MOTOBRICK.COM
MOTOBRICK.COM => The MBdotCOM Community Center => Topic started by: Motorhobo on June 14, 2014, 06:48:08 AM
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The series documenting Evan MacGregor and Charley Boorman's MC 'day ride' from Scotland to Capetown is now streaming on Netflix. If you can get by these dudes having three support vehicles, a huge garage for staging and prep, and unlimited funding for their little adventure, and just fast forward past the uninspired banter and other filler, some of the riding footage is pretty cool.
Of course they have the brand newest R1200GS...not even I with all my Kbike loyalty with venture something like that on a 20 yr old k75...although I do know a guy in Philly who rode his k75 Round the world back in the early 2000s...
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I also enjoyed reading/watching the guys doing their rides....but you do have to forget about the massive support crew that helped them! Like when they dropped a bike, about 5 people appeared, to pick up the monster bikes....which is just how many people are needed! WAY too big and heavy for 'real' adventure riding :2thumbup:
I had a Triumph Tiger 900 'steamer' adventure bike, and that was the same, just too bloody heavy to pick up on your own....
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Long Way Down, destination Capetown, was their second movie trip. That trip seemed to have a more predefined schedule, more sponsor requirements and a greater rider support presence than the first film, Long Way 'Round.
I remember reading a recent quote from the main cameraman, Claudio von Planta. When asked what could have made the trip and film better, he suggested that if he, Charley and Ewan had been left alone more, the documented experiences would likely have been more natural.
"... I would lobby to keep Ewan and Charley as much on their own as possible. Touching base with the production team can be fun and reassuring but it takes the edge of the adventure. Seeing Ewan and Charley solving problems on their own would always be more interesting than relying on the production backup team.
Both films were produced before GoPro cameras were available too, so custom device rigs with recording and powering methods had to be devised. That complicated the video side of things and necessitated the regular visits from the production team in their 4WD's.
Long Way 'Round is the better of the two films.
I wouldn't trust my K75 for off-road riding, but I would not hesitate to spend a few months travelling paved roads anywhere. It's not like K75 replacement parts are hard to find.
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Hardest thing for me to get around in Long Way Round was Ewan whining incessantly about being away form his family .. um, dude ... you KNEW this was a 4 month ride, get over it.
Long Way down was better, but as others have said, the over whelming about of support sort of takes the adventure out of it.
If you get a chance, get a hold of One Crazy Ride - trailer - One Crazy Ride Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkb4558ym5w#)
http://dirttrackproductions.com/ocr.html (http://dirttrackproductions.com/ocr.html)
and Riding Solo to the Top of the World - trailer - Riding Solo To The Top Of The World -Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SldSSPxWMfk#)
http://dirttrackproductions.com/ridingsolo.html (http://dirttrackproductions.com/ridingsolo.html)
WELL worth the $20 each. I am waiting impatiently for the Chang Pa video - http://dirttrackproductions.com/motorcycle-chang-pa.html (http://dirttrackproductions.com/motorcycle-chang-pa.html)
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... Ewan whining incessantly about being away from his family ...
They probably recorded a thousand-plus hours of video over the course of that trip. Any scenes of Ewan whining were intentionally left in the final cut. Ewan was also one of the Executive Producers so he could have made the call to remove any shots he didn't approve of. He's a very public figure with an image to project and a family life to maintain. The whining was included purposefully.
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... If you get a chance, get a hold of One Crazy Ride ...
Only $2.99 on Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/One-Crazy-Ride-Romance-Mustangs-ebook/dp/B00HZVPPES/)
Oh... wait... :mbird
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... Ewan whining incessantly about being away from his family ...
They probably recorded a thousand-plus hours of video over the course of that trip. Any scenes of Ewan whining were intentionally left in the final cut. Ewan was also one of the Executive Producers so he could have made the call to remove any shots he didn't approve of. He's a very public figure with an image to project and a family life to maintain. The whining was included purposefully.
Well all of that is fine and good, and obviously leaving them in was intentional, but I am not the only one that felt he was whinie and that it was a distraction to the rest of the show. Long Way Down is proof that he is trainable and either edited out or whined far less. I enjoyed Long Way Down much more even tho Long Way Round was more interesting in my opinion. Of course, he does make the mistake of having his wife join them for part of the ride ... watch Charlie Boorman during those sections .. he is clearly not happy the Bro ride has been infiltrated.
I have heard rumblings for a while about a Long Way Up .. tip of South America to Prudhoe Bay. Wonder what shenanigans he will include in that.
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... If you get a chance, get a hold of One Crazy Ride ...
Only $2.99 on Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/One-Crazy-Ride-Romance-Mustangs-ebook/dp/B00HZVPPES/)
Oh... wait... :mbird
No words. :hehehe
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If you get a chance, get a hold of One Crazy Ride - trailer
No f***ing way...seriously? That bridge at the end...no sane or non-suicidal human would do that.
Just tell me he did not ride his overpacked machine over that.
I just googled it. He did. Seriously, that's f**cked up. He obviously has a deathwish -- but it kinda makes Ewan and Charley look like pansies.
Btw my googling on this led me to this -- if any of you who wish like me for a world full of interesting women who ride their own, this is a good read.
http://www.globalwomenwhoride.com/2014/04/rashmi-tambe/ (http://www.globalwomenwhoride.com/2014/04/rashmi-tambe/)
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"Mondo Enduro" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondo_Enduro) is usually quoted as the original of the genre I think, and a likely inspiration for "Long way around". Certainly more raw adventure there.
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Don't forget we are watching Charlie and Ewan as "bikers", the programmes are meant to be general family/everyman entertainment, and not motorcycling journals :2thumbup:
Mrs Average etc. will love the personal touches, and this makes the films interesting to a much larger market than just us lot!
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Don't forget we are watching Charlie and Ewan as "bikers", the programmes are meant to be general family/everyman entertainment, and not motorcycling journals :2thumbup:
Mrs Average etc. will love the personal touches, and this makes the films interesting to a much larger market than just us lot!
My wife told me if I was that big of a pussy, she would never have married me. On the adventure of a lifetime that the "everyman" will rarely get a chance to do and all he does is whine. Can justify anyway you want, bottom line is he was whinie and annoying - even to a non-riding wife of a motorcycle enthusiast - my wife is far from Mrs Average.
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He's also a rich famous movie star. People put with a lot of whining to be in the company of that.
You kind of get the feeling he hated every off-road second of it but had put himself in a position where backing out would cost too many people too much money and make him a laughingstock. So he soldiered on -- I'll bet he got raked over the coals for all his whining -- his whining became a defining element in the project -- which is why it also became a defining element in the finished project.
Still -- he stuck it out -- no way I would do that kind of ch1t -- so I gotta hand it to them.
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TBH, its never bothered, me: sure, he went on a bit, but not so much to really get to me....maybe us Brits really do just like complaining all the time :hehehe
Anyhow, the vids and books have made great viewing for me, I enjoyed everything they did: support vehicles and crew or not :2thumbup:
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My wife and I really enjoy these and have watched them more than once.
If you like Charley (we do), check out Ireland to Sydney by Any Means.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1291484/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1291484/)
Charley and Russ travel from Ireland to Sydney in a round about path trying as many different means of transportation possible.
If you like the style of these "travel" shows then check out Michael Palin's travel shows. Sahara is best. Books are very good as well.