The event is in June and I am trying spread out the costs of prepping over the next 6 months. Link: http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=829554 First, this will be my first multi-day off road trip on this machine. I am going with a few local inmates, one of which went last year. The bike is a 2007 990A in great mechanical condition tested over the last 30K miles. Bike is only missing a durable skid plate and I'm leaning towards a TT. This week, I purchased the following items: - New rubber front and rear: Kenda K784 Big Blocks - Wolfman Expedition dry saddle bags and medium dry duffel bag - Coleman Hooligan 2 tent - 35* ultralight sleeping bag This is going to be a great trip! IS IT JUNE YET?
I guess my post got cut off... One of my biggest concerns is packing for the trip. I want to take a minimalist approach when it comes to food and cooking related items. I also want to minimize the amount of clothing I have to pack. Any suggestions for a four day trip?
Freeze dry food from EMS {or similar store} is lite but bulky. Whisper lite multi fuel stove is good {had mine for 30 yrs}. Stainless bottle for fuel. Small pots and pan set. Foam sleeping pad. Two Poly pro or the like long sleeve under shirts. Under Armor underwear. Small folding stool/chair. Ground cover for tent. Lots of socks, {going to get wet.} Camp shoes. Bug head net.
You're going to be disappointed with that Big Block rear. I put a fresh one on for the 2011 EOAR and it was gone before the end of the trip (the front was OK though). All my camping gear is of the backpacking variety. Very light and packs down small. I also pack a "LuxuryLite" cot in with the sleeping bag. It takes little room and my back thanks me every night I don't sleep on the ground. Coordinate with your riding partners to minimize duplicate items (i.e. tools, tubes, pump, cook stove, etc). I always pack a pair of Klim GoreTex socks in case my boots get soaked (which seems to happen every trip)
Thanks for the inputs...keep em' coming. Dissapointed to hear about the Kenda Rear. I only need it to last me throught his four day trip which is mostly dirt. As for the extra fuel, I broke down and bought two 1 gal Rotopax canisters (1 fuel and 1 water). I like the idea of a cot!
Yeah, but I assume you are going to ride to and from the rally? That is what ate mine. I have the Safari tanks on my 950 and bolt a 2gal Rotopax to the luggage rack if I think I'll need it
I've used the rear Big Block for both RR's so far and although the mileage is a disappointment, I found the tire to work incredibly well for the varying conditions encountered. Like Unga said,,,, ride the bike up there,,,,You have the perfect adventure bike for the whole trip.
No trailer. Its an adventure right . This will be my first RR also. I am going to pack super lite. I don't think I am going to bring my stove or food, I have been told there are places to stop to eat (lots of energy bars). I have a Thermarest ProLite Sleeping Pad, but I might get more of a inflatable type so it packs smaller. I have a few compression sacks for clothes and the tent, I zip tie the tent poles to my rear racks. I wouldn't think you are going to need either rotopaxs, keep the best as lite as you can. I think am going to give the Kenda a try also. This is just stuff I am going to do, and I am no expert .
Do yourself a favor and stuff both your tent and sleeping bag in a large waterproof compression sack instead of rolling them. Just make sure to stuff the sleeping bag in its own waterproof sack first. I was surprised at how much room this saves.
Do not trailer a 990 to a rally.. I dont care if it is in Egypt. Use the bike as it was intended (Assuming you can't find miles of dunes). Tent, sleeping bag, tools, riding gear, and fire side/sleep gear.. oh and water proof balls...This is all that was needed in 2012.
The peer pressure is overwhelming. Maybe I should ride. I just don't like the idea of seven hours of slab time to get there.
Klim waterproof boot liners are the way to go. I use wool Icebreakers for all my base layers, shirts, and socks. (they do not feel like wool, it's awesome stuff, dries fast, and takes days to start being stinky) The synthetics get rank quickly and take a long time to dry if wet or washed in the stream. I would reconsider the tt skid plate and run a weld 86. (if you want to know why pm me) Dunlop 908rr rear at 30+ psi should get you 5000 +/- miles on the wide adventure rim. When I started living off the bike while traveling the thing I over packed were clothes. On the trail you do not need much duplicate, of course sleeping on the ground trail side I'm not trying to win any beauty contests, nor was I worried about offending anyone. The RR is a fun ride, did it last year on the 950 Adventure! Matthew
As for cooking/meals..... the past two years I've brought the Jet boil, a couple "just in case" freeze dried meals, coffee fixin's and a few different granola bars. First year I just stopped and picked up a sub or something for dinner before getting to camp. Last year Unga and I stopped to have a meal at a restraunt before getting to camp each day. Keep it simple and light. I'm thinking if the weather forcast is decent this year I may just bring a Gortex bivy sack instead of the tent. And lastly,,,, I favor the inflatable sleeping pads instead of the foam rollies. Pack smaller and sleeping on air is more comfy. Big Agnes is my current choice. Not self inflating but 12 full breathes is all it takes to inflate.
I wouldn't suggest this. There have been times when it's necessary to split up the group, I like to be self sustaining cause things do happen where you go different directions. What if a bike breaks down you take off to get parts or help and bust a flat doing that, then you remember you are not the one carrying tubes. What if your buddy in charge of carrying the tubes or food or whatever, doesn't pack them on the bike...a million more...
I pretty sure none of us are suggesting 7 hours of slab.... We're suggesting 2-5 days of riding as much dirt as you can find along the way, ...and camping where each day ends. The actual event is often only a small part of the whole "adventure" You just haven't caught the "bug" yet.... What mdfehrmann said......pack your own emergency stuff. A self reliance attitude might save your ass one day
If I can find the extra few days in my leave schedule, I will gladly take the time to ride up I'm beginning to catch on This is our plan...Never know when you're going to need something; I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.