Tips for Travel ?

Hendo

Hendo

Joined
Sep 23, 2019
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Hi All,

Decided to go to the NZ national rally this yr in which I'll be covering approx 1700-1800 km ( probably not a big distance for some of you ;) ) and was going to obviously take a small range of tools , namely to get tank off,spanners for frame fixings, fuses, spark plugs clutch cable etc, etc ,but any of you have any tips for these sorts of trips ? I,ve done plenty of 400-500 km trips and the 850 has always done it with ease, touch wood, I cant see why it wont perform as well on this longer trip ,but don't want to tempt fate !
Suggestions appreciated

Cheers Hendo
 
If you are happy doing 500km trips then you should be good to go as far as you like.
For longer runs i carry Andover tool kit, 1L oil, spare spark plugs, elec wire and a few crimp on connectors, spare tube and tyre levers and most importantly a fully charged cell phone.
Just do your maintenance before you leave home, much easier than on the side of the road. ;)
Will see you at the rally.
 
Small bottle of Locktite 243, Spare clutch cable.
Zip ties and lock wire to hold things up that may get hot and fall off...like exhaust parts and used in a pinch, if you loose one Amal Mk1 bowl screw. Tie up a broken spring center stand or side stand. 3 Extra fuses.
@ 18 amp rating. Good LED Flashlight or you may call it a torch.:D
A leatherman multi tool. I carry the Wave +.
Cheers,
Tom
 
Thanks for the replies , I do think I have most things covered ,its just those handy little tips that can save some headaches in the long run... although I'm not to proficient at changing tyre tubes so might have to do some practice
- ntst8, I'm travelling up from Southland solo , and It's going to be great to meet the other NZ members, as I've corresponded with some on this forum and are looking forward to it !
 
Sounds good Hendo. I'm coming down from Hamilton but hoping to catch up with friends and family on a lap of the Sth Island after the rally.
 
Hendo said:
Thanks for the replies , I do think I have most things covered ,its just those handy little tips that can save some headaches in the long run... although I'm not to proficient at changing tyre tubes so might have to do some practice
- ntst8, I'm travelling up from Southland solo , and It's going to be great to meet the other NZ members, as I've corresponded with some on this forum and are looking forward to it !
Click to expand...
Hiya Hendo, you seem to have things sorted.
FWIW run in the spare clutch cable so ready to go if needed. an average size adjustable spanner to use on tyre lever to undo primary Case cover for clutch nut access plus box spannner.
I also carry small roll of gorilla tape, tyre foam plus good bicycle pump. If you’re still on points a spare set takes no space. Enjoy buddy.👍
 
I would add a spare master link, a roll of electrician's tape, a headlight and a taillight bulb to the above list. The tool collection should include a pair of vise grips. If you have room, one regular and one small would be luxurious. Carrying a small multimeter will help ensure that you won't need it. Try to do any work your bike needs (setting valves, for example) using only the tools you plan to carry. Sometimes this will highlight that one thing that could be a trip saver. I was lucky enough to visit New Zealand a while back and remember thinking how great the roads were for riding. I'm sure it will be a great trip!
 
As I'm not overly proficient in tyre tube repairs ,does anyone have thoughts on carrying the pressurised sealant/repair and a spare tube to get to a workshop to have done by a so called expert ? or just use my AA membership :)
 
Master Link , clutch cable , 10 fuses , Leatherman , small vice grips , 15/16 " socket ( ground down to be lighter ) , adapter to use it with the light ratchet , that you will also pack .
Zip ties , electrical tape roll , small roll of bendable wire , spare ign. key . Jumper wire pre-tested and practiced to bypass circuits straight to ignition unit .
New tube or patch kit .
But the most important things to bring are this : A sense of new adventure ahead ( Condoms ? ) , Make a plan A , a plan B and hopefully never use plan C .
Plan C : That's the small bottle of Codeine pills that you crawl to . Gel Super Glue . Both In the small first aid kit . American Military developed it to close up wounds instantly before the evac . Enough of that .
Lay out all the stuff you want to bring and brutally cut it in half .
Lay out the money you think it will cost and double that .
Bring a list of contacts along the route and back . Friends , motorbike shops , Norton help locations .
Bring Credit card , cash , health plan or card .
Enjoy the trip .
 
Last edited:
At the moment, for a puncture, it's the AA for me. On my mk3, I wouldn't enjoy removing the rear wheel on the side of the road. It might also be fun finding something to keep the front forks off the ground for a front wheel removal?

Is it possible to lever one side of the tyre off, whilst the wheel is on the bike, to get to the tube for repair? Never tried the sealing foams in an inner tube. Do they work in tubes? I thought they weren't supposed to.
 
most has been covered, but bare essentials for me are:

- role of utility wire
- zip ties
- spare fuses
- role of electrical wire
- electrical tape
- tube of super glue
- small JB weld tubes
- spare amal bowl plug
- spare spark plugs
- clutch cable under seat
- side cutters
- multi tool
- plug socket
- small assortment of bolts and nuts (1/4-20 and 3/8-16)

That will deal with most emergency roadside repairs, I don't carry tire spoons and patches anymore, pulling a tire on the side of the road is a royal pain, and unless I'm in the Andes... I'll just call for a tow
 
I travel with CAA PLUS which is AA but upgraded to motorbikes and extended emergency rescue range .
A flat tire / puncture is never fun and can delay you up to 3 days on a long wknd .
Charged cel. phone .
 
On top of all of the above and depending what ignition you have maybe carry a spare igniter if electronic
If you are on points maybe a spare set
Given the small amount of space either of these take up
At least if you carry them it's a guarantee that the existing ones won't ever fail ;) :D
 
One of the things my brainiack son taught me was to route the clutch cable as if replacing, but don't attach. If the existing cable breaks you only have to attach new spare, saves time along the road
 
Torontonian said:
Master Link , clutch cable , 10 fuses , Leatherman , small vice grips , 15/16 " socket ( ground down to be lighter ) , adapter to use it with the light ratchet , that you will also pack .
Zip ties , electrical tape roll , small roll of bendable wire , spare ign. key . Jumper wire pre-tested and practiced to bypass circuits straight to ignition unit .
New tube or patch kit .
But the most important things to bring are this : A sense of new adventure ahead ( Condoms ? ) , Make a plan A , a plan B and hopefully never use plan C .
Plan C : That's the small bottle of Codeine pills that you crawl to . Gel Super Glue . Both In the small first aid kit . American Military developed it to close up wounds instantly before the evac . Enough of that .
Lay out all the stuff you want to bring and brutally cut it in half .
Lay out the money you think it will cost and double that .
Bring a list of contacts along the route and back . Friends , motorbike shops , Norton help locations .
Bring Credit card , cash , health plan or card .
Enjoy the trip .
Click to expand...
Sounds like you've done a few of these trips Torotonian :)

Fuses,spare wire ,zip ties , spark plugs , and electrical tape seem to be a common theme ....keep em coming !

I will fit spare clutch cable along side existing one , I will need to keep weight down as Ive decided to use the ventura pack rack which I will place forward and rest on the seat to reduce the chance of the rear frame drooping
 
Yes put all or mos
Hendo said:
Sounds like you've done a few of these trips Torotonian :)

Fuses,spare wire ,zip ties , spark plugs , and electrical tape seem to be a common theme ....keep em coming !

I will fit spare clutch cable along side existing one , I will need to keep weight down as Ive decided to use the ventura pack rack which I will place forward and rest on the seat to reduce the chance of the rear frame drooping
Click to expand...
Most of the weight as far forward as possible yet comfortable . The rear rail can't take large weight so I reserve it for sleeping bag , tent , fishing rod and tackle . Throw over side saddle bags are for weight . Water , booze , flashlight (s) , clothes , toiletries , food ( nuts , trail mix etc. ) .
I up the ante by throwing my tiny wife on the back seat , she would not have it any other way .
Do not drive in the rain , that's why God created Motels .
 
🤣 Thanks Greg, I guess it will be what I'm comfortable carrying ... Bike is pretty well sorted but I'd rather be prepared ,especially as I'm travelling up the west coast of the south Island for giggles !
 

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