Ted,

Best wishes for a great trip, we're all jealous! You are certainly well planned and well prepared, have the time of your life and post lots from the road so we can follow along. Ride safe.

I'll do my best dude !! Fingers crossed I make it to the ferry

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

Glad we are meeting you guys on the Ferry to Egypt then

We will be putting "Slime" in our tubes, but also taking the following spares:

spare 21/17 tubes, puncture repair kit, 4 x 6204-2RS bearings, F800GS Clutch kit (plates and springs), clutch cable, got fairly new chain and sprockets, just taking a spare front sprocket, hope the chain last, its a 525.

Air filter, 2 x oil filters, will fit new brake pads, but will take some spare as well and upper bolt for the F800GS rear shock, known to bend.

I think that is it ... plan to be in Venice quite early on the 23rd of Sept ready for boarding ... see you guys there !

__________________
--
London to Cape Town 2010 - http://bit.ly/uk2za

You'll be able to recognise me as ill be the one wearing the T-shirt with "The trip mechanic is out to lunch" T-shirt

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

on my f650 twin, the stock cz525 & sprockets lasted 40,000km. in africa, with the scottoiler, i reckon a DID is gonna smoke that. i replaced the chain & sprockets with a DID & have done 25k since & they still look new, even though i am complacent with chain lube. i think you will know far far in advance if you need new sprockets. i'd rather carry a section of chain & fix a breakage. new chain is too heavy.

def bring tubes. i haven't seen any suitable here. even if you found an 18" tube (17" impossible) its gonna be too narrow.

the proper oil filters are worth bringing. i need a new one now & consensus on ADV is use the recommended because there are too many variables on spec.

i have serious doubts about slime in the tyres... too messy. you're not gonna have the water to clean this up on the side of the road.

i ran diesel oil in my f650 twin coz it was all i could find (and i had two gaping holes in the sump where 2.8 of 2.9L of 10w40 had leaked out). i think the whole oil debate is bullshit. if you're changing oil every 1500km i wouldn't stress the grade. just buy from a Total, Mobil (egypt) or shell/oil libya service station and she'll be right.

plugs, sure. i reckon on the f800 unless you are really shit in sand, the clutch kit isn't worth the space.

i wouldn't trust DHL to khartoum... my package is still lost somewhere in russia. for what its worth - spend a couple of days looking for parts locally. find the local bikers and ask them what is available. you will be surprised. i found electric submersible fuel pumps for my 650 twin in every big town i looked (khartoum, addis, tanga).

enjoy the trip.
d