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| Preparing Your Bike For a Long Distance Trip List here all the essential add-ons required to make sure you have all you need on your long distance trip |
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 10-11-09, 22:15
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My first ever trip abroad
Well I got the bike (Tenere) and the enthusiasm to actually do it. I have finally decided to dip my toe into touring. The plan is to take a two week holiday in south east Spain (Summer 2010). I will ride down hopefully taking in the scenery and meet up with the family at the villa we are staying in. I want to enjoy the travel experience so I shall be taking my time there and back. Hopefully 7 days riding on the bike and 7 days holiday with the family. The wife is happy for me to do this so all I have to do is plan.
I feel better if I plan so to that end I have formulated a check list. The items on it with a question mark are "do I really need it". Thats the reason for this post really. I am looking for you experienced and not so experienced lot to state the obvious if I have missed it off or dont really need it please offer your oppinion. Another thing is as part of my return to fitness I have become addicted to cycling again so plan a UK holiday from John O'Groats to Lands End ride solo (100 miles per day stints) in Summer 2010 as well. That means the list is dual as riding a motorcycle and bicycle are pretty similar! I am currently in training and am currently at 50 miles per day. Man do I ache! I have read ALL posts on here relating to travel and that has massively helped generate a comprehensive list. The major thing I have not yet decided on is do I camp or B & B/motel it for both motorcycle and bicycle trips. That will have a massive impact on the kit required and to be taken. Anyway the list. Bike fully serviced and ready to go! Luggage System (panniers/topbox or soft luggage) ? Satnav or maps which one do I choose? Bike lock Centre stand - should I fit one thinking is how to repair punctures on the road? Campsite guide/B&B info ? Camera and spare batteries Mobile phone and charger Bike spares consisting of: Front and rear inner tube Puncture repair kit Throttle cable ? Clutch cable ? Engine oil ? Chain lube Fuses - assorted ? Bulbs (head lamp, indicators, side lights) ? Spark plug Cable ties GT85/WD40 - small Insulation tape Rag Latex gloves x 3 pairs Grease - small tube Tools for all repairs consisting of: Tools to remove front and rear wheels Assorted tools Spark plug spanner Tyre pump (manual/12 volt or Co2 system) ? Tyre levers Legal travel documents consisting of: Passport Driving licence (both parts) Bike Insurance certificate including european cover MOT - if applicable Bike registration documents Breakdown cover including european cover Money (Uk � and local currency/Credit card) Travel insurance Ferry or tunnel ? Personal items consisting of: Included on my list but deleted in this post as not relevant and I am certain I need all the items! Clothing consisting of: Glasses/shades Ear plugs x 5 sets or reuseable ? Waterproofs Neck roll Spare gloves Socks x pairs Underwear x pairs Light under trousers/jeans x 1 T Shirts x Fleece Trainers Hi-viz vest ? Wolley hat Camping gear consisting of (assuming camping is the preferred accomodation): Tent Sleeping bag Ground mat (Thermarest) Head torch inc spare batteries Tea towel Cooking facility and fuel Matches - wind proof/water proof type Mess tin Knife/Fork/Spoon Metal mug Cooking pan T bags in sealed pot Sugar - small pot or sachets Milk - UHT shots ? How do i get my milk! Dehydrated food packs Chocolate bars/energy bars Washing up liquid - small ? Sponge - to clean pan/mug/cuttlery ? Waterproof bags - multiple Water container ? Mosquito net/repellant ? If applicable I know the list is crazy and I need to thin it down but its on the list for consideration. Please offer your oppinions and feed back. I can then refine the list and be happy knowing I have thought of enough to make both holidays enjoyable. Cheers.
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10-11-09, 22:51
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Now thats a list!
Kit and bits is down to personal preference and no matter what people suggest, you will come back with a completely new list. That said and for what its worth here are a couple of suggestions from me and from my experiences of French motorcycle touring. Centre stand - good as helps with easy chain maintenance as much as anything else. Never had a punture en route thankfully. Also useful on ferries when strapping down but these days some ferries have special bike systems. Hard luggage - Better than soft as more convienient to load/un load. Also its waterproof and more secure when left on the bike for lunch etc. Accomodation - Since the increase in strength of the Euro against the Pound Franch is expensive. So weather permitting camping is an excellent option. That said we often use a chain of hotels called B&B. Bad marketing as impossible to google for but good. Cheaper and plentiful are Formula 1 hotel chain. They are a bit like sleeping in a fibreglass shoebox but they are clean and bookable online and from one hotel to another. Easy to Google. The French are fabulous drivers when it comes to bikes (Paris excepted!). They will pull out of your way to allow you to pass and the standard thank you is to stick your left leg out. Tricky at speed! ALL other bikers WILL wave. Make sure you carry a bright vest under your seat. Travel with your lights on (sorry just remebered, you have no choice with the Ten). Don't piss the police off. They have the power to take your bike if you exceed the speed limit x 2. They can and will take on the spot fines and even escourt you to a cash point to do this. That said I love the place. Lucky you. Travelling through the Pyrenees is beyond belief and worth spending time doing with as many small roads included as possible. Like the Alps but quieter and less manacured. Have travelled there a couple of times before and look forward to going many more times. Documents - The originals plus copies of all. Colour copies at that. The police can take your documents but are often happy with good copies. For that matter if they are good enough they might not even know! but I doubt it. If they do take your documents they will post them back to the French Embassey in London. Really convenient. Clothing - KIS. Keep it simple. Biking kit plus one or at most two changes. Pants can be washed and draped on luggage to dry. GPS - Some say good but I find distarcting. Whats wrong with a map in the tank bag? I find with a map you make mistakes, go off route and see interesting places. A GPS makes me ride for too long and too fast and for me thats not what its about. You can get A5 size french road maps on Amazon. Very good and fits the tank bag. Ear plugs, ear plugs, ear plugs. I love my helmet with a double visa. The internal dark visa is so convenient and makes for a relaxing ride as there is no issues with sunnies off, sunnies on. Oh, the last thing. . . enjoy it will be fantastic!
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DickyC Gun Metal Grey 2014 XT660Z 'Advice is sought by someone who knows the answer but doesn't like it' 'The adsence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously' |
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10-11-09, 23:18
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Cheers DickyC. Re centre stand and lashing the bike on the ferry. Do the lashings come supplied on the ferry or should I take a ratchet strap/rope to ensure the bike stays upright during a crossing?
My Ten currently has no centre stand so I wondered how does a solo rider repair a puncture roadside without one? At home its easy with a bike stand but you cannot take that!
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10-11-09, 23:22
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Most ferries should have lashing straps the ratchet type with the nylon strap you will need 6 to 8 5 tons SWL each straps to secure a bike in a ocean transport but a ferry does not roll or slam like ocean going vessels so I think you'll be ok with 2 straps from the top of the fork yoke to the deck left and right and two at the back from the pillion grab handles to the deck. Optional straps from the swingarm can be an idea.
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10-11-09, 23:53
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When I ferried my Ten I used four small tie down straps. Two off the front loop under the bottom yoke going to each side and two at the back from the pannier frames. This triangulated the bike on the sidestand. I do have a centre stand but the bike is way too high to be stable.
If you get hard luggage you can pull the bike to the side on the sidestand and put a pannier underneath the bash plate. I have MM panniers and they are fine for this! Handguards are a must as in even heavy rain provided you are moving you will find that the rain does not get at your hands too much. I always carry a Poncho as it can be used a a temporary shelter and used with your bike can be used to cook under should the weather be inclement. You can also put it over your biking gear when you stop and you will find that if it is raining your bike gear will drip dry quite a bit and then getting into a tent just slip it off as you enter, stops water from following you inside. Sorry to go on , I just love camping!
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If I'm not working, I'll be 
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11-11-09, 04:08
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Taken the bike on a lot of ferry's from UK to Ireland and France. Each time has been the same thing of ride on into the bike area, side stand, single strap over the seat,
making sure you leave the bike in gear so it doesn't roll off the stand jobs done. You will find most big ferries will do this for you but say that it's your own responsibility if anything happens.
The smaller rougher ferry's though I think I would want to tie it down a bit more just to be safe but even the above wont budge easily (I've tested it by a lot of heavy pushing from every direction)
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Wish List: Husqvarna TE450 & Yamaha XT660Z 05' Suzuki Bandit 1200 .::. Current temp bike, don't like it! WAY too heavy! 05' Suzuki DR-Z400E .::. Jimmy Button Bars, Force Rad Guard, B&B BashPlate .::. Stolen in Byron Bay, Australia - Jan 09 06' Suzuki SV650N .::. Written off .::. Church Stretton to Much Wenlock - Aug 07 |
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11-11-09, 08:55
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Quote:
1. Use something to prop up the swing arm so that the rear is supported by the side stand and the improvised prop (for rear tyres), or prop up under the right hand front fork for front tyres. - There are commercial options available such as the Bike Krutch or Tour Prop Stand, or you could make or improvise your own. 2. Just lay the bike on it's side, make sure you can pick it up again though before you do 
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11-11-09, 13:06
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Quote:
Above all enjoy
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:tenere:
Mods, Oxford heated grips, Givi Rack and top box, Stage 2 DNA filter and top, 02 sensor eliminator, Metal Mule taller screen, Seat hump trimmed off, .KEVS FUEL MOD (THE 1ST ONE FOR THE TENERE) , Extra fuse box, 12volt plug in socket, Zumo550 sat nav, , Barkbusters What Bill Clinton REALLY said to Monica Lewinsky was: "Sack my cook" Sadly Bike now sold 11/6/11 |
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11-11-09, 13:29
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Scotoiler
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11-11-09, 13:54
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I always wear a bum bag to carry wallet, passport etc it is also a useful place to put any toll tickets in. I also wear it back to front so the bag is easy to open when you stop without having to fumble about to much.
Throttle side to the kerbside
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:tenere:
Mods, Oxford heated grips, Givi Rack and top box, Stage 2 DNA filter and top, 02 sensor eliminator, Metal Mule taller screen, Seat hump trimmed off, .KEVS FUEL MOD (THE 1ST ONE FOR THE TENERE) , Extra fuse box, 12volt plug in socket, Zumo550 sat nav, , Barkbusters What Bill Clinton REALLY said to Monica Lewinsky was: "Sack my cook" Sadly Bike now sold 11/6/11 |
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