Servo's on GCR

Thanks Michelle, it is within the range of my motorbike, an Royal Enfield Himilayan ( an ADV). I have been invited to do the trip, besides some other roads, not as remote. I will either have an 7 lt bladder, or 2 X 6lt tanks up front.

Great! We have lots of ADV bike users in the ExplorOz community - it seems to be a thriving growth area for travellers. We saw a couple on our trip last year - two on the GCR and a whole group in the West McDonnell Ranges National Park.

A tip - the guys we saw riding the GCR said it was pretty hard going dodging the rocky spots of the road - they mentioned they stood up on the pedals all day when riding the track!

Hope you enjoy it. MM

Well just speaking to the blokes tonight on a group convo, they would like to use it as a trial run for the Canning, but I am old, and don't think I have it in me for 1600km of stand up hell, not too mention the fuel issue. The Canning has been done by DRZ400's, DR650's, Various GS's, actually a lot of different bikes both as a couple of blokes and in numbers up to a dozen. I think it would be too much for me, but I have done the Tanami on my pushbike in 09 on my own, so I suppose I should say never say never.

The GCR as a trial run for the Canning? I'd do the GCR in my Mum's Mazda 121... what are you hoping to learn from the GCR as a prep for the Canning??

Sounds like you already have advice from your group, but try the Adventure Rider (Australia) Forum. They'll give you answers from experience.

The Himalayan is (sort of) and adventure bike (more like a cross-over), but I think it would give you a hard time on that road. If you weren't standing all day you'd be resting your butt cheeks all night!??

Best of luck (genuinely) if you go ahead and do it.

Cheers,

Mark

Richard M29
The stops are hardly servo's but have fuel.
My choice of bike would be the DR650. I had one and it's suspension outshone, by far, most others for corrugated road use other than a motorcrosser and was far better than a Tenere which I also owned for a few years. The DR650 suspension saved stupid from disater while travelling fast through a big dips, it just soaked up the terrain without bottoming. Also had BMW GS boxer, not the Dakkar but model down. Worst bike EVER I have owned. It had hopeless supension and drank fuel, about 1/3 more than the DR650. I admire anyone who can ride a BMW GS in rough terrain for a distance. Mine was the most unreliable bike of the 12 on/off trail and road bikes I have owned. Electrics a sham. The things that failed was immense, even had oil seal in Gbox fitted to pump oil out instead of keeping it in. Factory fitted of course!
Seen new ones at Pink Roadhouse Oodna, which had a Hyundai battery on the rack because in less than 2000km from NEW the battery failed, BMW800twin. The Royal E is reliable though.

I have just spent the last 2 days reading up on 2 wheel travel on the Canning, and it's not for me- too old, even though I hit the gym for 2 hours 4 times a week, their is no way I would do that trip, but I think I could do the GCR. Their is a DR650 spare amongst the guys, not sure if I really what to put my new Himi on that road so soon, so the DR is an option.