Trans-Americas Guinness World Record - R1150GS Adventure
| Who | Kevin & Julia Sanders ~ email ~ website |
| Profession | Motorcycle Instructor / Accountant |
| Born 1964 / 1966 | Nationality English |
| Previous travel experience | Europe, Middle East, Australia, NZ, North, Central & South America |
| Previous bike travels | As above - it was all by bike (with a little back-packing) |
| This trip | Trans-Americas Guinness World Record |
| Departure date | Aug 2003 |
| Number in group | Two-up |
| Trip duration | 35 days |
| Distance covered | 17,000 miles |
| Cost of trip (not incl. bike) | ?14,000 (we had to use hotels all the way) |
| Best day | Arriving in Ushuaia, knowing we'd got a 2nd Guinness World record (and that we did not have to set the alarm the next day!) |
| Worst/ hardest day | Around 4am on the Saddle Sore 2000 around the Grand Canyon having been on the road for 24 hours solid, with another 4 still to go until we could take our next rest. |
| Favourite place | Peru - we got married there back in 2001. It is so beautiful, deserts, jungle, mountains, mixed wuth pisco sour and Cusquena. On this ride, we just had to stick on the Pan-Am and miss the alcohol . . . . . |
| Biggest headache | Clearing customs in Caracas - it took 1 1/2 days. |
| Biggest mistake | Riding in the dark in Costa Rica and hitting a huge pothole. It buckled the back wheel and broke out six spokes. |
| Most pleasant surprise | Getting a very cheap room at the luxurious Inter-Continental Miramar Hotel Panama City, just because we bumped into the Manager at the Panamanian border. |
| Any illness | Food poisoning in Southern Argentina - lots of stuff from too many orifices . . . . |
| Other trips planned | We love South America, we're ging back to do more riding there. |
| One travel tip | Have lots of clean $1 notes in jacket pockets. Comes in handy at borders and for tips, without having to get your wallet out. |
| Bike Model | R1150GS Adventure |
| Age/ mileage on departure | 3 months / 7,000 miles |
| Modifications | Replaced the 'CAT' with Remus Y piece. |
| Mods you wish you'd done | Handle bar raisers and improved lights |
| Type of baggage | Continental TKC 80 / Metzeler Tourance |
| Tyres used | None - I run the tyres slightly lower than recommended and change before they are too low. |
| Number of punctures | BMW aluminium panniers and top box |
| Bike's weak point | A little heavy when on the rough two up. |
| Bike's strong point | Shaft drive & 6000 mile service. Proven and reliable for the job. |
| Bike problems | Never let us down. |
| Number of accidents | Only the pothole in Costa Rica |
| Same bike again? | Definitely |
| One biking tip | Get to know your bike before setting off, prepare it well and treat it better. Always check it each night. |