Give us your list of Top 5 All Time Dakar Competitors, and why...

Here's mine;
5th - Jean-Louis Schlesser, responsible for building his own 2WD Buggy (Solo Car, no co-driver/navigator), multiple winner of The Dakar in his class. His Buggy design has become synonymous with the Dakar.

4th - Jacky Ickx, an amazing race car driver, with 6 LeMans Wins, 1 Dakar Win, 1 Bathurst Win (in Aus obviously!), and multile F1GP Wins with Ferrari and Brabham, plus seasons with Lotus, etc. Jacky is 7th on the list of all time Dakar Stage Wins. He won Dakar in a Merc G-Class 4x4, and later raced a few Dakars in a Porsche 911.

3rd - Stephane Peterhansel - a fantastic competitor, 1st in The Dakar on many levels... Multiple wins in Bikes first, then Cars. 1st on the list of all time stage wins. Stephane only comes in at 3rd for me, because he later victories have come with heavy financial backing with major Factory Teams. The guy's in the 1980's had to work much harder to gain their victories.

2nd - Ari Vatanen, originally a Rally Car Driver, and is responsible for helping invent and popularise the "Scadanavian Flick", a specific rally maneuver coming from the Finn's, in the ice, but was also translated onto dirt/gravel, and then tarmac. Ari won about 5 Dakars, and had his Car stolen one year while leading, and probably would have claimed 6 titles. He's 3rd on the list of all time Stage Wins at Dakar. A true professional, gentleman, and accomplished driver in many different vehicles.

1st - Marc Coma, I'm a Coma fan, not a Cyril Despres fan! But Marc & Cyril could be equal 1st! (In my book!)... These days, the Motorbike Class is very even, provided you are running a KTM of course!! I think a Dakar Win on a Bike is a greater achievement than in a Car, or Buggy, Quad, or Truck. I think Marc might just pip Cyril once their careers are over, and done!... We will have to wait and see!


The notable guys not in my Top 5... Nani Roma, Cyril Despres, Edi Orioli, and Carlos Sainz.
2nd on the list of all time stage winners is Vladimir Chagin in the Trucks Class.

Here.. http://www.skullysystems.com/heads-up-display-motorcycle-helmet-beta/

Looking to purchase a brand new bike for the first time ( Previously only bought 2nd hand dirt bikes ) and was wondering what the best way to go about it is in regards to haggling on the price and not buying locally or buying locally so I have someone to take it back to and whinge at when things go wrong that aren't suppose too! Any other pointers would be greatly appreciated!!

Well, it goes witout saying that basically 99% of wife's don't want their partners to get a motorcycle... And it also goes witout saying that 99% of guys want a motorcycle.

So, with that said.. who out there has a bike and what does their partner think of it ?Was it a long battle to convince them of the idea??

Here's a pic of my near new 2012 KTM 450 Enduro.




(Disclosure, this is a brochure picture!)


It's the current model, effectively, bar a few little cosmetic differences. Saved 25%... Mine is ex-demo with 400km. I was finding it hard to justify the cost of a Brand New one! Plus, I told myself that I must first sell the old one!