SIMPSON DESERT CROSSING (SOLO & UNSUPPORTED) DRZ400E 

My son and I were planning a bike ride adventure together but he sadly died in 2018 at 25 years old of bowel cancer , never stop what your doing brother life’s too short to look back and say I should have done that ! Once I get my Drz 400 and kit it up I’m off and I will take something of my sons with on the trip that way he comes along too ! Once again love ya work buddy

Hey Mate! Letting you know I just got home from crossing the Simpson along the French line and noticed your dads photo/memento on the back of the board at Poeppels corner. Thought I’d let you know he is still there and leave a comment 😊👍

That was super good to watch, good effort mate; RIP salmon, gloves & milk.

Going solo is risky, but no risk no fun. Did it in 99 on a XT 600. Thanks for the video, it got me back 25 years.

Great video. Looks like a hell of a ride!

Took a lot of balls and courage to go for solo unsupported, and from apprentice to "master adventurer"you earned every grain of respect, cheers mate.

What a great ride my friend! Enjoyed the honesty and the scenery. Stay safe

Passed you on the way Lance. Job well done on completing the crossing. Kate was a couple hours behind you, also solo on a DRZ400E. We passed her again on our return from Mt. Dare - amazing that she was ticking a solo return crossing off her bucket list.

GOOD ONYA for having a go admire you living the dream !!! at 67 been riding for 50yrs but i think this dream has passed me by Bugger :)

Your attitude while riding is where it’s at. Keep on riding and enjoying your adventures. Thank you for the great content

great work mate! this vid still inspires me to get out there, rediscover my love for motorcyckling again and find the confidence. Thank you for doing this for us!

Great trip son! Just goes to show you don't need a drone to make an epic video. Video, editing and commentary was spot on. Congratulations!!

Well done mate, your dad would be proud of ya 😊 i start my Simpson desert trip on Saturday. Im doing east to west though. Great content, I really enjoy your vids 😉👌

Gutsy effort Lance, I loved the honest commentary and congratulations on crossing solo & unsupported.

That little Suzuki and the tyres did a remarkable job.

Very good effort, kudos to you. The little DRZ400 goes well, you and the luggage is a fare load.

When I do this crossing I'm going to attach training wheels. Great vid with solid advice especially for us middle aged out of shape guys that were thinking a massive BMW would be practical when the reality is smaller is better

Awesome to see you do it solo and show what it's really like. Your video has put my mind at ease a bit for completing my own solo crossing next year.

Watching your ride from Canada. I love how you put it altogether. Well done mate. I am a kiwi living in Canada. Your riding in Australia is very different from riding in Canada. I ride a 2014 DR650 and love it. Thanks mate Kiwi Dave.

Wow! Good on ya! I have no delusions of ever attempting something like that trip but it was really cool to watch you. I totally understand your constant attempt to go faster than you should. You just want to get it done! Get there and be finished! That endless nowhere feeling has to be overwhelming? And dropping a few times and the gear shifting around has to wear on your patience and nerves. Great ride and no BS about your feelings made the video honest and real. Well done!

Great achievement. Something very special about desert landscapes. Very envious!😂

G’Day Lance As bike riders ourselves, we only know too well what a great sense of achievement you must have felt crossing the Simpson solo. Great photography and your commentary is so down to earth with no BS, frills or false bravado. Just got back from crossing the Simpson Desert ourselves(in 4WD’s)and letting you know we stumbled across the touching momento to your late father at Poeppel’s. He’s still there amongst the beautiful landscape. As bike riders ourselves, we hope your dream to travel that road again with your children comes true. Those we have once loved don't just go away, if you so desire, they walk beside us in our hearts and memories forever.” TRJ

I wish Suzuki would import the Australian version with all the factory extras they put on the version offered to you guys. Im a die hard DRZ fan. Been riding for 35 years, mostly was road raving crotch rockets im the 90's. Going to police chases and getting into trouble. Only got into dual sporting in 2012 when i bought first dual sport....2011 DRZ400S. I have out over 50,000 miles on her and have given her a few massive make overs to the point other guys with DRZ's dont even realize its a DRZ anymore. Over 50,000 miles and my only real issues were super easy fixed, like the "free power mod", yep, fixed the charging issue around 20,000 miles. The other issue i ran into was 2 valves wore out at 50,000 miles. Swapped em out and just keeps on going. Check it out if you want on my recenlty started channel. Pretty sweet DRZ

Unbelievable mate, hats off to you! That is almost western Australian dirt riding. That sand is evil I’m feeling your pain Speed is your friend… Not fun… At least it softens the blow

Great video man. Very well presented

Fantastic story so well told ! Congratulations on achieving your goal, and one of the best things about your story telling is your honesty....I really respected how you described the difficulties of the trip, how tough the riding was, at times tedious, monotonous, often adventure riding contains these elements but for some reason ( probably pride and ego ) riders often only focus on the positive, pleasurable parts of the adventure...your commentary showed the viewer lots of the emotions experienced in the bike, credit to you, video footage was sensational, a real live sensation of being on the bike thru the dunes....without the muscle tiredness and cramping and dehydration and heat and sweat and sand ! 10 / 10, brilliant

What a great ride. Awesome. Alone and unsupported.

Mate thanks for showing what it's actually like out there.. Great effort getting out there..

Hey mate, just watched the whole trip and the crossing.... if i see ya out and about in brisbane im buying you a beer!! be great to hear the storys

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I laughed many times at your commentary. My 2 favourites; got stuck under your bike "that was fucked" and "that's 500ks done. Its been shit". Fucken classic. Congrats mate, sold effort. There's something hypnotic about watching people ride these sandy tracks..

Well done on the brave solo adventure I've done it supported in a tour on a DRZ and I can tell you it's the most fun I've had on a bike...very different to your experience...I take my hat off to you

30:09 My only advice is when approaching the summit of a steep grade, get your downshift done before the top so that the bike has the right grunt to pull through on the other side. I know this just because supremely soft sandy hills are literally my specialty haha. Cheers from Florida 🤙🏼✌🏼

Great acheivement. Humbling too.

Absolutely brilliant

Wow what a journey you had. Amazing story teller. Your humble, vulnerable and honest way to tell your experience riding the Simpson inspiring me to go solo too.

just watched this again love it keep safe mate

Crossing the Simpson and I lost me milk and salmon....said almost no one ever lol. Love it! Thanks for taking us along.

What a cracking video. I'm just st the very start of my motorcycle life. Hope I get some proper adventures in like yourself. 👍🏻

Well done nothing like type 2 fun 🙌

Good stuff !! crossed the Simpson east to west as part of a complete east west crossing ( Brisbane to Perth) about 10 years ago on my KTM640 it had rained in the weeks leading up to the ride and all the clay pans were flooded so had to divert around them. Ran out of fuel and had to bum some of some campers at Dalhousie. Good times.

It’s a great ride. It’s amazing how quick the bike stops in the sand.

Great achievement - well done. Ship your bike to South Africa and come do the Namib desert with me

Great vid...good honest footage and commentary. Congrats on the achievement.

Bloody brilliant! Massive congrats to you for going solo and unsupported.Your video brings back fantastic memories of crossing in a Jeep way back in 1997. Now looking forward to doing it on my bike. Love the outback, the isolation and the vast open landscape just energises my soul. I know you had a tight schedule, but I can’t help thinking you would have really enjoyed it if you took more time. Awesome video and adventure mate, top stuff!

Awesome, just gave me a challenge to do the Simpson great achievement

Cracking video mate 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Great video, awesome narration, “the dessert stole from me” well done Lance. You are a very fit man so that in itself worked well with the bike for a solo crossing.

All the dune tops turn because the 4x4 vehicles come over the crest and can see nothing over the bonnet and panic then turn their wheels which chops up the track and stuffs it up for everyone else. Two guys did it end to end twice in one day, Birdsville to Mt Dare and back on DRZ400's. Water, fuel and bags of snakes and jelly beans.

Fantastic story. I have crossed the Simpson 3 times but in a 4x4, doing it much easier that a bike,.Well done!

Good on ya Lance .That was great to watch.Being 59yrs old and unfit this is about as close as I'll ever get to riding the Simpson.

Hi Really enjoyed watching that. I crossed from birdsville to mt dare in 2007, I was on a ttr600, I had not really set out to do it by myself, but ended up going solo, like you I was grossly overload, and it was damn hot, this was in late March, I really enjoyed myself, did not see that many people, and saw one group of bikes who were a lot faster than me. Would love to go back. Well done, you certainly earned your stripes with that little adventure....

Well done mate. It IS hard and IS rewarding. I want to do it again!

Great to watch, well done.

What a wild adventure! That sugar sand sure takes a lot out of ya. My terrain in Florida is a lot like that -- sandy beach with pine trees all in it haha. Awesome vid and I've subscribed! Thanks for uploading. Cheers from Tampa Bay 🌴🤙🏼

Awesome...thanks for posting from queensland Australia 💯💯💯💯

great video mate :)

Well done👍 It's on my bucket list.

Top effort man, would love to do that one day, not got the balls to do it alone though! Respect your positive attitude to soldier on. 👍

Bravo, great video.

Brilliant! The swearing alone told me how tough it must've been! I was there vicariously! One day, Mr. Phipps, One day!

Fantastic achievement.Thanks for sharing the experience.

I have ridden sports bikes all my life, currently a Hayabusa. love 4wd & camping but lately have been looking at a new DRZ400E to do some off the track adventures, on my own or with friends either way i would be happy to enjoy the adventure. Searching reviews on the DRZ400E and found your videos. I have just finished watching them all and would have to say well done on all aspects of the videos. Loved the video on the blue mountains as that is where i live so can go play after work. Look forward to seeing more of your videos. Great work.

This series was quite good, watched the other video first, but i must say you did a very good job, almost makes me want to do it lol.

Good on you Lance Your Dad would be Very Proud Mate Great Easement Lance enjoy with your Family Buddy

Yer a trooper mate! If yer ever in Canada and wanna do a cool adventure, please let me know! I have an '05 drz400e and not once has failed or disappointed through mountains or plains. Great job and impressive.

Outstanding trip man !!! Great vid, hats off to ya!! Good job! Your friend in Texas, John.

Mate I watched that from start to finish and absolutely loved it! I’m in the market to buy a drz400 as my first bike and to do adventures on. You’ve sold me wholeheartedly on the drz400 with this adventure, that is unreal man. I was so stoked for you!

I will never ride the Simpson. I have ridden Big Red from the Birdsville end on a unladen bike and dropped it 3 times in the sand. Most enjoyable content I have seen almost felt like I was there. Just great.

Awesome blog well done

Well done 👏 from Ireland

Great work loved the vid 👍

Well done thanks for your honesty.

Well done mate, thoroughly enjoyed the video. Given me something to plan. Don't think I'll do it solo though 👍👍

Congrats on that achievement I've wanting to do it unsupported, there been quite a few people on drz crossing solo 👍👍👍

Great job mate.

Best thing lve seen on RU-vid in ages Grats top post...

Awesome

Well done dude !!

Goodday to you just stumbled across your trips well dun to you once my arm operation is dun i would be nice to go on a few trips my second stride is a WR250 set up for single forestry trips stay safe

Your excellent videos relived my group crossings in 2016 (West/East) and 2019 (East/West), both supported. Your colorful commentary reminded me of my swearing and cursing and exhaustion. I was aboard a well setup KTM690 in the company of DR's, DRZ's etc. The 690 is good for me and my size and weight. But bugger me, how good were those DRZ's. They really are an amazingly capable and reliable machine.

Wel 'll done mate. Great achievement, looks like a tough ride but you done it. Makes me feel like doing it...

Awesome episode mate.. love it. We had our ride in August postponed until May next year. Can't wait. Love the Simpson 👍🇦🇺

bloody legend mate! what an adventure!!!

Great job mate. It’s on my bucket list to ride across but with a few other guys and over a few days.

Outstanding trip man!!!! Hats off to ‘ya! Good job,enjoyed the vid! Your friend in Texas, John.

Well done mate, real honest from your eye view of your crossing. Havent done the Simpson but this offers inspiration...5star

Oh yeah, been waiting for this. Looking forward to it after work.👍

awesome adventure mate....thanks for doing this and sharing it with us.

I'm having a laugh at the moment and I shouldn't be but , the words let it be over 😆. I know those words well over the years riding bikes long distances .I know it'an old vid but well done bud 👍.

"not like the beach".... 😂😂 classic. Good on ya mate.

Awesome!, you could be proud indeed. Well filmed too and narrated to feel the pain and joy with you. Well done 👍👏

Interesting vid, as you found out getting pinned by the bike is a real danger when riding solo, happen to me but I only had to wait 15mins for a mate to catch up. The first day fully loaded is the hardest on the dunes and we made slow progress, the sand dries through the day. Next day with a bit less fuel and water and firmer sand from the dew it was much easier. Very busy out there during the season. You can cross that off the list. Yeah solo is good but if you have a breakdown even if someone comes along you'll likely be leaving the bike behind. Also with multiple people on same bike you can share some thing like spares and tools.

Awesome ride mate, and testimony to the mighty DRZ 😎👍 Will be adding one to my gaurage soon to keep the DR650 happy. Great trip, cheers for sharing 👍

Very cool! Cheers from California!

Superb mate, absolutely superb.

Such an awesome adventure mate, top effort! I keep coming back every month or so and rewatching. Maybe I'll give it a crack next year 🤔

Nice work mate!!!

Mate that was awesome your a champ

Top effort..............I think I need a drz in my life too.

I had the same lack of stopping power on the DRZ 400 when fully loaded. I changed the disc size from 280 to 320mm. A word of caution though. When riding unloaded, it is too grabby. I rode the Simpson on a DR350 in a group of 4 riders with two 4WD support vehicles ( East -West). One issue we found is that you still need to carry food and water because we got hours out in front of the support vehicles. Those crashes in the deep sand reminded me of my accident in the Little Desert. I broke my leg and damaged my neck. I was lucky and only got a minor case of central cord syndrome, which is why anyone over 40 should wear a neck brace when riding.