Two questions for my Alps trip

[Alun]

In my previous post I outlines m trip to the Alps in Sept. I will be on my own and have two questions to reassure my wife

1 - What is the BMW Europe assistance like, If I get a puncture, come off etc, Do they operate in the Alps?

2 - What is the ideal tool kit to take to let me fix most of the silly niggly things that may happen while I am away, I bought the half price Halfords kit yesterday but will need to but a tool tube I think.

Suggestions welcome as well as advice please

 

[LivNorway]

Hi!

If you know your bike, and you want to fix things yourselfes, then find out what you do not find in a store on your route and put that in you luggage.
-Make a kit for you and your bike yourselfes!

When I had a flat tyre last summer I was happy I had a tube for it in my sidecar. You see; my front wheel is from a Citroeen 2CV, and they do not have a tube in that size all over anymore... My sidecar and the bike attaced to it are 25% BMW, 25% homemade, and the rest from here & there and some cars. A good bike!

From your homepage I can tell there are hope for getting parts for your bike in Europe...
See my point, Alun?

Think less, enjoy more!

Liv.

 

[Rod]

I'm sure they do. We used them in the Pyrenees when one of our group crashed his K1200. We arraigned locally to get the bike off the mountain (just to save time) then BMW picked the bike up from the rescue garage & brought it back to the UK (where they then said it was a right off !) I believe they also paid the the guys flight home (luckily he was not badly hurt).
Regarding taking tools, only take what you know how to use !! Personally, as I am no mechanic, I take a multitool for opening cans of bear & a puncture repair kit. If you are not going off road, there will always be people around to help. Don't ride off road by yourself, and be carefull evening & dusk for wildlife/dear ( I saw a dear leap out of the forest straight onto the front bumper of a car coming towards me, this was just outside Cortina). I had seen loads of dear warning signs all over the Alps but had always rather ignored them !!
Have a great trip, it's some of the best riding in the world.

 

[Alun]

advice

Thanks for the advice. I will keep you all posted

 

[squid]

The only things I'd bother with are a pile of tie wraps / a roll of tape / a digi pressure gauge and a mini pump on top of a basic tool kit

Anything else will be excess weight as you will just call the breakdown people anyway.

While you you are over there pick up a good multi tool/army knife. You can do all sorts of basic repairs with one simple item like this. I have one with a saw / pliers / flat and pozi drive etc.

Spanner wise I always carry the obvious size spanners in swivel ratchet form. Get at most things with those.

A small cheap mulit-meter can also be handy.

 

[squid]

PS, long term if you do your own servicing keep a sheet of paper and write down each tool you use.

After a while you will have a list of the things you're most likey going to need for an extended trip without the guess work

 

[Wapping]

Q1. Yes. The Alps are not darkest Senegal. However, 'Coming off' (an accident) is not a breakdown. For that you need Motor insurance.

Q2. Lookee here

Don't forget your Travel insurance, either. Or when you 'Come off' in Switzerland and get presented the surgeon's bill from the Meyerhoffenwallet clinic, you will probably throw yourself over the edge.

 

[ebbo]

A mate of mine came off in Switzerland, bust knee. Two operations in Switzerland and his bike brought home on a trailer. boy was he glad he had breakdown and holiday insurance!