CANNING STOCK ROUTE

[_Wilks]

Anyone done it? By motorbike? Supported or unsupported? Or by vehicle?

I've ticked the Gunbarrel on my list of iconic rides and the CSR is looming in my mind to be next iconic ride (maybe in 2011).

Very loose plans at this early stage but this is my thinking:
Buy a 650 bike with LR tank (G650 XChallenge?)
Truck the bike to Broome, then
>> ride the Gibb River Rd (include Mitchell Falls if time allows)
>> refresh and restock at Kununurra
>> tackle the CSR from north
>> from just north of Well 9 (210kms from Wiluna) leave CSR and head SE to Carnegie Stn
>> Gunbarrel Hwy to Warburton
>> Warburton to Neale Junction (via Connie Sue Hwy) for Desert Raid 2011

I haven't done any time calculations yet but I'd probably need to limit the trip to 3 weeks tops.

I'm still working thru whether I could/should try this solo. If not solo, then 3 riders would be the maximum I reckon.

Thoughts, suggestions or advice anyone?

[Richard Hughes]

R we talking un suported? or a back up vehicle ( mobile Pub?)
Apart from the obvious reasons, why not take the GSA ?
I'd be keen....

[Digger]

I did it in 1996 in an Oka with a small group of others in conventional 4WDs. We spent about 10 days on the CSR (from memory) and that was with no 'admin' days included. Back then, there was a fuel drop available (pay when you order) which was delivered from Hedland but i believe that service is no longer available. The RAC publish a map on the CSR and although i had topo maps for the whole CSR (and probably still have them buried somewhere at home), the RAC map was all we used. One of the vehicles had a motorcycle (Honda XR250) mounted on the rear and the guy who rode the bike for part of the journey really struggled in places. Our worst day was when we only covered about 30 km in a day...you could see where we started from a dune we were standing on at the end of the day. Very demoralising!!! (lots of digging, winching, whinging). Fuel is one issue....water will be another. You would have to consider a support vehicle which takes a little of the 'adventure' out of it but it is better than being rescued and making the papers. Lots of camels and wild dogs (not so much dingoes...more like domestic dogs gone feral). There is an idylic spot (bit of an oasis) two thirds of the way up (heading North) which most people rest up for a day or two.

[Digger]

R we talking un suported? or a back up vehicle ( mobile Pub?)
Apart from the obvious reasons, why not take the GSA ?
I'd be keen....

If you take a GSA, you will use it as a signal fire to get somebodies attention to be rescued...you will regret the day you made the decision to take anything bigger than a 650 (which i believe is probably not the smartest decision you could make either)

[_Wilks]

Thanks for the reply Digger. I'll be off to RAC to see if they still do detailed CSR maps. I'll also be scouring exploroz.com over the next few months for more info. I've been reading on Advrider of exploits in recent years by riders who have completed the CSR unsupported.

One hombre did it solo(!) on a DR650. His report was fascinating, too brief and a masterpiece in understatement... and no bloody help for someone like me trying to glean some scarce info from a riders perspective.

Another report I've read had a group 650 riders doing the CSR. The author described it as tough going but left the clear impression it was very do-able for the group. Unfortunately one of that group let his attention wander; he drifted to the edge of the track and his left foot struck a small termite mound concealed in the spinifex. His tibula (or fibula) snapped and punctured through the back of his MX boot...

I believe fuel can be pre-arranged with the community at Kunawaritji. Doing that means a required fuel range of 655km (Billiluna to Kuna) and 645km (Kuna to Carnegie) - I need detailed maps to check the distances. I've confirmed the G650XC with LR tank fitted (26ltrs all up) will get 500km in off-road going. If I carry a 10ltr fuel bladder, I should be good for nearly 700km.

Water. Firstly, early June should be OK temperature wise. The group of 650 riders mentioned above took 5 days to travel the CSR with Billiluna to Kuna taking just under 3 days. So I reckon carrying 10ltrs will do a couple of days (refill at Kuna).

Richard - I've heard of one story where a R1200GS rider did the CSR. His mate on a 640KTM (I think) spoke of him in god-like terms for his riding ability. Since you're the closest thing I've seen to god on a motorcycle , the GSA will be fine. Seriously though, apparently the GS rider reckoned the gods smiled on him because recent rains made the difference between getting thru (the dunes) or turning back; he said he virtually trashed his GS doing the trip. I just can't bring myself to take my princess on the CSR.

[kev]

. .

[_Wilks]

Support Vehicle?
How many days?

Good questions Kev. I've got 18 months to find an answer so time will tell.

Are you buying a Landcruiser ute??

[gsrider]

A bit of history I think that the Powell brothers were one of the first to complete it on bikes unsupported in 1980 or around that time. They rode R80G/S PD's I believe. It can be done but fuel and water are the main concern. The Capricorn Roadhouse south of Newman used to deliver fuel on the Stock Route for the intending travellers, but not sure if they still do it.

[Richard Hughes]

ah, people who put limitations on there bikes, find those limitations.
A bad tradesman blames his tools!
The GSA could do the CSR.

Why not do it on postie bikes? $1500 for a good second hand one, more fun! Throw it away when your done

Shane you mentioned you don't want to take your princess on the trip....I thought Drenny was keen to come along?

[_Wilks]

Now I'm all confused... I thought he was your prince charming. And I've heard you call him "Tiger" a few times - is that cryptic for something??

Back to bikes. Apparently CSR has 950+ dunes - dunno how true that is though. Search youtube for Canning Stock Route videos - some are quite interesting.

[wightman]

Yeah I'm in, even if I've gotta bring my reversible chastity belt. The G/S should make those sort of distances with a 5l bladder. It is quite good, even in thick sand. I should be a more likely starter this time, not having China as an excuse.

John

[_Wilks]

Howdy John.

It's only a thought at this stage mate and I'm more about chasing info. Stay tuned though.

Shane

[crank]

Interesting thread . . .
I did the CSR in '89 on my Wynns Safari prep XR600, carrying 59 litres of fuel (39 main tank, and 11 + 9 rear auxiliaries), dual filtration airbox and CR suspension . . . . and only just made it on fuel ! There was a fuel dump at well 33, where 44's were pre-purchased at vast expense, and transported from Capricorn roadhaouse. Admittedly I rode South to North, copping the worst of the saw-tooth dunes, but whatever you think you're going to get in the way of fuel consumption, halve it to be safe. My XR (I still have her . . . ) could regularly return 1100 km from a full payload of fuel, but not on the Canning. Also, at that time I was fresh off riding the Safari, and in 'indestructable' mode, and it was still a BLOODY HARD ride. Having just bought an 1150GA Adv, I couldn't possibly imagine doing it on the BMW. ( Fred Powell is a totally exceptional fella . . . evidenced by the fact that he too had ridden the Safari that year, on a 250 Yam. It was the bicentennial event in 88, and 10,000 kms long ! ! ! )
I have covered over 225,000kms on that XR, and most of them tough ones. They include The Gunbarrell (with the abandoned section), Tanami track (back when it WAS a track, not a freeway), Gibb River Rd (walk in the park) Kalumbaru/Mitchell Rd,Holland Track, Cape York etc etc, and the CSR was the only one where I felt there was a chance of serious consequences. Unless it's changed dramatically in the last 20 years, it is not an undertaking I would embark on without very very serious consideration and preperation. . . . oh, and if you're not 25 years old and bloody fit, I wouldn't do it on a bike at all . . . . .
Good luck Greg.

[Richard Hughes]

Hmmm, maybee I won't take the GSA..,, Nah I was only joking anyway, Crank it sounds like you have done it all, I for one have decided to pull out of the run, I was going to take a KLR, but I'll wait until someone else does it (Shane?)
I'm not 25 but I am at the peak of my fitness (Greek God ) I still recon I'd puff a bit on the sand dunes, so I'll take the arm chair aproach on this one.

[_Wilks]

Thanks Greg (crank). Always keen to hear info like that. No need to be concerned - I am taking these preparations very very seriously. I think a few others here already know how thorough I can be when organising rides .

An update:

I've bought a KTM 640 Adv, not specifically for the CSR, but with the CSR as a possibility.

Here are some distances from a specialised CSR map (southbound).
Billiluna to Kunawarritji - 685km
Kuna to Well 23 - 282km
Well 23 to Wiluna - 806km

I have confirmed Capricorn Rhse still do fuel drops to Well 23 - min order 200ltrs & must give 6 to 8 weeks warning.

The KTM's aren't renowned for their economy however I have confirmed from another rider who rode the Simpson(?) Desert that he got 7ltr/100km on his 640 Adv; 25ltr tank + carrying 30ltrs. He said he went at a 'drier' time of the year and, according to his mate who'd done it before, the dunes were very very soft. I'd love to hear from anyone who's done the CSR & Simpson to give me a difficulty comparison.

I am working up a plan to carry 38 litres (5ltrs in each saddlebag; 5ltrs on each pillion peg; 2 bladders of 8ltrs ea; 2 x 1ltr fuel bottles in tool tubes) - that's a theoretical range of 900km. I'm told the CSR gets easier as you get further south, so the long section from Well 23 to Wiluna (805km) may not be so heavy on fuel.

I'm certainly not 25yo but I found the Gunbarrel no problem at all from a fitness point of view (of course I'm aware the Gunbarrel doesn't have dunes ). That said, I will be doing aerobic training for at least 6 months before departure.

Nothing further to add, but I'm definitely all ears (or should that be 'all eyes') if anyone has something to share - negative or positive.

Cheers