Trip Preparation Advice

[(RIP) Ewan]

OK, I know I'm probably opening up a can of worms here but...

My Fiancee and I are planning to ride the Americas South to North starting November on a pair of F800GSs that are still pretty new to us, and this will be our first big trip. We have the bikes, and (I hope) most of our big ticket items, but would be very grateful for advice from those with more miles than us regarding what mods people have found useful/unnecessary, what to take/leave behind, tyre choice (mostly roads, though probably plenty of unpaved, maybe a very little bit of off road), tool kit contents, hints for on the road fixes, etc.

All tips gratefully received!

 

[Dave Ett]

Ooh jealous!

When you say big ticket I assume you mean you have crash bars, luggage etc?

If you haven't already change the f*cking seat, it's horrid horrid horrid. I have a Touratech one which is so much better, though there are several other options.

I have Heidenau K60 tyre on, and at 5000 miles they're looking about two thirds worn - mostly motorway miles unfortunately. Great tyre and cheaper than TKC80, but way better than the Battle Wings etc.

I have a BMW tool roll for the bike which is a thing of beauty. Have a kinda multi-tool which can be a socket drive, ring spanner, star drive etc and all rolls up into a lovely pouch. I also have a Touratech tool rool, again bespoke for the 800 so it has the right sockets and star drives.

However, you would do very well to look at the motion pro tools, available from these guys:

http://www.adventure-spec.com/brands/motion-pro/

Bloody awesome bit of kit, and Dave / Chris (the owners of that site) know their onions. Great blokes.

I fitted heavy duty inner tubes and took a spare, though that was well OTT for a couple of weeks in Morocco (as I now know). Take tyre changing kit and LEARN HOW TO USE IT BEFORE YOU GO.

Get bike to bike radios. An absolute must in my opinion. You can go mega expensive with Kenwood and the like, or go for the Maplins set up which I've been using for about five years with no problems at all.

If you've never heard of it, go to www.horizonsunlimited.com. Go now and join the HUBB (forum). You will learn EVREYTHING you need to know on that site!

 

[Dave Ett]

Pictures of the BMW tool roll:

 

[(RIP) Ewan]

Thanks for the advice.....

all very useful. Will look into the tool rolls - looks like a good compact option. Have been looking at the HUBB for a while now - you're right, there's lots of good stuff on there.

We've been using Cardo Scala Q2s for comms for the last year or so, but one of the headsets just died, so I've just bought a cheap and simple PMR radio comms set, uses AA batts, hopefully more robust, but yet to try it out yet.

I bought a BMW comfort seat 2nd hand, but it was too low for me and the ridge too far forward - I'm 6'5" with long legs! The comfort suit seems to work well for my Fiancee so she has it now, I'm back on the standard BMW plank. Have been looking at the TT high seat, but it's damned expensive..... Might try to get the stock seat modified first and save a few bob.

Thanks again!

 

[Dave Ett]

The seats are pricey, but divide the miles by the cost and see how much a comfortable botty costs per mile. Mine works out to be 8p a mile for the 5000 I've done on it, and tuppence a mile if you consider it's been there for the whole 15000. Worth far more than any number of farkles you can fit...

 

[divelandy]

+1 for HUBB

After going to the presentations at the HUTM last weekend, the message i took away was to, in the words of Nike marketing (TM) - "Just do it". Having problems and finding a resolution gives the best bar stories.

As a minimum, i take the items that would easily get me going again:
- rear inner tube, tyre leavers + pump
- chain lube, replacement split pin chain (don't need tool, as the old one would have broken - or you could take a section of chain and the tool...)
- torx drivers for the pesky screws
- jubilee clips for rad hoses
- cable ties, bungee and duck tape to hold things together until they can be repaired.

Oil, replacement tyres, filters, etc i'd not bother with and buy as required.

If you have somewhere to put them, tool-tubes are good to store this kind of thing and are easily modified/positioned for security.

Before you go:
1. any exposed nuts/bolts which do not have locktight or similar, i'd do them. I've lost a few bashplate bolts through vibration, etc...
2. practice changing your innertubes/tyres
3. accessing your airbox to check the filter.
4. loosen your levers a little to allow them to move if/when you come off (unless you have ally bars on your handguards)

As your using your bike more than normal, do the basic daily check every day (or most days) - look after your bike and it'll look after you, etc, etc....

For mostly road riding (paved/unpaved), normal tyres are ok - i've not tried Heidenau's. You need to make the call at when you should swap for trial-type rubber, but unless you go to muddy trailes, what you know will be ok.

 

[maddaddy]

some essentials to bring

EWS Antenna Ring

Anyone who tours on a BMW will tell you this little bugger is an essential spare. If (err when) this fails you will be up the creek without a paddle.

..and on the F800 bring an extra fuel pump too. They are small and tend to be the other thing that statistically fails.

 

[Dave Ett]

Better still, don't take them but make friends with your local BMW parts guy and take the part numbers with you. IF they fail, then you call him and get the bits DHL'd to you within a few days.

The lighter you are, the better your trip will be - quoting a famous overlander "You will never wish your bike was bigger or heavier".

I've only heard of one fuel pump going, and very few of the F800 EWS rings (so far as I'm aware) have failed. If you're really worried, replace it before you go.

 

[m1keyp]

Not bike specific but priceless

Can I suggest that you take these:-

http://www.bwtechnologies.com/aquasak1.html

We used them on our ride in India and they gave good clean water throughout the trip.

 

[sockpuppet]

The lighter you are, the better your trip will be - quoting a famous overlander "You will never wish your bike was bigger or heavier".

Austin Vince

 

[sockpuppet]

Anyone who tours on a new BMW, you know the ones made after the peak they had with the 1150s around the 05 plate will tell you this little bugger is an essential spare. If (err when) this fails you will be up the creek without a paddle.

..and on the F800 bring an extra fuel pump too. They are small and tend to be the other thing that statistically fails.

Fixed it for you

 

[dogman]

The Airhawk seat will make life a lot more enjoyable on a trip like that no matter what seat you end up with. They are effing expensive, but if you dont want to keep it, retain the box and you will get a good price for it on ebay when you get back meaning you would have rented it for about £30. Simples.

 

[6821snape]

all very useful. Will look into the tool rolls - looks like a good compact option. Have been looking at the HUBB for a while now - you're right, there's lots of good stuff on there.

We've been using Cardo Scala Q2s for comms for the last year or so, but one of the headsets just died, so I've just bought a cheap and simple PMR radio comms set, uses AA batts, hopefully more robust, but yet to try it out yet.

I bought a BMW comfort seat 2nd hand, but it was too low for me and the ridge too far forward - I'm 6'5" with long legs! The comfort suit seems to work well for my Fiancee so she has it now, I'm back on the standard BMW plank. Have been looking at the TT high seat, but it's damned expensive..... Might try to get the stock seat modified first and save a few bob.

Thanks again!

Speak to Tony Archer in Huddersfield ,i am 6ft 3" I went to see him and he built my seat up a couple of inches and made it a little wider, re foamed it all ,took his advice and gave the gell pad a miss £70 delivered looks spot on and made the world of difference ,just back from Pyrenees 2000 miles 8 days no problems.Google Tony Archer but beware useless at answering the phone and always busy .Good luck and Enjoy.