I'm currently on the couch with a broken fibula after trying the big desert on my Tenere. Absolutely the worst day on a motorbike in my life. Having a chuckle at your video. Good work fellas.
Glad the video could bring you some enjoyment in what I imagine is a tough time! Good luck on the recovery mate, I broke a couple of bones in my foot last year and it wasn’t fun but the time passed and I was back on the bike in no time!
Great video guys very entertaining. Yep you will make it. We all learn the same way and in the Simpson you don’t have a choice lol. Muscle memory eventually kicks in and you start relaxing and using a lot less energy
@@AusMotoIn soft sand you won’t burn the clutch taking off in 2nd gear… Unless you are slow to get up on the pegs and get the bike ‘planing’… Hard at first, fun once it clicks! Have an awesome and safe trip! Drink plenty, pull up in shade and stop before the fatigue sets in!
Hahaha you guys 😅👌 mate from what I saw of the Simpson recently, you guys will piss it in. Very little of it is like that deep nasty shit. Some bits are tho. Good vid man cheers
@@AusMotoooh yeah that will add to the fun, when are you going? I was freezing my ass off there this month haha, didn't take my rain jacket off till like 2pm. It was cloudy tho.
Ha ha fully loaded bikes in sand, comedy ensues. Maybe do it without the added fuel just to make sure the set up holds together, but year that sand is a lot different to the Simpson. Also I’m sure you’ve googled it already, but with that gas cooker you need to turn the top pieces outward so the grooves line up with the burner section. It had me for the first few trials as well ha ha
Haha yeah, for most of the weekend I was in stiches and could barely breathe because of the company I was with 😂😂 And yep, wouldn't want to get your foot crushed under hard ones.
Looks you over weighted the rear tire and the front started drifting. Maybe leaning over the bars a little to push the front down a bit might have helped.. Just a thought.
Thanks man, yeah we were carrying a lot haha! I didn't weigh it but with the fuel + water + tools/spares + camping stuff, I'd have to say at least 40+kg on each bike
I reckon you guys should be fine..you've done Googs so you know Big/Little Deserts are much harder. As far as water goes everyone is different. On our recent trip the first day I drank 4 litres 28c but the next 2 days were cooler and drank about 2L each day. Extra for cooking etc and I had icy cold Coopers each night and rode with only a Camelbak which helped alot.
Steering damper. Try and ride faster, momentum is your friend. Baggy front tyres. Get brutal about the weight reduction. Simpson is a lot firmer generally. Great vid.....
@@AusMoto And in a slightly ironic twist, myself and some friends are planning to come over and do a bit of Victorian High Country. People also say, do the Big Desert while you're there, sounds like a challenge now I've watched that.....🤔
Guys, look at your luggage set ups. 14 litres of water, how long do you plan on being in the desert? Keep the fluids low, repack as you go if need be as you use fuel and water. That CRF set up that is as wide as a semi, just no. Like a big pendulum. Piss the 5 litre plastic containers off and buy bladders, the adv ones are good. Anyway, you will have fun. And yes, the big desert sand is tough.
Planning for 2 nights, 3 days but the reason we want to bring 14L is we're looking at crossing in September which can be very hot from what I'm told. As for the width of the luggage racks on the CRF, he bought the racks ages ago and can't be stuffed changing them just for this trip and we do have bladders, used them on our last trip to Googs however they don't pack as well in the panniers as a jerry does but thanks for the info, we'll rethink some of our packing for sure!
@@AusMoto All good. I did it in September a couple of years ago, ended up quite mild, 26,27. 14 litres is probably a bit of overkill, especially if you are all carrying that. As for the CRF racks, if he can't be bothered changing them, that's up to him. Just don't expect it to handle nicely in the sand. A small wobble becomes a big one. Enjoy the trip.
Hey Howard, good to hear from you mate, hope you and Dermot are well! We were running 14 front / 12 rear, but thinking we can potentially drop it down a bit more given we're running rim locks.
@@AusMotoGreat video mate very entertaining 😊 that should be about right I usually try 14 14 to begin with and it works most of the time but you can drop to 10 if you get in trouble with rim locks. A good test for the Simpson is the Bordetrack SA or scorpion springs. I would not try it with full Simpson load just camping gear fuel needed and 6 lites of water. Soft sand and some very technical dunes. If you can do that, the Simpson will be easy by comparison. Also it is easier for the bikes in front as they don’t get tangled up in the squiggly lines from the other bikes so they to have one bike keep left the other right and alternate to give everyone a break
@@tonyrdr7207 thanks mate, glad you enjoyed! I'm keen to check out Border Track, we just didn't have time on this trip to make the most of it but will definitely give it a crack one day.
You need to get more comfortable riding quicker on the sand. Try it without the luggage, build up confidence, then load the bike up with luggage. Keep the weight low if possible. 80kph + , dont look so close at the ruts.
Let us know in the comments below whether we'll survive crossing the Simpson Desert!
I'm currently on the couch with a broken fibula after trying the big desert on my Tenere. Absolutely the worst day on a motorbike in my life. Having a chuckle at your video. Good work fellas.
Glad the video could bring you some enjoyment in what I imagine is a tough time!
Good luck on the recovery mate, I broke a couple of bones in my foot last year and it wasn’t fun but the time passed and I was back on the bike in no time!
Pretty entertaining stuff lads 👏🏼
Thanks mate!
Great video guys very entertaining. Yep you will make it. We all learn the same way and in the Simpson you don’t have a choice lol. Muscle memory eventually kicks in and you start relaxing and using a lot less energy
Thanks Tony, glad you enjoyed!
In really soft sand… Start in 2nd gear ;)
Gotta give it a shot, just want to make sure I don't burn the clutch haha!
@@AusMotoIn soft sand you won’t burn the clutch taking off in 2nd gear… Unless you are slow to get up on the pegs and get the bike ‘planing’… Hard at first, fun once it clicks!
Have an awesome and safe trip! Drink plenty, pull up in shade and stop before the fatigue sets in!
@@alphonsvanmaanen Thanks heaps mate, appreciate it!
That looks like tough going boys. Frustration, fun and pain all at once🙃
All the makings of a good adventure 🤣
Hey mate you’ll be fine, sounds like you’re enjoying your time out there 😂 brilliant👌🏼
😂 😂
Thanks mate, here's hoping!
Hahaha you guys 😅👌 mate from what I saw of the Simpson recently, you guys will piss it in. Very little of it is like that deep nasty shit. Some bits are tho. Good vid man cheers
Haha thanks Josh, here's hoping that's the case!
My main concern now isn't the sand riding, it's the heat at the time of year we're going to be there!
@@AusMotoooh yeah that will add to the fun, when are you going? I was freezing my ass off there this month haha, didn't take my rain jacket off till like 2pm. It was cloudy tho.
@@MVDBR Mid September 🥵🔥
Ha ha fully loaded bikes in sand, comedy ensues. Maybe do it without the added fuel just to make sure the set up holds together, but year that sand is a lot different to the Simpson.
Also I’m sure you’ve googled it already, but with that gas cooker you need to turn the top pieces outward so the grooves line up with the burner section. It had me for the first few trials as well ha ha
Yeah, heard the sand is much softer at Big Desert compared to Simpson, so at least that's reassuring!
And yeah, my bro ended up working it out hahaha!
Sounds like you partook of the Electric Spinach before riding, giggle monster had you good.
15:38 Is why I'll never use hard panniers.
Haha yeah, for most of the weekend I was in stiches and could barely breathe because of the company I was with 😂😂
And yep, wouldn't want to get your foot crushed under hard ones.
Looks you over weighted the rear tire and the front started drifting. Maybe leaning over the bars a little to push the front down a bit might have helped.. Just a thought.
Yeah I think you’re right, with all the petrol, water and gear the rear was heavvvvvy!
Great video mate, man I surprised on how loaded you guys went. What was the full kit weight including fuel?
Thanks man, yeah we were carrying a lot haha!
I didn't weigh it but with the fuel + water + tools/spares + camping stuff, I'd have to say at least 40+kg on each bike
I reckon you guys should be fine..you've done Googs so you know Big/Little Deserts are much harder. As far as water goes everyone is different. On our recent trip the first day I drank 4 litres 28c but the next 2 days were cooler and drank about 2L each day. Extra for cooking etc and I had icy cold Coopers each night and rode with only a Camelbak which helped alot.
Thanks for the insights, Sausage, super helpful!
🔥👍
🤙🤙
@@AusMoto don't forget in the sand as far as luggage less is more 👍
@@mototrailz Yep, we are cutting down even more on what we're bring, just the bare essentials!
Steering damper. Try and ride faster, momentum is your friend. Baggy front tyres. Get brutal about the weight reduction. Simpson is a lot firmer generally. Great vid.....
Thanks David, yeah I think a Steering damper would be a great mod to add and definitely noted your other points. Glad you enjoyed!
@@AusMoto And in a slightly ironic twist, myself and some friends are planning to come over and do a bit of Victorian High Country. People also say, do the Big Desert while you're there, sounds like a challenge now I've watched that.....🤔
@@davidfindlay5432 I'm sure you'll be fine, we just make it look hard haha and you'll love the VHC, especially if you've never been before!
Guys, look at your luggage set ups. 14 litres of water, how long do you plan on being in the desert? Keep the fluids low, repack as you go if need be as you use fuel and water. That CRF set up that is as wide as a semi, just no. Like a big pendulum. Piss the 5 litre plastic containers off and buy bladders, the adv ones are good. Anyway, you will have fun. And yes, the big desert sand is tough.
Planning for 2 nights, 3 days but the reason we want to bring 14L is we're looking at crossing in September which can be very hot from what I'm told. As for the width of the luggage racks on the CRF, he bought the racks ages ago and can't be stuffed changing them just for this trip and we do have bladders, used them on our last trip to Googs however they don't pack as well in the panniers as a jerry does but thanks for the info, we'll rethink some of our packing for sure!
@@AusMoto All good. I did it in September a couple of years ago, ended up quite mild, 26,27. 14 litres is probably a bit of overkill, especially if you are all carrying that. As for the CRF racks, if he can't be bothered changing them, that's up to him. Just don't expect it to handle nicely in the sand. A small wobble becomes a big one. Enjoy the trip.
@@andrewseeber1190 Thanks mate, fingers crossed it's mild for us too!
Gday Josh Howard here met you and your brother last year on our way back from the simpson (quaundong pies)! What tyre pressures where you running
Hey Howard, good to hear from you mate, hope you and Dermot are well!
We were running 14 front / 12 rear, but thinking we can potentially drop it down a bit more given we're running rim locks.
@@AusMotoGreat video mate very entertaining 😊
that should be about right I usually try 14 14 to begin with and it works most of the time but you can drop to 10 if you get in trouble with rim locks. A good test for the Simpson is the Bordetrack SA or scorpion springs. I would not try it with full Simpson load just camping gear fuel needed and 6 lites of water. Soft sand and some very technical dunes. If you can do that, the Simpson will be easy by comparison. Also it is easier for the bikes in front as they don’t get tangled up in the squiggly lines from the other bikes so they to have one bike keep left the other right and alternate to give everyone a break
@@tonyrdr7207 thanks mate, glad you enjoyed!
I'm keen to check out Border Track, we just didn't have time on this trip to make the most of it but will definitely give it a crack one day.
Been there done that. Glad you think its funny, I never did.
I love a good laugh when the going gets tough
when in doubt go flat out
Great words to live by when riding sand!
You need to get more comfortable riding quicker on the sand. Try it without the luggage, build up confidence, then load the bike up with luggage. Keep the weight low if possible.
80kph + , dont look so close at the ruts.
Noted mate, but unfortunately gotta travel at least 5 hours to get to some decent sand to ride, so not something we can do often