in my near future... since im the mechanic of the group i want someplace i can wrench on the bikes without getting wet!
heeeeaaaavvvvvy tent. MAYBE if you've got a bigger bike with better capacity for weight and space, but I wouldn't go for it with the 800. You're better off getting a super packable tarp. you can fit those things in your pocket they're so compact. just my 2 cents. cheers, Mark
Might be heavy but comfort on a ATW trip is a big deal... imagine going 10+ days without a shower and it raining every day and your buddy's bike is acting up... A dry place to work would be worth it's weight in gold! Maybe this is me justifying my "2 person tent" that I pack on my bike because it can (and has) kept all my crap dry in heavy rains for more than a week at a time.
I agree about the comfort but you can get the same with half the weight and space. Just think about how much crap that Ewan and Charlie packed for their ATW trip. They ended up ditching tons of their crap cuz it was too much. Ask Rene Cormier too. Less is More.
Very true, I aspire to take less every time, honestly. The "Less is More" mantra of adventure riders should be taken seriously by all riders and practiced as often as possible. I've seen LWR many times but they didn't throw away their tent or use ultralight tents. In fact when Claudio had his tent stolen he didn't bunk up in the "2 man" tents but found his own sleeping spot. Anyway, I'm not here to argue, I want to encourage everyone to take what they are comfortable with but if you are going to do a real expedition you better take a tent you want to use!!!
Yipes! No one told me! I traveled in Mex, Cent. Am and S. America for 6 years, never had a tent. I had a Hammock and Mossie net in warm areas ... once in the Andes I gave the Hammock away. :eek1 But I DID have a map, and I DID know what town I was headed toward and spent LOTS of time asking and verifying routes, getting lost and having to double back! (this before GPS) Rode (rented) motorcycles all over Thailand and Cambodia without a tent as well. But I knew where the next guest house and cold beer were located. Local Contacts are really good! Camping in most of Latin America is not great and can be dangerous. Anyone who thinks there are going to be camping all through the Andes better read up on some ride reports. A real amateur mistake. There are exceptions of course and S. Chile and Argentina do have good camping. Most regret dragging camping and cooking gear on a motorcycle down there. If you want to camp at Perito Moreno glacier (I did ... with no tent) or at Torres del Paine, rent, borrow or buy when you get there. I guess the Sahara, Mongolia and other very remote areas would require a tent ... dunno. I have zero desire to see Russia or Mongolia. Try camping in India! That should be a good laugh! Working on the bike seriously means finding some sort of town or at least a structure with a covered (and hopefully secure) area to work. A local Taller can be good. Most of the world is full of towns and people. Even in remote areas you can usually get somewhere (as opposed to middle of nowhere) in a day or so. Even if on a back of a truck ... no shame in that. Even in a small town you may find mechanics, welders and surprisingly good Auto parts stores. Smile and be friendly and the world will welcome you with open arms.
took a vacation... tried these things.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PGcDBMhyvg but time to check the oil and head home!! mounted the TT gps mount next victim in line.... super bright led turn signals.... btw.... turn your hazards on (both blinker switches at once) then turn the key off............. they still keep flashing! lol! hit the cancel... they come off... cool huh? goodnight!
hyper pro rear spring just swapped.... installing that and the fork brace tonight!!! just lack a front rim and I'll be done!!!!!
My guess is that the cost of the bike and the add-ons is about the same cost of a new 1200GSa. Although this way you end up with your own custom rig.
reputations at stake! lol on a different note... Longer front brake line, spare clutch and throttle cable, rear mudgaurd all ordered today! anyone had any luck with motionpro cables? gonna send the spares off to get extended