Recently, I've started doing the same thing - making a list of things to take and have on a long, remote trip.

I recommend you replace all the tools in the suzuki stock toolkit with quality tools. That way, should you have to use them, you won't hurt yourself.

I recommend carrying the following at a minimum:

Tire patch kit
Battery-powered compressor
Value stem replacements
J.B. Weld
Flashlight
Rain Gear
Zip ties
Paperclips
tire irons
Chain lube
Grunge brush
WD-40
1-2 Rags

That's about all I carry. Yeah, its quite a bit of stuff, but you will thank yourself later if something happens.

Tige

 

+1 for the zip ties!!!! They came in handy for me the last trip!

But paperclips and tire irons??? What for, pray tell???

I cary a roll of 12 ga wire and electrician's tape for electrical repair, but paper clips???

And especially tire irons - with the Strom's tubless tires, if you break the bead you are hooped. No portable compressor will have the volume to seal a broken bead... Or did I miss something????

+1 on the Duct tape - don't leave home without it!

- BCB.

Recently, I've started doing the same thing - making a list of things to take and have on a long, remote trip.

[snip for brevity]

Zip ties

Paperclips
tire irons

Tige

 

Trippin'



I always carry a hefty positive attitude and a credit card. You're in North America, not Afganistan for Pete's sake!

 

A bit of wire can prove useful, spare fuses, and a small bit of duct tape. Love that Highway22X through Longview and the Crowsnest. @ Creston take the lake route to Balfour then Kaso, Nakusp, Kelowna, Merrit, Liloett, Whistler for the most scenic motorcycle type roads. My 2 cents. Cheers

 

Put many km's on my Wee on solo trips. All you need is your camera.

I do carry a tire repair kit.

Cheers!

 

Adding to the tool kit

Tige - Thanks for the info. I have yet to replace a tire and have never thought about valve stems. Although I have attended DSBC's Tire Changing Social, I'm praying that I never have to do this on the side of the road and I won't be carrying a spare tire. With this in mind, what would the tire irons be used for? I'll add JB Weld and Zip Ties. I already carry chain lube no matter where I go. Thanks again for the tips.

JStrom - Oh I did forget to mention that the old credit card will be carried in my hip pocket!! Don't leave home without it!!

BC-Bruce - I will learn from your recent trip to add zip ties to my kit. What size did you ultimately use?

okanagan - Thanks for the advise. I think I will also add a bit of wire and fuses.

I'm not going anywhere really remote but there will be some distances between towns so hopefully the cell phone will work if I have a problem. Must also remember to take water just in case I'm stuck on the side of the road somewhere.

Thanks all for the info. It is greatly appreciated.

 

Must also remember to take water just in case I'm stuck on the side of the road somewhere.

My I strongly suggest that for any rides over 30-50 km that you should pack water anyhow? That's vital in the kind of heat you'll find in the interior. Hell, you should think about a hydrapak. Last time I went up to Duncan in 30+ temps, I drained 2L in about an hour.

 

Another quick question - Should I make reservations at motels or just wing it. One one hand I'd like to play it by ear and stop when the mood strikes me. On the other hand, I don't want to have to continue riding because "there was no room at the inn". I'm going in July. What are your experiences?

 

I don't like making reservations because I never know how far I want to ride in a day until I experience the day. In all my travels, I only had to ride to another town once. The extra miles that day from La Crosse WI to Rochester MN are are very fond memory. It was dark, cold and exhilarating. It's usually only larger cities or college towns that fill up because of conventions, football games and the like.

 

before any trip i put every thing i want too bring in a pile some where in the house, then i remove items one by one, telling myself i dont need them , so when it comes time too go the pile is as small as can be , the less the better , the less you bring , the more fun you will have ,as for the worry of a break down its highly unlikely on a strom ,and if it does happen your karma will take care of you and it will be a true adventure

 

Reservations?

It's BC in the summertime, bring your tent and camping gear. Lots of places to tent it in BC. I have friends in BC who ride somewhere in the province and ajoining US states every weekend and never stay under a roof. There is no finer experience in the world than motorcycle camping, especially in a locale cosidered by many to be motorcycle Heaven. If you've never done it - Start.

 

Things to take

+1 on most everything. I'd add couple of things:
-pair or two of latex gloves
-pocket first aid kit with couple of extra aspirin or whatever
-water, water , water
-list of dealers and phone numbers - just in case. PM me and I'll send you and excel spreadsheet with a Western Canada (ontario and west) Suz dealers I got from Suzuki Canada.
Re; Reservations - I usually ride half day or so then make a decision where I want to be that day/night, then call from there. Most times, as Greywolf says, small towns are no problem but larger ones can be - especially in July. Better to find out ahead of time.

Safe Riding

Bob

 

What's JB weld? and i recommend gorilla tape over duct tape. it's what duct tape used to be like.
mike

 

JB weld is a two part epoxy that can be files and sanded. bonds to AL and most other metals. i prefer gaffer tape since it doesn't leave sticky stuff behind

 

For those curious about the paperclips, here's the answer.

There are a couple of "safety" swtiches on the strom that might need to be shorted to allow the bike to start after a drop/crash/etc. One of these is the clutch level switch. If you break the lever at the point where it goes into the housing, it may be that you cannot start the bike as the level isn't engaging the switch. A piece of paperclip will fit in there nicely, allow you to start the bike without pulling the clutch lever.

If you are carring small guage wire, then you don't need the paperclips.

Ask Coop and Graywolf - they know exactly what I'm talking about.

I take the motto - better to be prepared than stuck and out of luck.

Esp. in some of the places I find myself.

Tige

 

The paper clip and Tire Iron

I like the paper clip, Unlike wire it will hold its shape, is light weight enough that it will burn thru way before your wiring, and if you put a small pcs of electric tape on it you can easily handle it. On top of that it has some other uses like holding multiple pcs of paper together.

As for Tire irons. You can change and patch about any tire on the road with two good tire irons. I agree that the small compressor will not put it back on the rim but some starter fluid will in a pinch. Plus it is a hell of a lot easier to find a good compressor on the road then a pair of quality tire irons. Also make a fair splint for a lot of broken bones in a pinch.


Coop
Man with two paper clips in his tank bag

 

OK, OK - I'm sold on the paperclips. Almost as useful as a hairpin (yes women still use those).

Bob, thanks for reminding me about latex gloves. I use these whenever I'm working on the bike. I hate that oily dirty gritty feeling afterward that just doesn't seem to wash away. Perfect to dirty jobs on the side of the road. Keeps the hands clean for when you have to stick 'em back in your gloves! I already carry a first aid kit with me whenever, wherever I go. I will be pm'ing for the list of dealerships.

I still think I'll pass on the tire irons. If the tire needs more than a plug, it'll be beyond what I'm capable of dealing with. Hence the cell phone and credit card. I'm sure that I'll be able to flag down a passing motorist if the cell phone doesn't work.

Thanks for all the help. My route is Vancouver to Midway or Greenwood the first day, then on to Kimberly or Invermere (maybe even Radium Hot Springs) the next and arriving in Calgary on the 3rd day. I'm not sure of my route back, yet. I was leaning towards the Glacier Highway and down through the Thompson Valley, but I might not have enough time for that.

These routes are definately not remote but their are away from the dreaded Trans Canada.

Sharon

 

If you have a small sleeping bag and tent and water and a few munchies, that makes things really flexible. I wouldn't book ahead. Kind of defeats the purpose of riding, in my opinion. Your route, in BC anyway, is full of great places to commando camp.
As greywolf says, who knows how far you'll feel like riding in a day? Too many variables.

As for breaking down, is that something you plan on doing? On the other hand, even if you're not comfortable patching a tire, someone passing by might be, if you have the tools.

I've stopped to help out a few people with flats (on cars) before, only to find they didn't have a spare, or it was flat too. Probably their jack was seized up as well, but we didn't get that far.

 

Good advice

Yep, everyone pretty much knows how to take care of themselves on the road or in the bush and as your experience grows your gear and technique will will improve to the point where your kit will only carry the most essential items. This is as it should be, light and spartan. Try and find some experienced riders to travel with and observe what they carry and do and then distill what you glean from them into your own way of doing things. This is the way young pups become old dogs. Old dogs are lean, mean ridding machines. I've met Gary Egan and I can say with conviction he is most assuredly grey around the muzzle. Woof, woof!

 

With regard to the tire irons discussed earlier, whether you need them depends on whether you've got tube or tubeless tires and how you feel about plugs and how likely you are to encounter tire damage.

With a tubeless tire you can put in a plug and keep an eye on it for a week or so and if it's happy go on about your business. If you don't trust plugs then you need to work the tire at least halfway off the rim to put a patch in it.

With tube type tires there's no choice--you have to get the tube out to either replace it or patch it, so the tire has to come off the rim on one side if not entirely.

Not sure whether there's a real time saving to patching a tube type tire vs having AAA haul the bike to a repair shop and letting them do it with their power tools (takes me an hour and a half or so from wheel on the bike to wheel on the bike working with hand tools, someone with more practice might be faster), but plugging a tubeless once you've done it once and see how it works is quick and easy and a plug kit takes up practically no space.

 

With regard to the tire irons discussed earlier, whether you need them depends on whether you've got tube or tubeless tires and how you feel about plugs and how likely you are to encounter tire damage.

I have tubeless tires. I haven't yet had to repair a tire but the instructions seem easy. I've seen demonstrations of how to change a tire and, honestly, I don't think that I could even break the bead. I sure don't anticipate having tire damage, but you never know what can happen.

I'd like to be somewhat self-sufficient and hope to fix anything minor along the way. If I can't, then the credit card should take care of things for me.

Try and find some experienced riders to travel with and observe what they carry and do and then distill what you glean from them into your own way of doing things. This is the way young pups become old dogs.

Ahhh, to be a young pup again. If I was younger, I would have no reservations about going it alone. I'd love to travel with someone who has experience but no one was available to go with me at the time I have allotted. I guess I have to gain experience the hard way - by doing it myself.

I'm quite excited about the trip and am looking forward to it very much. Thanks to all for the advise - it is greatly appreciated. I do have some time to pick up all the necessary items as I don't travel until mid-July.

Sharon

 

I will be ridin on out to Cowtown (usually do it 3 or 4 times a summer), leaving on the morn of 11 Aug. I generally ride straight thru and arrive around midnight. Will spend 2 days visiting my pal and then hoof it back home again.

Will keep an eye out for fellow Strommers. I counted 11 on my recent ride to Nfld and was able to talk to 3 or 4 of them.

Cheers!

 

I'm off on the 11th, 12th & 13th Lets hook up for a coffee/ride possibly

I will be ridin on out to Cowtown (usually do it 3 or 4 times a summer), leaving on the morn of 11 Aug. I generally ride straight thru and arrive around midnight. Will spend 2 days visiting my pal and then hoof it back home again.

Will keep an eye out for fellow Strommers. I counted 11 on my recent ride to Nfld and was able to talk to 3 or 4 of them.

Cheers!

 

Have you chosen a route?

I recommend the Sea-to-Sky, and I think others will agree. I hope they speak up.

The finest solo ride I ever had was Vancouver to Pemberton to 100 Mile House to Little Fort to Blue River. The scenery was splendid, and worth the effort to see. I camped at a primitive rest area and had another excellent ride the next day.

The above route goes north of Calgary, so if you take the Sea-to-Sky, go from Lillooet to Cache Creek, Kamloops, and points east. I do not think you can find a bad route, because even an inefficient route will give you extra scenery and it's all wonderful.

I needed only one tool from Toronto to Vancouver to Toronto. It was a wrench to remove and replace the oil plug when I changed the oil. I borrowed a pan from Canadian Tire, and they gladly took the used oil when I returned the pan. Lubricate your chain every day, eh!

Good luck! This message comes to you from St. John's, which is in the tenth province in which I have ridden my Wee-Strom.

Keith

P.S. I have used only one tool on this trip: pliers to open a stubborn lid.

 

The finest solo ride I ever had was Vancouver to Pemberton to 100 Mile House to Little Fort to Blue River.

Keith - this sounds like the route I have planned coming back from Calgary. I was thinking Banff, Jasper, down through the Thompson Valley, hop over to Pemberton and down through Whistler.

It gives me great peace of mind knowing that you have required only 2 tools on your trips. I don't anticipate needing any on my trip. But better safe than sorry, right?

As you can see from the replies, there is no shortage of help available to you no matter which route you take. If you plan on coming through Kamloops and need help my # is 554 2539 (that applies to any of you of course!). There are several ways to go without using the TCH much and all are scenic.

Thanks Al. I'll take your number with me - just in case.

Sharon

 

oops, wrong date

i am going to calgary 11 July

although will probably go in August some time too

Cheers!

 

Well I hope to see you in August as I'm planning on the Road To The Sun Highway when you are here in July

oops, wrong date

i am going to calgary 11 July

although will probably go in August some time too

Cheers!

 

Strompette (Sharon)

As you can see from the replies, there is no shortage of help available to you no matter which route you take. If you plan on coming through Kamloops and need help my # is 554 2539 (that applies to any of you of course!). There are several ways to go without using the TCH much and all are scenic.

Enjoy!

Al

 

Way back machine

Wow! In the five years I lived in the interior of BC I rode on many of those roads and have awesome memories of all my trips. I got my first bike in the spring of 1976 in Prince George and rode the wheels off of it that first summer. The day I got my learners permit I split for Kelowna for the Knox Mounain Hillclimb. You're gonna love your trip. Can't wait to read the ride report. Have fun!