goodtimes said:
I'm looking for opinions. There is a TON of info out there about features and options we like/dislike on our 4 wheeled exped vehicles....but no talk about what we like on our 2 wheeled versions. So, for those who either have, or have had, time in the seat of motorcycles used for exped travel, what do you like, and what do you not like (both OEM and aftermarket)?.....
ABS, or no ABS? ** ABS is good for big bikes as long as you remember to turn it off before heading onto the dirt & gravel, which I often forget to do. I never missed it on my dirt bikes, but great on the big GS. Saved us more than a few times.
Extra lighting? ** Absolutely YES, don't leave home without a high beam flasher & LED brake light strobe, these two will save your life countless times. Also have a fog light and a really, really good Halogen driving light. You WILL get caught out after dark at some point.
Heated grips? ** Yes, add them if you don't have them. Critical to stay warm to stay alive, and I don't mean freezing to death, I mean getting cold and making stupid decisions.
Hand guards? ** Yes, required, not an option.
Fuel injection or carburator? ** I haven't had trouble with either. FI is better for changing altitudes, which is a real issue for global travel.
Chain, belt (I have read that the newer belts don't have the shredding problem of a few years ago), or shaft? ** Shaft means no carrying chain lube, no chain adjustment/lube/check every night when you are dog tired. Downside is more unsprung weight. OK for big GS, otherwise chain. No experinece with a belt. I'd be terrified to have one where I/we've been.
Larger capacity fuel tank(s): ** Yes, not an option. ** When does more = too much? ** When you can't pick the bike up by yourself, even after taking everything else off that will come off, i.e. boxes, racks, wife.
** HU is the definative RTW site. For general adventure riding check out
http://www.advrider.com/. It's a much rowdier bunch than HU.
** Our trips have probably set some unfortunate standards for how much crap you can carry around on a bike, so I'd consider us the high end for that particular parameter. Carrying all that weight really sucks the joy right out of riding. Take as little as possible and after a few weeks you'll be ready to throw 25% of that away.
** For travel in developed countries you really don't need much in the way of spares, just bring a credit card. For unsupported travel (no chase trucks, circling helicopters full of factory BMW mechanics, convoy of worshipers carrying your spares, etc.) in developing countries you'll need to be self sufficient for the things that can break and be challenging to rig up from baling wire and bent nails. The fundamental metal things like steel frame welds and such can be done by any 3rd world mechanic. It's the special little bits and black boxes that will strand you.
Don't count on FedEx boxes from the sky full of factory parts either. It's not like sending something to Pittsburgh. It takes a long time for things to clear customs and lots of things never do. Meanwhile you're still in that sweltering village, staring at your dead bike, on a tenuous phone connection to some faceless customs bureaucrat who speaks a different language...
** If you have to break down, break down in India. Indian mechanics could launch the space shuttle with a flat blade screw driver, a roll of wire and a few hours under the shade tree. They can fix and/or jury-rig anything.
Doug