Planned journey in South America, on two 200cc (or smaller) bikes, next month

Please, if I've forgotten anything, lemme know. Or we'll discuss going without. Judge me!

So, this is it:

3 tyre irons
Patches & glue
Various bolts & washers
Cable ties
Motion pro tool (has screwdrivers, Allen keys etc).
Rubber bands
Tie wire
Cord/ string
Fuel hose
Kwik steel (metal bond stuff)
Loctite
A leatherman
Bike pump & gauge
Duct tape
Ocky straps
Feeler gauges
Spoke tool
Rope

Then, I'll bring tubes, cables & wheel bearings one we get the bikes.

Things I'm not bringing:
Chain tool: I've never had a clip break before
Multimeter: I don't understand electricity, and have another bike for diagnostics
Spare bulbs: day rider, 2 bikes
Hose clips: just use extra cable ties


Wotchathink?

You have rope, cord, wire, rubber bands, duct tape, and cable ties. Seems a bit over the top for a little bike. Same with three tire irons. Bring a chain tool. Bring a multimeter, or at least a circuit tester. Carry a spare bulb or two--you'll thank me. I don't know what you mean by "hose clips," but I get a bad feeling about those cable ties. You need whatever wrenches are necessary for basic work, including changing oil, adjusting chain, removing tires, maybe changing out sprockets, etc. Plus your feeler gauges aren't any good unless you can get at (I presume) the valves, which requires more wrenches. I bring a magnetic pickup tool, and two (2) pumps, since I've had a variety of the latter fail when I needed them most. I'd leave the spoke tool behind, but I'd sure as hell bring a pair of vice grips. Bring sprockets unless you're sure they'll be available (which they're often not). Leave the wheel bearings behind, since they'll definitely be available. A set of fork seals might be very handy, depending.

But the real advice is to do a site search and study all the many, many lists of tools and parts which have been discussed at great length in prior threads.

Mark

If your buying the bikes over there ... consider buying other stuff there too .. saves carrying it over (airline luggage limits).

A chain tool and some length of chain.. it is not only the link that breaks .. you may need a number of spare links and some length of chain to repair a stuffed chain. I know someone who travels with a complete chain .. and sprockets! And I've seen them being used... miles from nowhere. I'd get the spare bits of chain and links when you buy the bikes.. to suit.

---------------

One of my 'rules' ? Don't take anything your not prepared to loose. Even on a 'local' trip.

How about some basics like fuses!

Regards

Reggie

A few things to add:
Basic set of sockets/open end spanners, basic tool kit
At least two or three spare Tubes.
(on a 200cc bike the tires may not be all that strong, so could mean pinch flats.
sometimes tubes cannot be repaired ... so quality spare tubes a must)

Kwik Steel is good but also consider a good two part Epoxy.
(like JB Weld brand)

Spare bearings are a good idea.
The latest Chinese import bikes use pretty weak chains.

Bring on spare front sprocket (will extend chain life by about 40%)

Spare rear tire? (this depending of availability of tires where you are)

If you are taking inner tube repair kits/patches glue, also make sure you take spare valves and valve caps. If you get dirt/muck/ grit etc inside the valve stem it can ruin your whole day!. I never ever travel without my main lights on, it's by far the best way of alerting other traffic of your presence, and helps to avoid the SMIDSY situation, so I suggest you carry a spare set of bulbs at all times, it's worth it. One thing I also carry which I find usesful for all sorts of repairs and fixing things/cleaning things out, is a handful of paper clips.

__________________
-''It is better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction''. ( Herman Siu)
-'' Live life then give life '' (www.lltgl.org.uk)

I like a tube of chemical metal. Can fix radiators, cracked cases etc.

Second on rubber glue. Carry lots of small tubes instead of one large.

A lite bottle of fairy liquid if great for tyre changes too.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Appreciate the collective advice

Wrenches - yep. There's a few basic ones on the motion pro tool, and I have a few sockets which can be used with it. Also, should have the std bike kit, despite the fact they're often made of vintage cheese.

Headlight / tail light, will bring.

Fuses, good one!

Valve cores, yes packed a couple and shall use those little valve caps which have the valve core remover attached.

Kit is getting pretty comprehensive - thanks again.

I have a full set of wrenches and a set of "ends" seems as though BMW uses a variety of them, stars, phillips head, squares...if your bike has em, you will eventually need to either take them off or tighten them. I do chain maintenance twice a week, so I have the tools for that. plus oil changes, I just carry extra filters.

If the two bikes are identical I'd carry one new spare chain as it's not going to be too heavy on a less than 200cc bike. If it's water cooled (unlikely, I guess) then I would take hose clips. I always carry a length of a electrical wire with croc clips on each end - always has multiple uses when fault finding and fixing electrical faults. A continuity beeper is handy as well. When you get the bikes ease and re-tighten all the nuts and bolts with the tools you have, if they're not man enough buy some larger wrenches. Superglue is often handy.

Leave behind: third tire lever (and take small ones, 15cm can do my 18" rear, so 200cc can be done with a spoon ;-), rope (string should be enough)

Add: fuses, good length electrical cable, some means of making an electrical connection (take your pick from quicksolder plasticy tubes, screw joint, etc), spark plugs (!), small piece sanding paper (to use with jb bond amongst other things), valve stems, valve caps, valve stem removal tool, chain master links.

Depending on the bike: silicone gasket/sealant, grease (small amount, ie almost empty tube each)

As to tools: the Motionpro trail tool is great, but make sure you can reach all bolts with it. Just having the right size socket/spanner will not guarantee that you can use it in the place needed. Make sure you have decent pliers, wether Leatherman or else.

Superglue is handy, but tends to leak/make a mess and is widely available. If you do take it, take Uhu minis, and/or store appropriately, especially after the bottle has been used.

Finally another thought: depending on the bike (used widely locally?), your route (off the beaten path or not?), your mechanical aptitude, how much time you have ... Consider taking none of the above. Interruptions are the journey, some fellow called Ted once said. (I would take the above, but food for thought, you know...)

Get a lamp holder that'll take your spare back light lamp and connect about a meter of 15A automotive cable to each terminal and small crocodile clips to the ends. You now have:

a continuity tester
a means of rigging a new light
a work lamp
2m of spare cable.

Andy

Me like, very smart, will change out my little test lamp with a tiny bulb.

Peter, in Oslo

A small metre will take little space and test a lot more than continuity.

Never leave without one...

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.