Bikes & Kit
2017 – Vladivostok to London
After reading a number of blogs we decided to leave our bigger bikes at home and go with 2x Yamaha XT250’s this time – we feel the smaller bikes on the rougher terrain will work better for us, and they are still good on sealed roads too.
Modifications: (on each bike)
Fitted an Ohlins spring to the rear shock and improved the front springs
Sump Guard
Swapped out the footrests for Super Tenere footrests
Oxford heated grips
Barkbuster handguards
National Cycle Windscreens
Had a professional alter the seats
Happy Trails pannier and topbox racks
Andy Strapz pannier bags
Pelican case as a topbox
Small Oxford tankbag each
Fitted a PDM60 (power distribution module)
Wired in a 12v connector to charge accessories if needed while on the road
Tube inside rack on Janet’s bike. and a plate for the toolbox inside Charlie’s
Fitted Mitas EO7 tyres to front and back
Our kit:
Updated below
Spares:
2 inner tubes
Brake pads
Air filters
Front sprockets
2014/15 – The Americas – Prudhoe Bay to Ushuaia
Charlie’s Bike – Yamaha 1200 Super Tenere
Named: Angus
Modifications:
Touratech panniers
Givi topbox
Sargent seat
Givi sumpguard
Givi engine protection bars
Touratech headlight protector (added later)
Touratech petrol carriers
Nitron rear shock absorber
Yamaha heated grips
Janet’s Bike – Yamaha XT660R
Named: Jet – as in “deep black” “going somewhere”
Modifications:
We made a couple of modifications to lower the bike so I can now almost get my feet flat – I’m 5’6. We changed the lowering links to longer ones to drop the overall height by 40mm, and reshaped the seat which lowered the bike a further 25-30mm
Added Andistraps soft luggage
Metalmule sumpguard
Givi screen
Renthal bars
Barkbuster handguards
Oxford heated handgrips
Ohlins rear shock absorber
Changed the exhaust, 2 into 1 with a Barrett muffler, dropping approx 10kgs weight
Added 110mm tube for extra storage in the space left vacant from the 2nd muffler
Yamaha topbox
Wired in a 12v connector to charge accessories if needed while on the road
Our Kit
Clothing:
We found some good tips when looking at other riders kit, so hope this list will do the same for someone else.
Charlie:
- Arai helmet – Chaser V / Vector 2
- Alpinestars Long Range 2 jacket 2017 Changed to Klim Badlands jacket and pants
- Draggin Jeans (not for 2017)
- Spidi overtrousers (not for 2017)
- Revit rain jacket and pants – Update: Charlie found the Revit pants leaked so changed them for his old faithful Teknic raingear
- Sidi Canyon boots
- 2x pair gloves – summer and Revit winter gloves
- Icebreakers – 2 long and 3 short sleeved t-shirts, 3 singlets
- Arcteryx sweatshirt – very lightweight but warm
- Ansai heated vest (not for 2017)
- Jeans, shorts, togs
- Lightweight Nike shoes, jandals
- Socks etc
Janet:
- Shoei helmet – GT Air
- Revit Indigo jacket – leaving the thermal liner at home as it can’t be worn on its own
- Revit Sand Ladies pants 2017 – Changed to Klim Altitude jacket and pants
- Revit rain jacket and pants
- Sidi Canyon boots
- 2x pair gloves – summer and Revit winter gloves
- Icebreakers – 2 each, long and short sleeved t-shirts, singlets
- Arcteryx sweatshirt – as above
- Macpac down jacket
- Ansai heated vest (not for 2017)
- Jeans, skirt, togs 2017 – added scarf and long top for muslim countries
- Lightweight Nike shoes, jandals
- Socks, etc
Other
Camping:
- Wanderers Pod 3 tent
- Sea to Summit down sleeping bags
- Exped Synmats sleeping mats
- Silk liners
- Exped pillows
Technical:
- 2x Notebooks
- 2x Smartphones
- Sena SMH20 Bluetooth bike to bike intercom
- Tom Tom GPS Update: TomTom is great for North America and Canada but insufficient maps for Central and South. Now using a Garmin Zumo instead. Garmin have incomplete maps for Mexico Central and South, but you can download OpenStreetMap which is compatible with Garmin and is free.
- An excellent App – Maps.Me – doesnt need a signal and has helped us out often.
- Sony action cam
- Lumix camera
- ALL the chargers!
- USB multi box plus ordinary multi box
- 2017 – Inreach SE tracker
Misc:
- First Aid kit, toiletries, clothesline
- Tool kit