Tips for Overland Motorcycle preparation

[dhackney]

New additions to original post are in blue.

Some tips on how to prepare you and your bike for overland travel.

Please extend this list with proven (done that or seen that on a proven bike) tips.

Bike:

• Pack all tools and supplies required to fix a flat tire.
• Prior to departure, do a tire fix and other typical field repairs using ONLY the tools on the bike. If you use any other tool, add it to your load.
• Use motocross heavy-duty tubes.
• Carry a spare front tube (you can use a front tube in the back, keep your speeds down until you put a properly sized tube back there).
• Carry an appropriately sized tube for tubeless tires. (This has been a life-saver for me on our GS).
• Adjust air pressure to an appropriate level for your weight (keep speeds down when using low pressures off-road).
• Fill every open threaded and non-threaded hole on the bike with spare bolts, washers (lock and flat) and nuts (on the back side of the bolt)(thanks Malcolm!).
• Put dielectric grease on every electrical connector, especially the battery posts.
• Keep weight as low and centered longitudinally and laterally as possible.
• Use oil that is easy/possible to find in the regions/localities you are traveling through, i.e. mineral vs synthetic.
• Carry lightweight spares that are unique to your bike & model, e.g. fork seals, electronics, etc.
• Digitize or obtain an electronic format (PDF) version of your service manual and take it with you (you can borrow/find a computer if you are not carrying one with you)
• If you are not mechanical, have someone who is walk you through basic field repairs for common issues (inspect and replace spark plug, fuel filter, etc.).
• Carry an assortment of fuses of required amperage that you have tested and KNOW fit your bike.
• If you are mechanically or electrically inclined, carry a small (credit-card sized) volt-ohm meter.
• Carry multi-purpose, compact tools (Motion Pro is your friend...)
• Carry a wheel lock and a full bike cover. Avoid heavy chains, etc. for locking. If you can only carry either a lock or a cover, bring the cover. ("out of sight, out of mind" really works)
• Leave room in your tank bag or tank panniers or other place that you can easily access for high density, high energy food to help regulate your blood sugar. You will find yourself in places and at times when you very much need some energy. You DO NOT need to ship the food on the bike (amazingly, food is sold just about everywhere on the planet ).
• Perform all scheduled maintenance prior to departure. Be preemptive if you are close to a service interval.
• Maintain a regular, high-frequency schedule of service intervals while underway, especially chain, oil, oil filter and air filter.

Data/systems

• Carry a compact USB disk drive enclosure pre-loaded with one high capacity drive.
• Carry multiple raw high capacity drives to put into the USB enclosure as you incrementally ship data back home. (high capacity raw drives are not readily available in many parts of the world)
• Create a clone of your boot drive pre-loaded with all of your day-to-day applications and bring it with you. Make SURE this drive boots and all apps work prior to departure.
• Carry lots and lots and lots of high capacity, high speed memory media for your camera(s). (high capacity memory cards are not readily available in many parts of the world)
• TEST and optimize your workflow for blog posts, geolocation, photo/video editing, etc. prior to departure. (build and test a workflow for low-bandwidth upload/post scenarios)
• Stock up on ultra-cheap, low capacity thumb drives (USB stick drives). Use them to transfer info, photos, etc. for posts and emails made from internet cafes. ***>>> NEVER <<<**** use a thumb drive on your laptop that has been used on a system in an internet cafe. Never means NEVER. Use them once and then throw them away. DO NOT reuse them on your system. It is extremely challenging to rebuild a laptop in a remote village when your original OS install media is back home. Don't risk your system for a $1 thumb drive.

Navigation

• Carry all the map files, waypoints, tracks, etc. required for the duration of your anticipated travels through a continent / region. Make SURE the files load and are valid prior to departure.
• ALWAYS have paper maps to backup electronic navigation.
• TEST your planned navigation system, process, workflow and equipment prior to departure.

Communications

• Purchase and TEST an unlocked, quad-band GSM phone prior to departure. (purchase a SIM card for each local market/carrier when you cross the border)
• Research and KNOW the roaming / international charges for using your domestic smartphone (iPhone / Android / Blackberry) prior to departure. (It is incredibly easy to run up thousands of dollars in roaming charges in only a few weeks outside your domestic market. Yes, plural thousands.)
• Purchase and carry compact dictionaries and phrase books for all local languages in the planned travel region(s). If you have to choose only one, carry a phrase book.
• Learn and practice basic phrases prior to border / region crossing into a new language (hello, thank you, please, help, 1 - 10, etc.).

Power

• Research and pre-purchase electrical adapters for the region you plan to travel in. (these are readily available at major destination arrival airports, but not so readily available out in the boonies in many parts of the world)
• Make SURE all of your power supplies and battery chargers can handle 220vac/50hz power PRIOR to departure.
• Do everything you can to limit the number of power supplies & chargers you carry. Purchase phones, cameras, accessories, etc. that can share a common power supply/charger. Some multi-voltage laptop power supplies can also function as a power supply for multiple devices / chargers. If you are traveling two-up, carry identical cameras to limit the number of chargers and battery types.
• Carry a compact outlet strip that matches your native/domestic plugs. You can plug all of your chargers & power supplies into the outlet strip and then need only one local power adapter. Note: Use only a basic outlet strip, NOT a surge protector strip. 220V will fry a 110V U.S. surge protector strip.

Documents:

• Your locally issued, domestic driver's license must be valid for motorcycle operation and current for the duration of your planned trip.
• Your bike title must be clear, meaning unencumbered by liens / loans / etc. If you have a loan on the bike, you must get a notarized letter from the lienholder authorizing you to take the bike out of the country (good luck with that ).
• Your bike registration must be current.
• You must have current year/month stickers on your license plate.
• Your passport must be valid for the length of your expected travels plus AT LEAST six months.
• You must have valid passport visas for all countries of travel that require them (we use Travisa http://www.travisa.com/ )
• For some regions of the world you will need a Carnet for the bike. The carnet can expedite border crossings in some countries that do not require it (Ecuador comes to mind...). For info on how to obtain and use a Carnet, see the "How To --> Vehicles" section of our web site: http://www.hackneystravel.com/
• You need a valid International Driver's license that includes motorcycle operation. You can get one at your local AAA office.
• You need a stamped and signed immunization record for the diseases in the regions you plan to travel. You can get the vaccinations and the form at a local travel medicine clinic. The vaccinations can take weeks to months for the series, so don't put this off until the last minute.
• Carry copies of your eyeglass prescription.
• Carry copies of any and all prescription medication scrips (ask for copies from your pharmacist).
• You will need proof of vehicle liability insurance in many countries. We use AIG for a global policy, but some countries will not accept that and will force you to buy a local policy at the border (don't worry, they are very inexpensive).
• You need all paperwork related to shipping your bike, if applicable. Be sure you've got all the local contact information for your local customs broker and for your freight forwarder at your shipping origination point. You will need your shipment number, bill of lading number, etc. (Note: you will probably need to pay the local customs broker in local currency, in cash. See notes in the "Money" section regarding stockpiling cash.)
• You need valid, in-force medivac insurance (not required to cross a border, but I highly, highly recommend that you do not leave home without it).
• Create a list of your passport number, driver's license number, credit card numbers and contact phone numbers, insurance policy numbers and contact phone numbers. Offset the credit card numbers by 1, 10 or 100 for security. Make three copies of this list and pack them in ziplocks in separate locations.
• Create a list of local resources in the countries / regions you will be traveling (dealers, service centers, tire stores, etc.). Make three copies of this list and pack them in ziplocks in separate locations.
• Create 30 double-sided color laser copies of the photo page of your passport. Split these into three sets of 10 and pack them in ziplocks in separate locations.
• Create 30 double-sided color laser copies of your bike title. Split these into three sets of 10 and pack them in ziplocks in separate locations. Use a color copy as your primary except in fully developed economies.
• Create 30 double-sided color laser copies of your bike registration. Split these into three sets of 10 and pack them in ziplocks in separate locations. Use a color copy as your primary except in fully developed economies.
• Create three color copies of your International Drivers license. Pack them in ziplocks in separate locations.
• Create three double-sided color copies of your immunization records. Pack them in ziplocks in separate locations.
• Create three double-sided color copies of your domestic driver's license. Cut them to size and laminate them. Use one as your primary while overseas and pack the rest in ziplocks in separate locations.
• Use one of the three document locations as your primary set of documents for border crossings, checkpoints, etc. Avoid accessing the other copies OR YOUR ORIGINAL TITLE, REGISTRATION, etc. in public places.
• Once you are in-country, it is a good idea to make three copies of your stamped passport pages and any and all temporary import documents or carnet pages, insurance policies, etc. applicable to that country. Get color copies if possible, seal them in ziplocks (you did bring extra ziplocks, right? ) and store them in separate places.

Money:

• Get some money from the local ATM (old design $20s are best, if available). Group the $20s into batches of $100 to $200 in snack size zip locks. Distribute (hide) the zip locks around your bike and your riding gear. Your goal is to have access to enough cash to get yourself to a point of extraction or where you can get access to additional funds or resources.
• Carry one primary credit card on your person in a secure, hidden pocket that is separate from where you will carry your day-to-day "walking money" cash.
• Carry a secondary credit card in a different place. Avoid having both cards together in one place. The point is have one credit card as a backup if you lose one card or have it stolen.
• These days there are ATMs just about everywhere on the planet in almost every market town. Your credit card or ATM card may not work on the local network, so it's best if you make sure that the two credit cards or ATM cards you are carrying work on different networks.
• Notify your credit card companies and your bank ATM provider about your dates of travel and the countries you will be in. It can be both frustrating and challenging getting your credit card/ATM account turned back on via scratchy, intermittent phone coverage in a crowded, dusty, noisy market town if your credit card company or bank freezes it due to suspicious overseas transactions.
• If there will be segments of your travels where you will be between market towns for quite some time and you will definitely need cash for ferries, etc., then you will need to stockpile some local currency via ATMs prior to leaving the market town. You need to find out what your daily limit is for ATM activity in the country you will be traveling in. If you have a $50 limit there and you need to pay a $300 shipping fee at a remote river crossing, it could take you six days to build up enough local cash. Know your withdrawal limits and plan ahead. (When you are stockpiling cash overseas, ALWAYS hit the ATM on your way back to your hotel. After getting the cash, go directly to your hotel and stash the cash. DO NOT hit the ATM on the way to tourist spots or crowded places.)

You:

• ALWAYS have medical evacuation insurance.
• Carry enough heavy-duty pain killers to get you to a point of extraction in case of bone break or other major injury.
• Carry enough heavy-duty anti-diarrhea meds to last at least one week.
• Carry enough ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory meds to last at least two weeks.
• Carry enough broad spectrum antibiotics to last for two complete application cycles.
  [*]Always carry meds with a copy of the original prescription and original bottle label, if not in the bottle itself (the bottles take up a lot of room).
• Carry all necessary prescription meds to last from one major market town / shipping point to the next, plus an additional three weeks. (your shipment will get there in the promised two to three days but it can easily take two to three weeks to get the package through customs at the port of entry and out to your location)
• Test the bike and all your gear, fully loaded and configured as you will travel, domestically prior to departure. Do not use any local infrastructure or resources that you do not KNOW, WITH CERTAINTY, to exist in your destination area/region. Test for a meaningful length of time (weeks instead of days) proportional to your planned travel.
• Be prepared to respect the locals, smile and draw in the dirt (this is all you really need to explore the world).
• EVERY day prior to departure remind yourself: "It's not about the bike, it's about the experiences."

New additions to original post are in blue.

 

[WU7X]

nice list

Very well thought out. I am going to print it out and go over it pretty thoroughly. See if I can find anything else to add.

Thanks!

 

[goodtimes]

Nice list Doug.

Under the 'You' category, I would add "eat and drink often, before and during your trip".

Recovering from dehydration takes more than drinking a bunch of water with lunch - it takes days of drinking plenty of water. Start drinking extra water several days before you begin the trip, and continue throughout the trip. If you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Drink before you are thirsty.

Eat to control your blood sugar, even if you aren't diabetic. It will help keep you even-tempered and less likely to push too hard when the going gets tough (been there, done that). Motorcycle trips are not diet plans - If you're out there long enough (months) you'll likely lose a few pounds, but don't expect, or even try, to lose weight on short (2 - 3 week) trips. You're just going to starve your body of energy that it needs to function properly & will end up increasing your risk of injury due to fatigue (rider error).

 

[AFSOC]

[*]If you are mechanically or electrically inclined, carry a small (credit-card sized) volt-ohm meter.[/LIST]

Credit card sized volt-ohm meter? Tell us more...

Great prep list BTW. Lots of sound concepts in play here. I am sort of leary about border crossings with heavy duty pain killers though, seems risky.
(full disclosure: I have never crossed an international border on a moto)

 

[dhackney]

Credit card sized volt-ohm meter? Tell us more...

I use one from from Radio Shack.

I just checked their site, but don't see it there. I'll try to post a shot of it and the model #.

I am sort of leery about border crossings with heavy duty pain killers though, seems risky.

I should have noted this, and will add it: Always carry meds with a copy of the original prescription and original bottle label, if not in the bottle itself (the bottles take up a lot of room).

We've crossed lots of borders with meds and have never had an issue.

(full disclosure: I have never crossed an international border on a moto)

Crossing borders can be intimidating the first time or two. Once you know the steps and the pace, it's not that big of a deal.

Learn more here: http://www.hackneys.com/travel/index-border.htm

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

What would be the recommended amount of travel cash to carry and store?

Thanks for posting your list.

 

[sandalscout]

Credit card sized volt-ohm meter? Tell us more...

That caught my eye as well... a quick google search turned this up

http://www.amprobe.com/amprobe/usen/Multimeters/Speciality---Pocket,-Pen-type/DM78C.htm?PID=73211

Pretty cool looking! I'm not very suited to using a meter (must be embarrassing for my father, the master aircraft electrician/ham radio guy), but I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for something small and cheap as I had no idea that they were down to that size.

 

[HumphreyBear]

Hi Doug,

Nice - great list. May I suggest a couple of additions:
Under Bike
Before leaving drill and lockwire/safetywire all important bolts, nuts, hoses or caps (esp. sump plug and radiator cap etc). Although they can be a little bulky lockwire pliers and a decent length of wire can be miracle workers for splinting broken bits of chassis (e.g. GS rear subframes), brake/clutch levers, pegs etc. I also use checking the lockwire as a part of my daily mechanical check. Ensure lockwiring is done in the correct way.
Under Money: (some merely extensions to your current points)
If you travel with a Visa debit/Cirrus (et al) network-linked card leave a 'subsistance' amount of money in the primary account, and keep the rest of your funds in a linked account that can't be accessed by the debit card. Then use Internet banking to regularly update the card-accessible account with an amount based on your forecast according to the current circumstances. Then use a separately stored credit or second debit card as emergency backup as you described above.
Debit cards are accepted *almost* everywhere these days but there are still some countries that don't which is when you can fall back on the credit card.
ALWAYS inspect ATMs anywhere in the world for skimming attachments. If the ATM has a strange look or bulky card reader on it, try using another one or go into a bank. NEVER let a waiter or salesperson wander away to process your card beyond your view.
Avoid stand alone teller machines in markets/shopping centres where possible.
Cheers,
Humphrey

 

[dhackney]

recommended amount of travel cash to carry and store?

There are two types of cash to carry:
1) operational, day-to-day, trip segment cash
2) stash cash

For operational, day-to-day cash, you want to carry enough to get you, FOR SURE, through to the next place with ATMs that have money (an ATM is not the same as an ATM that is working and is stocked with cash ). For each segment between ATMs figure: ((shelter costs + food costs + fuel costs + tolls/ferries/etc. + misc.) * 2). In many parts of the world, this isn't very much money.

For stash cash, conceptually, you want to have enough cash on hand to get you:
a) to a place where you can get more cash (see above; in this case your stash cash is a backup for when you miscalculate or something unforeseen happens [BTW, unforeseen is usually where the best adventures are -- the adventure begins where the expectations end.])
b) to a place of extraction (worst case scenarios)
c) to tide you over until you can receive replacement credit cards / ATM card(s) (the most likely stash cash scenario -- when you lose your card(s))

Again, the stash cash amount doesn't need to be a lot for many parts of the world.

If you are in a high-cost area, implying a fully developed economy or a high-cost pocket such as Moscow, the more cash you'd need but the less likelihood you'd need it -- unless you lost all your cards.

For developing economies, you'd probably need less cash, but may run into more times you might need it, although we've never had to use our stash cash on the bike.

So, if you are looking for a specific dollar amount, the answer is, "It depends."

But, having said that, for stash cash think more in terms of hundreds than thousands.

 

[dhackney]

Before leaving drill and lockwire/safetywire all important bolts, nuts, hoses or caps (esp. sump plug and radiator cap etc). Although they can be a little bulky lockwire pliers and a decent length of wire can be miracle workers for splinting broken bits of chassis (e.g. GS rear subframes), brake/clutch levers, pegs etc. I also use checking the lockwire as a part of my daily mechanical check. Ensure lockwiring is done in the correct way.
Under Money: (some merely extensions to your current points)
If you travel with a Visa debit/Cirrus (et al) network-linked card leave a 'subsistance' amount of money in the primary account, and keep the rest of your funds in a linked account that can't be accessed by the debit card. Then use Internet banking to regularly update the card-accessible account with an amount based on your forecast according to the current circumstances. Then use a separately stored credit or second debit card as emergency backup as you described above.
Debit cards are accepted *almost* everywhere these days but there are still some countries that don't which is when you can fall back on the credit card.
ALWAYS inspect ATMs anywhere in the world for skimming attachments. If the ATM has a strange look or bulky card reader on it, try using another one or go into a bank. NEVER let a waiter or salesperson wander away to process your card beyond your view.
Avoid stand alone teller machines in markets/shopping centres where possible.
Cheers,
Humphrey

This is all great info.

RE: safety wire
You have found my soft underbelly. If I had to leave with nothing else, I'd have a multi-purpose tool (Leatherman) and some safety wire. Even before some gaffer (duct) tape.

My method used to be to form a roll of some safety wire and stuff it down into a 35mm film can and then tear off a strip of gaffer (duct) tape and roll that onto the outside of the can. In one small package I had the primary elements of male survival: gaffer (duct) tape and safety wire.

Since I stopped using 35mm film, I am now film-can-less, a sorry and depleted state in and of itself.

I've taken to rolling up some safety wire and putting it in with my bag of spare hardware (nuts, bolts, washers) and putting strips of gaffer (duct) tape on the underside of my pannier box lids. I consider this arrangement much less than elegant and hesitate to display it to fellow males.

 

[HumphreyBear]

I'm right with you, Doug. I've seen some magnificent lockwire creations holding boots, bikes and all manner of bits together. I had an unspectacular but extremely fun amateur racing career and I swear my mechanic wanted to lockwire *me* to the bike (probably to soften any bumps to the bike and reduce his workload!).
I'll also add:
Documents:
Scan or photograph your passport & new stamps, plus modified documents where possible/practicable, regularly and email them to a hotmail or google account, as well as someone at home as an added layer of backup. I find that most small cameras take a decent enough picture of passports especially, with a bit of practice.
Under power
For power adaptors, make sure you track down one of the all-in-one adaptors to save room, such as these: http://www.dinodirect.com/AC-Adapter-Travel-Universal-All-in-One.html?cur=AUD I've not been to a country yet where one wouldn't fit.
Humphrey

 

[haven]

"Notify your credit card companies and your bank ATM provider about your dates of travel and the countries you will be in."

Even with this step, expect occasional problems. I had to fight with American Express several times while visiting Ho Chi Minh City. I think AmEx had experienced a high level of fraud with transactions originating in Vietnam.

 

[dhackney]

someone at home as an added layer of backup

All great stuff, especially this one.

We always leave a copy of everything with a trusted source back home before departure. I should have included that.

One of the penalties in banging out a post in one quick sitting during the first cup of coffee of the morning.

 

[grahamfitter]

My two cents...

A spare key hidden on the bike could make your day, especially if you have a steering lock.

The best tool by far is a sense of humor. To keep some in reserve, carry it in three zip lock baggies...

 

[ravenranger]

+1 on spare keys

I keep one hidden in my jacket, one taped in my boot, and one on my dogtag lanyard under my clothes. Comes in very handy in the event of a broken key as well as a lost key.

I also keep digital copies of all of my documents, cards, medicals, etc. on a micro sd card in my phone (which is always with me), as an "extra" back-up.