Anyone seen "Long Way Round"?

wild-bill · January 6th, 2011, 07:22 PM

A co worker told me about the 10 episode series. So I rented the DVDs from Netflix. Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor ride from London to New York the long way-east on dual sports supplied by BMW. In Mongolia and eastern Russia the route is very challenging-gravel, sand, mud, river crossings....just 'cause a road is on a map doesn't mean it's paved.

When they get to Magadan Russia, the bikes are flown to Alaska. They continue through Canada and the US to New York-almost 20,000 miles.

After seeing the series, I decided I want to do an adventure like this even though much of it was very difficult. To see places that look like you've went back in time a few decades would be exciting-people using animals for transportation, farm animals... And much of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and eastern Russia is almost unpopulated.

gfloyd2002 · January 6th, 2011, 07:39 PM

Great series. Also did a follow up called Long Way Down, though I haven't seen that one yet. Long Way Around really enjoyable, McGregor a very likeable guy and a pretty darn decent motorcyclist. He's talking about doing a third series - with his dog in a sidecar. Not looking forward to that.

Some parts of Asia, you go back more than a few decades when you travel. People living as they have for hundreds, even thousands of years. Was fortunate to get to travel around China during my last posting before Barbados. Some amazing culture and people. Always good to stretch one's mind and see the world.

Motorcycle adventure riding the only thing I regret about the Ninjette - not well set up for it. I've been eyeing an BMW F800 to supplement the 250r if I ever get off of an enclosed island and somewhere I can really tour . . .

Alex · January 6th, 2011, 10:15 PM

Liked both series, but I preferred the first one (round, not down).

I do wonder if KTM is still kicking themselves for pulling their sponsorship at the last moment and BMW getting all that exposure.

wild-bill · January 6th, 2011, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

I do wonder if KTM is still kicking themselves for pulling their sponsorship at the last moment and BMW getting all that exposure.

I hope so. After I saw that part, I just don't seem to like KTM bikes as much as I did before that moment.

Rexbo · January 6th, 2011, 11:45 PM

Its funny, the best lessons you can draw from those series were "pack less **** and get the lightest moto you can". Half their problems stemmed from 800 lb bikes with tons of stuff on them!

HKr1 · January 7th, 2011, 06:10 AM

Never heard of it...... gonna have to check it out

seis gunnar · January 7th, 2011, 09:12 AM

I saw 'Around a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I have been meaning to see 'Down. I had heard about the 3rd too, with his dog, and for some reason I think I saw it was out already. Don't hold me to that. It's pretty hazy.

bluepoof · January 7th, 2011, 11:50 AM

There's a funny parody on YouTube called "Ewan and Thingy" -- Nine ~3 minute episodes.

Here's the first one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xorQyl121I

Some of them are really funny.

KJohnson21 · January 7th, 2011, 01:49 PM

Loved "Long Way Round"!

Then there's "Race to Dakar", that has Charley Boorman training and participating in one of the most difficult races on the planet.

"Long Way Down" is next in my queue.

mikesova · January 8th, 2011, 08:07 AM

We got the first Dvd of Longway Round from Netflix...it was pretty boring and I didn't want to put my wife through the rest of it. Maybe someday, I'll finish it. I just picked up the book for Longway Down. If it's any good, that might be my motivation.

wild-bill · January 8th, 2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikesova

We got the first Dvd of Longway Round from Netflix...it was pretty boring and I didn't want to put my wife through the rest of it. Maybe someday, I'll finish it. I just picked up the book for Longway Down. If it's any good, that might be my motivation.

The first 2 episodes are kinda boring. They don't leave until near the end of the second episode. And going through Europe is not very exciting-good paved roads. When Ewan and Charley get to the Ukraine border, it gets much better. Keep watching.

RaceBikeRentals · January 8th, 2011, 07:09 PM

For Long Way Round, if you want to buy the series.... buy the extended version from Amazon Canada. Its an extra disc or 2 in length.

noche_caliente · January 8th, 2011, 08:42 PM

If you enjoyed that, you would probably love the BAM Road ride report on ADVrider: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533442

HKr1 · January 25th, 2011, 11:13 AM

Some channel called "current tv" had the first six episodes on. I just happened to see the name on the guide, so we checked it out. First two hours were kinda stupid, talking, setting up shop, getting tons of free stuff.
They finaly took off on the trip in the 3rd episode. Was pretty cool seeing different countries..... Last 4 were on 10-2am, so we dvr'ed them, good thing too. To many dam commercials

Anyway, was funny seeing the big pot of nuts

They were just about to hit that "bones road" in russia.
Hope that channel plays the rest, atleast so we can see them make it to Alaska. After that, I dont really care what happens

January 6th, 2011, 07:22 PM	#1
wild-bill seeking twisties Name: Bill Location: Houston, TX Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): '07 Ninja 650R, '09 250R special edition Posts: 199	Anyone seen "Long Way Round"? A co worker told me about the 10 episode series. So I rented the DVDs from Netflix. Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor ride from London to New York the long way-east on dual sports supplied by BMW. In Mongolia and eastern Russia the route is very challenging-gravel, sand, mud, river crossings....just 'cause a road is on a map doesn't mean it's paved. When they get to Magadan Russia, the bikes are flown to Alaska. They continue through Canada and the US to New York-almost 20,000 miles. After seeing the series, I decided I want to do an adventure like this even though much of it was very difficult. To see places that look like you've went back in time a few decades would be exciting-people using animals for transportation, farm animals... And much of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and eastern Russia is almost unpopulated. __________________________________________________ Bill

January 6th, 2011, 07:39 PM	#2
gfloyd2002 User Title Free Since '12 Name: Floyd Location: Barbados Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): '10 Ninja 250R Special Edition Green Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 13 MOTM - Feb '12	Great series. Also did a follow up called Long Way Down, though I haven't seen that one yet. Long Way Around really enjoyable, McGregor a very likeable guy and a pretty darn decent motorcyclist. He's talking about doing a third series - with his dog in a sidecar. Not looking forward to that. Some parts of Asia, you go back more than a few decades when you travel. People living as they have for hundreds, even thousands of years. Was fortunate to get to travel around China during my last posting before Barbados. Some amazing culture and people. Always good to stretch one's mind and see the world. Motorcycle adventure riding the only thing I regret about the Ninjette - not well set up for it. I've been eyeing an BMW F800 to supplement the 250r if I ever get off of an enclosed island and somewhere I can really tour . . . __________________________________________________ "Improvement makes straight roads, but the crooked roads without improvement, are roads of genius." — William Blake

January 6th, 2011, 10:15 PM	#3
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Liked both series, but I preferred the first one (round, not down). I do wonder if KTM is still kicking themselves for pulling their sponsorship at the last moment and BMW getting all that exposure. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

January 7th, 2011, 11:50 AM	#8
bluepoof ninjette.org sage Name: Carolyn Location: San Carlos, CA Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250, 2002 Yamaha XT225 Posts: 597	There's a funny parody on YouTube called "Ewan and Thingy" -- Nine ~3 minute episodes. Here's the first one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xorQyl121I Some of them are really funny. __________________________________________________ www.bluepoof.com

January 7th, 2011, 01:49 PM	#9
KJohnson21 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Ken Location: Indio, CA Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Kawasaki EX250 "Yoshi", '99 Kawasaki Concours "Grace", '06 Concours "Belle", '06 Yamaha YZF600R "Slick" Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 3	Loved "Long Way Round"! Then there's "Race to Dakar", that has Charley Boorman training and participating in one of the most difficult races on the planet. "Long Way Down" is next in my queue. __________________________________________________ < ATGATT > Sweat you can wipe off, Road rash you can't. HEY!! Unregistered!! Does your bike have a name?

January 6th, 2011, 11:45 PM	#5
Rexbo CVMA / AFM / M1GP #250 Name: Steve Location: Los Angeles Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r, 2011 Zero S, 2009 KLR 650 Posts: A lot.	Its funny, the best lessons you can draw from those series were "pack less **** and get the lightest moto you can". Half their problems stemmed from 800 lb bikes with tons of stuff on them!

January 7th, 2011, 06:10 AM	#6
HKr1 IC2(SW) Name: Kerry Location: Pensacola Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot.	Never heard of it...... gonna have to check it out

January 7th, 2011, 09:12 AM	#7
seis gunnar ninjette.org member Name: Jon Location: St Paul/ Somewhere on the blue marble Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '09 250R SE Lime Green Posts: 48	I saw 'Around a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I have been meaning to see 'Down. I had heard about the 3rd too, with his dog, and for some reason I think I saw it was out already. Don't hold me to that. It's pretty hazy.

January 8th, 2011, 08:07 AM	#10
mikesova ninjette.org member Name: Mike Location: Gladwin, MI Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2002 XR200r Posts: 128	We got the first Dvd of Longway Round from Netflix...it was pretty boring and I didn't want to put my wife through the rest of it. Maybe someday, I'll finish it. I just picked up the book for Longway Down. If it's any good, that might be my motivation.

January 8th, 2011, 07:09 PM	#12
RaceBikeRentals Pimpin Name: Richard Location: Ninja 250 Whorehouse Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): Bunch of em Posts: 973	For Long Way Round, if you want to buy the series.... buy the extended version from Amazon Canada. Its an extra disc or 2 in length. __________________________________________________ -Richard MotoList.com <<<List your stuff!

January 8th, 2011, 08:42 PM	#13
noche_caliente ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Kim Location: mundo de ensueño Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 250 Posts: A lot.	If you enjoyed that, you would probably love the BAM Road ride report on ADVrider: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533442 __________________________________________________ Progrip tank pad, blue rim stripes, blue Pazzos, Roaring Toyz lowering kit, Puig DB in dark smoke, Cortech sport tail, super mini tank, and saddlebags, OES swingarm spools and Intuitive frame sliders

January 25th, 2011, 11:13 AM	#14
HKr1 IC2(SW) Name: Kerry Location: Pensacola Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot.	Some channel called "current tv" had the first six episodes on. I just happened to see the name on the guide, so we checked it out. First two hours were kinda stupid, talking, setting up shop, getting tons of free stuff. They finaly took off on the trip in the 3rd episode. Was pretty cool seeing different countries..... Last 4 were on 10-2am, so we dvr'ed them, good thing too. To many dam commercials Anyway, was funny seeing the big pot of nuts They were just about to hit that "bones road" in russia. Hope that channel plays the rest, atleast so we can see them make it to Alaska. After that, I dont really care what happens

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
[motogp.com] - Laverty: "An opportunity I have been waiting a long time for"	Ninjette Newsbot	Motorcycling News	0	December 19th, 2014 06:30 AM
FS: Long Way Down: Complete TV Series (DVD) tagged "motorcycle" 15 times	Amazon Postbot	Amazon - Popular Motorcycling Items	0	April 23rd, 2013 04:52 PM
FS: Long Way Round (DVD) tagged "motorcycle" 27 times	Amazon Postbot	Amazon - Popular Motorcycling Items	0	April 23rd, 2013 04:52 PM
FS: Long Way Round: Collector's Edition Box Set (DVD) tagged "motorcycle" 37 times	Amazon Postbot	Amazon - Popular Motorcycling Items	0	April 23rd, 2013 04:52 PM
[topix.net] - "The Fonz", "Ralph Malph" & "Potsie" are giving away Fonzie's motorcycl	Ninjette Newsbot	Motorcycling News	0	August 16th, 2012 04:30 PM