Royal Enfield Himalayan Riders successfully reach Antarctica

After years of planning and testing, the brave duo of Santhosh Vijay Kumar and Dean Coxson reached the geographical South Pole by motorcycle. Ambitious dreams The reality of December 16, 2021. In this attempt, announced just a few months ago, two modified Himalayan motorcycles fought extreme temperatures, ice and snow, and reached the southernmost tip of the globe in 15 days.

The Royal Enfield-sponsored rider embarked on a four-day acclimatization journey from Cape Town to Novo, Antarctica. From Novo, Kumar and Coxson covered a land distance of 3200 km (1988 miles) by truck in the next nine days, just reaching the starting point for their ride. On the way to the Ross Ice Shelf, the team endured extreme weather while camping at temperatures from -30 ° to -25 ° C (-22 ° to -13 ° F) and wind speeds of 60 km / h (37 mph). ..

Two lightly modified Himalayan models were selected for the expedition to Antarctica.

The Ross Ice Shelf was designated as the starting point for the rider, but an unexpected blizzard forced the team to change course. Instead of starting at 86 degrees south, the team started boarding 400 km (250 miles) from 87 degrees south. Despite some initial obstacles and minor detours, the expedition team completed its quest to reach Antarctica by motorcycle in 15 days, three days longer than originally planned.

How did they do it?

The changes included a smaller countershaft sprocket (15-13 teeth) to increase low-end torque and a more powerful alternator to support the heated gear.

During this expedition, two Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycles were modified in-house and upgraded to navigate snow and ice and operate in the highlands and cold of Antarctica. In September 2020 and July 2021, each bike underwent extensive “real-world testing” on Iceland’s Langjokull to enable the Himalayas to respond to missions. Changes and final adjustments were made based on feedback from previous test teams. Departure for Antarctica.

Studded tires, tubeless setups, and low tire pressure can do a lot only while riding in the snow.

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Minimal changes consisted of a smaller countershaft sprocket (15-13 teeth) to increase low-end torque and a more powerful alternator to allow the team to run heated gear. .. Studded tires are used in tubeless setups and low tire pressure to increase buoyancy in soft snow and traction on hard ice. In situations where the snow was too deep to cross, the team also brought an adjustable ski that bolted to the front fork.

To reduce the extra weight, the motorcycle center stand and headlamp unit (Antarctica is exposed to 24 hours of sunlight in the summer) have been removed. Large “feet” were attached to the side stands to prevent them from sinking in the snow, and the rear brake pedals were moved back for easy access with heavy off-road boots. For safety, all electrical equipment is waterproof with silicone grease and heat shrink sealed.

To reduce drag and fuel consumption, the motorcycle rode a compact snow truck placed by support vehicles from the Ross Ice Shelf to Antarctica. As part of the #LeaveEveryPlaceBetter initiative, Royal Enfield also wanted to ensure that this pristine landscape had no footprints other than a bicycle wheel truck that quickly disappeared in the snow. All waste, including human waste, is taken back for proper disposal.

Final stretch

The team completed their journey across Antarctica and arrived in Antarctica on a motorcycle on December 16th.

After flagging the Antarctic and sending words by satellite phone, the team continued trekking through the snow towards the Union Glacier towards the western part of Antarctica. From there they fly to Punta Arenas, Chile, and eventually go home.

https://ift.tt/3ePzcQ5 Royal Enfield Himalayan Riders successfully reach Antarctica

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