England your right you meet good people every where well done on your journey
That's crazy the amount of bikes they had there! They did a great job of reinforcing the sub-frame. Umm. OK, I spoke too soon! Bugger! I was thinking that it all seemed too good to be true as I knew you missed Mongolia due to worries about the sub-frame.
I've been watching Lavi & Ollie's trip around the world and in recent months saw the leg through Russia that they did last year. The Siberian roads look a lot better now than they did when you did your trip. But then, they look better in this vid than the Road Of Bones did for Ewan and Charley's trip back in 2004. Certainly a challenge for you on the Gixxer!
Hi mate accidentally found this film and it looks like i will spend a few hours on your channel...cheers
Hi Pavo,
Great to hear you found the channel and hope you enjoy all the vids.
Cheers for your support 👍
I was surprised yesterday because did not find 8th part. Glad to see it today.
Enjoying these videos so much. Big respect 💖
Thank you Jane, glad you’re enjoying the RTW series 👍
Editing really starting to shine now Bruce you old pro :-) Trip looks HARD your crazy haha
Ha thanks bud. Wish I’d spent more time and effort on my production abilities before I left, would be an insane trip to vlog nowadays!
Yayy! Episode 8, the lost episode!! Thanks for the awesome series.
Joshua leiper You're welcome, glad you like it👍
Gotta tell you, ya sold me on NOT buying a Suzuki ever again. I am a welder by trade, and I can tell you off the hop that Suzuki’s have piss poor welds. I know because I had a gs500 that was manufactured in Spain and the welds looked like absolute shite. My Yamaha r6 on the other hand...I am absolutely in love with the craftsmanship. Even the welds are perfect. 👌
Awesome videos! Wish I saw these sooner!
Thanks Stan, welcome to the channel bud 👍
teapotone I just wanted to tell you real quick, I found out about your channel from another rider I met on the road! He was an adventure bike rider with a new bmw gs1250r, and I was asking him for tips on long distance trips and I told him about my bike(Yamaha R6). He led me to your channel and you are a legend! Simply inspirational, even against all odds! You’ve made quite the impact and I’ll be sure to share your story!
Cheers!
Just found this series. Bloody brilliant!! I think those roads would challange a T-34 tank to keep all its bits and peices on!
You've really found your feet with the editing and filming. Looking great!
Jared Thank you, I'm really enjoying doing the weekly vlog stuff now, just wish I had the camera and sound equipment I have now, when I was on the trip!
Glad you're enjoying the vids and thanks for the feedback 👍
Do another adventure again..
Ha Ha, I’m STILL paying for the last one! 🤣💰💰
Great stuff Bruce!!
The Arctic Rider Thanks bud, glad you liked it 👍
Good stuff !!
Hardcore!,,
love it true scot ginger rock on M8
Ha Ha I couldn’t believe I found God’s nectar in the middle of Siberia pal!!!
Legendary! 👍
Wonderful, GREAT videos! Thank you for sharing this. It is fantastic to watch. You got a true follower! Subbed and liked.
Also, that shirt is amazing. "Paddle faster, I hear banjos"
Nick Dubois Ha Ha, thanks Nick, glad you like the series, and yep that shirt certainly gets a reaction! 👍
awesome video!!
Chris Ulinski Thanks bud, glad you liked it and thanks for the great feedback 👍
To be fair to Suzuki, the subframe isn't made for loaded touring! Haha. Enjoyed all the videos so far. :)
+tywin1 Was still less weight than a pillion rider though? And one subframe snapped on the M1 motorway with no luggage?
Still laying in bed hours later hahaha
.Great content pal
Ha Ha, great stuff, and good to hear you’re still enjoying the series👍
Why did you not take an advantage bike? But I have just started watching your videos on here, amazing, nice watching so far.
everytime your frame snaps so does my soul, and i don't have one being a copper top ha!, but atleast you were still smiling
It’s always great to back over some of your content Bruce and share your adventures back in 2012; loving them and only sorry they don’t generate anything for you mate👎😩
Ha Ha thanks Gareth, it’s funny as I haven’t watched any of them but someone was asking recently in the comments about a specific bit in one of the vids, so I ended up watching the whole episode. It was the Chile/Peru one, brought back great memories 👍
@@teapotone you defo should as they’re great👍 Your Scandinavian series interested me lost as an area I’d love to explore before I die🙏🏻🤞
Hi I have another question!
Umm when you travel around the world by motorcycle , did you carry some mechanic tools to fix bike? or just carried food and camping equip?
and Have you ever ridden V strom 250? is it nice to ride?
Im keep searching v strom family (1000 , 650, 250) but only 250 model hasnt deploy in korea :(
Hi Junseo,
I carried a small amount of tools, just the basics for my bike. I have little mechanical knowledge so if it broke down, I probably wouldn’t be able to fix it anyway so would need to take it to a local mechanic, and they would have the tools anyway.
No I’ve never ridden the V Strom 250, I’m a big, fat guy so wouldn’t ever buy a small bike so I don’t bother test riding them.
I’ve ridden the KTM 390 Duke before and that is a good little bike.
Thank you for your reply and kindness :)
Right, that's kind of a cliff hanger!🤔 I need to know how and what cost $2500 to take The Best to S. Korea. Taxes, ferry, both or something else?
Άξιος!!!
any tips for shipping companies for sending bike from Vladivostok ?
The info is in this vid bud? Just contact Yuri in Vladivostok, or go on to HorizonsUnlimited.com and into the HUBB to find the info.
Haha! Irn Bru saves the day! You know that Hayabusa's got recalled for snapping rear subframes? I'm guessing it's a common Suzuki big bike problem of that era.
Yep, still is I believe
Did you get your bike on the ferry too. Does the ferry take lorrys and vans
Do you mean the ferry from Vladivostok to South Korea and Japan?
If so, yes it’s a roll on roll off ferry 👍
👍🤟
Hi! Im planning Motorcycle travel too and Im watched almost everything your trip video!
And I have a question is sports bike really okay to ride at rough terrain? I dont think so :(
(have a plan to buy suzuki v strom)
Hi Junseo,
Thank you for watching the vids and I am happy you like them.
Ha Ha, a Sportsbike isn’t easy to ride on rough terrain, but it can be done.
But yes the V-Strom will be much more comfortable 👍
Thank you a lot!
No problem 👍
Not a great advertisement for the Suzuki sub frame. Doing a great job though!
very cool, but you shoulda stayed in Birobidjan over night :) Capital of the J.A.R. with cheap hotels and no marsh lands to camp in :D
what was your average fuel comsumption?
As an average I’d get about 140miles to a full tank (17.5 litres).
More if I went slower, less if I was enjoy my myself.
I don't understand why did the bike fall?
I hit a huge pothole and it just snapped the subframe where it had been repaired previously.
Awesome trip! How many km did you do per day?
Thanks Jettman, it really depended where I was and what the roads were like.
In Russia if I was on Tarmac, the most I did was about 1,400 miles in a day, but when I was in Laos up in the mountains on dirt tracks, it took me a full day to ride not even 80 miles.
Wow thats a lot! Im guessing there arnt many police in Siberia :D
And you're a hell of a editor aswell! I have to watch every episod from the beginning now :)
Im planing a trip from Stockholm to the alps this summer :)
Thank you bud, glad you’re enjoying the vids. Aye I didn’t have any problems with police in Russia actually, don’t think I ever saw any on the road?
Hehe Im guessing thats why you could do 1400 miles in one day :P it sounds like you didnt go slow :)
Not in Europe, I’ve done lots of Europe many times before, and I can go back there any time. I was eager to get to the new bits 😉👍
Is that not one of the most impractical bikes to cross Siberia, let alone go around the world? Am I missing something?
It’s what I’d always ridden Ronan so for me it was comfortable and practical and the perfect bike for me to do the trip on.
For others, probably not.
teapotone ...I wasn’t meaning to be critical, I was just reflecting on the number of times the sub frame cracked. I’ve also heard of this happening with GSs too, but not often, so I wondered if a gsx was really designed to cope with prolonged use on gravel and dirt roads with a fair bit of weight hanging off the rear.
It’s just a question of what (if anything) is fit for purpose. I currently have a big KTM, but prior to that I had an S1000rr which broke the magnesium headstock after being knocked over by a car while it was just parked in front of my house...brilliant bike on the asphalt and track, but not what I’d choose to tackle Siberia on (by the way, my wife is from Saint Petersburg so I agree with you on Russian hospitality...my grandmother was Russian and was the exception to the rule!!). Oh, and you’re absolutely right about the RHD cars in Siberia...I had this problem going from Novosibirsk to Barnaul in particular.
Anyway I’m planning this trip solo in June or July. I’d rather go on the 690 Enduro R, but it’s not feasible for me to sell my 1290SA and swap (I used to live in Europe, but no longer, so not being an EU citizen and without a registered address etc, it’s not really possible to swap...plus my owner’s import permit to Australia is tied to the 1290SA etc etc).
A question - would you recommend knobbies? Did you change tyres, as you started out on new Bridgestone road tyres.
Personally, unless you’re going to be doing some major off-road sections for prolonged periods of time, I wouldn’t bother with knobblies. My road tyres coped fine with everything thrown at them. Yes they could’ve been better in the dirt, but so could I, I’d never ridden off road until the trip.
Just take what you know and you’re happy with 👍
teapotone
To do this travel on a sportsbike makes this extra special, great to watch.
Thanks Jelle 👍
in Russia you need a least BMW GS bike, or Honda Africa twin))
why a sportbike? seems like it would really limit your options and places you can explore.i dont see the sense.
Watch all the RTW vids then Ste. It didn’t limit anything for me.
Fair enough. But you say in this video your frame has snapped 4 times. Credit to you, you are proving you can go around the world on anything if you're determined, i'm just playing devils advocate.
Aye, but there are plenty of other people out there who ya e broken their adventure bikes riding the very same roads and terrain I rode on a Superbike.
Breakdowns and mechanical issues will happen on any bike when you’re riding it every day and on any type of terrain.
Just take whatever bike you are comfortable with 👍
I have gone from your crazy to do the trip on a sport bike cause you are going to have a hard time in certain areas to, your crazy to do the trip on a sport bike cause of the time spent in that position of a pig fucking a football. Cause breaking down has been the best parts of his trip. Take away all the video of related to him being broken down an just riding an you have a really boring video. The break downs brings in meeting new people, getting into peoples homes who you would never have meet if you were still grinding out the miles. An all those people an friends will be the memories he will remember years down the road from now, now the view of the side of a mountain. People make the journey.
What happened to Mongolia?
The subframe snapped again just after Irkutsk so I had to make the decision to either risk it and ride down into Mongolia, or just keep heading East and try to get to Vladivostok, which is what I did.
"Bloddywostok"... :-)))
I must have missed something. Why on earth did you choose to do this on that bike? Is this like self flaggilation some sort of a religious thing.
Ha Ha, it’s all covered in the vids later on as I got asked that all the time.
Any bike will do any trip, it’s just a question of whether the rider will.
I had a GSX-R, I love my GSX-R, I wanted to do the trip on it, so I did. 👍
It's a continental country you can't expect roads outside highways to be tarmacked the surplus finance for this would be nightmare and bankrupting