On august 17th I bought a new enduro bike! This time I chose BMW G650 XChallenge! It has the same 1-cylinder 650ccm Rotax-engine than in many many other bikes. It is known to be very trustful and you don’t have to make service all the time.
I rode the bike from Lappeenranta to home and I really was enjoying enduroriding again!
During this autumn I’ve been riding few times with friends also and I’ve had videocamera with me. Here are some nice videos:
This was 2nd of september. We were riding mostly quite big roads/ easy roads so everyone could join the ride!
The roads in Kiikala area are very nice!! You really can enjoy the speed and essence of Finnish nature and adventure motorcycling!
This one is from Vihti/ Karkkila/ Lohja area (Rausjärvi). It is also a part of Trans Euro Trail route that I planned last spring. In this video there is a scary moment in 06:45 when a car comes from the yard straight in front of me! Luckily I had enough time to ride aside!
In the end of september we had a little bit different ride. This time mostly OffRoad. This was already in the beginning of the day… The most difficult parts! I can say that I was sweating like a pig… or a horse!
This path is quite well known route in Vihti. Not too difficult, almost quite ok for ordinary roadbike too.
This is one sandpit near Lohja. There is also nice small pond and we are riding around it two times.
And the last route is an old railroad (without rails) in Pikkala. The railroad was built by Russians when the area was part of Russia after the WWII.
In this video there is short break to take pictures under the bridge and then riding over the log. This log is not that difficult anymore…
adventure bike
This day was little bit cloudy and it wasn’t so hot. We started to ride the beautiful road to Karigasniemi. The route follows the Teno river and you can see to the other side of the river (Norway) almost all the time! From Karigasniemi we turned to Norway, this had to be done because it’s a really nice shortcut to Enontekiö (in western Lapland) -the road in Finnish side would be 340 kilometers:
And if you take the road from Norway side, it will be more than 100km shorter!
Almost right after we crossed the border it started raining! And we were riding in the heavy rain about 5 minutes and then the rain was light and it didn’t bother anymore -but the road was wet.
In Vuottašjávri we made a short sidetour to a small cape in the lake. There was quite nice sandbeach and I’m already regretting that I didn’t go to swim!
I also fell with the bike here but it was so soft sand so no marks to the bike!
It took awhile before the road was dry again and we could actually see some sun peeking behind the clouds. It was very nice to stop beside the road and take a good look around you. This part of Norway is called Finnmark and the surraundings here are simply amazing!
Maybe our visit to Norway was a bit short… We were back in FInland much too soon!
We chose the road to Näkkälä village (40 inhabitants) and this was again a very good choise! This kind of totally empty landscape (beside the road) is very rare in Finland!
This picture is about from the end of the road. There’s a beautiful creek (or a river) and this small village with few houses. Ofcourse in the deepest winter it’s little bit different here! (The sun doesn’t come up in 2 months, it can be -30 celsius with more than 1m of snow…)
We had very nice cabin from Kelotin Rantamajat and we went to have a dinner in Galdotieva -this was unfortunately the worse meal in our trip. Wife had the reindeer kebab and I had the “local steak”. Both of the portions were mostly terrible! Meat was almost burned and you couldn’t tell if it was pork, reindeer or pieces of soil from the yard… We do not recommend this at all!!
This cabin had the kitchen and toilet! It was very nice!
My wife made a video of this day:
The route for this day was like this:
My holiday this year was about making tour around my beautiful home country: Finland.
I haven’t been in in the north part of the country since 2011 so it’s really a time to do this. And I have new tires in my XR so I can try also the gravelroads with my bike. This time I also have my wife with me so it will be very heavy load! (450kg)
This pic is from the first stop that we did in Vanhankylänniemi (this link only in Finnish) and mansion. But it was only a short stop.
Then we stopped at the old ironworks area in Kellokoski. There’s been quite a lot of renovations going on lately and it’s starting to look pretty nice place.
Next stop was at the Tönnö Museum Bridge in Orimattila. This is built/ open in 1911.
Then in the north side of Nastola we stopped at the Cafe of old Mill in Immilä. This is very beautiful place with the rapids just beside the area.
We also checked the old industrial heritage site “Verla”. This was a carbon factory from 1872 until 1952. Now it is a museumarea with very nice buildings and nature.
Verla is also Unesco World Heritage site since 1996.
It started raining a little bit but it was very warm, so still we checked the Elving observation tower which was built in 1907. It is 20m high and the view would be totally amazing if it would be clear weather. Even now it was very nice!
The night we slept in a small cabin at Orilammen majat.
My wife made a video about this first day:
The route for Day 1:
We made another weekend tour just resently. It was the weekend from friday 15th to sunday 17th (of June) and the decision for this trip was made very fast!
First I decided to check how is my tent… I took it from the basement and we went to the yard with my wife to check if it’s ok. And it was!
Then I ride to the garage to change the bike, wife stayed at home to make us some food (snacks) because we really wanted to spend the night in a tent!
First stop of the trip was in Trollshovda (Trollshead in English).
Then we rode to Kemiönsaari and to Kasnäs and stopped in Lövö bridge.
This is one of the most beautiful views in the bridge in Finland! And the road from Taalintehdas to Kasnäs is very beautiful (This bridge is in this road).
Then we try to find a good place for camping and we found quite ok place… This was the first night ever in the tent for my wife!
She didn’t sleep very well but I slept quite ok -except my back didn’t like it at all! So I decided to sleep in a normal bed for the next night!
Next morning was about to go to the ferry that would take us to an island. Rosala is the name of the island and this would be the first place where Vikings or Christianity step their foot in Finland.
This ferrytrip is for free! and it takes about 30 minutes…
Rosala is quite small island. There’s only 1 road that goes from Hiittinen village to Rosala village. That is about 8,5 km’s from the villagecenter to another. In Hiittinen there is beautiful old wooden church…
And a very nice cafeteria just beside this church:
Then after you ride this 8,5 kilometers you will enter the Rosala village and there is one place you really need to visit! It’s the Vikingcenter Rosala which is the only one of its kind in Finland. It’s an area with lots of items, clothes, weapons and buildings from Iron age of Finland. The Vikings didn’t take much land here in Finland and here in Rosala there are the best ancient excavations of this Viking age. But in the same time with Vikings the Christianity also made its first steps to the Finnish ground.
This is from the restaurant they have there. There is restingplace in every table, so if you get tired while eating you can step back and sleep awhile!
This is from Chapel they have in the area. Christianity is mixed with old religions of Vikings… at least it was like that in the beginning.
The best building to see is the the dwelling house with huge fireplace on the other end of the room inside. It really gave me authentic feeling and I could see the Vikings shouting, drinking and making their business there…
Next moring we started our ride back home and the first stop was at Taalintehdas. This is one of the oldest industrial villages in Finland. The ironworks company was founded in 1686.
This blast furnace is much newer but it has been rubuilded as a “meeting point” in the beginning of the nature path that you can find from Taalintehdas.
We also visited an old market place called Latokartanonkoski (Rapids of Latokartano). There are ruins of an old mill that was built in 1805 and it stopped working at 1962.
It is a very beautiful place with quite a lot to see. One interesting thing is that this place is full with Beautiful demoiselles flying around.
Their wings are shining bright blue in the sunshine… and they look like they are from a fairytale!
The route for the whole weekend you check here.
This day was about turning back… But only after we would first ride quite far away north to Raippaluoto. We made a quick visit in Botniaring (racetrack) and rode through Jurva (city or village?). But soon it was time to turn to gravelroad!
At the end of this “offroad” ride there was a nice small observation tower of “Rajavuori”
Then we rode to Vaasa, it’s one of the oldest cities in Finland. There was old church but it burned in 1852 -Now there is only ruins.
From Vaasa we rode to Raippaluoto and to go there you have to ride over this very nice bridge!
Here in Raippaluoto we wanted to check another observation tower in Saltkaret.
This is quite amazing place if it is clear weather and if you will climb to the top of the tower!
From Raippaluoto we rode little bit more east so that we wouldn’t have to ride the same roads back home.
Before we arrived to Seinäjoki we took a short stop at Ylistaro church -the third biggest church in Finland!
And after putting all our stuff to hotelroom we went swimming (Yes it is 11th of May and it is very early for swimming in Finland!)
But it had been so nice weather already many days and the water was actually very warm in Kyrkösjärvi!
The route for day 3 was like this:
Day 2 started when we had to ride again to the medieval church of Ulvila to check one possible gravelroad there but then we were already riding to Pori to check few places there. Rosenlew museum, Kirjurinluoto and Juselius Mausoleum. This mausoleum is the only one in the Nordic countries!
Then we continued towards Yyteri. This is maybe the most well known sand dunes and beach in Finland.
It was almost empty! Maybe because we were so early…
After this we were riding to Lampaluoto and Ahlainen. From there starts very nice road following the shores of The North Sea. You can follow the beachline almost 80 kilometers until you reach the city of Kristiinankaupunki. One very nice landmark on the way is the Belltower of Siipyy! Here I stopped to take a picture.
Few years ago when I was stopping in this same place the bells started to ring! That was very nice (and it hurted my ears)!
I checked the map before this day and I thought there is a nice gravelroad to Kristiinankaupunki and ofcourse I had to check it!
This nice road follows the river that goes to the sea just on the southside of this city. River is called “Lapväärtinjoki“.
In Kristiinankaupunki there is one place that every motorcyclerider has to check! It is the most narrow road (alley) in Finland. (Actually it’s maybe the third narrowest but the tha name of this alley is very nice!). “Kissanpiiskaajankuja” is less than 3 meters wide from the narrowest point -and it is 2-way road!!!
(Translation for this would be “Catwhippersalley”)
Then we road to Kaskinen -the smallest city of Finland. There is about 1200 people living here and it’s very beautiful because it’s just by the sea!
Then it was about the time to enter inland! We checked the windmill in Teuva. One wing weights about 10 tonns and it’s length is 49 meters!!!
Then we checked one empty house where anyone can spend the night and the biggest spear in the world.
I would definately change all bed linen before I would spend a night there… But you can go to sauna!
This spear is a monument honoring the Olympic gold metalist Pauli Nevala.
Then we finally entered our accommodation in Teuva. It was a very nice place called Opintola.
Here is route for day 2:
Me and my wife have been married now half a year. It was time to take tour with motorcycle just the two of us. We had 5 days to do this trip and I chose western Finland.
Day 1 (May 9)
We started before the midday and I was very excited about finally going on a tour with my new bike “Optimus”:
After filling the tank it felt very nice and relaxing to ride the bike! The first leg was 120 kilometers and the the first stop was at Koski (english: Rapids) and there is also quite nice rapids there (Rapids at Rapids…)
Then we stopped at the grocery store in Oripää to buy some sausages. Next stop & break was at “Kekkosplassi”. It is very nice area with a big fireplaces to grill some food, we had sausages, sandwiches and also something to drink.
Then in Säkylä we checked Katismaa and Eenokki (harbour and beach) but these were just very short stops. Finally in Kauttua Ironworks area we stopped for awhile to examine the area. Like all old ironworks areas this has also many very nice old buildings and rapids with some small dams and old bridges.
This was the first time when we noticed that it was quite hot! Weather forecast had promised very nice and warm weather for us… and it was Summer coming already before the middle of May! It was too hot to walk with all riding gear.
The last leg was about 60 kilometers and we arrived to Nakkila where we were supposed to stay for the first night. After we took all the luggage away from the bike we still checked the dam and powerplant of Harjavalta and the medieval Church or Ulvila.
The route for the day 1 was like this:
In january I sold my KTM. Now I Have new bike that I will use in gravel and dirtroads:
This Triumph Street Twin is going to be also a bike that my wife can (or will) use if she ever will have the licence. We tried quite many bikes and this was the best bike for her.
I thought I can use this same bike in my endurorides if I only will change the tyres.
Now I’m only hoping that the spring will come soon… Now we still have snow on the ground and temperature below zero…
By the way, motocaching.net is growing fast! We have now 3000 caches (rides) to be found. All over the world, all continents, 72 countries and more is coming all the time!
Helsinki motorcycle exhibition 2018
February in Helsinki Finland, -12 degrees centigrade, the deepest and coldest winter.
But we have nice opening for the season, the motorcycle exhibition! This year Ducati and MV Agusta didn’t have own stand in the show but other brands were there! Here are the most important new models:
Aprilia Shiver 900
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 (and 701)
Honda CB1000R
KTM 790 Duke
Kawasaki Z900RS
Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX
Yamaha Niken 900
Honda Gold Wing
BMW 1200GS
Oh jeez, where to begin… This steaming pile of excrement’s undeserved popularity is outweighed only by its actual weight. Follow the crowd, independent thought is over-rated! Pointless 1930s technology brought to the present for absolutely no reason. Terrible suspension. 0/10
KTM 1290
Making well over 600hp this is the official bike of the mid-life crisis. Your wife might even stop sleeping with the mailman when you get one of these babies! Unreliable doesn’t begin to describe it though, the airbox sucks like your mom after 3 glasses of Four Cousins. Terrible suspension. 0/10
KTM 1090
Want a 1290 but too much of a pansy to handle the power? This is for you! Terrible suspension. 0/10
BMW 800GS
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!! Terrible suspension. 0/10
Honda Africa Twin 1000
Like a worse KTM 990. Can you say “under-powered” Making only 95hp, this bike is rendered practically useless. 15 years of waiting for this? Let down of the century! Terrible suspension. 0/10
KTM 990
Like a worse Africa Twin. Ugly as the night, looks like a Matric metalwork project. Fuel consumption rivals that of a Land Cruiser, rendering any trip longer than 15km impossible. Suspension is terrible. 0/10
Honda 250 Rally
Honda has fooled a handful of idiots into thinking this delivery bike is dual sport. It even has them paying over 90k for a bike that should be dropping off Debonairs at your house on Friday evening. Suspension is absolutely terrible. 0/10
Yamaha Super Tenere 1200
You want a 1200GS in blue, but without the free muffins? It costs HOW MUCH? Absolutely terrible suspension. 0/10
Yamaha XT660Z Tenere
This bike weighs almost as much as 1200GS but with one fourteenth of the power. Kymco scooters will flatten you at the traffic lights. Only an absolute idiot would opt for this abortion of a motorcycle. Has a long fuel range, so you’ll be subjected to hours and hours of excruciating seat time. Suspension=terrible. 0/10
Triumph Tiger 800
Haha don’t even kid me. So bad even Triumph itself fled from the country, leaving us stuck with this pathetic mess. It depreciates faster than the Rand during a Zuma speech. And reliability? It’s British in every sense of the word! Avoid at all costs. Suspension is so terrible. 0/10
Kawasaki KLR650
“Hello, this is the 1960s calling, we want our technology back please!” A face only a blind mother could love, this almost out-ugly’s the KTM 990. A reversing Fiat UNO has a higher top speed. Suspension is terrible. 0/10
Suzuki DR650
See KLR650 review but much, much worse. “It’s old so it must be reliable”, haha, yeah right. Carry some extra oil buddy! Terrible suspension. 0/10
KTM 690
You have to be a special brand of stupid to want to cover long distance on a glorified dirt bike. Luckily, there’s this steaming turd for that! You want to pay over a hundred grand for a pimped-up plaasbike? As reliable as an investment opportunity email from a Prince in Nigeria. Suspension? Terrible. 0/10
Huswqawjqwskwarna 701
A KTM 690 in yellow. From the country that invented ABBA comes an equally terrible bike. You’ll be screaming “Mamma Mia!” at the discomfort that comes with riding anything further than 2km. Also, try saying “Husqvarna” without sounding like an orangutan having a stroke. Suspension is terrible. 0/10
(This is a copy from http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/)
GoZa Mite 