Personally I'd take as little unnecessary crap as possible but agree a GPS is handy, I got from Turkey to Scotland without any paper maps and just the basic Worldmap on my old GPS. A reliable & compact 12v pump as mentioned is essential.

If you are going to hit Turkey when it's pretty hot, while not that 'techy', I found those cheap, collapsible bottle cooler bags really great for keeping my water cool.

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Mike


www.singapore-scotland.blogspot.com
www.argentina-alaska.blogspot.com
My little Vid: India/Pakistan

BMW R1150GS
Suzuki DR650 SE: Ride it like ya stole it. Oh, somebody just did...

MikeS, more info on the above would be appreciated please.

Anything like these things, if you buy the water cold, it will keep it that way much longer than if shoved in your pannier. Warm water is nasty when its hot. We had one that would hold 12 cans so I could get water in it plus some food I wanted to keep cool. It was collapsible so packed away easy.

One Bottle Cooler Bag | Bags - Picnic/Cooler | Bags & Cases

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Mike


www.singapore-scotland.blogspot.com
www.argentina-alaska.blogspot.com
My little Vid: India/Pakistan

BMW R1150GS
Suzuki DR650 SE: Ride it like ya stole it. Oh, somebody just did...

GPS and a smart phone. Forget about the laptop pack less and you'll spend less time packing. A good smart phone can satisfy all your multimedia needs like skype, internet, picture sharing, mp3, movies and whatever you enjoy doing while sipping on a latte watching the world go by.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Are you camping or staying in hotels ?

If camping, I found a mini camping espresso maker to be a brilliant little morning maker. It was my luxury item and sooo worth it.

GSI Mini Expresso 1 Cup Aluminum

A fold up chair makes the end of the day a bit easier too if you can. We used kids chairs, lasted the trip.Just.

Thanks for your replies and tips. I have now ordered a 12v pump and am on the lookout for a tyre repair kit (any recommendations for something suitable for a BMW, I assume tubeless, with tyre pressure monitors please).

Will probably stay in hotels. I'm more of a tourer than an adventurer (i.e. I'm soft and keen for a hot shower and confortable bed at the end of the day).

I have a GPS, iPod (with plenty of music loaded) and HTC Desire (with UK Vodafone sim) but will also take my laptop so I can plan/download routes from Mapsource as I go. I usually travel with this and it also lets me save video files from my GoPro HD - much cheaper than keeping on SD cards.

Roaming charges on the mobile are way expensive to I plan to turn data off and rely on free wireless in hotels, bars, cafes as I go to stay connected. Can always connect and pay thru the nose if nothing else is available I suppose.

Finding accomodation can sometimes be a challenge as I will probably not book anything in advance. The Trip Advisor app I have found to be ok for finding places to stay but you cannot tell if motorcycle friendly and secure parking.

Any there any other iPhone or Android apps that are essential kit for motorcyclists?

You will have your Hi-tech stuff as momentos of your trip.

If you can divert your eyes and ears from all the gadgets, what about scenery, places and people?

A camera perhaps?

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Vitim Bridge Clubwww.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533442
www.sibirskyextreme.com

Hi,

>> for a BMW

First thing: get a travel bike wich can be repaired in less developed countrys as well. Even the team of charley borman could not repair there computer GS on there long way round...

>> ordered a 12v pump

Rather take a smaller bicycle pump and a adapter. You will not need it much and the electric ones are to big.

>> and am on the lookout for a tyre repair kit


If you dont own one and dont know how to use it its not worth taking it. If you need to pay someone to to the job for you anyway he will have his own stuff...


>> Will probably stay in hotels. I'm more of a tourer than an adventurer (i.e. I'm soft and keen for a hot shower and confortable bed at the end of the day).

So why dont take the plain and book a all inclusive hotel trip?


>> I have a GPS, iPod (with plenty of music loaded) and HTC Desire (with UK Vodafone sim) but will also take my laptop so I can plan/download routes from Mapsource as I go.


Get the maps ready before you start. I used tracs4africa & Garmin worlmap all around africa Transafrika - Riding on a motorbike through africa part 1

>> I usually travel with this and it also lets me save video files from my GoPro HD - much cheaper than keeping on SD cards.


And what about some gravel roads with strong vibrations that will destroy your hard disk? Rather save everything on sd cards that you can switch to read onely if you are in a internet cafe with lots of viruses.

>> Finding accomodation can sometimes be a challenge as I will probably not book anything in advance.

No not at all you will find people who are interesdet in your money and offer you acomerdation everywhere in the world.


>> Any there any other iPhone or Android apps that are essential kit for motorcyclists?

No there isnt any need to take expensive nonsense stuff like that anywhere in the world. Leafe them at home and enjoy not to have to worry about them.

Enjoy the experience, Tobi

Edit: Whater bottles you will get 4 free with every coca cola...yes you can even get them in congo