Husaberg FE570 Motorcycles:Why? Anyone who has ridden extensively above 4000m will know the problems you can have with carburettors at altitude. Not only is matching the jetting to the altitude a chore, but the bikes have less power than injected bikes and there is the ever present danger of carb icing. Due to the gravity fed nature of carbs, they also work less well at unusual angles and attitudes - things we are expecting to encounter. Fuel injection eliminates all of the above issues. Husaberg have been making high performance, fuel injected dirt bikes for a few years now with a faultless reliability record. Their exceptionally low weight and outstanding handling out of the box set them apart from every other alternative. 60 hp, 114 kgs, faultless fuel injection, top suspension ... it was the obvious bike to base our efforts around.
KLIM Badlands Pro Suits: Why? In our opinion this brand new product is probably the most versatile riding kit in the world. The adventure riding clothing market has been dominated by manufacturers who specialise in road riding gear, throwing a few more pockets on a kit and calling it an adventure suit. Most of the stuff has been of limited waterproofness or has become waterproof via the addition of additional waterproof layers. Klim has emerged as a specialist adventure gear manufacturer whose design team is actually made up of adventure riders. Therefore they are the only manufacturer who seems to be able to get the requirements of real adventure riders right. They make well vented all in one waterproof adventure kit. The Badlands Pro is a premium quality adventure suit that is positioned a level or two ABOVE the competition. But not only is it a great adventure suit, its a great road suit, and its a rally suit. The built in top drawer D30 armour on shoulders elbows back AND chest, combined with the guaranteed waterproofness of the suit, premium materials throughout, plus its incredible variety of pockets is why the UK's top motorcycle publication, MCN, described it as being the only piece of motorcycle clothing you will ever need. We agree. Its ideal for the altitude attempt and ideal for everything we do afterwards too. And it looks so cool, we will probably wear it on the plane out to Chile !
EXO2 heated clothing:Why? EXO2 make the heated clothing that provides the most heat for the lowest power draw of anyone in the world. Temperatures near the peaks of the Andes, even in summer can get down to -25C (-13F) so we wanted the finest heated clothing we could lay our hands on. Efficiency is key, as lightweight motorcycles do not have an unlimited ability to produce power. Quality is also key and the products we use must be tough enough for a world record attempt in an extreme environment. EXO2 gear is used by the UKs Royal Marines and a look at their website shows they have won more awards from motorcycle magazines around the world than you could possibly count. Their stormrider vest, brand new stormguard glove and heated boot insoles are just what we need for avoiding frostbite in the extreme conditions we are likely to encounter.
GiantLoop luggage:Why? We dont have a vast support crew behind us, just a couple of friends. So we need to be able to carry our own gear. We need to carry camera gear, video gear etc with us up the mountain every day. Some previous efforts, based on trials bikes carrying nothing on the bikes, were accompanied the whole way by 4WDs and a crew. We don't have that luxury so needed to plan for luggage. Giant Loop are the pioneers in dirt bike luggage. They invented it. They worked out how to wrap a bag around a bike, so that you dont need racks. So for weight, simplicity, reliability, toughness, Giant Loop had to be the gear for us. We are each taking a Giant Loop Coyote rear bag and a Fandango tank bag.
Shorai Power batteries:Why? Stock lead acid batteries are heavy and dont work well in extreme conditions. There is an alternative out there that has been used by racing and rally teams for several years ... Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)batteries. We have used Shorai batteries in the past and have been impressed with the miniscule weight and size of the units, and importantly, the reliability. Using LiFePO4 batteries in the extremes of cold is a simple matter of cycling power through the batteries before starting (running a headlight for a few seconds) wheras preparing a lead acid battery for bike starting in those conditions would mean removing and physically warming up the entire battery. With their good reputation for reliability, Shorai was the battery for us.
Golden Tyre:Why: Anyone who has followed Hard / Extreme Enduro in recent years will have noticed the increasing use of Golden Tyre products. Graham Jarvis, who utterly dominated the Extreme Enduro world last year was on Golden Tyre tyres and mousses. We spoke to the Husaberg factory to ask about tyres and they too were enthused about Golden Tyre. Jarvis's guys let us in on a little trick. In order to simulate an even lower pressure, the rear mousse Jarvis had been running his Husaberg, which was shod in a 140mm width tyre, they ran a 120mm width mousse. The smaller mousse effective gave him a lower pressure, and increased traction. We were sold. Jarvis's results speak for themselves. It was Golden Tyre GT216 tyres and mousses for us.
Rekluse Auto-Clutch:Why: The reality is, if we could ride like Graham Jarvis, with his amazing clutch control, we probably wouldnt need an auto-clutch. But we are actually human, and therefore technical riding in tough terrain is enough of a challenge without having to throw in the ultra thin air, low oxygen levels, freezing temperatures etc etc. As far as dirt bike auto clutches go there is only one name to look at ... Rekluse. Factory teams use Rekluse clutches. We need to spend as much of our energy, concentration and effort overcoming the obstacles in our path. The Rekluse gives us one less thing to worry about.
Blue Ridge Racing Stage III Tool kit:
Rayz and Renazco Seats:
Section still under construction
KLIM Badlands Pro Suits: Why? In our opinion this brand new product is probably the most versatile riding kit in the world. The adventure riding clothing market has been dominated by manufacturers who specialise in road riding gear, throwing a few more pockets on a kit and calling it an adventure suit. Most of the stuff has been of limited waterproofness or has become waterproof via the addition of additional waterproof layers. Klim has emerged as a specialist adventure gear manufacturer whose design team is actually made up of adventure riders. Therefore they are the only manufacturer who seems to be able to get the requirements of real adventure riders right. They make well vented all in one waterproof adventure kit. The Badlands Pro is a premium quality adventure suit that is positioned a level or two ABOVE the competition. But not only is it a great adventure suit, its a great road suit, and its a rally suit. The built in top drawer D30 armour on shoulders elbows back AND chest, combined with the guaranteed waterproofness of the suit, premium materials throughout, plus its incredible variety of pockets is why the UK's top motorcycle publication, MCN, described it as being the only piece of motorcycle clothing you will ever need. We agree. Its ideal for the altitude attempt and ideal for everything we do afterwards too. And it looks so cool, we will probably wear it on the plane out to Chile !
EXO2 heated clothing:Why? EXO2 make the heated clothing that provides the most heat for the lowest power draw of anyone in the world. Temperatures near the peaks of the Andes, even in summer can get down to -25C (-13F) so we wanted the finest heated clothing we could lay our hands on. Efficiency is key, as lightweight motorcycles do not have an unlimited ability to produce power. Quality is also key and the products we use must be tough enough for a world record attempt in an extreme environment. EXO2 gear is used by the UKs Royal Marines and a look at their website shows they have won more awards from motorcycle magazines around the world than you could possibly count. Their stormrider vest, brand new stormguard glove and heated boot insoles are just what we need for avoiding frostbite in the extreme conditions we are likely to encounter.
GiantLoop luggage:Why? We dont have a vast support crew behind us, just a couple of friends. So we need to be able to carry our own gear. We need to carry camera gear, video gear etc with us up the mountain every day. Some previous efforts, based on trials bikes carrying nothing on the bikes, were accompanied the whole way by 4WDs and a crew. We don't have that luxury so needed to plan for luggage. Giant Loop are the pioneers in dirt bike luggage. They invented it. They worked out how to wrap a bag around a bike, so that you dont need racks. So for weight, simplicity, reliability, toughness, Giant Loop had to be the gear for us. We are each taking a Giant Loop Coyote rear bag and a Fandango tank bag.
Shorai Power batteries:Why? Stock lead acid batteries are heavy and dont work well in extreme conditions. There is an alternative out there that has been used by racing and rally teams for several years ... Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)batteries. We have used Shorai batteries in the past and have been impressed with the miniscule weight and size of the units, and importantly, the reliability. Using LiFePO4 batteries in the extremes of cold is a simple matter of cycling power through the batteries before starting (running a headlight for a few seconds) wheras preparing a lead acid battery for bike starting in those conditions would mean removing and physically warming up the entire battery. With their good reputation for reliability, Shorai was the battery for us.
Golden Tyre:Why: Anyone who has followed Hard / Extreme Enduro in recent years will have noticed the increasing use of Golden Tyre products. Graham Jarvis, who utterly dominated the Extreme Enduro world last year was on Golden Tyre tyres and mousses. We spoke to the Husaberg factory to ask about tyres and they too were enthused about Golden Tyre. Jarvis's guys let us in on a little trick. In order to simulate an even lower pressure, the rear mousse Jarvis had been running his Husaberg, which was shod in a 140mm width tyre, they ran a 120mm width mousse. The smaller mousse effective gave him a lower pressure, and increased traction. We were sold. Jarvis's results speak for themselves. It was Golden Tyre GT216 tyres and mousses for us.
Rekluse Auto-Clutch:Why: The reality is, if we could ride like Graham Jarvis, with his amazing clutch control, we probably wouldnt need an auto-clutch. But we are actually human, and therefore technical riding in tough terrain is enough of a challenge without having to throw in the ultra thin air, low oxygen levels, freezing temperatures etc etc. As far as dirt bike auto clutches go there is only one name to look at ... Rekluse. Factory teams use Rekluse clutches. We need to spend as much of our energy, concentration and effort overcoming the obstacles in our path. The Rekluse gives us one less thing to worry about.
Blue Ridge Racing Stage III Tool kit:
Why? Blue Ridge Racing make the
finest tool kits ever to be marketed to adventure bikers. Not only does the kit
contain all the tools we could possibly need to look after and service our bikes
on the slopes of a volcano in the middle of the Atacama desert, but the tools
are all top of the range, ultra lightweight gear, packaged in the best tool kit
bag we have ever seen. Comprehensive, lightweight, top quality and beautifully
packaged; It’s a perfect match for our needs.
Rayz and Renazco Seats:
Why? The Husaberg Adventure team is more than a one shot ride up the highest volcano in the world. We are turning these bikes into what we reckon are the finest lightweight Adventure Motorcycles to see the light of day. Any rally or adventure bike needs a very different seat than the one made for enduro riding. For a start you have to be able to sit on it. For long stretches. Rally riders often have liaison sections of 600 km (400 miles) or more to position the bikes for the next competitive stage, every day for two weeks. Adventure riders rack up thousands of asphalt kilometres on off road capable bikes as part of their rides. Factory seats come in either two varieties ... suitable for sitting on but too broad for good standing response (road bikes and big adventure bikes) and not suitable for sitting on but good for standing over and keeping maximum bike control(enduro and MX bikes). There is a small handful of specialist seatmakers in the world that know how to build a seat that can do both: Be comfortable for all day sitting and yet narrow enough when in a standing position to deliver optimum bike control standing up. The two finest dual purpose seatmakers in the world are James Renazco of Renazco Racing in the US and Ray de Vries of Rayz Saddles in Holland. Between those two guys are TONS of adventure riding and rallying experience. These are guys who know what Adventure and Rally seats require, from first hand experience. We are extremely lucky to be able to tap into these two master craftsmen for the seats on the Andes Moto Extreme Project and beyond.
Scheffelmeier Metall Bash Plate:
Why? Our Husaberg's are going to be pounded over huge volcanic rocks. The damage potential to the engine on the bike is extremely significant. To protect the bikes we wanted a bashplate that would be not only was supremely tough, but would take advantage of the vast amount of empty space available under the cylinder head on the 4 stroke Husabergs to offer us some extra storage space, low down. On top of that we wanted it wide enough to protect the brake and gear levers. Over the last few years, Stephan Scheffelmeier of Scheffelmeier Metall has built a reputation for building the finest bashplates in the world, from the finest materials. Nowadays, every single bashplate that leaves the Scheffelmeier workshop is made exclusively from 7000 series alloy. Machined parts are 7075-T6, and welded parts are 7020-T6: the finest, strongest possible grades that exist for machining and welding respectively. No other bash plate maker on the planet can boast anything like that. Bashplates from most firms are made cheaply, using cheaper softer alloys that make it easy for the manufacturer to stamp the bashplates into shape but of limited durability when it comes to protection. 7000 series alloy can not be stamped. Scheffelmeier cuts every piece of 4mm alloy and double welds them together to make the strongest engine protection there is. One other well known maker of Husaberg rally bash plates uses "marine grade" alloy, which basically means 5083. 5083 is cheaper to buy, and great for marine and ultra low temp useage - like cryogenic applications - but its just a big compromise in quality when it comes to motorcycle bashplates. Not only is 5083 about 25% weaker than 7020, but that weakness increases dramatically above 65C. Considering the bashplate is next to a 600C exhaust pipe, we reckon that's not an ideal material to use. 5083 is expressly not supposed to be used in environments that can get above 65C. That's why when we wanted the best; a no compromise bashplate made using the finest materials (7000 series alloys), we had to turn to Scheffelmeier. For our adventure / rally prototype Scheffelmeier has built a neat but very well thought out bashplate that offers supreme protection, a large storage cavity low down, and is wide enough to protect the pedals ... exactly what we needed.
Section still under construction
Walter...Steve K. here...a friend of Sherri Jo's...
ReplyDeleteCheck out 1offMotorsports.com in San Diego for the very best in HID lighting options. A small specialty moto lighting specialist company, they are incredible. Good guys, GREAT product and a dedication to produce only the BEST! Their lights would be worthy of a spot on the Best-of-the-Best bikes you are building. I'll send them a note.
Check em out. Just FYI,
S.