The Longest Day on an Airhead. A BMW Journey of over a 1000 miles in one day on a 45year motorcycle.

My trusty airhead R45 will be making 1000 mile journey in a day to raise money for Cancer Research to raise £1000

My Story
This is for my Dad. And this is also for you. (Oh yes it is!). No one gets to a reasonable age without being touched by Cancer in one way or another. (Cancer the disease and not the star sign!).

For your pleasure on June the 21st of June I will be one of a very few people who will be taking part in a challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK, for motorcyclists on cheap and inappropriate motorcycles to ride from Land’s End to John O'Groats in under 24hrs on the longest day of the year.

The bikes must have been bought for no more than £600! I have chosen to do this challenge on a 1978 BMW R45 motorcycle that is less reliable than a British Parliamentary system deciding weather to invade a country to look for something that doesn't exist or if it's a great idea to change from one polluting fuel to another.

Riding this thing for 2000 rather slow miles will be an interesting affair considering the likelihood that at some point I may need to push it.Then again, trying to stay awake from 3am until I reach JoG 1000 odd miles later is possibly more of a challenge.

Anything at all donated will be gratefully received. You never know as one day your life could depend on it. I have chosen my donations to go to Pancreatic Cancer research. This is the cancer that took my dad in only 10months. It also took many rich an famous people like Steve Jobs and Patrick Swayze.

I'll keep you all updated on my progress by my motorcycle YouTube channel as I'll need to put in quite a few miles to make certain my arse is ready for this :) Love to everyone, (Apart from tax inspectors.) David x

[lewistaylor]

I drove from Monaco to Birmingham in a day in 2000 on an R100GS which I still own...It was the end of my camping trip to Pompeii and it poured down for the 2 weeks...There had been deaths in Italy due to the deluge...I got so pi$$ed off with it I left Monaco and thought 'sod it, I'm going home'...I was on my own...I remember following truck lights really close in the dark rain cos it was the safest way to travel...I got home at 3am...Weird thing is...I reminisce about the few dry days I had and long for another trip on same bike...

[chasingtone]

Great video, love your style! Good luck with the ride.

[Darrendoccarter]

hope it all gose well. hope you have good suport team. keep up the good work Dave.

[jeffsmith]

Thanks so much for your videos. Keep up the great work!

[jochenwagner]

Hey Sam.
Great idea, maybe I’ll wait for you in Scotland.!
Best regards,
Jo.

[ianstorey-ep]

I did this event five years ago, well done you! (on a £300 XJ600, this BM is soooo much better!) North of Inverness goes on and on... Excellent cause, great video, it'll be a great feeling when you get there!

[ihutch]

What kind of flyscreen do you have on there? Been looking for something similar!

[waynedl]

I've done the opposite on my DR350 - except we went down the west, we did touch a motorway to cross the Severn though.
We did it to raise money and awareness for male breast cancer.
Also, 'more likely to be killed by someone you know in Inverness than anywhere else in England' - I'm glad they've moved Inverness so it's closer :D

[rgbs]

Good on you fella Im living with it for now(Lymphoma) and any way of helping to eradicate it is a good thing .If you release the dates on the journey I'll try and tag along from Derbyshire up to Scotchland.
🏍💪

[jeffsmith]

I'm "like" number 42. Woot.

[ynnickschmitt]

I want to protest your statement that that Beamer is less reliable than the british parliamentary system. 😂✌

[timmit]

I Like Your R45!!! ( Why can't BMW re-introduce it as a "retro" bike?)

[dynomike]

If you set up the pay button, I'll send you a few bucks.

[kaleuclint]

Did 1000km in a day many times on my 1979 R65 — same colour. 1000 miles on an R45 is an achievement. Would not have totalled 1000 miles in the last 35 years on my R100RS. 🙁

[sillybirdy]

"and Sam Smith" I know this reaction is probably what you wanted, but that is so unnecessary. I'm transgender and love riding motorcycles. No idea why you need to do stuff like that