2. Motorcycle Travel Tips 2
Choosing your motorcycle
So apparently I am now an expert…??
● Started riding in 2004
● Toured north of France in 2007
● Toured Ireland in 2007
● Toured The Alps in 2008
● Ushuaia to Cusco in 2010
● Joined IMTBike.com in 2010
...
● I do not consider myself an expert!
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3. Motorcycle Travel Tips 3
Contents index
Topics covered (more or less ;)
– Choosing your motorcycle
– Choosing your gear
– Luggage and packing
– Food and shelter
– Mechanical problems
– Dealing with the weather
– Planning and choosing roads
– Staying safe
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4. Motorcycle Travel Tips 4
Choosing your Motorcycle
First of all: you will need a
motorcycle, right?
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5. Motorcycle Travel Tips 5
Choosing your motorcycle
Roughly there are a few major categories for Motorcycles
● Sports bike
● Tourer
● Cruiser / Custom / Classic
● Standard / Naked / Street Bikes
● Trail / Off-Road
● Scooter / Maxi Scooter (*should not be included, Carlos)
● The Swiss army knife: The BMW R 1200 GS
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6. Motorcycle Travel Tips 6
Choosing your motorcycle
Sports Bike
… your back will not
take it too long ;)
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Choosing your motorcycle
Tourers are built for touring, but they
are heavy and a bit boring
Tourer
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Choosing your motorcycle
Custom
Cruiser
Classic
…
Custom bikes are built to look cool
but they are not that practical
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9. Motorcycle Travel Tips 9
Choosing your motorcycle
Standard
Naked
Street
…
Regular naked bikes are usually
small and lack of wind protection
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10. Motorcycle Travel Tips 10
Choosing your motorcycle
Trail
Off-Road
Trail bikes are good for off-road
riding and pretty decent as tourers
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Choosing your motorcycle
R 1200 GS
● 1200 cc
● 110 hp
● ABS
● ESA
● ASC
● Telelever
● Paralever
● Drive Shaft
● + it does it all well :)
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Choosing your Motorcycle
Actually any motorcycle will
do if you really want to :)
Pilot: Gustavo
Year: 2001
Engine: 124cc
Power: 12,5 hp
Tank: 13 lts
Consumption: 30 km/l (loaded
and on the road)
Weight: 107kg (original) / 210kg
(with baggage)
Fabrication: Manaus, Brazil
http://www.re-moto.com/
(Plus he found a woman in Spain
that followed him, married him in
Germany and went to live with
him in Argentina)
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Equipment for you
Clothing and rider equipment
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Equipment for you
Try to look like a rider!
● 3 liner by Rev' It
● Thermal
● Waterproof
● Lots of ventilation
● Cordura offers protection and
comfort
● Leather, not so good for travel
● High boots for protection
● Buy long pants!!
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Equipment for you
What you should buy in order
of importance
● Helmet
● Gloves
● Jacket
● Boots
● Pants
● Lumbar / back protection
● Ear plugs
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Equipment for you
When compared to other tourists,
you look like a total freak
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Luggage and packing
Luggage and packing
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18. Motorcycle Travel Tips 18
Choosing your Motorcycle
When on a motorcycle, space
is a real constrain
● Carry less and less things
● You will be on your riding gear
● Gear besides your clothes
● Tools, repair kits, spare parts
● Books are a luxury
● Liquids are heavy
● You can buy things on the road
● Comfortable clothes
● Assume the bum look
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Luggage and packing
Waterproof cover for the backpack,
based on a Decathlon plastic bag
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Luggage and packing
The net is the cheapest (3 €) and
most useful accessory ever
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Luggage and packing
This is a proper waterproof
pillion bag made of rubber
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Luggage and packing
Tank bags are quite handy too but they
may damage the paint in the tank
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Luggage and packing
A top case allows you to carry a
passenger and serves as back support
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Food, drinks and shelter
Food, drinks and sleeping
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Food, drinks and shelter
Riding requires lots of energy
● Eat and drink in advance
● Drink a lot
● Eat more sugar
● Listen to your body
● I do not usually carry food
● You will want hot meals
● Keep in mind local times
● I do not usually camp
● After a day or riding you
need a proper bed
● Riding solo is easier to find
places
● You may also need shelter
for your motorcycle
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Food and Drinks
Food should be balanced!
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Food and Drinks
Developed the rule of the
cake and coffee
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Food and Drinks
Have cake and coffee everyday
you are close to death
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Food and Drinks
Have cake and coffee every
day that riding is unpleasant
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Food and Drinks
Fuck it! Have cake and
coffee every day :)
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Food and Drinks
No alcohol!! Unless...
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Food and Drinks
This is how unnatural
camping is for a biker
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Food and Drinks
In some hotels you will feel
just like in the wild
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Mechanical problems
Be prepared (or at least informed) for
the most common mechanical
problems
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Mechanical problems
Learn how to fix a flat tire
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Mechanical problems
Which is totally useless
when you have to change
the ball bearings of a
direction system...
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Mechanical problems
… or when you have to
remove the mudguard so the
wheel can spin again
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Mechanical problems
In long you will have to
service your motorcycle
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Dealing with the weather
Dealing with the weather
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Dealing with the weather
● Weather can be unpredictable
● Weather can change your mood
● It always feels colder on a bike (-10ºC)
● On cold weather
● Avoid riding below 2-3 ºC
● Avoid exposing skin
● Wear layers
● Drink hot liquids
● Have an eye on your hands and feet
● Keep you neck hot
● Snow, ice or mist? Do not ride!
● On hot weather
● Hydrate your body frequently
● Avoid exposing skin
● Keep your neck cool
● Wear mesh clothes
● Over 35 ºC? Do not ride!
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41. Motorcycle Travel Tips 41
Dealing with the weather
Cover your neck, your head,
your mouth and nose
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Dealing with the weather
Wait for the ice to melt
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Dealing with the weather
Wind and sun can burn your skin
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Dealing with the weather
Keep a good attitude about rain
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Dealing with the weather
Keep the throttle alive with wind
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Choosing Roads
What are the best roads?
● Plan ahead, but not too much
● Mountain roads
● Narrow roads
● Roads from nowhere to nowhere
● Highways are boring
● Highways are faster
● Cities are not recommended
● Allow for the unpredictable
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Choosing Roads
Do not plan too much
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Staying safe
Try not to hurt yourself!
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Staying Safe
How to stay safe
● Follow signs and instructions
● Apply all the regular rules
● Also apply an extra care
● Forget about sport riding
● 90% is about looking and anticipation
●
Develop a 6th sense
● Assume everyone else wants to kill you
● Practice
● Do not ride too long
● Never ride at night! (*Invisibility superpower)
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Staying safe
Invest on a safety course
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