Friday, Oct 18, 2019 at 12:35
G'day Gianluca
I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm for this trip but for ten years I ran motorcycle tours in Central Australia with dozens of crossings of the
Simpson Desert and without a support vehicle and support crew I think you are asking for trouble.
Not sure what bike you intend to use but lets say it's an adventure bike similar to a Honda Africa twin with a 25 litre fuel tank - on road range approx 500 kilometres - off road range about 400 kilometres.
So you are needing to carry a minimum of 75 litres of fuel - you will need to also carry water, let's say 15 litres - you have just added 90 kg's of weight to a 240 kg bike and you still have to carry food, some basic tools, some spares, some sort of communication,
first aid kit etc etc !
It doesn't matter how good a rider you are, how fit you are or how much technical expertise you have - crashes can and do happen to the very best. A friend of
mine had the number 1 plate at the time for racing enduros in NSW and could ride flat out all day for weeks on end but on one
Simpson Desert crossing had a crash and hurt himself badly - we put him in one of the support vehicles, fixed his bike and one of the support crew rode it to
Birdsville.
A few years later a rider on another
Simpson Desert trip was 1 kilometre from where we were going to
camp the night - stopped looking at the track to take in the beautiful scenery, hit a rut, got thrown over the bars hit the ground and cracked his neck - that required calling the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Gianluca - what plans will you have in place in the event of a
breakdown, crash or serious injury ?
In my opinion this trip should not be done without a support vehicle but it's your decision and you can't just rely on the good Aussie samaritan to help you out should you require assistance of some sort.
Good Luck
Cheers
Gazz
AnswerID:
628201
Follow Up By: Gianluca J - Friday, Oct 18, 2019 at 16:45
Friday, Oct 18, 2019 at 16:45
G'day to you.
I thank you for highlighting some of the problems one has to face for CSR riding. I do not mind discussing it as CSR cannot be underestimated.
I agree that bike weight is a very important factor both for carrying the project through and personal enjoyment. So no Africa Twin for me, but a desert setup KTM 690 Enduro R with 56L of inline fuel (no fuel bladders or RotoPax).
I believe the longest ride in between fuel refill is 750-850Km,
Wiluna-
Parnngurr Community.
Together with full coverage insurance with rescue, satellite phone, PBD and radio UHF are available.
FollowupID:
902502
Follow Up By: mountainman - Friday, Oct 18, 2019 at 17:21
Friday, Oct 18, 2019 at 17:21
It would be extremely wise and of good will of you to buy the best option .......
Travel and medical insurance available.
I welcome you to go beyond the dirt track and challenge yourself in some of our remotest parts of oz.
But not at the cost of the tax payer or our valued RFDS or other charity medical companies to foot the bill of a rescue.
I have no idea if such an insurance exist.
But i do know if you buy travel insurance that you will be covered.
I dont know how the medical side is included or if its a add on policy.
I wish you a safe and terrific journey to our country
Good luck and good health to you
FollowupID:
902504
Follow Up By: Gianluca J - Friday, Oct 18, 2019 at 19:53
Friday, Oct 18, 2019 at 19:53
Thanks for your concern.
I do have (I don't know if it's the best) a full travel and medical insurance that can rescue in the most remote areas of the world and pays for the medical bill with or without air lifting back to
my home country.
As you did, this is obviously a good, important point to consider for anybody as the cost of hospitalization can raise very quickly and the danger of any injury on motorcycle is high.
FollowupID:
902506