Do I actually NEED load more stuff?!

[Ben_88]

Hi folks I am planning on ridding my bike from the UK to Aus via Russia/Kaz/Mongolia/China/SEA. Im planning on taking aprox 9-12 months to get to Aus. I have been looking at what some others have pack and am Beginning to think I am underestimating what I need to take!

I was thinking about 60L's (for clothing, com's, cooking, hygiene, spares) plus my sleep set up and then selection of tools, couple 3L hydration bladders (one for daily use, both once camping in Kaz/Mongolia), some sort of storage for my DSLR camera.

Am I missing huge amounts of kit or just underestimated stuff??

I have done a fair amount walking in the UK from campsite to campsite since the age of about 12/13 carrying my own kit my motorbike holiday packing has always just been my walking setup chucked in to some panniers! Looking at the amount of storage others are taking Im feeling a bit worried now!

[othalan]

You should be fine, most people take too much. I carry about 55 L INCLUDING tent/pad/sleeping bag, but no cooking gear and tools. Though I had another 20 L for water, small random stuff, spare tube, etc.

I prefer traveling light myself as it makes unloading the bike easier at night and when off pavement I can enjoy it more instead of fighting the heavy load.

[John933]

Originally Posted by Ben_88

Hi folks I am planning on ridding my bike from the UK to Aus via Russia/Kaz/Mongolia/China/SEA. Im planning on taking aprox 9-12 months to get to Aus. I have been looking at what some others have pack and am Beginning to think I am underestimating what I need to take!

I was thinking about 60L's (for clothing, com's, cooking, hygiene, spares) plus my sleep set up and then selection of tools, couple 3L hydration bladders (one for daily use, both once camping in Kaz/Mongolia), some sort of storage for my DSLR camera.

Am I missing huge amounts of kit or just underestimated stuff??

I have done a fair amount walking in the UK from campsite to campsite since the age of about 12/13 carrying my own kit my motorbike holiday packing has always just been my walking setup chucked in to some panniers! Looking at the amount of storage others are taking Im feeling a bit worried now!

That is one of the 64 million dollar question's. Some can manage on a plastic card and a packet of fag's. Other's need the kitchen sink. There is no set amount. Tip take less than you need in clothes, and more in spare's. You can alway's get kit to wear. But a 10mm ring spanner or a bike chain, is going to be harder to find.
John933

[othalan]

Originally Posted by John933

That is one of the 64 million dollar question's. Some can manage on a plastic card and a packet of fag's. Other's need the kitchen sink. There is no set amount. Tip take less than you need in clothes, and more in spare's. You can alway's get kit to wear. But a 10mm ring spanner or a bike chain, is going to be harder to find.
John933

Personally, the only spares I carried were brake pads. Always found a solution. But then, I do ride a KLR so could probably fix it with duct tape and a rock if I had to.

[Bucket1960]

Originally Posted by othalan

But then, I do ride a KLR so could probably fix it with duct tape and a rock if I had to.

Ya doing it wrong othalan.............it's supposed to be gas & a box of matches

[mark manley]

Here is what I took on a trip to Central Asia which would have been enough for me on your trip, the only thing I would do different is a warmer sleeping bag but was trying to get everything into the luggage shown underneath.

[othalan]

Originally Posted by Bucket1960

Ya doing it wrong othalan.............it's supposed to be gas & a box of matches

You know, you're right! Those big BMWs make good campfires while I loot their tools to make repairs.

[Threewheelbonnie]

There are very few things you need. Basically just the bike, passport and means of buying anything else. Then there is a declining series of items you want varying from items you pretty much know you'll use (toothbrush, camera etc.) to nice to have (tools, clean underwear, sun hat....) all the way down to the **** you will come to hate because it's only function is to make unloading into hotel rooms a three trip job and prevent the zips fully closing on your luggage.


The trouble is, my pointless over weight **** is the stuff that will keep you sane and vice versa.


What I think I can read from your post is that you have a good idea what your high priority items are. These you should take. What I can also make a pretty good guess at is the voices in your head currently screaming about how if you don't buy that shiny laser cut thingy that protects the spare whatsit and doubles up as an emergency BBQ and Heliograph you will die horribly and painfully two miles from home are wrong. Yes, if your crank bearings fail you will have a story to tell about how you got new ones, but this will be a better story than the one about how you carried an unused set for 3000 miles until the weight really hacked you off and you chucked a hundred quids worth of ballast in a roadside skip.


Go with what you are 95% certain to use and learn about the rest later.


Also, take a look for the "over weight is under prepared" thread. This is a chap who'll have you drilling holes to lighten your toothbrush, but a very useful counterview to the bikes you'll see carrying spare drive shafts and an extra camping chair in case the Queen comes to tea.


Andy

[colebatch]

Take the bare minimum. Ideally two side panniers and a tank bag. Stretch to one not too large rear roll bag if you really must.

If what you want to take doesnt fit into that lot, then start culling, cause you have too much.

[liammons]

I've never been able to fathom why people feel the need to bring so much stuff with them on their travels be it 2 wheels, 4 wheels or 2 weeks in the sun somewhere.

You sound like you have your priorities right, just the bare minimum.

A lot longer ago than I would like () I went backpacking round the then newly 'reopened' Central and Eastern Europe with a 3 mates from college. Sadly I went on the instead of packing the night before I left and as a result woke up about an hour and 15 mins before my flight. Needless to say, I didn't pack for too long so brought basically what I wore the night before, 2 t shirts and 2 odd socks plus a can of deoderant.

Amazingly, there were shops where I was able to buy anything I needed (maybe not exactly what I wanted, cue some fairly rare looking outfits.... but at least I blended in, in a kind of early 90's peristroyka kind of way....)

Now I travel by 4 wheels, but I still don't bring much tent, sleeping bag, and something to cook on and eat with. I also bring a few clothes, but always buy a few more as I go around when I need them cause its actually fun.

Only other thing I bring is tools and critical spares, obviously a bit more room for these than on 2 wheels, but then they are also bigger.

TBH, people (including me) seem to overdo the spares and tools too but with 4 wheels its easy to bring a bit extra. DHL etc, will get you just about anything to just about anywhere for a price if you need it. If the price is less than the lost fun of dragging a mountain of rubbish about with you, then just consider that their existance is a kind of insurance policy?

[stephen.stallebrass]

Originally Posted by colebatch

Take the bare minimum. Ideally two side panniers and a tank bag. Stretch to one not too large rear roll bag if you really must.

If what you want to take doesnt fit into that lot, then start culling, cause you have too much.

That's my approach too

Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie

Yes, if your crank bearings fail you will have a story to tell about how you got new ones, but this will be a better story than the one about how you carried an unused set for 3000 miles until the weight really hacked you off and you chucked a hundred quids worth of ballast in a roadside skip.

Never a truer word spoken... I was guilty of this.

I'd say pack all the kit you intend to take on your bike, you'll have an idea whether or not it's too much by the time you've done. If not push it over and pick it up, on your own, whilst fully loaded. If you didn't have a stroke picking it up, rinse the sweat off and repeat until you do. You don't really have to push your bike over, you get the idea... you'll probably be dropping it a lot if you're riding off road, so lighten the load now and save yourself the hernia surgery or having to unpack the bike just to put it the right way up.

Some people over pack by taking nonsense items, others pack versions of kit that are inappropriate for bikes like tents that are too big, or tools they don't need. You're a hiker so you probably already have the smaller packing gear. Just replace wear & tear parts or items likely to fail before you leave. For example, you probably won't need a new chain and sprockets mid trip if you put on a good fresh chain before departure and look after them along the way - likewise bearings and brake pads etc. You're more likely to need to repair a puncture or replace a tube, bulb or fuse than strip and rebuild the engine. If you really think you need certain items send them forward to a contact along the way: join a community here on the HU forum.

Be open to things going a bit tits up, that's usually when the interesting things happen and when the trip becomes an adventure. You can't prepare for every eventuality so don't. Don't worry, 60L and your experience sounds like you're on the 'right' path. Leave yourself some room for a couple of luxury items, you have a bit more room on a bike than in a back pack.

Bon voyage comrade.

[Ben_88]

Cheers for all your responses folks! makes me feel a little more relaxed, although still bit twitchy as haven't exactly chosen a bike yet and Im hoping to leave in just over 2 months!

I like the Idea of just taking a bank card instead of a bag but want to make my money go further/be blown on stuff like scuba diving!

I have opened a tin of worms with this weight thing now though, Im looking at getting a DRZ ish rather than tweaking my XT600e as it will save more weight and be about as quick!

I have decided my luxury item will be my dslr camera and tripod with a macbook air for lightroom! This will be compensated though as I have got a water proof down sleeping bag which will be used with a basha, 2kgs saved without the tent!

Colebatch am I right in thinking you have toured ridding in jeans and a leather jacket? (some clip i have seen) If so how did you find it offroad/rough road situation? I am thinking about kevlar jeans (make my family happy), textile hiking boots and my leather jacket rather than Klim overland suit and Sidi courier boots as its what I normally ride in outside of winter! (saves more weight too!)

[mollydog]

Originally Posted by stephen.stallebrass

Just replace wear & tear parts or items likely to fail before you leave.

That's my mantra right there: Start the trip with everything refreshed or new. Chances are good that will get you 15K to
20K down the road.

Originally Posted by stephen.stallebrass

For example, you probably won't need a new chain and sprockets mid trip if you put on a good fresh chain before departure and look after them along the way - likewise bearings and brake pads etc.

Exactly, and I would add a couple spare front sprockets to spares kit, new tires/tubes and make sure cables are new or like new, new battery is always wise too.

The more you do before departure means more months of trouble free riding.
Take care of your chain (many do not).

Originally Posted by Ben_88

I have opened a tin of worms with this weight thing now though, Im looking at getting a DRZ ish rather than tweaking my XT600e as it will save more weight and be about as quick!

DRZ-S is a nice bike but the XT is easier to pack luggage onto, stronger sub frame.
Why do you think you need light weight? Are you planning to seek out the toughest off road sections you can find? Do you have serious off road riding experience? Anyway, both are good bikes. The DRZ will be easier loading into Canoe's and rafts and such.

[Scootergal]

Originally Posted by colebatch

Take the bare minimum. Ideally two side panniers

Two panniers - check!

[Ben_88]

Originally Posted by mollydog

That's my mantra right there: Start the trip with everything refreshed or new. Chances are good that will get you 15K to
20K down the road.

There is a possibility of me actually going on a brand new bike if i do it will all be new other wise I will cheange bearings chains etc. so I know that they will last plenty.

Originally Posted by mollydog

DRZ-S is a nice bike but the XT is easier to pack luggage onto, stronger sub frame.
Why do you think you need light weight? Are you planning to seek out the toughest off road sections you can find? Do you have serious off road riding experience? Anyway, both are good bikes. The DRZ will be easier loading into Canoe's and rafts and such.

My XT has got supermoto wheels on it with no off road rims so would need new wheels and its had a hard life prior to me, subframe strengthening doesn't worry me I have a good level of experience with my welder plus my friend does it for a living
With regards to cutting weight, I was hit by a car 15 months ago and now have a foot of metal plates and about 30/40 screws in my left wrist
So would like to keep weight down to make lifting easier on my hand and need to have a light clutch too generally smaller engines lighter clutches (apart from the R1 which is very light but handle bars painful now)