Bike Prep 101.

For the last trip to Central America, I did not write much about prepping the motorcycle for travel. This time around I thought it would be of interest to include a couple of posts on what it takes to get a bike prepped for long distance travel.

Modifications include the addition or removal of things that make the motorcycle the most functional for long distance travel. Such things as power outlets, luggage systems, protection and suspension all need to be considered.

There are of course many ways to accomplish anything in life and motorcycle preparation is no different.

The path of least resistance, initially anyway,  would be to take your bike to a repair shop and tell them what you want done to the bike in the line of modifications and accessories. From the bike shop go to the nearest bank and proceed to rob it. Take the proceeds of said robbery back to the shop in exchange for your fully modified adventure machine. There are a couple of flaws with this plan, the biggest being that you now have a motorcycle that you know nothing about and are trusting to take you to far off remote locations. All this after a short stint in jail. I assume this is a first offence for most people and sentencing would be lenient.

The other more preferred approach is to do the research and modifications oneself. This may involve a couple of friends from time to time, and of course eliminates the visit to jail. This is also a more cost efficient path, and it allows me, the traveller, to "know my machine" intimately. This is also the phase of the trip where Brenda feels abandoned because every spare minute I have is spent in the garage or doing research so I can spend even more time in the garage.

All this mechanical work implies that tools are owned and mechanical skills are present. If this is not the case...see option #1.

The bike preparation this time really started as soon as we returned from Central America. Although the 800GS's are very capable machines it became apparent that they were a little on the large size to be muscling around in the dirt. This started the research into smaller bikes, and after some brainwashing by my buddy Steve, I bought a BMW G650xchallenge.