AMAL member Steve Koch participated at the SeekerRaid 2000 this summer. Here's what he experienced during the rallye:
This summer, I participated in the SeekerRaid in Bosnia and Montenegro. It’s an "Adventure Raid" with over 80% off-road routes for motorcycles built before 2000. I rode my 1992 DR650, which I had "prepared" a bit (shorter gearing, new suspension), knowing that the terrain there would be rougher than here. The raid itself lasted six days, covering a total distance of around 1000 km. You had to arrange your own food and accommodation. The "base camp" was at a campsite each night, but I, along with others, stayed in fixed accommodations outside. The start and finish were in Konjic (about 60 km south of Sarajevo) at the Garden City Hotel (the first and last nights in the hotel/apartment were included in the price).
On Sunday, July 21st, the registration process began, during which everyone received a mandatory GPS tracker and the sticker with their start number. You could also sign up (for an additional fee) with the photographers to have photos taken of you during the raid. In the evening, as on every following day, there was a briefing where the next day's route was explained (notable sights, dangerous spots, gas stations, etc.).
Monday, July 22nd: From Konjic to Stolac (still in Bosnia), 137 km
The first day was easier this year than in previous years, with a good part off-road but without difficult sections. Bosnia had already surprised me with its landscapes. But it was hot... and since the raid wasn't timed, you could stop wherever and whenever you wanted. The start was supposed to be between 8 and 8:30 AM, and you were expected to be back at the base camp by 7 PM, which was more than enough time to complete the routes.
Tuesday, July 23rd: From Stolac (Bosnia) to Pluzine (Montenegro), 205 km
On the second day, we crossed into Montenegro, going through the border with passport and motorcycle papers checks. Shortly after the border, I got a flat tire (a nail). During the raid, you need to be able to fix a flat yourself; their "breakdown service" is only for more significant damages. Of course, everyone stopped and offered help... changing a tube in your garage at home is easier than doing it in 34°C (93°F) shade out in the field. In the evening at the camp, I was able to save another participant’s SeekerRaid; he had burned out his clutch, and I had brought new plates with me. We helped each other out, and less than an hour later, his DR was running again. His expression when I told him I had a "spare clutch" with me was priceless: from utter disappointment to a broad smile.
The scenery was even more beautiful than in Bosnia; we rode a lot of "scenic tracks" but also saw that the routes are increasingly being prepared for mass tourism. More and more sections are or are being covered with asphalt. However, this doesn’t detract from the beauty of the landscape... This day's arrival was in Pluzine by the lake, a beautiful area, but it would get even better.
Wednesday, July 24th: From Pluzine to Zabljak (Montenegro), 164 km
The third day was one of the shorter ones in terms of kilometers, but not time-wise. We rode up into the Durmitor National Park, again on scenic routes (where I also met a Luxembourger with his Jeep). The scenery was simply WOW, pure nature, with a new panoramic view behind every hill, each more beautiful than the last.
Since I arrived early, I took the opportunity to have a good meal, which turned out to be a great idea because as soon as I entered the restaurant, a thunderstorm broke out... it poured rain.
Thursday, July 25th: From Zabljak to Zabljak (Montenegro), 134 km
The shortest stage (fewer kilometers than planned due to a last-minute change). Here, we continued through the Durmitor National Park, "a gem," that's all I can say. You could stop every 500 meters to admire the immense landscape. We rode all the way up to the "Tara Canyon Bridge" and then through the Tara Canyon, which is so narrow in some places that the GPS loses contact with the satellites... but it was beautiful.
Then it was a steep climb, and due to the heavy rain the previous day, the track was heavily washed out, making it technically challenging. But the old DR handled it well, and I can safely say that the bike is more capable than the rider. At the top, there was another 5-star landscape, pure nature, where you can ride 20 km without encountering anyone except a shepherd and his sheep/goats...
A special highlight of this day was the meal at a local farm, where we were served local Montenegrin specialties until we were stuffed... and the host also brought out Rakia and Slivovic, which we all only "sampled" as the homemade stuff was quite strong...
Friday, July 26th: From Zabljak to Foca (Bosnia), 177 km
On the fifth day, we headed back to Bosnia. The scenery was still a delight, over the "scenic routes" in Montenegro, with a particularly steep section just before the border. We had been "warned" about it in the previous day's briefing and had been given the alternative route, but no way, the old DR managed without any issues. I even had to stop in the middle because someone in front of me had gotten stuck. I was glad my DR was geared lower and could start again without too much clutch slippage... but it was steep, very steep!!
After that, we rode a bit over heavily overgrown "single trails," which were not technically difficult, to later arrive at the base camp on good gravel roads.
Saturday, July 27th: From Foca to Konjic, 156 km
The last day of the SeekerRaid, but again with beautiful landscapes and special places. We passed by "sand pyramids," a rock formation where I took a break to take a closer look.
Another "highlight" on the route was Lukomir, a small, very remote village with only one way in and out. Once again, breathtaking scenery, on the way there, I encountered wild, free-roaming horses. But I quickly left the village itself as it had already become a mass tourism hotspot, and in Bosnia, they say, "if you haven’t been to Lukomir, you’re not a Bosnian" ... well, cheap souvenirs (made in China) aren’t my thing, so I quickly left.
Then we continued over rocky, stony tracks back toward the finish, but not without problems: 10 km before the finish, the chain master link broke... I was already afraid I wouldn’t make it... but I had forgotten about the immense team spirit at this raid, and a group of Austrians had a spare link with them, which we then cobbled together (as we didn’t have a chain tool). So I was able to finish my Seeker, even though I rode the last few kilometers as if I were walking on eggshells.
In the evening, there was a final celebration by a stream next to the hotel, where we enjoyed the new friendships and also laughed about the individual experiences and mishaps everyone had along the way.
Conclusion:
For me, this SeekerRaid was a "once in a lifetime" experience. To be able to ride so freely and legally off-road with my old DR and in two countries that are so beautiful and where all the people I interacted with were friendly. What I particularly liked (and even the organizer himself said this) was the team spirit among the participants. Even though everyone rode for themselves or in their group, as soon as someone stopped and needed help, they got it. This was settled over a beer in the evening, with lots of laughter and some good-natured bickering. This spirit, along with the landscape, is what I’ll remember most.
As for the organization, I must also say that everything was top professional. There were four medical rescue teams on the route every day (two with jeeps and two paramedics on motorcycles), as well as two vehicles with trailers for breakdowns. Personal luggage was also transported by the organization from base camp to base camp, so you could travel "light" during the day.
Who is the SeekerRaid for? For anyone with an off-road capable motorcycle built before 2000. All the classics were there: Suzuki DR, Honda XR, XL, and Transalp, Yamaha XT, KTM LC4, BMW GS, and so on, in total, there were 90 starters. Navigation was done via GPS; everyone received the individual GPX files by email a few days before the start. Therefore, you should also be familiar with your GPS. As stated on their website, however, you should bring some off-road experience with you, as it is, as their website says, "not a coffee ride."
For more information and registration, visit their website: www.seeker-raid.com, BUT you must sign up quickly because this year the spots were filled very fast (within half an hour!!!). A video will also be available on my YouTube channel in the coming weeks.
