Sideburn in the Sahara

Last month, Sideburn undertook its second sold out Desert and Mountain Tour of Morocco with 12 adventurous readers in partnership with MotoAventures.

We are planning to run the tour again from 13-19 March 2017 (to try avoid the biblical rain storms). We have 10 now just 7 places.

It was a tough tour. Some riders got broken, others exhausted, while many just smiled the whole way through. One day it was boiling, the next we were riding through a blinding sandstorm for 30 minutes, then the final day served up flashfloods.

We had riders from the UK, Kuwait, Australia and the USA and it was an unforgettable experience for all.

Read Andy Baker's no-punches-pulled report from the 2016 tour on the new Sideburn website's STORIES page.

The price for 2017 is €1950. For this you get...

• Seven night's accommodation, six in hotels, kasbahs and riads that range from good to exceptional plus one night in a desert bivouac
• Five full days riding, 95% off-road
• Rental of a late model, very well maintained KTM 450 EXC
• Breakfast and evening meals and most lunch meals, plus drinks and snacks
• Full technical support from MotoAventures, a company that's been running off-road tours for 20 years
• Transfers from Marrakech to Ourzazate, the start and end point of the riding
• Use of a personal Garmin with an (almost) foolproof route so you don't have to follow a leader, you can ride at your own pace
• A whole week of riding and hanging out with Sideburn readers on the same wavelength as you

What isn't included: Flights to and from Marrakech; drinks with evening meals and any alcohol; Damage to bikes (limited to a maximum of €750 - 2016 figure, 2017 figure not confirmed); meal on last night in Marrakech; food on transfers to and from Marrakech; personal accident insurance with repatriation cover - this is essential.

For more info or for details on how to pay a deposit, email us at sideburnmag @ gmail.com

NOTE: This is a hardcore off-road trip not to be taken lightly. We had two riders with limited experienced of off-road riding, but who'd both done the Sideburn Himalayan tour with no problem. One of the riders survived, the other broke his wrist on day two. Although I'm a dirt tracker, I don't have a lot of trail riding experience (or skill). I find this tour tough, but rewarding.  G

See See Motorcycles: Empire Building

The See See Motorcycles family has been busy over the last few months. The hard riding makers of the wonderfully inclusive, beautifully decorated moto-coffee shop in Portland, Oregon not only organise the annual One Motorcycle Show, the annual (and oft-copied) 21 Helmets show, they are a huge help in organising Dirt Quake USA and also promote a winter series of indoor flat track at Salem plus they sponsor a variety of racers and riders. So how the hell they have found time to open See See KTM, a dealer in all things orange, just 100 yards from their coffee and clothing/moto parts store is beyond me.

If that wasn't enough, they're about to open their second See See coffee shop, this one in Reno, Nevada. They're launching the Nevada branch with a 21 Helmets show. See the details above.

Good luck See See! GI

SEE SEE NINJAS - QUEST FOR THE GOLDEN SPROCKET from Neil DaCosta on Vimeo.

Helmet Evolution featuring Nuke-Leah

This short video was made for Dirt Quake headline sponsor, the specialist motorcycle insurer Bikesure. It features the one and only Nuke-Leah Tokelove on her Death Spray Custom KTM 350. Nuke-Leah is the UK's top female racer, an inspiration to all and a lovely lass.

She is also featured in Sideburn 25, barn-burning in a lycra catsuit (see outtake photo below by Sam Christmas).

The video was shot at the Adrian Flux Arena, King's Lynn, the world class speedway venue that will host Dirt Quake V this weekend.

Read all about Nuke-Leah in Sideburn 25 and see her kick ass on Friday night in the Dirt Quake DTRA races. G

Sideburn Sunburn 2016

We're going back to Morocco, 12 months from now. We endorse this trip and one of the Sideburn crew will ride with you.

20-27 October, 2016.
€1850
Includes transfers to and from Marrakech plus B and B in Marrakech at the end (the 27th)
Not included - flights to Morocco. Personal insurance with repatriation cover (essential). €700 deposit for motorcycle damage (No one paid a cent on the trip I went on in 2013).

Aimed at off-road bikers with some experience, this tour is a total of 7 days; your arrival and departure days, plus 5 days biking.
Level 6-7. (1-10) You will experience:
Fast tracks across vast dried lake beds
Sandy river beds and trails
Rocky tracks up through the southern foothills of the High Atlas Mountains
Virgin desert sand to the famous Cathedral Dunes at Erg Chebbi (the highest in Morocco!)
Twisting trails through the palmeries of the Draa Valley
Jebel Sahro - considered some of the most beautiful mountains in Morocco
A night in our desert bivouac with musicians and campfire – 50kms from the nearest road
Excellent accommodation
Great Food
Alcohol available every night – we bring the beers and wine to our bivouac

There are only 11 places. 

Here are some previous blogs to whet your appetite. http://sideburnmag.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/SUNBURN

Ben did the trip earlier this year. Read all about it in Sideburn 21.

Email us at dirt @ sideburnmagazine.com if you're interested. G

BOOKING AND PAYMENTS - The 30% deposit paid at the time of booking is accepted as part of the total cost of the tour and will not be refunded unless the applicant cannot be offered a place. The balance of the total cost for the tour must reach us no later than EIGHT weeks before the tour date.

Erg Chebbi

"An inverted tear-drop shape, spanning an area of 125 square kilometres, 20km west of the Algerian border (closed since 1994). ‘Don’t stray too far, they’ll chuck you in the slammer,’ says John. The giant golden sand pit of Erg Chebbi, with the 150-metre-high Cathedral Dunes in its centre, pushes up the skyline. We detach our satnavs. Our bearings removed. This is the only section of the tour where John rides with us and gives us specific technical instruction as to how to proceed in this alien environment. If an episode of The Mighty Boosh were to be written about motocross, they would surely be riding over mountains of caramel blancmange...." BP

Read the full story of my five days riding with 13 others, in the Sahara, for our first Sideburn Sunburn tour, in Sideburn #21.
It wasn't all sand, sand, sand, sweaty scruttocks. Plenty of rocks and cooling rivers too. BP

Sideburn Sunburn Good Times

Our first Sideburn endorsed moto trip was awesome. A game-changer. We couldn't have amassed a more fun group of 14 guys from 3 different countries. Thanks to John of Moto Aventures for shepherding us so professionally. From ponderous river crossings in the High Atlas, perilous rocky cliff faces, a flat out dash across a firing range and conquering the mighty 150 meter high Sahara dunes of Erg Chebbi, we did it all - often with comedy aplomb. A happily relentless challenge to man and machine - but mostly man, as the 450 KTM EXC excellently prepared/repaired by Hussein every evening, were so forgiving.

Spectacular scenery every which where. Everyone said they would absolutely do it all again - once their bruises and blisters have healed.
Thanks too to Su and Maryam, for pre-production and real-time lubrication, ensuring everything ran smoothly. BP

GI posted a few highlights shot by various riders, whilst I was away, on the Sideburn Instagram

DTRA 2015 - First practice

Although some riders have been practising on waterlogged tracks and driving to Spain for testing, last weekend the UK dirt track scene made its first proper pre-season DTRA test day at Eastbourne. Here's what series supremo, Anthony Brown (of Co-Built) says:

We had a massive attendance on what should have been a shitty raining Saturday, but wasn't. Loads of new riders and bikes and some of the regulars were really flying. 

Our next practice will be at Scunthope on Sunday 12th April. 10am till 3pm Anthony 

Photos: Lidia Lewska. http://lidialewska.photoshelter.com/index#!/index

George Greenfield. Won his class at Mablethorpe; has built his own flat track on a farm; should be very fast this year.

Novice James from Kingdom of Kicks on Sam Christmas's bike after his own Triumph was playing up.

BSB racer, Matt Layt (100) and Ollie Brindley (24)

The UK's quickest female racer, Leah Tokelove on her new KTM 350 (she raced a 250 against the 450s last year)

Milo on his Harley flathead. A new entry into the burgeoning vintage class, up from six entries to a threatened 20. The DTRA must have turned a blind eye to Milo's front brake, but they're banned from races. Just removing the lever will solve it, the hub can remain.

Nick Ashley has retired his Cheney Triumph for a Handshift Harley flathead, modified for the series.

Ollie Brindley scrubbing the front.

NOTE: The DTRA is still looking for helpers, either in key roles for the season or for individual rounds as marshals. Get in touch is you want to help: dirt @ sideburnmagazine.com

Humbling

There you are, riding around the Moroccan desert, feeling elated by how well you're coping with your first time in the dunes. You have all the gear, and a soupçon of idea and a KTM 450 on the right tyres. You're feeling quite the Peterhansel.
Then you hear a distant noise. Like a house fly stuck in a Coke bottle. You look around and see a teenage fossil seller, carving the dunes on a Motobecane, with a great sack of polished rocks balanced on the frame, kept in place with his sandal-shod feet. And he's wearing a sun hat.
Oh yes, you're quite the Dakar hero. G
Photo: MotoAventures

Dutch Brothers KTM

More of the Dutch Brothers KTM with 19in Superwheels and Goldentyre road legal DT rubber.
And below, the drawing Jan-Willem of the Dutch Brothers drew as a young boy.
Check out the similarity of the wheels the young Jan-Willem drew and the ones the older Jan-Willem (who works in the Formula 1 engineering industry) made as prototypes. A clear vision. G

Goldentyre - UPDATED

Our friend Jan-Willem of the Dutch Brothers is selling Goldentyre road legal dirt track race tyres (that he also races on) and shipping them around Europe.
See the details on the ad above.

Jan-Willem (who, admittedly, is trying to sell them) says:
The Goldentyre went through several development stages, including expensive mould modifications. This under pressure from Chris Carr [7-time AMA champ, who worked on the development]. They came out really good and are certainly on a par with the Maxxis.

UPDATE: From Jan-Willem

These tyres are homologated in Europe and "E" marked.
Load and speed rating 
for the front 130/80-19 (27.0-7.0-19) TT 67H 
for the rear 140/80-19(27.5-7.5-19) TT 71H

Below is a KTM Jan-Willem converted to street/DTX trim with his own design of Superwheels, Dutch Brothers triple clamps, lowered rear suspension (altered linkages) and Golden Tyres.
The conversion was easy to return to standard.

[Note: Advert art by Ryan Quickfall]

Drop-In

In case you haven't already seen it. This is from On Any Sunday: The Next Chapter, but Skullcandy's edit (they're one of Robbie Maddison's sponsors).
Awesome.
He's dropping the equivalent of a 20-storey building.
Keep an eye out of the seamless tyre change.

Thanks to Dael for the tip-off. G

Sunburn Desert Kit

The reason we're running our now sold out Sunburn trip to Morocco is because I went on the same trip with the same tour operator, MotoAventures, earlier this year.

On the last day I asked Sam Christmas to take a shot of some of the kit I used. This is a bit of a guide for anyone going on our trip or a similar one. All this stuff is recommended by me. Some of it's new (helmet and gloves). Other items I've used for years. G

1. Hydration system.
Not essential, because you can simply carry a bottle of water in a bag and take a glug when you stop for a breather or to take a photo, but a straw you can suck on makes things easier. I bought this when I was training to run a marathon and dug it out for this trip. I stored it inside my trusty Kriega rucksack, because I like to carry my notepad and other nick-nacks. Kriega do hydration packs and also retro fit bladders to fit into most of their existing rucksacks if you already have one.

2. Knox Cross Shirt body armour.
I can't remember how long I've had this, but it's years. I wear it when riding BMX and off-road motorcycles. This armoured shirt is one of a few British company Knox offer. Thumb loops are essential to keep the arm protection from moving as soon as you hit the deck, uncovering your unprotected corners. Not cheap at £199, but very good quality and shows no signs of wearing out despite a lot of abuse.
Also look at the Icon Stryker Rig.

3. Fox Knee Armour
Rather bulky, but cheap (at £22) and stayed in place. I wore a part of old Nick Ashley cotton trousers and a Fuel Motorcycles long-sleeve shirt over the top of my armour, because I'm not keen on the MX look and didn't have it anyway. MotoAventures have some clothing for rent if you need it.

4. Oakley goggles
£30. Had them about eight years. Nothing fancy. Were already a bit scuffed.

5. Dainese Huge Air gloves
These £52 gloves, aimed at the off-road market, didn’t bunch up, didn’t stick to sweaty hands, always easy to pull on and off. My hands blistered, but I’ve never used a glove that would’ve helped considering my death grip in the desert. There are cheaper options. MX shops have sales on at this time of year.

6. Long MX socks
I bought these Fly socks in Utah on a 8000-mile cross-country trip when my boots wear chafing. Since then I've used them every time I've raced. You can pick up socks like these at any MX shop for £10-15.

7. Palmsavers
Bought a day into my Morocco trip and, perhaps, a day too late. MotoAventures sell these for €10. Get yours as soon as you arrive. They act as an extra layer of protection to stop calluses across the top of your palms.

8. Knox Cross Shorts
Literally saved my ass when I crashed a BMW into a South African garden. All-day comfortable. I use these for BMX too. The armour is slotted into pockets and comes out so you can wash them. Now superseded by Guerilla shorts.

9. TCX 2.1 Boots
I asked a friend, who'd been on a MotoAventures desert trip before, if I could get away with Blundstones (that I'd worn on my Benelli trip through Africa) or brogue boots (that I'd worn for a 16-day off-road trip with MotoAventures in South Africa). I was told, definitely not. So I dug out these TCX 2.1 boots that I'd ended up with, but rarely worn.
On the first day I couldn't buckle them up or barely even walk in them. By the end of the trip I loved them. I haven't worn them since though.
A better compromise for road riders who don't ride off-road regularly, could be the Icon 1000 Elsinore or Prep boots.

10. AGV AX-8 EVO
£240 Brand new before the trip, the lightest helmet I’ve ever worn, at just 1150g. It is comfortable for eight-hour hard days, from day one. I love it.

Also take lip balm; glucose sweets or jelly babies or similar; camera or camera phone.
Wicking long underwear is recommended, to wear under armour, but I did without it.
Swimwear and light, casual shoes.
Travel light. The hotels are smart, but no one is judging you for wearing the same shirt for three nights.
Even though you camp out for one night you don't sleeping bags or anything.

If you missed out on Sideburn's Sunburn trip but still fancy going to Morocco for some desert kicks, the tour company we are working with are offering other tours in early 2015. Go to MotoAventures.com for more info. They're also exhibiting at the forthcoming NEC bike show in the UK. G

Photos: Sam Christmas

Circle Rut

Best moto GIF ever? From Death Spray Custom. And just in case you thought it was just natty Photoshop, check Shane Watts showing you how to DIY on his KTM. BP

Glemseck snaps

What with the chunnel and roadworks it was a 14 hour schlep from home to the Glemseck cafe racer sprint - but worth it. Trying to digest a very phallic Brätwurst washed down with a 1litre tankard of beer at 10am is quite daunting but we had fun.

Gary's Black Arrow was hot to trot.

- or if post-industrial GSX-R is not to your taste how about rear-as-front 16" white-wall tyres and drum brakes?

Seb's BM was sporting some new bling - including nitrous, and a new paint job.

Guy Martin: "SIDEBURN, the bloody best motorbike magazine on the planet....And not just because I'm on the cover"

Nutty Target 320, based on a KTM 690.

Nick's fugly but purposeful Honda Magna mongrel.

Frank Chatokhine's Triumph with lovely mesh fly-screen.

Kraftstoffschmiede R90S

BMW Roadster concept with impressive machined aluminium tail piece

Germans do like Trannies, this Feuerwehr was a minter. BP

RSD KTM Tracker

This bike is featured in glorious 2D, printed by Welsh craftsman, in the latest Sideburn.
Now, we know you can see it here for free, but you can't get the insight, from KTM designer and the über-blogger, Piers S-P of derestricted.com, that accompanies the visuals.

If you've never bought a copy Sideburn - happy instead to browse the blog, you don't know how much effort goes into the angles and executions of the stories. Some are written by the owners. Some are written by designers. Others by top journalists, leading racers, engineers, experts, team magaers or even cult film directors.

I feel we need to remind those who consume purely digital info that Instagram and facebook serves up a Tic-Tac of infotainment, blogs deliver between a Jaffa Cake and, in some rare cases, a good bacon sandwich's worth. Sideburn cooks up a Michelin-starred feast with enough left over, after the first sitting, to require a Bull Mastiff-sized doggy bag for your next sitting.

It's that good. Get a copy, for just £5 plus post, at the Sideburn online shop. G

Lorenzo Buratti KTM 450

Lorenzo Buratti is Our Kind of Man and had just built this KTM 450. He's racing it in Italy and plans to bring it to England to race the night before Dirt Quake III at  King's Lynn 18/19 July. Click the green Lorenzo Buratti label to see the other things he gets up to.

This is what he says about his bike...

KTM 450 Flat Track, based on a EXC enduro model year 2005, modifications include: complete 19″ wheels, suspension, exhaust system, balanced crankshaft & piston. The fiberglass monocoque body is quick realease to have rapid acces to engine during races tune up, inspired by drag racing cars. Rear subframe is cut and lowered in order to have low seat and centre of gravity. The bike is fired up by an external starter.
If you want to transform your cross or enduro bike into a ready to race flat track machine drop me a line to ask for what about the costs.

Go to Lorenzo's facebook or website for contacts - lorenzoburatti.com