Preparations

Preparing for such a big trip is half the work. So it is very important to do it well. Here is an overview of steps we have covered:

  • make an exact itinerary and planning with waypoints
  • get vaccins like rabies etc
  • study russian
  • get good travel insurance
  • repeat first aid (learnt during army time)
  • get in good physical shape
  • be comfortable offroad with the bike
  • prepare the bike for serious offroad work and exercise in bike maintenance
  • make a packlist for all luggage
  • make a test trip to test bike, gear, rider, passenger
  • acquire all necessary visa (do as much in advance in order to avoid loosing time during the trip visiting consulates etc)
  • gather travel guides preferably digital versions
  • backup important documents

The packing of the bike was a difficult process. What do you take on a 4 month trip?

First we have put everything of our checklist on the floor. But still we needed to decide what was too much to go along. Knowing that the maximum weight for the bike is about 450kg. The bike itself weighs around 260kg with the cases and fully fueled up.
Larisa and me are both about 160kg. I am sorry but I cannot give more details here 🙂
This leaves with only 30kg of room for 4 months luggage and spare parts etc.

reis benlar 015_resize

At the end of the afternoon we have put all the camping gear in the big 90l ortlieb bag.
The weight was about 14kg. The problem here is the volume I believe. We have quite voluminous sleeping bags, like the north face superlight, and also a tent which is quite large: the nallo 2gt.
Larisa’s stuff in the left case was 9.5kg. My stuff in the right case was about 10.5kg. The maximum weight you should put in the boxes is 10kg.
We have quite some spare parts for the bike as well which makes everything a bit heavy.

OK we made it. I think we can loose some more stuff once we get in Donetsk with Larisa’s family.

For the interested, here is a full list of what we have packed:

Bike check list check
GS documents, drivers license, insurance
gs manual paper version
touratech tankbag black ed + raincover
ortlieb 90l bag + net
cable lock for tankbag
toolkit touratech + special helper + feeler gauge
oil filter key wunderlich
Spark-plug socket wunderlich
tiewraps 30cm
wd40 + 1 straw
tyre repair kit
tyre levers
inner tyre 19″
wunderlich compressor airman 12v
airfilter cleaning kit + spare filter
powertape
towbelts
oilfilter + some oil 10W50 fully synthetic
ring antenna
fuel pump controller
rear brake pads
spare headlight
1 rag
working gloves

Camping gear (for 2) check
1 tent
2 sleeping bags
2 thermarest mattresses
2 liners
cooking gear
3 meals, salt/pepper/suggar, 4 thee, 4 soup
towel, soap
insect repellant
washing powder
2 sigg bottles
2 camelbags
waterproof bags
toilet paper

Clothes (per person) check
1 enduro bike suit
1 helmet, 1 buff, 2 pairs of gloves
1 pair of cat B walking boots (meindl)
1 pair of sandals
4 pairs of socks
4 pairs of undies
1 swimming pants + goggles
2 pants + 1 shorts
4 tshirts + 1 thermal
1 fleece
2 towels (1 small, 1 medium)
1 mosquito hat
1 pair of enduro goggles
1 pair of sunglasses / orange lenses
1 kidney belt
2 handkerchief

Electronics check
1 AEE Magicam CD21 motorsport + batt + remote + case
1 micro USB cable, 1 normal USB cable
1 samsung ultrabook laptop + charger + carry case
1 microUSB adapter
1 usb stick 16Gb
1 GPSMAP 62st + maps + waypoints + spare batteries
2 cellphones + charger
2 sena smh5 bluetooth modules
1 waeco 12v-230v charger + adapter
1 GS911
2 canon ixus cameras + chargers
2 tikka headlights + 6 extra 3a batteries
1 battery charger
spare parts sena + aee
EID card reader, bank auth devices

Hygiene + medical check
toilet bag (toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving set, soap, deostick, shampoo)
medications (antibiotics, painkillers,motilium, immodium, ors…)
antibacterial washing gel for the hands
first aid kid
vitamins
personal meds
compeed
sunscreen + after sun
libello

Personal stuff check
passport
wallet, credit cards, cash, drivers license
leatherman wave, spare pocket knife
lighter
pocket dictionary english-russian
dextro energy
ear protection
country maps
travel guides
gear lever protection

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Atlantic to Pacific overland. A motorcycle trip from Ghent to the east in the summer of 2013…