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29 Oct 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twowheels03
You could say that about any bike......especially if you don't care for it much. All modern bikes have about the same attrition rate...........all have weak areas that need addressing. All need more than an oil change.
Do a few thousand miles on dirt roads and you'll wish you did more than change the oil. Don't listen to him Kei, you learn all you can.
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I dont think they do have the same "attrition rate" if i am comparing with other makes of bikes from the guys who i go green lanning with.
As for weak areas that need addressing that is part of the research when picking the right bike
I never changed a tire or did a oil change before i set off on my trip last year and yes " I did a few thousand miles on dirt roads "
Its no black art learning as you go, the main thing is to just GO!
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30 Oct 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WesleyDRZ400
I dont think they do have the same "attrition rate" if i am comparing with other makes of bikes from the guys who i go green lanning with.
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I agree ... over some years and many bikes one may learn a few things about which bikes tend to be solid ... or not. At some point it's personal opinion ... but certain FACTS tend to prove which bikes are best and survive abuse over the long term.
If I were British I guess I'd wonder why the whole world isn't riding old CX500 Honda messenger bikes!
Quote:
Originally Posted by WesleyDRZ400
As for weak areas that need addressing that is part of the research when picking the right bike
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But how does a total NOOB pick the right bike? If you read ADV Rider on the GS forums ... you'd swear the new BMW R1200GSadv is THE best bike in the world for overland travel. So depends who's advice the novice rider listens to. So many go with BIG, Expensive BMW's ... maybe that's why BMW sales are off the charts? But many sell those bikes off after a tour or two.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WesleyDRZ400
I never changed a tire or did a oil change before i set off on my trip last year and yes " I did a few thousand miles on dirt roads " Its no black art learning as you go, the main thing is to just GO!
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I agree with the "Just Go" part ... but feel that it's ALWAYS better to have some knowledge in your pocket in case you need it. No, it's not a Black Art, but we DO SEE many novices screw up simple things, ruin their bike, end their trip. Also, some have a knack for mechanics, others are "slow learners". A bit of training never hurt anyone. Knowing a few simple things can ease a lot of needless suffering, expense and massive time wasting. (Been through all that as a kid ... would not want to repeat it.)
So get some training if you have time and motivation.
Would I postpone a departure date due to lack of training? NO WAY!
GO GO GO !!!
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31 Oct 2014
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Simple really.
Buy a simple bike with low mileage and which has been well maintained. Then have it checked by a GOOD mechanic.
Learn how to do simple repairs and simple maintenance. Just the obvious ones. It's really not that hard at all to check your oil, chain etc and learn how fix a puncture. I am CERTAIN that 90% of all breakdowns are people letting their bikes run low on oil, really stretching maintenance out far too long or when it actually matters, really having no idea how to change a puncture.
I blame a lot of this on the whole "That bike's bulletproof" forum and media chatter. It makes many folk totally nonchalant..... Blasé. It's a machine with a million working parts. Things need maintaining. No matter how "Bullet Proof" it's claimed to be.
Check these boxes and then you'd have to be really unlucky to be stuck anywhere. And if you have a simple bike, A LOT more people can help you fix it if you can't do it yourself.
This is why the big, expensive exotic bikes loaded with gadgets and electronics are the WORST bikes to go long distance travelling on. Unless of course you can just throw ridiculous amounts of cash a problem that you can't solve yourself.
And that's why so many BMW's make it around the world. With enough money, you can be rescued from anywhere. Almost.
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Last edited by *Touring Ted*; 3 Nov 2014 at 15:32.
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2 Nov 2014
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Thanks again for the advice
I have decided to go with a Japanese 250cc enduro, a/c engine
simple enough
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3 Nov 2014
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A TTR or XR?
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4 Nov 2014
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Do I need to be a competent mechanic?
Kei,
I started my trip without the faintest idea of how to change a tire, why your bike won't start after you drop it, no spanish beyond una cerveza gracias and well, only the vaguest idea of how to put my tent up. Seven months, three countries and 12,000k later me and my Japanese 250 Enduro are going better than ever, I speak competent Spanish for my needs, and largely thanks to this website and YouTube, can have my wheels off in a few minutes, do basic maintenance myself and feel pretty confident riding finding my way around whatever the road conditions. Not saying I'm great or anything - still a n00b to all this but it can be done, even by me who is certainly not the sort of person that fancies himself as the practical, hands-on type at all - throw caution to the wind a bit but plan to the best of your ability nevertheless - but most of all just get out here and do it. I've learnt so many useful skills in the past several months and have had a great time too
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4 Nov 2014
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Good post but again since when is Japanese 250 enduro a way to refer to what bike you have !
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5 Nov 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by helcat
Good post but again since when is Japanese 250 enduro a way to refer to what bike you have !
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I was just making a reference the OP as he/she also referred that they wished to make the trip on a 'Japanese 250 Enduro' otherwise I would have just said XR250 or something like that
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5 Nov 2014
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Oh ya I'm riding a Honda SL230 (2002) currently, but I'm also interested in XR250. Will have a try if possible. They differ in a little power and seat height.
And SL230 doesn't need an oil filter.
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5 Nov 2014
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Hi,
We all started with no knowledge.
So .. what basics are good to start your trip with?
A first aid course - for yourself!
Fix a flat tyre .. probably more frequent than the oil change But it will also let you change tyres.
Oil change .. which you have
Air filter - clean and change
Valve setting
Change clutch cable (with this you'll also be able to change the accelerator cable/s)
Change battery
Change rear shock
Those would be a reasonable minimum .. you can learn on the road .. others have .. some have not and had to rely on locals... sometimes good .. sometimes bad. They all survived so it does not really truly matter. The first aid course is probably more important to your well being .. So the really important thing
Just GO! Even on the SL .. people ride bicycles around the world ..
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11 Nov 2014
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or you can watch YouTube to learn how to do it
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12 Nov 2014
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The more you have in your knowledge tool box the less the misery later,unless it is counted as adventure but there is plenty of that around ,so I just call some of it as foolishness- when the machine is left go until it breaks for whatever reason.Motorcycling is not plug n play.
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18 Nov 2014
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Another thought
There is the other option. Buy a popular model running used bike to practice on.
Something that you can abuse and in the worst case scenario..... dump. Too many of us try to 'keep it new' as opposed to realizing that a bike is nothing more than a tool to get us on the road.
Try not to let a shiny new paint job interfere with the turning of a wrench. At least buy a used lawn mower engine from the junk yard and take it apart. What's there to lose? Best way to learn is by doing.
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18 Nov 2014
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I might be stating the obvious here, but looking through this thread, one contact you need to make has not been suggested ( if it has, I've missed it somewhere and apologise).
Contaxct the manufacturer and tell them what you are going to do with your bike and ask them if they can either give you a half days maintenance course on the bike, or suggest a dealer who can help you. I have not come across a Manuf yet who won't help. it's their product and it's good publicity for them if they do it. Also you may end up with some free spare parts for your trip.
__________________
-''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)
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24 Nov 2014
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Really happy and grateful for all of your help & ideas
I'm currently re-thinking about the bike choice as my 12-year-old SL230 suffered a little bit of oil leak. Though it has been fixed easily by smearing gasket maker (not done by me of course), this makes me think about switching to a brand new bike. Maybe Yamaha XT250, fuel injected.
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