Many folks ask me, “when are you leaving?” or “you’re still here?” It seems that in everyday life we get so caught up with schedules, deadlines, places to be, dates, times, etc that its tough to let go of that mindset. The beauty of having a significant amount of time is that I can simply leave when I’m ready since there is no schedule, and I don’t have to be anywhere, anytime.
So I will leave when preparations are finished and I’m ready to go.
Long distance travel on a motorcycle obviously involves some preparation, from taking care of business at home to getting the bike in tip top shape. Bike prep is especially important because when you have technical problems south of the border, (and I will) parts are neither readily available, nor easy to find. I will have some access to KTM dealerships but they will be found only in the largest cities, and typically there will be only one dealer in a city.
Given that, the bike is going through extensive preventative maintenance and modifications to prepare it for such a journey. Although it’s relatively new, I am going through each system, making sure that it’s fully checked out and has the latest upgrades and parts. I will need to refresh certain items along the way like oil, tires, tubes, brakes, wheel bearings, swing arm and steering stem bearings, chains, sprockets, various filters, etc. In addition I will have to do valve clearance checks and adjustments, water pump replacements and other labor intensive items. Some of these parts I can have shipped from home, some I will need to find wherever I’m at. I will need to perform most of the maintenance myself, so I must carry an extensive tool kit as well. You must be prepared for almost anything on a trip such as this.
My tools and parts kit that I will carry with me:
The biggest challenge in preparing for this adventure is not prepping the bike, nor deciding what gear to take. The trick is deciding what gear to leave at home. On this trip, I will need to go as light as I possibly can, as its no fun trying to wrestle with an overladen motorcycle in a nasty rock garden, mud pit, or remote sand wash. Most of the kit will consist of tools and spare parts, therefore a minimum of creature comforts will be packed. However the proper riding gear is essential as I need to be well protected when I crash, and well protected from the elements. On this journey I will encounter sweltering temperatures in the low tropics, and bitter cold in the 16,000 ft. elevations of the Andes and South American Altiplano. I must have clothing for every environment. But, keeping the bike as light as possible is essential for riding in off road conditions. The lighter the bike, the easier it will be to handle, so I must carefully choose what I strap on the bike. I want to be comfortable, but not overburdened with crap. There is a happy medium somewhere in there.
Since I’m pretty much ready to go, I will be crossing the border at Tecate in a day or so, stay tuned for updates from Baja.