Matts Charity Rally to Mongolia (via China) Thread

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  • #55117
    imperialdata
    Keymaster

    Excellent post and a great update to what will surely be an epic journey Matt. It’s really coming together now it seems. Excited?

    #55118
    matt splat
    Participant

    TBH, I have been too busy to get excited.

    I have just hit my 3 month mark and I have started with my visa’s.

    I am waiting for authorisation from Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. As soon as my authorisations are here I can start to apply for visa’s.

    I am very dissapointed at my efforts so far to raise money for the charities. I am an imigrant here in Belgium, the closest equivalent I can give is if a Polish guy in your village started asking in broken english if you would sponsor him! My corporate product sponsorship has been going great, just the charity sponsorship is going crap :(

    #55119
    Radar
    Moderator

    Interesting updates and sorry to hear about the lack of individual sponsorship.

    Come on folks, this is a cracking cause.

    #55120
    matt splat
    Participant

    Thanks for the bump Radar, this is basically the rally blurb, needless to say Im taking the difficult route.

    And with adding China as well I am having to cross the Gobi…..Twice!

    The Mongolia Charity Rally is a pan-continental drive across five mountain ranges, two deserts and more barren and inhospitable lands than you care to shake a gear-stick at. Starting in London, the final destination is the capital of Mongolia, beyond the Gobi desert, Ulaanbaatar.

    On 5 July 2008 teams will set forth to the sounds of a traditional Mongolian Naadam festival in the heart of London, complete with fermented mare’s milk, some fine music and a crash course in traditional Mongolian wrestling and archery. Once off the island the road is your shepherd – you could choose to take in the delights of Poland, Ukraine and Russia, or boldly point your vehicle in a southerly direction towards Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

    Whichever road you take, you’ll be faced with a wealth of makeshift mechanics, border bribery, mutton kebabs and pure unadulterated adventure, before passing into the realms of immortal glory at the finish line in central Mongolia.

    And once there I give EVERYTHING, including the motorcycle away to the rally charity. I am alone and unsupported across half of the globe on a 20 year old 200,000km Jellymould CBR1000.

    And I cant wait.

    #55121
    matt splat
    Participant

    It was another fun weekend playing in the garage.

    Its starting to look mad in a cool dakar kind of way.

    Photos to follow tomorrow.

    #55122
    Radar
    Moderator

    Looking forward to the piccies MS!

    #55123
    matt splat
    Participant

    Here she is, she just needs the engine crashbars making and the topbox fitting and she’s ready to go………..

    5fn9jp.jpg

    #55124
    matt splat
    Participant

    30245k5.jpg

    #55125
    matt splat
    Participant

    24qkfbp.jpg

    #55126
    Radar
    Moderator

    Blimey. How will handle with the fuel/water cans full?

    #55127
    matt splat
    Participant

    Badly!

    But there is a 500km section without fuel, so I need the capacity!

    #55128
    matt splat
    Participant

    I loaded the bike up last weekend, fuel water, tent and spares etc.

    OMFG!!!!

    Time for a rethink!!

    Anyway, its been 30 degree’s here all week, so it was time to drag the fridge into the back garden and do some work it her.

    Time for a crash cage.

    Side crash bars.
    11tbiw2.jpg

    Front view.
    2ptovub.jpg

    Another view from the side.
    2mwi3c9.jpg

    middle brace
    2lad3pc.jpg

    One side spotted in place
    2iuu7lu.jpg

    The other side in place
    23uug0k.jpg

    And I lowered the footpegs.
    14xndd0.jpg

    Todat I am finishing off my subframe and pannier carrier mods, then she is almost ready to rally!!!

    #55129
    imperialdata
    Keymaster

    Some excellent work on the bike Matt, it really looks great with the sponsorship stuff on now. Just wondering if you have beefed up the Honda’s original rear frame to cope with the extra weight. A frame crack would be devastating wouldn’t it?

    #55130
    matt splat
    Participant

    Yes mate, the subframe is beefed up with 4mm angle iron.

    I will get some pictures of it taken later today.

    BTW. Thanks for the support Imperial, its much appreciated :)

    #55131
    Radar
    Moderator

    4mm angle iron! Look forward to seeing the pics

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