| Print | Text | |
|
What kind of special modifications have you made to your 1995 R100GS to get it ready for such an endeavor?
Peter Stern Sub frame on the motorcycle to attach the Ural Sidecar
Wilber's rear shock with re-enforced spring and hydraulic adjustment installed by Run-n-lites
HPN front suspension (spacer had to be adjusted 3 times to hold the weight of the sidecar)
HPN short first gear (an expensive pleasure)
Kick start gearbox (once, I started it on the first kick by -20F)
400Watts alternator from Motorrad Elektrik
Dry cell batteries Odyssey with one additional in the sidecar
Preparation by Fred and Joel from Amol Motorcycle in NJ
Electric Oil Pan heater (called the plug)
Amsoil oil 0-30W, one of the best synthetic oils.
Complete spare wheel, rear and front
Sidecar wheel is a rear wheel of R100GSPD (another spare)
One front and one rear studded tire.
Grease nipple on the rear shaft
2 heat trollers located on the gas tank
The skirt (Tablier) from Bagster (Paris, France) with the hand protector
The mechanical cruise control (always on)
Bad weather front light PIAA
European switch (can shut down all lights)
Truck's orange blinker (6" diameter) for better visibility to others
The Illuminator from Badland (the large orange blinker light on when braking)
Here is a list of what I was wearing everyday at the Arctic Circle:
Top 4 layers
Polyester T-shirt polyester
Gerbing electric jacket
Primaloft jacket
Hein Gerike motorcycle jacket
Bottom 3 Layers
Polyester long underwear
Gerbing electric pants
Hein Gerike motorcycle pants
The motorcycle skirt should count as one layer here
Hands
Up to zero degrees F (-17C): the smallest gloves I had (out of 6 pairs), some deer skin gloves
Below zero degrees F: the Gerbing electric gloves
Feet
My best socks are Smartwool ($18)
Never used my electric socks from Gerbing
Sorel shoes rated -100C
Head
The thin balaclava I have and my full size helmet with the electric visor.
The electric visor never worked for me, the vision is so fuzzy that on a clear day it was limited but in bad weather it was impossible for me to see where I was going.
I was driving the whole time with the window open and the fresh air on my eyes without glasses so I could see without fog and ice in front of me.
It is interesting to see that to maintain a good temperature on my core, the thermostat for the jacket and pants was set at the minimum at all times, and I did not suffer from the cold on my hands and feet...
You have been adventuring by sidecar for nearly 40 years, what have been some of your most memorable trips.
My most memorable trips are
First Ride: (1970) with my friend, Yan (my mentor in freedom). We toured Japan on two Yamaha trail 125cc motorcycles that we bought in Tokyo.
Most Adventurous ride: (1971) Around the Red Sea with my brother on a Guzzi V7 with Sidecar and a mono 450cc Scramble Ducati
Scariest ride: (1972) On a motorcycle with a street bike Suzuki going down the gorge du verdon in France on a donkey trail with Frank (Eve and Lucie's mom)
Most Exciting ride (1981) I raced the "croisiere verte" de Thierry Sabine with Dennis, Giorgio and Francois
Challenging ride (2005) New York to Tukoyaktuk by the Dempster Highway
Longest ride in 1 day (2000) New York to Daytona Beach, 1,100 miles from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The ride I suffered the most from the cold (1980) From Geneva to Paris on December 30 driving my sidecar crosses with Giorgio, departing the Paris Dakar the day after.
Most Acrobatic ride (1974) Flying on my Bultaco Alpina
Proudest ride (1982) Seeing Eve and Lucie on their mini sidecar Cross in the Bois de Boulogne.
Fastest ride (1983) On my Kawasaki 1000cc with Terraplane sidecar
Stupidest ride (1983) Making a wheelie when passing a car on the highway at 110mph with Eve and Lucie in the Sidecar
Symphonic ride (2001) Riding two sidecars "duo" with Jean Louis. Riding like two airplanes flying together, at a close distance from each other, changing lanes, passing cars cutting the apex...
Slowest ride (2001) On my Mintz (Chinese) motorcycle in Vietnam... the top speed is 30 mph and all the mountains were taken in 1st gear.
Most flats in a day ride (1981) as many as 6 flats in one
Most gearboxes in 1 year (2005) BMW R100GSPD on my way back from the Arctic Circle. Guzzi V7 1973 from Giorgio, the torque spring gave up when I was touring Europe
Biggest Christmas tree (2002) 14 foot tree on my Road King with Harley Davidson sidecar 1936/1979
Learn more at: http://www.thetimelessride.com











