Adventure Rider Pilgrimage Through Australia's Outback - Quagmire! - Eps 2

Join this intrepid group of Perth based Adventure Riders as they embark on an across Australia adventure thru the heartland of the Outback on their quest to rediscover the natural beaty of Central Australia including Uluru, Kings Canyon, the Tanami Desert and finally culminating in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia with Gibb River Road being the highlight.
In this Episode, the group lose one of their own after a catastrophic breakdown, a failed Output Shaft Seal on a DRZ400. His ride is over. The remainder are then forced to negotiate the Great Central Road, part of Australia's Longest Shortcut (the Outback Way), which has been 'destroyed by heavy unseasonal rainfall. Nothing is going right for this mob!
Grab ya gear; Lets go!

[@bugman5337]

DJ you are FLOCKING CHAMPION if i ever get over that way on my Motorcycle let me buy you a beer 0r 2 3 4 5 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺 you restore my Faith in Aussie Mateship

[@mongreldogproductions]

You have my permission to buy me beer. Glad you enjoy the Channel content.

[@robkeith1776]

Steve, I have just watched the first two episodes of The Rider Pilgrimage Through The Outback. The Good Samaritan, in Laverton, deserves a medal. When the storms hit, the outback tracks become seriously challenging - i.e. impassable. Looking forward to the following episodes to see how you get on. Good luck

[@mongreldogproductions]

Watch this space...gimme a few days. Thanks for watching.

[@robdotcom71]

2 great episodes back to back... I seen the "short" weeks back and was hoping to see more... Cheers. Kudos to D.J for helping you guys out....

[@roberthocking9138]

Big shout out to DJ, what a great bloke. Great video all the same

[@mongreldogproductions]

Absolutely

[@nbrettoner]

Steve thanks for not stopping. Even if it entails (Roo of course) an 800km "side trip ohm". So good to see that blue sky 😇

[@KarenFuchsbichler]

I lived in Laverton for many years, my dad had the workshop directly across the road from the hospital.

[@holgerlubotzki3469]

If it can't be fixed with a hammer, you just haven't found a big enough hammer yet!

[@phillipdean9879]

Great video Steve. The Dr 650 never ceases to impress. Bring on part 3! 🍺🍺

[@mongreldogproductions]

Coming soon! Sooner than you think.

[@bishopkinlyside8477]

Hi guys, it’s always wonderful how Australians stick together when we’re doing it tough. Someone always come through offers you accommodation , one thing I love about Australia people are happy to help. Keep up the good work guys. Keep smiling no one is injured so that’s a good thing might be a bit of a pride thing , I remember one time we rode in to a country town in New South Wales called Gundagai we booked in and we asked the lady if the kitchen was open. She said no, but because there was about 10 of us she send a girl down the road, to get the butcher to open and to get some steaks, so we had steak eggs and chips. Absolutely wonderful night. It happened about 20 years ago. I still remember it today , Cliff from Queensland, Australia

[@mongreldogproductions]

Great memories…thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@grahamcairn8379]

Definitely need your bike to be in tip top shape. Looking forward to seeing the rest of this amazing adventure. Thanks Steve for your efforts as always 👍

[@mongreldogproductions]

Working on it!

[@peterscoles1063]

Another great series Captain. Brilliant work as usual 👍👍

[@mongreldogproductions]

Thank you kindly

[@MiniLuv-1984]

"Roo tail yumo"...gunna be hard to convince me! Great video yet again.

[@mongreldogproductions]

So good!

[@deesalkelly3069]

@@mongreldogproductions have you tried vegemite lamb off a spit??

[@mongreldogproductions]

@@deesalkelly3069 I don't think I have...how am I gunna strap the Lamb on the bike??? 😀

[@wra64dashcamtruck]

Another great video mate. A little bit of Australia that the average Australian doesn’t see. 👍🏽👍🏽

[@GringoLoco]

1000kms of red mud... I tip my hat to you guys even attempting it on such heavy bikes!

[@mongreldogproductions]

Just another day at the Office 😂😂😂

[@RozalynVeersma]

DJ…what a top bloke! 😁👍🏁🥇 Boy what an adventure so far! 😲 Carry on! 😁👍🏁

[@mongreldogproductions]

Hi Roz, have you finally come up for air? Welcome back. 😀

[@RozalynVeersma]

@ Hi Steve, unfortunately nope! 🤦🏻‍♀️😫😂 Still trapped in the rat wheel and waiting for an opportunity to jump off! 🤞😂🍀🏍️

[@alasdairhamilton1574]

Steve, cooking segment brought to you courtesy of Stag chilli.😋 💨👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@mongreldogproductions]

Love it

[@astrobusa]

Always a good day when a MDP video pops up on my notifications. Thanks Steve... you never disappoint. I'm looking forward to the upcoming "Steve's Campfire nightmares" segment with a main course of "Roo Tail A La Ash".... with a side serving of Grubs perhaps ? Then in the 3rd episode maybe a surprise reunion ? Paul strikes me as someone who won't quit.

[@mongreldogproductions]

Paul did not quit...but he was defeated. This is not the last time you will see him (I'm sure). Thanks for watching.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Yep - never a dull moment when riding with Mr Dog. Looking forward to what you encounter next.

[@JayOneoff]

DJs channel is “Automotive Karnage”. I recognize the yard and his old shed. Cheers

[@mongreldogproductions]

Correct. I knew of his Channel before meeting him. He thru us a life line when we were there.

[@Free_Ranger_CT110]

The seal failing is a pain, but better at Laverton than further out in the middle of the desert. I'll put a spare seal in my spares bag from now on after watching this.

[@michaelatkins5480]

😀Murphy says you'll never need it, something else will go pear shaped!

[@Free_Ranger_CT110]

@@michaelatkins5480 yeah that's usually the case. I've had one fail on the ct110 before & with only 1lt oil cap it's not long before the engine is empty 🙂

[@gregbolitho9775]

Aww Geez, that blokes rides over, he'll be diappointed. There are some good blokes round! Looking forward to the nextie, heard about fried roo tail. Looking forward to your take on roo tail. Thanks m8, you and your m8s stay upright Eh!

[@julianjordan789]

I certainly enjoy your work Steve, thanks a million. GOOD STUFF.

[@mongreldogproductions]

Very welcome

[@duncanm6589]

Another top video Steve. That road looked super challenging. As per my other comment to you DJ was such a top guy helping you out.

[@mongreldogproductions]

Yes he was! He definitely thru us a lifeline.

[@suzyamerica4679]

DJ sounds like a proper top bloke! :) You guys may find your mettle tested on this ride. Fantastic stuff.

[@mongreldogproductions]

I think so too!

[@user-ku4yk4ut4z]

FINALLY !!!! its going to be a GREAT DAY!!!

[@mongreldogproductions]

Hi Aaron, I leave to cycle tour South Korea on Wednesday...I reckon I'll be away for 4 weeks. I've set it up so that KZbin gets trickle fed one vid a week while I'm away so you can get your weekly 'fix' and find out how it all ends. Thanks for watching.

[@user-ku4yk4ut4z]

@@mongreldogproductions Aloha Steve have a great time in Korea...if you get bored we will be in Japan for 2 weeks 18th to the 31st Oct for a Bicycle rally you can come join us! Great vid and be glad you weren't in Warburton and had a break down ..thanks again for the Look at the outback..!!

[@richardharker2775]

Phew! That felt tough going. About 7 weeks ago 2 cyclists rode that road going from Perth and finished in Cairns. They didn't post many images but what you have shown here shows the desolation and isolation of these outposts. The fear of breaking down or indeed personal injury would be on my mind continuously. Thank you for making these videos.

[@mongreldogproductions]

We saw a cyclist (he appears in a later Eps) just west of Uluru. He still had about 1,000km of dirt to look forward to. I'm not sure if these guys know what is ahead of them. We also saw two riders (from Sweden) on the Gibb River Road in a similar situation. Pretty risky in my opinion.

[@stevebond901]

Thank Steve... Love all your adventures.

[@merv190]

Been looking forward to this one Steve as we were a few days behind you on our trip following much of the same route. Glad to hear there’s more to come while you’re away. Love you content mate. 👌

[@mongreldogproductions]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@darrellmeganfoxall8830]

Awesome video, DJ , what a ripper you are 👍👍👍

[@mongreldogproductions]

Yep, blokes like that are few and far between. Thanks for watching.

[@kiwizz2177]

Thanks mate ,always appreciate your videos Going through all the “trouble” recording and putting everything together, wauw. I certainly wouldn’t have the patience to do it , credits to you !

[@mongreldogproductions]

A labour of love...my reward is being able to share this great country with others. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@GCM_AU]

Roo tail, excellent. Had it many times. Onya lads slip slidding the rain!

[@billcotton1551]

Kangaroo tail, now that's Australian! Great job getting that huge bike through the mud, Steve!

[@mongreldogproductions]

What other country eats the animal that is on their Coat of Arms😂😂😂

[@frankboff8185]

Good video, looking forward to to the cooking segment, and the rest of the series.

[@mongreldogproductions]

Next one out in a day or two. Thanks for watching.

[@johncarnegie9415]

Great content again Steve.

[@atheosxgaming]

the trips with the unexpected and lost days that take you into the complete unknown are the ones you remember.

[@mongreldogproductions]

Amen to that!

[@suzyamerica4679]

Even the bike problems are part of that, as much as we don't like them.

[@mongreldogproductions]

@@suzyamerica4679 Yep…

[@kevinrusso6849]

Great to see all the old blokes

[@mongreldogproductions]

Cool your jets...who you callin' old! I'm only 66, JP is only 62, Chris (No 2) is only 70 and Broken Leg Tom is a mere 56 years old. There is still some life in the óld blokes'yet. Grab ya gear; lets go!

[@bobbebbington5356]

After a tough day, glad you found a good campsite. It would not be fun camping in spinerfex. I did not realise how spikey it was untill our trip through South Australia.

[@mongreldogproductions]

Yeah, there are areas out there you wanna stay clear of, especially around the WA/NT Border.

[@davidrochow9382]

You should have invited the guy with the Ural. It would be ideal for some of the really rough spots.

[@mongreldogproductions]

He would have had a ball...and maybe help pull me out if i got stuck!

[@Reimana7683]

Great adventures.

[@seandutoit9537]

stunning enjoy the challenges of these mud highways

[@mongreldogproductions]

Thanks 👍

[@michaeldallimore8590]

Looking forward to the cooking segment! You must have riden that road a few times now Steve.

[@mongreldogproductions]

More than I care to remember...the roo tail was delicious. Watch this space.

[@stuartkcalvin]

Thumbs ups, brew up, feet up. Thanks Steve.

[@mongreldogproductions]

EPS 4 out in a day or two…

[@johntucek5368]

I know about the roo tails available at the road houses on the GC road and I 100% concur with Steve. Great value and delicious. 👍

[@mongreldogproductions]

So good.

[@BruceGuley]

Great video.😊

[@mongreldogproductions]

Thank you...have you checked out the first one of this series???

[@dynamadnessadventures205]

Great video Steve ride safe

[@mongreldogproductions]

None the less...delicious!!!

[@effkay3691]

8:01 Miners. Don’t bother. Kal to Lav is like 230 clicks. 2.5 hours max

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

Mate, what an adventure, alright! It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all and help out where i could. P.S. i still feel like a fool for sending you 30 km in the wrong direction. Sorry 😅. What do you say to doing a colab adventure one day? Pick an outback destination, you on the bike, and I'll bring an old bush wreck?

[@mongreldogproductions]

Hi DJ, you’re forgiven 😂😂😂 A collaboration, yeah, maybe one day. You can carry the beer (and bring back any broken bikes). There is a Motorcycle Rally (Desert Raid) on August 9 2025 at the Shooters Shack on Lake Rason. You can expect a few bikes transitting thru Laverton on the way in or on the way out. Might call in and say gooday. 👍

[@greglipschitz]

I was just thinking yesterday, Where has Steve been? Too much time with the 1 horse powered units and lycra ;) Glad to see you're having a reasonably uneventful tour. Can't say roo tail is a delicacy I'd considered before. Love a good roo steak though. Stay safe :)

[@mongreldogproductions]

Steve is only in town long enough to produce some vids and then it is time to hit the road again. He departs on Wednesday to fly into South Korea and cycle the 4 Rivers Cycle Trail. There is no stoppin' this man. He is a machine! Thankfully, he has set up a schedule to upload once a week to keep his viewers up to date with this current Series until he returns. Thanks for watching.

[@greglipschitz]

@@mongreldogproductions And he's replying in the 3rd Person! Impressive!

[@mick00000000002]

It was last place to get fuel water supplies. Before heading to Alice's. On tar roads. So much not included

[@psyman_sez]

That's DJ from @AutomotiveKarnage. What a bloke!

[@mongreldogproductions]

Correct…good bloke to have on your/our side.

[@jf7243]

Love some of your aphorisms “sticks like shit to a blanket”, “if it can’t be fixed with a hammer, it’s electrical”. Either from experience, or you’re a widely read scholar!

[@mongreldogproductions]

@@jf7243 Gotta talk in a language that people understand😂😂😂

[@michaelatkins5480]

Chris, an echo of the Oodnadatta track, back in 2010.

[@wonkywheels103]

DRZ400: Gee that happen to me last week. Was lucky I was only 40ks from home. New seal kit, lock tight nut and 108nm. All good now. Easy job.

[@mongreldogproductions]

Nice work!

[@1Witcomb]

5:40...............'cause that's what scientists do...............love it 😊

[@mongreldogproductions]

He has a particular wit that takes some time to get use too...

[@Thumpermad]

Mate my WR450F did the same thing luckily enough I had the standard countershaft cover on and retained the nut it's just a matter of pushing the spacer back in and tightening the sprocket nut to spec and bending over the tab on the lock washer and filling her with oil. I couldn't believe how easy it was to lose all the engine oil in an instant and how easy it was to fix I'd say you sprocket nut is close by 😮😉😁☠️☠️

[@mongreldogproductions]

That nut would have come off at 80kph. It would be in the bush somewhere. Glad you were able to keep yourself moving. Thanks for watching.

[@merv190]

We were a few days behind you and those trucks were still there.

[@mongreldogproductions]

One had been abandoned...the other one still had a Driver there. He might be bleached bones by now.

[@spiideriiboii6837]

i know absolutely nothing about bikes so have no clue what thing broke and what seal failed or why your bike is bad at going through "slop" but this is fun to watch nonetheless.

[@mongreldogproductions]

Glad you're being entertained... 😀

[@brendenvosper7772]

Kal had wide streets as it was designed and had its own tram system.

[@mongreldogproductions]

I learnt later it was camel trains...go figure. Thanks for watching.

[@MichaelCairns-fv2vi]

Toms right..run low oil , carry top up nut loctite and wire...take it easy

[@MichaelCairns-fv2vi]

To be clear..there wasnt a sprocket retainer problem before the work and test ride

[@mongreldogproductions]

Correct…

[@livewire..]

What is with the "no photos" sign at the roadhouse.

[@mongreldogproductions]

My guess is that don’t want the Taxpayer to see where their money is going. 😞

[@secdetau]

Steve cooking segment roo tail or chook. 😆😆

[@mongreldogproductions]

Hahaha...roo tail this time. At least it didn't come out of a can for a change.

[@TwoTubesADV]

Getting Deja vu watching this episode for some reason. Perhaps I've been grabbing the wrong type of gear 🤔

[@mongreldogproductions]

Maybe…

[@miriam2909]

🤙🏻🏍️ awesome

[@dalewyatt1321]

I have changed the countershaft sprocket seal twice on my WR450 in 1000 k's. Thing only holds a litre and if it goes then the engine is in the bin.

[@mongreldogproductions]

It can happen in an instant.

[@mick00000000002]

You did not explain laverton. Tar to dust.

[@mick00000000002]

Laverton was the first time aboriginal die in the back of a police vehicle. Degradation.

[@isnoo1]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@jmsask]

Nothing like a bit of tail while your on a trip 🍻

[@mongreldogproductions]

Yeah...a few years ago it may have been a different scenario (not suitable for publication) lol.

[@mick00000000002]

100 million f no way mines in all locations . So all procducts are the to be use . 50 to 5 mill is there to make a road. Instanted of a mountain use for roads.

[@yorkchris10]

Looks like your going to do shake-downs the whole trip 🤐

[@mongreldogproductions]

It improves.

[@trevthetroll]

"regain your composure" wtf does that mean...change ya jocks.lol

[@mongreldogproductions]

Yes...change your jocks!

[@johnzee691]

😎👍

[@scott8581]

Dj has a youtube channel Automotive Karnage hes a wild man that rescues old cars from the bush

[@mongreldogproductions]

Correct…

[@trutherwisdom8198]

A Suzuki DR400 is not really designed for multi thousand kilometre journeys across Australia in my view. Not surprised it broke down?

[@mongreldogproductions]

Some Adv Riders travel the World...on Honda CT110 Postie Bikes. The DRZ400 is capable of travelling Australia but it wouldn't be my personal choice. At least he gave it a go...I wouldn't right him off just yet. Thanks for watching.

[@3goldfinger]

Shit can happen to any bike.

[@mongreldogproductions]

@@3goldfinger Agreed…

[@bradmark1363]

I'd say a pretty ill informed opinion, lot of people do 5 7K plus trips, all depends on if you like hard riding, ie Canning stock route Gunbarrel hwy etc etc, big bikes if solo are a pita when gravity inevitably defeats you. Simpson desert I would not want to try on a gs1250. But me and remote work, CS seal kit is carried and loctite. But as always horses for courses and depends on how you like to adventure. IMO, all bikes can fail in the harsh outback conditions. Good series mate

[@trutherwisdom8198]

​​​​​@@mongreldogproductions I have not "written the guy off", my friend. I'm sure he's a nice guy and good for him. I am saying that personally speaking, I would not choose to ride across Australia on a DR400, which is not what it was designed for. For reasons of both comfort and reliability.

[@mick00000000002]

You say laverton. Was my home for years. The fuel station did not exist when I work there. The BP was on the road about. Run by kiwis. So it's gone ? A beautiful mum. I worked for ausdrill. That was my home. For years. The publin gone then John key . Take over. John would have helped you. . Mick wollongong nsw

[@mongreldogproductions]

@@mick00000000002 The BP at the roundabout closed and moved to its current location. Something to do with the landlord from what I can gather. For the same reason the IGA closed and became part of the new Roadhouse. 😀

[@mick00000000002]

So iga closed . On me time off I help with the computer part of that store. They where friend at BP. . So sad to hear there both gone. . I appreciate your information. Back in the day. This place was alive. In laverton. ( we had race on the track. Communities races on the road. . Now the place is dead. Kiwi BP. Did you meet twins Kiwi girls. . Back in the day no thingers cop would join us pub close and share a place to party. So jump in the back of Anthony to a person in the area. No drink driving no one hurt. And we all new each other. So crime did not happen. Bring back the old day my friend. Ps you missed our on pits not used. Great for yaby. Cold water. And a bath. Next time I shoe you links. God bless hope your mate got sorted

[@mick00000000002]

I share Facebook

[@justink1075]

Just use duct tape. If that doesn’t work you’re not using enough duct tape.

[@mongreldogproductions]

What for??? The seal??? We still had 6,000km to go in the middle of Bu* F*** Nowhere. Not sure a temporary repair would have been wise. Thanks for watching.

[@ronmetcalfe5808]

Myself and a mate went through there but it was dry that was in August

[@mongreldogproductions]

We also went along that stretch early August…it can change overnight. Thanks for watching.

[@Tstud433]

CRANKCASE BREATHER. Check that it’s not blocked