[howardbell]

Hi folks>

From my research, it seems like this thread: http://www.stromtrooper.com/general-v-strom-discussion/51926-thetwins-underseat-toolkit.html had everything I'd need for most repairs. I still don't get why there are a bunch of different types of adhesives (other than LocTite).

Would you bring anything that's NOT on this list? Anything superfluous here?

PS... I'm taking off this summer August 20-something. Headed to Burning Man and then to Teirra Del Fuego! Very excited!

PM me before you leave, maybe we can hook up for some riding when you come thru central oregon, love to hear more about your trip.

 

[tmcgee]

I've never been happy with somebody else's toolkit. Create your own. Bring the tools you need for any job you're willing to do on the side of the road. This varies with all of us.

If you already do your own bike repairs, you know what you need to bring.

 

[Malikenya]

Lots of moto mechanics in every backwoods village in SA. Oh, and they are necessarily good at bodging stuff together or making other parts fit to get you by until you get the real thing. So, unless you are going way off the beaten trail or don't want anyone to touch your baby...anything that can't be fixed with a basic tool kit can be taken to these guys (I would carry a decent kit, but not at the expense of leaving a comfort item behind...).

I've broke down more than once and there will always be a truck, who will haul you for a pittance, and a place to work/store the bike, etc. people are helpful and are wages are low so its not like here, where you need a small loan to call a wrecker if you haven't bought a plan.

One time in Colombia...I rear-ended a jeep that slammed on its brakes for a speed bump. Bent the rim, spokes and forks of my XL-125. House under construction with locking gate allowed me to work on and store my bike. Removed the wheel and hitched a ride with the guy I hit to the next city. Found a rim but no-joy on the spokes. Couch surfed while straightening spokes and re-lacing the wheel. Not perfect, but got me to my destination where I got it fixed properly.

 

[MikeB]

If you already do your own bike repairs, you know what you need to bring.

Correct. And if you do not do your own repairs, it doesn't much matter what you bring because you won't be learning how to fix things on an Andean pass at 15,000' or in Patagonia with an icy gale blowing.

Lots of moto mechanics in every backwoods village in SA. Oh, and they are necessarily good at bodging stuff together or making other parts fit to get you by until you get the real thing. So, unless you are going way off the beaten trail or don't want anyone to touch your baby...anything that can't be fixed with a basic tool kit can be taken to these guys (I would carry a decent kit, but not at the expense of leaving a comfort item behind...).

Also correct. I'd be more concerned about having the right survival gear for waiting until a truck comes by. I hope you have looked into climate issues -- SA has some very extreme places, sunny tourist photos notwithstanding. Weather will likely present more issues for you than breakdowns.

 

[Traveler]

1) The underseat toolkit will do more than you think.
2) My toolkit fits into my wallet - it's called a credit card/cash.
3) Try Home | Horizons Unlimited for encyclopaedic help on your trip.

 

[Malikenya]

As far as adhesives, a couple examples...

RTV can hold stuff in/on until it can be fixed right.

Quick-steel can repair bashed and broken part...holed case, broken clutch handle, etc it can repair most things that can be repaired by welding. (Clutch lever example: pivot hole broke off in a tip-over fixed by molding quick-steel and filing to shape...worked for weeks).

Super-glue can fix plastic parts quickly.

Duct tape is the temporary answer to many leaks...hoses, tank, etc. It does last long, but can get you home or to the next town.

-Jud "MacGyver"

 

[Malikenya]

2) My toolkit fits into my wallet - it's called a credit card/cash.

Won't do you much good in most small towns (or most mechanics in the cities either) unless they have a Bank/ATM to get cash from.

 

[mpatch]

Not quite sure I get the point of carrying much more than a basic tool kit and some form of tire repair along with some gerry rigging stuff (jb weld, duct tape, wire, fuses, bulbs, couple of clip on master links, etc). Even if you carry every tool needed to completly rebuild the bike without replacement parts all the tools in the world are somewhat useless. I would suggest take the factory tools kit and upgrade it with decent tools throw in a few other misc. tools (front axel hex, vice grips, multi-toll of some sort, flashlight) and call it good. Bikes in general are pretty simple to work on and dont require much as far a tools go for 99% of repairs. Keep spare key(s) zip tied somwhere on the bike.

 

[MikeB]

Won't do you much good in most small towns (or most mechanics in the cities either) unless they have a Bank/ATM to get cash from.

That's why you use that card when you are passing through larger towns. And if you do get stuck in a small town you take a local bus to the nearest big town and get some cash.

An ATM card is the world traveler's best friend, credit card a close second.