Quote:
Originally Posted by
syzygy9
I think the main criteria has got to be what you can actually fix, no point in bringing a spare piston if you can't realistically change it! However, things like wheel bearings, steering head bearings, etc, are fixable on the side of a road if you need to and could bring you to quick and abrupt stop if they fail - and given that they are relatively small and light might be worthwhile bringing.
The next thing is to bring spare parts for items that could actually fail, no point in bringing a part if it is highly unlikely to fail in the first place.
And finally the part isn't too heavy or bulky.
Ditto for service and wear items if you are going to be away from 'civilization' for a time (although in Aus you could realistically get most of what you need in any decent sized town so I wouldn't bother here).
So my three main criteria would be that;
1. you could actually fix it,
2. part has been known to fail and if it did could leave you stranded, and
3. the spare is not to heavy or bulky.
So what should be on the list for an XT660Z?
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Very good post. I guess I'd probably add "how much time pressure are you under to complete your trip" as something to think about as well - as long as you can at least limp to a town then even if there's no bike shop you can sit tight for a few days while someone at home gets the part and ships it to you. Might end up paying more to FedEx (or whoever) than you actually paid for the part, but it's an option
I'd probably put things like wheel bearings on that list - as long as they're in good condition when you leave, they shouldn't fail unless you're away for months and thousands and thousands of miles. But they're small and light enough to post cheaply, so maybe buy a set and leave them somewhere a friend can retrieve them and sent them to wherever you are.
I probably wouldn't bother carrying a whole chain, as it's quite a bit of weight. A short length and a few soft-links might allow you to reattach a snapped chain and limp to the nearest town, and any bike shop will have 520 chain.
I will be carrying a spare front sprocket when I set off on a 2500 mile round trip to Spain in a few weeks. I think my chain/sprockets should be fine, but it's always the front which goes first, and it's pretty small and light. I'm actually going against your point 1. above, as I won't be carrying the tools to change it - because they're big and heavy and I'm not expecting to need them. But if I do, I know that in Western Europe I'm unlikely to be more than a few miles from a garage with a 32mm socket and a rattle gun, whereas I might be a long way from a Yamaha dealer, and a couple of days wait for parts can spoil a two-week holiday.
It's all an assessment of risk vs weight, and you can be sure you'll only need the spares you didn't pack