review by trevor

Equipment Review

BIKE

BMW 1150 GS 2000 model.

Changes / Modifications

1. Tyres TKC 80 – Michellen
   - New set on  departure
   - 1 x spare tyre Rear
   - Front – Lasted 16 000km
   - Changed back in Nairobi – 8000 km could still go +/- 2 – 3000km on (10 000 km)
2. Tank – Kaoko 34L composite
   - petrol available every 250km not once put in more than 19L of fuel
   - Light + oil cooler cover – a must, a lot of stone chips on headlight.
3. Observation: longer / higher windscreen fender; it gets dirty, can’t see and nullifies your helmets air intake; rain blow off from screen.
4. Handlebar Protectors:
   Changed to Ciruit Full Handle bars, they worked especially in Tanzania.
5. 12V Distribution box for charger on handlebars (own design) it works – take along fuses, we replaced 2x fuses on this run.
6. RAM GPS MOUNT – they are the best.
7. PDA (palm) mount frame Touratech – fell off first 100km.
8. Tank bag (BMW) – a must, if you get a generic one make sure it does not interfere with your turning of handle bars.
9. Crash bars: worth every penny. From PE Zipski
10. Engine Guard / Bash plate – a must – make sure it is easy accesable and maintainable – especially after being damaged – no special tools on trip.
11. Larger foot pegs – it sure helps, especially if you stand 10 hours / 250km roads. Big country 4 x 4
    Panniers: Mototech Frame and Alpine panniers – they broke in Uganda ¾ of way. Any pannier is going to take a beating even the best ensure they are mendable on the road and will last you the way.
12. Tyre repair kit: Tyre pressure gauge: make sure it is easy usable and compatible with your tyre valve and spokes – stay away from High Tech –
13. Valve elbow sure makes thing easy between the spokes
14. Tubeless tyres – take compressor and at least 10 air bombs. They can patch tubes, the do not have facilities for tubeless. Airboms are not available in AFRICA
    Tubes: assortment of patches and get the best solution.
    Tyre Levers x 2

Spanners / Tools

• Vice grip –
  
• Leatherman
• Screwdriver star / flat
  
• Wheel spanner
  
• Size (ring spanner) to all bolts & nuts on bike and 2 if  you hace a Bolt & nut withs same diameter.
  Allen keys
  
• Socket spanner, for bolts that you cant get to with ring spanner

Air Filters:
Took 2 disposable filters, used both. (Especially after dust roads.)

Fuses:
Used 2 x 10amp fuses.

Spotlights:
It works great – communicate to stop front rider.

Riding Gear
Ear plugs – disposable
Good helmet: Aria Tour X2
BMW Rally 2 Pro Jacket – excellent
Airflow pants – excellent
Boots, worth its while
Good socks
Rain coat
Gloves – 2 sets:
*  Ariflow
* dry/cold (pigskin gloves) working on bike helps protect hands

Clothing:

Towl
2 x shorts
3 x T-shirts
1 x track suit
3 x underware
3 x socks
Longsleeve warmer shirt

Make sure clothes

•  dry quickly you’ll wash them every day.
• Disposable for eventually you cant clean them anymore 

Electronic:

Cellphone – international roaming
12V charger + 220 Volt
Rechargeable batteries
12V charger – not so good, take 22V adaptor 2 pin plugs fit just about every where
Flat 3 point plug / adaptor, charge where you can.
MP3 player (IPOD), make sure you can copy your photos from camera onto it for safe keeping.
(4meg of photos).

Throttle control (Koako) it is brilliant.

Camera:
Small, compact digital. I took a PENTAX digital SCR with 35-70mm lens – it was bulky but good quality pictures. Would have taken More pictures in towns / villages it had smaller camera.
1g SD cards took 3 of them

Sleeping Bag:
First accent  (– 15C) – it’s good!!!

Mattress:
Small inflateable

Tent:
Makula: K way – too heavy.

Chair:
No chair

Note on Panniers
Must have tiedown brackets, must lock.
Must have lid hinged to panniers

Ruck sack:
Took a hiking pack, long, stretched over the panniers, Could not open Panniers – not good, but worked around it

Sunglasses
Addidas cycle glasses, sponge around eye helps with swet and dust
Night interchangeable lenses expensive but sure works

Sun tan lotion – neck/face

Medical:
Took a lot, used only:

• Imodium
• Malaria Pills
• Vitamins (fizzy pills)
• Deepheat

Duck tape 1 big roll & 1 small roll
Cable ties: assortment (more smales & medium than large

Waterbottle
2x 1 l  bottles
Camelpack – used it often, good thing if you don’t stop often.
Spare water essential.

Stove:
Did not use once, drank Coke.

Road Atlas:
Dismantled and cut to use page by page in tank bag

GPS:
60 CSX – make sure all maps are loaded and functional. Do not load any map after that, you loose your last loaded map.

Tracks 4 Africa:
African road atlas 2
Garmin world map

PAPERWORK
Visas
Carne
Registration Documnetation
Passport
Yellowfever
Notebook
Pens for borders
Export shipping documentation