As posted in the General section, I’m planning a trip down the length of the Americas in late 08/09. I would like some advice from off-road gurus please.
Now as I want to spend some time off the highways and may be returning via Manaus in the Amazon to Venzuela - this apparently involves quite a bit of mud plugging. My questions would be as follows:
Would you use a GS1200 for this trip or would you look at a lighter machine, say 650 BMW, KTM or jap off roader? What in your opinions would be the best balance of very long road miles with the ability to pick up a machine single handed from the sticky mud of an amazon track? Anyone have experience of this…?
I’ve done some offroad in UK/Asia before so okay with the basics especially in drier conditions. Are there any tips or tricks from seasoned pro’s for wet sticky mud, river crossings etc?
What essentials would you take for this kind of trip. I have the basics in mind and won’t be going all out Ewan and Charley style with support trucks and mahoosive panniers, but beyond the standard medical kits, spares and consumables packs, head torch, photocopied manual, anything else spring to mind?
I can only speak from using an Africa Twin off road - no expeience with the big BM. However on dry gravel trails and unmade roads a big bike is no issue. However as you hinted Mud is the killer - it’s no fun picking a big lump of a bike up for the umpteenth time in a row on a sopping wet mud track in the rain…
I’ve used horizonsunlimited.com to plan the Russia trip - there’s masses of info on there and more than likely people who have done the route have posted on there. See also advrider.com too (this is a US site I think)
Spares - it’s tricky as the temptation is to take the kitchen sink - depends on the bike too. Had I still had my Africa Twin I would be taking a spare rectifier as that is a known problem on the Africa Twin and then apart from that spare tubes, bulbs and cables and levers - again HU is the place to see what other people take.
You’ll have to post some pics of this trip up mate. I’d be interested in what bike you take - if you’re looking at a BM1200 then budget wise there’s the new Yam Tenere, Honda Trans Alp and 800 GS BMW. But you’ll be surprised at the age of some of these bikes people are using to travel the globe
Cheers for your PM and advice Patrick. I will be checking those websites you mentioned, I am also in touch with some US based riders who’ve done the trip already for hints and tips to make life easier.
Not sure on the choice of bike yet. Looking at BM’s from dealers in las Vegas and Oregon as the £ to $ exchange rate is v. favourable and can resell (depending on what happens) when back in US. Will be doing some test rides here of the usual suspects as you mentioned to try and get a feel for what might work best.
dont forget the little things aswell.first aid kit
visor wipes
tubes
slime tube sealant maybe
bulbs
fuses
small jerry can of petrol
engine oil
wind up led torch
