Simpson Desert Crossing in 1 day

[@bmwloco]

Stuck here behind a yellow freaking wall in a VW dealership in the mountains of NC in the US, this is the best thing I've seen all day. What I wouldn't give to join you... Dean, dreaming of points south. Way South.

[@bounceferret]

bloody brilliant mate, I'm trying to head across the simpson in oct, that has just given me even more inspiration to get the plans underway. Though mine will be slower, in a patrol. Cheers bud

[@huyghesvanessa6468]

nice trip ! nice guys great video!!! amazing country

[@phillgray]

Hey Dude. we carried 29.5 in the safari tanks (59 Litres). and 10 each in backpacks (20 litres). + 5 litres in a plastic oil drum Total at start 84 Litres. We finished with 18 Litres. We burnt aprox 66L in total, or 33L each. Our provisonal estimate based on what we knew the conditions to be like, and our previous visits had us using about 36Litres. Given we had 9L left each, some folks have said we went overkill. Frankly pushing the bike into Birdsville? Not interested. 9L is to close!

[@phillgray]

good luck Dennis! You lucky bugger! We had 15 tooth front sprokets for higher gearing. front suspension was prep'ed by Nick Dole at Tecknic Penrith. Rear shock spring set up for my weight but not screwed with other than that. Peter ran a Ohlins rear. We burned 33 litres in each bike.

[@olsenstoursandtraining349]

I recall meeting you guys at Poeppel Corner but don't see my convoy in your video. Did you do this two years in a row?

[@phillgray]

Hey! We only made it to Poeppel corner once! The first time we tried this 1 day thing we turned back due to equipment issues… aka we had the wrong bikes and were going to die. That was the year before. Damn this lockdown I wanna go back!

[@olsenstoursandtraining349]

@@phillgray OK cool. I'm pretty sure it was you guys we met at the corner. One of you was quickly eating something, from a can I recall. Unless there are others silly enough to attempt a 1 day crossing :-)

[@phillgray]

IF you do not have much SAND experience, you can take a quick diversion to Murray sunset country on the way there. Near Mildura. Riding around here over the sand dunes will give you a real good head start in dealing with the desert.

[@iamskoza]

Gday i am planning to do this trip aug2010 I have just bought a 92 dr650 and a 97 xr600 and i am trying to decide which bike to do it on. we will be riding from vic there and back. we will have a landcruiser as a support vehicle too just in case and to cart the missus in whilst the boys ride. How much fuel did you use on the dr650 and do you recomend the lighter xr600 to do the trip on?

[@phillgray]

Giday mate. Me thinking about going back next year to. For the hayriver track. Love it out there. Heavy vs light? Electirc leg vs kick start? If you have good sand technique you will not be picking your bike up to much so a heavy bike will be ok. But then again if it falls over you don't want to be trying to kick it all day long. Both these bikes will get you across the Frenchline without a drama. I would verge on the XR because I've picked upa 230KG KTM out there. And nearly died trying

[@gregj1234]

Good work boys!!!!!

[@MotoPassport]

Awesome stuff gents! crackn vid!!!

[@OldOzy]

Hi, nice video. just did this same trip myself... on a postie bike though. took me 2 days east 2 west.

[@dennispollack9270]

Looks fantatic I want to do this in july this year have recently bought a drz400 what did you do to set it up and how much fuel did you use

[@phillgray]

Thanks Chris, if you want to get a good feel for the desert, travel to Alice Springs, then head south or east, or west or north!!! ok, south is better, east or west is pretty much the same. Bloody stunning... enjoy OZ mate, I am a tourist myself (kiwi) and I can't get enough of it.

[@osimnod]

Great work, fellas. You both obviously have plenty of prior sand riding experience and fortunate for no rain to muddy the tracks. Excellent planning in all regards. The DRZ's performed as expected - reliable as a stone axe. Did you need to lower your tire pressures at any point to gain better traction? Tires used - Dunlop, Pirelli, Golden Tyre?

[@phillgray]

Hi Osimnod. We did drop our tyre pressures, running rim locks back and front. Our tyres were Bridgestones as I recall, ED78 rear, its the toughest tyre I know of, 6 ply in the walls. Heavy but never had a puncture with that and a Extra heavy duty tube. Front I believe was the ED78, again tough as nails. Phill

[@phillgray]

Hey Loco!! Theres enough sand for everyone outback mate. Just a question of how much you want.... great to hear from you, glad I could make your day brighter.

[@450hp202turbo]

hay phill was that 59lt per bike? 35 lt sarfari tanks? were did you guys put the other 25lt fuel?

[@phillgray]

I think even without an accident we could have been in trouble. Only afterward to you really understand the conditions. This is a desert, one crossing to the next can be very very different. This was no exception with a south easterly two day sand storm making both sides of the dunes soft. That and the sand west of peopple was diabolical. If those conditions extended another 50km we would have burnt another 3-4L. Let alone at least an hour on the clock... But. I'll go back tomorrow! :)

[@Motoguzzi750]

Bateau Bay??? Gday from a fellow Central Coaster (Pt Clare) now living in the UK...

[@follettazzo]

2 weeks ago i made my trip from Cairns to cape melville, simply amazing, but to much rain to go until cape york...damn! they tell me that's the wrong season to go, but damn, that's was the only period that i have! maybe i will return in Aussie, i d really like to do Perth-uluru, someone tell me that's a grat desert road...or better Perth-Broome!! but fuck, it's necessary to much time, and the flight ticket is really expensive from Italy! in any case congratulation mates, grat job!!

[@phillgray]

Thanks dude!! we planning another trip this year... hopefully more dirty video's to come!!

[@djolsentours]

Met you guys at Peoppel corner.

[@justgjt]

What time of the year is best for a crossing ?

[@tosgem]

justgjt the height of summer

[@KyleNelson279]

No paddle tires???

[@phillgray]

Hey Kyle, the run in from Mt Dare to the desert proper is about 130km of dirt road and clay pans. Not sure my bum is up to a the pounding I'd get from a paddle time in that distance!

[@KyleNelson279]

Phill Gray Lol, im suprised your still responding to comments.. 6 YEARS later!

[@phillgray]

Kyle Nelson I Know! Surprise myself to. Gotta go back and give it another shot some time!

[@samuellamont3971]

how many litre across in the end

[@phillgray]

Hey Samuel, we burnt about 28 Litres As I recall.

[@samuellamont3971]

thanks mate so the 28l tank could do it but maybe have another 10 some where

[@phillgray]

Hi Samual, I've checked my notes and we finished with 18Litres from 81. About 9 in each bike. so we used 31. I can not recall if we included the extra 5 we had in oil drums in that 81. so I'd allocate 36l. Phill

[@samuellamont3971]

thanks phill gray for your help

[@phillgray]

Samuel we carried 10 litre jerry cans in our back packs, which if you look at the video you can see makes them look massive. and a 5 Litre oil bottle with fuel. We dumped the oil bottle at Dalhousie springs dump before dawn. I've seen you can get some real nice small fuel bladders these days. I'd be using one or two of those as they fit in backpack or onto your luggage rack much easier than the jerry cans.

[@phillgray]

thanks!

[@follettazzo]

Crazyyyyy!!!

[@phillgray]

Thanks Dude! Next time we are going to plan something more crazy!! but we gotta build up to it. ;)

[@ttbf]

SDCC eh? I'm aiming for 2010.

[@450hp202turbo]

spot on info there ! phill yes no pushing 9lt mabe an over kill .but better safe the sorry .. one wrong turn? even know its well signed you just never know what could happed! i see sticks go through fuel tanks.

[@williamjr.perlas8441]

i think i need a dr400

[@hamish2202]

awesome bikes are top shit you'd never do that in a 4wd

[@braddlesnake]

Needs better music ;-)