how much kit do you really need?

[monkeyman]

first up, many thanks for all the previous advice on bikes for the wife. great help.
this question may sound daft, but i am new to this so please bear with me.....
i want to head away for a few weeks to morocco, with the missus on the back of my 1990 r100gs. all the travel logs i have read talk about changes to the bike's set up. They have pictures of a bike laden down with alu panniers and make the rider seem like he has to be a cross between a mechanic and a rally racer. Do you really need all that shite? Can't you do it on the cheap with a couple of bags and minimal spares? If you were going, what would the basic, bare bones kit to take and do you need to make any changes to the bike at all? It runs pretty good and has a new back wheel. How hard can it be? Or am I setting myself up for a lost in the sands experience?

 

[Spanish Bob]

first up, many thanks for all the previous advice on bikes for the wife. great help.
this question may sound daft, but i am new to this so please bear with me.....
i want to head away for a few weeks to morocco, with the missus on the back of my 1990 r100gs. all the travel logs i have read talk about changes to the bike's set up. They have pictures of a bike laden down with alu panniers and make the rider seem like he has to be a cross between a mechanic and a rally racer. Do you really need all that shite? Can't you do it on the cheap with a couple of bags and minimal spares? If you were going, what would the basic, bare bones kit to take and do you need to make any changes to the bike at all? It runs pretty good and has a new back wheel. How hard can it be? Or am I setting myself up for a lost in the sands experience?

I think it depends on where you are going. two people dont need much stuff. BUT, if its summer you´ll need lots of water and if you going to be away from civilisation for a while with an airhead, then you´ll need some spares. Best to post Frtiz, Sean Kelly, Tiffany who have done long trips with the same beast. The trips I´ve done (not so far away from civilisation) have taught me that less is more.

 

[Mick O'Malley]

Can't you do it on the cheap with a couple of bags and minimal spares?

Monkeyman

You certainly can. I'm on my first big trip, to S. America, estimated duration one year, and the extra kit I've brought compared to a weekend bike rally in England amounts to:-

First aid kit in a two litre tupperware box.

Two six thousand mile service kits.

Spare brake & clutch levers and cables.

A diary and some maps.

Everything I'm carrying, including camping gear, fits in a pair of Vern's panniers. Folded flat in them are also my Aerostich tank panniers, day pack and a 56 litre dry bag for bringing back those essential souvenirs.

If you haven't already, check out Chris Smith's "Adventure Motorcycling Handbook" and www.horizonsunlimited.com for chapter and verse on this subject.

Have a great trip.

Mick

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

You certainly can. I'm on my first big trip, to S. America, estimated duration one year

However........most of us tour on a very restricted time scale which can put rather different slants on things, particularly breakdowns.
If you only have a 2 or at best 3 week break you don't want to lose too much of it hanging around or trying to obtain assistance.

I would certainly recommend Ultraseal or similar for the tyres to save puncture problems, and for my money joining BMW assistance also gives a certain peace of mind - whilst is won't cover Morrocco, if you can limp back to the ferry they will recover the bike from Spain. Other than that it all depends on what your comfortable with (or without)

 

[Mick O'Malley]

I lied!

When I got back to my tent I realised that I'd forgotten to mention my Footprint Guide and mosquito net.

Give the bike a really thorough going over before leaving. In the immortal words of Joe The Celt:- Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

 

[monkeyman]

that's good to know. i was planning on taking the bare minimum and then hoping nothing goes wrong. wasn't planning on going too far off the road and pretty much figured that as long as i had the main bits i could get myself home. worst comes to the worst, i call the office and say i am will have to extend the holiday. what do you get in the 6,000 mile service kit?

 

[Mick O'Malley]

what do you get in the 6,000 mile service kit?

Monkeyman

Oil filter and a new copper washer for the drain plug. I should have explained that one of the 6,000 mile kits is a 12,000 mile kit. As I have a K&N air filter, the extra "12k" bits amount to replacement washers for the gearbox and final drive drain and level plugs. If you're likely to change your oil in a remote location, you'll need to take along the 14 sided socket for the filter. I did my 72,000 mile service not long before I left. This, if you're good at multiplication, will indicate that the 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36,000 mile service items have all been attended to.

Minimalism? There's nothing to it!

Mick

 

[Mick O'Malley]

I lied again.....

the extra "12k" bits amount to replacement washers for the gearbox and final drive drain and level plugs.

And new spark plugs.

 

[Ian B]

Like Mick said, get hold of a copy of "Adventure Motorycling Handbook" by Chris Scott (not 2Smith), ISBN 1-873756-37-2. A realy practical book, and a good read for armchair travellers too.

 

[(RIP) maverick]

If you taking an R100GS across the desert I would seriously have someone inspect your drive shaft unions and make sure your gearbox bearings are ok.
You can't cater for every possible thing but make sure the stuff that's going to make the bike move forward is in good condition. The R100GS is unfortunataly known for their shaft failures but it seems luck of the draw and amount of miles you have put on them.

Good luck and enjoy!