Dakar - what can I fix myself?

**malmoerik** · #1 2 Feb 2004

Hi, I'm planning a three month trip through the Middle East ans a couple of the Stans. I'm on a 650 Dakar and basically bought it because my lack of mechanic skills. BUT, what do you think I must be able to handle myself on a trip like this? For example change of tires, filters, cables, sparks - and then what?!
Like somebody else wrote on this forum:
Nothing is obvious to me!

/Erik

**gozell** · #2 3 Feb 2004

Hello,

Personally the more you can do the better, dont trust anyone working on your bike in Africa stay with it all the time. This may sound a bit harsh but it would be interesting to see if other travellers agree with me...

But I reckon you should be able to fix a puncture as a minimum, going to the higher scale would be changing oil, checking valve clearances etc generally an inqusitive mind when dealing with problems helps.

Grtz

**Steve Pickford** · #3 3 Feb 2004

Hi,

Try looking at this thread in "Equipping The Bike" - What spares should I take? simonrjames 14 29 January 2004 11:51 PM

You'll find many points of view on this matter, all borne of experience.

Basically, what spares you take depends on your spannering ability & level of ingenuity.

Steve

**malmoerik** · #4 3 Feb 2004

Thanks, that was a really useful conversation on that thread. And since I will be going through 75-octane-land, I'll bing some spark plugs!

Cheers

**nobby** · #5 3 Feb 2004

hi
try the chain gang website on the links page
nobby