Another would be Atom competitor?

[Atom120]

[quote="Ross McWilliam"]
Kim - yep, I'm reasonably serious
[/quote]

Why? Will it replace the Atom, or sit between the Atom and 911 in the garage?

[benyeats]

[quote="Ross McWilliam"]
I thought KTM did offer up bikes but BMW offered up a much better package.  The Long Way Round was a great series though - the book wasn't so great, I got the feeling that they had to write it to complete their obligations (and make some more money).
[/quote]

Nope the expert from KTM said they would never do it.

Funny my view is pretty much the reverse between the book and the TV series.  The TV show looked very low budget and always started with a 15 min re-cap of the previous weeks show which was plain annoying.  Also those actor types talk about feelings a bit much for a new man like me.

Did you see the 'race to Dakar' series recently with Charlie Bloorman doing the paris - dakar race on a bike, also worth watching

Ben

[Bruce Fielding]

There's a book of that out, too...

I suspect that KTM were more concerned about the issues raised if the bikes didn't cope with the travails of the travels rather than any financial constraints. Also, getting bits for a KTM would have been a lot more troublesome that a bit of Khasak welding!

[ross]

[quote="Atom120"]
Why? Will it replace the Atom, or sit between the Atom and 911 in the garage?
[/quote]

Well, I'll worry about that when I actually have a 911 and an X-BOW.  Likelihood is that I'll end up just having my Atom and the Passat.

[ross]

[quote="benyeats"]
Did you see the 'race to Dakar' series recently with Charlie Bloorman doing the paris - dakar race on a bike, also worth watching
[/quote]

No, I didn't unfortunately - I'll keep an eye out for it being repeated though.

[ross]

[quote="Bruce Fielding"]
I suspect that KTM were more concerned about the issues raised if the bikes didn't cope with the travails of the travels rather than any financial constraints. Also, getting bits for a KTM would have been a lot more troublesome that a bit of Khasak welding!
[/quote]

Yep, I think they definitely made the right choice using the BMW's anyhow - although they did look a bit heavy for some of the off-roading they did.  I guess though that reliability/durability were the main concerns by far.

[Bruce Fielding]

[quote="Ross McWilliam"]
[quote="Bruce Fielding"]
I suspect that KTM were more concerned about the issues raised if the bikes didn't cope with the travails of the travels rather than any financial constraints. Also, getting bits for a KTM would have been a lot more troublesome that a bit of Khasak welding!
[/quote]

Yep, I think they definitely made the right choice using the BMW's anyhow - although they did look a bit heavy for some of the off-roading they did.  I guess though that reliability/durability were the main concerns by far.
[/quote]

I thought they were heavy, too. The guys that did the 'proper' long way round Mondo Enduro (including two guys from my old school) which insipers Euan and Charlie took Suzi 350s IIRC

[dingo]

Slap a BMW inline 1200 in this baby and???

[dogs_bolox]

Does that have an engine. I think a 125cc or 250cc two-stroke motorcross engine would do nicely

[dingo]

No engine. 
It's a so called "gravity racer"  It's a high tech soap box derby vehicle.

[dogs_bolox]

Oh, how much does it weigh. I think an engine is that would be very good. A kx125 engine produces about 38bhp and judging by how heavy it looks that would make it very fast. Even faster with a 250 in it.

[dingo]

For a straight line, yes, (maybe) But cornering on bicycle wheels?  High c of g?

[dogs_bolox]

Ye the speed would be good but traction in corners and acceleration wouldn't be good. Accelerating on those wheels would be hard as soon as the powerband kicked in

[Alec]

The easiest way to power it is to install these Wheels.

[Bruce Fielding]

From Tom Walkinshaw (only available down under):