Motorbikes

[Corradobrit]

1983 , UK to Australia on my XS 750 Yamaha …… many adventures on the way including arrest by Iranian Sharia Guard at gunpoint & blindfold….. eventually made it to Aus … still here … love it!View attachment 140935

Sounds like there's a book and a movie in that little adventure.

 

[Polobear1959]

Sounds like there's a book and a movie in that little adventure.

Definitely, I kept very comprehensive diaries… was 23 years old , did it solo using a few old maps & school atlas … certainly life changing… nearly didn’t make it, however met my wife to be in Aus & now have a wonderful family here!
( have watched Ewan McGregor & Charlie Boormans films … in comparison I thought they were tame… backup crews , 4 W drives)

 

[sidepod]

Definitely, I kept very comprehensive diaries… was 23 years old , did it solo using a few old maps & school atlas … certainly life changing… nearly didn’t make it, however met my wife to be in Aus & now have a wonderful family here!
( have watched Ewan McGregor & Charlie Boormans films … in comparison I thought they were tame… backup crews , 4 W drives)

Excellent. Much respect

 

[Corradobrit]

Travelling through Iran in the early '80's has to have been one of the most foolhardy things to attempt, what with the American hostages, poor opinion of Brits in general thanks to our involvement in the region and Iran in particular, after WW1. You had to have been second guessing that decision after the hood went on. What a story to tell the grandkids.....

 

[Polobear1959]

Travelling through Iran in the early '80's has to have been one of the most foolhardy things to attempt, what with the American hostages, poor opinion of Brits in general thanks to our involvement in the region and Iran in particular, after WW1. You had to have been second guessing that decision after the hood went on. What a story to tell the grandkids.....

Yes, you are quite correct … first thing I had to do at the Turkish / Iranian border was to wipe my feet on the US flag… no choice. Then confronted by images of Bobby Sands and pro IRA posters … Britain was viewed as an imperialistic despotic nation…. I think I only got through because they realised I was an “ immature & innocent “ young man genuinely only wanting to transit through to Pakistan.
Iran was deeply affected by its war with Iraq…. millions dead, much mental trauma within the population. However, I met several Iranian families who provided the most amazing hospitality and friendship…. I vowed to never judge a nation on the minority violent extremists….

 

[Polobear1959]

Anyway… heres my present 3 cylinder bike , a T160 Triumph…. not reliable enough for a UK to Aus trip though

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Yes, you are quite correct … first thing I had to do at the Turkish / Iranian border was to wipe my feet on the US flag… no choice. Then confronted by images of Bobby Sands and pro IRA posters … Britain was viewed as an imperialistic despotic nation…. I think I only got through because they realised I was an “ immature & innocent “ young man genuinely only wanting to transit through to Pakistan.
Iran was deeply affected by its war with Iraq…. millions dead, much mental trauma within the population. However, I met several Iranian families who provided the most amazing hospitality and friendship…. I vowed to never judge a nation on the minority violent extremists….

I can’t believe what I’ve just been reading. Nothing as frightening as that ever happened to Ted Simon.
So many questions, what happened to the bike ?
Was Ted’s book the inspiration for you ? Or did it just seem like a better way to get to Australia than by Quantas ?
A film definitely. Timothee Chalamet for you and Margot Robbie waiting for you at the other end.
You are a legend, and you even like Triples.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Norton Commando
View attachment 140929

It could be worth more than you think !

 

[Polobear1959]

I can’t believe what I’ve just been reading. Nothing as frightening as that ever happened to Ted Simon.
So many questions, what happened to the bike ?
Was Ted’s book the inspiration for you ? Or did it just seem like a better way to get to Australia than by Quantas ?
A film definitely. Timothee Chalamet for you and Margot Robbie waiting for you at the other end.
You are a legend, and you even like Triples.

Thanks for your comments…. no, I didn’t read Ted Simon’s book till years later….. he’s a legend. No, my dad had a Vincent Rapide, I rode pillion as a kid.He told me how Phil Irving rode a Vincent from Aus to UK in the 1950’s…. that inspired me plus a desire to work in Aus for a year and escape the “ ordinariness “ of daily work in my home town ….. think the lyrics of Pink Floyd , Time, “ Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day”………etc.