1st Long Tour Advice

  • Thread starter Thread starter ibroker
  • Start date Start date

ibroker

Guest
Riding down to Morocco in March. My very first bike holiday (straight in at the deep end!!)

Advice

I have a 1200GSA, textiles boots etc etc - The obvious that I think I should have.

What am I/should I be going to take thats not obvious? The sort of thing that when I am at the side of the road the others say "you dont have a ???" and I look a prat.

Suggestions for a good puncture repair kit that works
Can I walk into Halfords and get spare bulbs for my GSA?

Any advice or tips from those with long trip experience is greatly appreciated.

Roll on March:D

Andy

PS And can someone point me in the direction of the tool tubes that were on here. Searched but cant find?
 
Last edited:
Bulbs at Halfords? Yes or any decent motor factors. Type and sizes in the owner's book. Have a look how to fit them, before you need to.

Puncture repair kit. Stop'n'go is very good kit. Get an old tyre from a repair shop, so you can practice how how use it. Or don't and practice in the rain and dark on the side of the road. http://www.stopngo.com/motorcycle.asp A small compressor is good, too, or a small good quality bicycle pump that pumps on the in and out strokes.

Fuel pump controller and EWS ring. And know how to fit them (easy) see threads.

Good travel and breakdown insurance. It's dirt cheap. See threads. You are a twat if you do not buy it.

At least one decent map, preferably of where you are going.

Make sure your mobile phone tariff allows overseas roaming.

Spare credit card and / or some method of getting cash, in case you lose your wallet.

Make sure your passport is up to date.

Originals and copies of V5, MOT (if applicable), Driving licence and Certificate of insurance. If you fancy it, back them up on a memory stick.

Waterproofs, sun glasses / dark visor. Prepare for the worst, expect the best.

The Rough Guide or Lonely Planet book.

Camera.

Charger(s) and continental / multi-pin adaptor.

Sense of humour.

Travel wash. Pack once. Unpack. Throw half away. Re-pack. Repeat as necessary. If in doubt, halve the clothes, double the money.

Basic tool kit. (See sticky) - If you do not know how to use them, don't worry, you will meet someone who will.

Spare bike / house keys and some decent security for the bike. You do not need to go mad, though.

A couple of decent length luggage straps - Excellent for tying the bike down (and holding broken panniers on)

Gaffer tape and cable ties.

Wet wipes.

Bin bags and/or plastic bags.

Imodium and some headache tablets. Medication (if you need it).

A camelback. It's easier to use on the move if you have a flip-front helmet. Drink lots of water.

Lots of sweets to give to the kids. Tictacs are the professional choice.

PS Tool tubes are a pain in the arse IMHO. The socket you will need will be right at the bottom. To avoid this, loop a length of wire through the sockets. A basic tool roll or half decent tupperware box will do.
 
I love these threads .....................
:Motomartin
Passport & photocopies
Tunnel Tickets/Reference
Visa card
Currency
ID cards, BA
E111 card
Wallet
AA 5* Breakdown Insurance
Travel Insurance
Car/Motorcycle Insurance docs, European cover
Vehicle Registration Documents & Driving Licence
Maps/ Hotel info/ Directions/ phone nos.
Bike manual

Medication & Aspirin etc
Bike spare plastic key/ house keys
Toll cash
Spare gloves
Over suit
Bike lock
Sunglasses
iPod
Ear Plugs

GPS (& charger)
Camera
Phone, Charger & Universal Mains Adapter
Watch

Trousers
Jacket
Tops
Shoes
Underwear & Socks
Shaver, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Anti-smelly
Torch
(Jump leads/charger)
Toolkit
Puncture repair/inflator kit
 
Mobile Phone
BMW rescue card
Tour dad! :D

A sense of adventure .. see threads by "Snoopy". Follow what does and You can't go wrong.

Have fun!

The temperature will go from fecking freezing in Europe to fecking boiling in Morocco. So make sure your riding suit can cope with both.
 
If your travelling with a friend make sure he has all contact numbers of yours incase of an emergency and vice versa.
If your taking jeans take black pairs. If you going to restaurants they look smarter than standard denim, and don't look too bad if the only place you can find to eat is of a good standard.
 
Not done Morocco myself and appreciate you have engine bars, but perhaps some 'plastic metal' stuff in case you hole a rocker cover (assuming a little off-roading is inevitable) ?

Make sure your tool kit includes a spark plug spanner that is deep enough and fits the plug hole (some tools are too fat). Maybe carry a spare spark plug or two. Take some engine oil as your bike will need topping up if fairly new.

Make sure you have a tool to undo the front wheel spindle too.

Enjoy the trip, take plenty of pics.:thumb2
 
Pukmeister said:
Not done Morocco myself and appreciate you have engine bars, but perhaps some 'plastic metal' stuff in case you hole a rocker cover (assuming a little off-roading is inevitable) ?

Make sure your tool kit includes a spark plug spanner that is deep enough and fits the plug hole (some tools are too fat). Maybe carry a spare spark plug or two. Take some engine oil as your bike will need topping up if fairly new.

Make sure you have a tool to undo the front wheel spindle too.

Enjoy the trip, take plenty of pics.:thumb2
Click to expand...

I agree with puckmiester, some of that plastic metal stuff is a must. I dropped mine in the Fatherland and had to piss about squirting tyre glue in the crack/topping oil up every 100 mls, pain in the proverbial!:mmmm
 
1st Tour

On my first tour , on the wrong side of 20yrs ago , i would have had a
post headed just like yours. I was full of the ""What ifs"" .
The first thing you need to do is relax yourself.

There are two essentials.
Money and Passport.

Proof of ownership is an important Doc in Maroc
Medical Cover that will Cover you outside the EU. your E1 11 will cover you
in Euroland

Personally i carry as little as possible.
I used to carry a tool Kit. Now i carry a packet of rats tails and a plunger
with maybe a dozen Air capsules.

If you consider a """""Problem """"" to be a Problem , the you are in the
wrong state of mind for a Trip like this.
If you Consider the """Interuptions "" to BE the Journey . The you are in
the right state of mind and your Journey will be immensely Easier.



In Maroc , I only had one Problem , When My Partner Insisted on
sunbathing Topless ! ! ! ! ! ! .


Relax . Take a Step Back . And Enjoy.
 
ibroker said:
Riding down to Morocco in March. My very first bike holiday (straight in at the deep end!!)

Advice

I have a 1200GSA
Any advice or tips from those with long trip experience is greatly appreciated.

Roll on March:D

Andy
Click to expand...

Take an F800GS ;)

:beerjug:
 
I disagree Civil. You have the benefit of experience, ibroker admits he has little.

IMHO do your preparation, leave little to chance.

Sod's law says that what you take, you won't need. But if you don't take it, chances are you might well need it.

The minute you decide to ride without a plan, you are at the mercy of fate and take a chance.


Frame of mind:

If you are in the frame of mind that you will try to enjoy yourself "safe in the knowledge that you did your homework and preparation", and if that if events leave you broken down at least you did your best and what will be will be.

You can't plan for every eventuality, but it helps to cover the basics.
 
Been there twice on a 1200 GSA (with pillion). This is the perfect bike for the trip.

As Wapping said, the only spares you need are for punctures (I can recommend the Bestrest products Aventure pump) and the FPC and Antenna ring (with spare key) for the EWS - these are the only things that stop a 1200.

You will have a brilliant (and comfortable) time on this bike. :thumb2
 
Passport, cash, credit card (kept somewhere on the bike in case you lose your wallet)
Wet wipes....a shower in minauture when you cant get a wash anywhere else
Anusol or hemmeroid cream ..... it helps arse ache on a long trip as it contains a mind anasthetic.
Ear plugs.. make a long trip much less tiring (and can be used to block a hole on a rocker cover...trust me, I've seen it done successfully)
Cable ties and gaffa tape ...and WD40
As few clothes as you can.....you WILL take far too much on your first trip (and second third etc).

Small first aid kit: plasters, antiseptic cream, immodium, asprin etc.

Make sure you pack a sense of humour, and a taste for adventure. Speak to the locals, they make the trip . Eat local food, drink very little alcohol

and... ENJOY it !

Good luck on the trip, full report is required on your return
 
ooops... forgot.

Have your mate carry your spare key, and do the same for him.... also speare key for whatever lock you take (its a bugger trying to cut a chain off if/when you lose your keys and the spare is 1000 miles away)
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

1st tour advice
2 3
Replies
42
Views
10,500
Simon_100
Simon_100
(RIP) Johno23
Mr & Mrs Johno's Summer tour (advice req'd)
Replies
11
Views
6,327
(RIP) Johno23
(RIP) Johno23
Long Term Conservation of 1200 GSA - advice please?
Replies
16
Views
3,203
Mr K
Mr K


Back
Top Bottom