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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
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  #1  
Old 17 Feb 2009
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Buggage weight
I've just started to notice have much our luggage is going to weigh, it's getting worrying. having only done weeks rather than months trip before and always stopped in hotels so no camping kit we have always traveled light to the extreme, 20ltr at the most.
We have sourced as light kit as possible but it's putting me on a downer how it's adding up to. What sort of weight are you guys hauling around ?
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Old 18 Feb 2009
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Is that the Royal "We" or are you two-up? I always ride solo but carry around 40kg or maybe a little more and haven't had any problems.

12kg per pannier, 14kg topbox plus a rollbag with clothes etc.

Once you've ridden with it fully loaded for a few days you really don't notice it, you just adjust your riding to suit. The only time it's a real problem is when you're parking it or moving it around at walking pace. If you loose your balance you just have to let it go. I've never had any damage to the bike with the couple of topple overs I've had over the years as the bike sits on the pannier and the bar end.

I find that carrying the extra gear pays dividends once you're at your campsite.
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  #3  
Old 18 Feb 2009
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I've never found weight an issue. Avoid the pile it on top packing technique and most bikes will carry almost their own weight again in rider, pillion and luggage. Two up without the sidecar, full camping gear usually comes in at about 40 kg.

I wouldn't worry too much about the odd gramme either. A stove or tent that works and keeps working is better than some five hundred quid Titanium foil and carbon fibre thing that's going to crush under it's own weight before you use it. A tent you can roll over in without waking the missus weighs about 50g more than some of the coffin types you see, your breakfast will add more weight.

Now volume, that's a problem. Make sure you've got enough volume spare to allow almost everything to increase in size by about 10%.

Andy

PS: You need a mate whose had the sense to fit a sidecar. It's amazing just how many friends you've got when you're the bloke who turns up with a crate of /pressure cooker/BBQ....
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  #4  
Old 18 Feb 2009
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weight
It really creeps up on you as you do your packing list. I have begun to optimize my packing list from the last trip I did (UK to CapeTown), partly for fun but also in preparation for a trip later this year (and a RTW the following year).
Now the plan is to move from an Africa Twin with full metal mules (over 300kg loaded!) to something like a DRZ/KTM690e or Yam XT660 with 45kg of luggage (tank bag/pannier/racks/camping/clothes/tools/spares)
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Old 18 Feb 2009
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How much weight depends where you go. Is a warm country and can you live most of the tim outside your tent. In that case take a little tent just for sleeping. Do you expect much rain and cold, than you need a large tent because you have to live indoors. Clothing is where i make the difference. You better take some soap with you and wash more often than take a greaat amount of clothing. Also here it depends is a warm country or cold. Just t-shits and sorts or sweaters. I allso buy what i need on the road and give a way what i don't need anymore. Extra equipment is allways welcome don't spare on that.
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Old 18 Feb 2009
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temperature
True - clothes are a great variable. Don't they say layers are the way forward?

What sort of temperature range would a UK to Vladivostok trip encounter? How much rain? The most I needed in Africa was a waterproof overjacket and a thin fleece - I didn't even have the waterproof or thermal liner for the riding gear with me! My weight calcs are based on the Africa trip.
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  #7  
Old 18 Feb 2009
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The "we" is me and the mrs on two bikes, F650 GS and X Challenge so not heavy bikes.
We are going to use two 35 ltr ali boxes on mine and two 25 ltr on hers and intent to fit everything in them only. I have just purchased three tyre irons, chain splitter/riveter and a 12v tyre inflatoer which I have ripped apart so it's just the guts and together weigh in at 2.2 kg in this is what made me post.
We are used to travelling light, 20 ltr each in a tail pack, sandals,cargo pants, three tee shirts, one long sleeve and two short, three pants and socks, toothbrush and paste and that's about it for three weeks in Europe.
This time it's eight months to India and back with camping.
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