North Cape

[yorkybar]

Hi Im new here and am still feeling my way around the site. I have planned a small trip to the North Cape in July and was wondering what is best to take with me. I will be riding 2up as my 15 year old son is coming with me. I have collected the following items to take.

1) Tire levers and valves
2) 2 innertubes 1 front 1 rear.
3) Allan keys
4) Brake and clutch levers
5) Cable repair kit.
6) A set of bulbs.
7) Spanners
8) 2lt can Petrol
9) 1 Lt Oil
10) Cable ties
11) Duck tape.

Do you think this to much, or have I missed something more important.
I will be riding a Triumph Tiger 800XC.

[casperghst42]

Mosquito spay / deet... they can be furious up there (they'll snatch you, and carry you up on a cliff to suck you dry)

Otherwise, you could be thinking about a chain link, and a chain breaker - but that would only be if you're paranoid.

As it's a western country bringing oil and extra gas cans on a bike which can do +250km on a tank might be over doing it.

And to save space you might leave the extra tubes and rely on patches. Also how will you inflate the tyres, maybe a super foot pump like the Air Revolution Mini Foot Pump, or a small compressor ..

You do not mention if you're doing Asphalt only or gravel roads.... so you should decide on that before you start packing, as gravel roads might require more stuff (spares) than Asphalt.

Casper

[ssa2]

I am heading to North Cape in a week and a half right after the TT race on the Isle of Man. We will be riding two up on a BMW GS adventure but pretty much staying on paved roads. I know you need to bring plenty of money as Norway is very expensive and do not speed as tickets are huge. The bugs are the other thing that can get to you.

[yorkybar]

[
Otherwise, you could be thinking about a chain link, and a chain breaker - but that would only be if you're paranoid.

As it's a western country bringing oil and extra gas cans on a bike which can do +250km on a tank might be over doing it.

And to save space you might leave the extra tubes and rely on patches. Also how will you inflate the tyres, maybe a super foot pump like the Air Revolution Mini Foot Pump, or a small compressor ..

You do not mention if you're doing Asphalt only or gravel roads.... so you should decide on that before you start packing, as gravel roads might require more stuff (spares) than Asphalt.

Casper[/QUOTE]

We will be riding on both road and gravel. As to the tubes I thought that as my bike with having spoked wheels id have to have tubes.That with the spare chain link is a good idea thanks

[Flyingdoctor]

Once in Norway look for a tin of "Myggmedel Tjardoft" It's got a moose's head on a yellow label. It looks like boot polish and feels like it when you put it on your skin but it works against those pesky mossies.

I've toured all over Scandinavia on my Serow with a 10 litre tank (160 mile range). I carried an extra 5 litres but didn't need to use it. The thing is though, if you carry extra fuel it takes the worry of running out and you'll be happy to run on reserve until it stops. Usually you'll find petrol well before then.

Buy your at the supermarket and get a hotdog when you stop for fuel, they're lovely!

You used to be able to buy a nice alu thermo mug at Statiol stations and then get a free coffee every time you stopped to fill up. Just ask.

Get on the Gravel roads when you can they're easy going and by July most of the loose gravel will have been pushed to the side of the road.

[JustMe]

Tubes are a good idea, as is a gas can. It´s easy to take a wrong road up north, and you´ll run out of gas before you can say sh...! Having 2 or 3L extra is never a bad idea. Just imagine you have a breakdown, with low fuel already and need to have your engine running for an extended time to find the problem, just running out of gas when you fixed it.

On long runs I have additionally (for my AT and Missus´ Transalp)
- a pack of liquid metal with me for repairs on the cooler after a stone hit,

- a multimeter for electrical issues,

- a tiny 12V soldering iron (a set of soldering connectors which can be used with a zippo will do the trick at least on cables, too);

- 2 spokes per type (my AT has three different spokes in the rear wheel...),

- some rim protectors (such as those: TYRE FITTING TOOL SET OF 3 - Louis - Motorcycle & Leisure ),

- a tiny bottle of dishwashing detergent packed with the tools for the tire works,

- a spare tire valve insert,

- a small compressor,

- a tire tube repair set,

- a tire(!) repair set (gummiworms)

- a tiny bag of Ballistol, available at bike stores here (40x40x3mm),

- a perfect small Stanley box with a 1/4 inch socket wrench and all the small inserts such as 8-14mm (I kicked the original, not required 12mm from the 8-13mm set and replaced it with a 14), allen etc.,

- a 3/8 inch socket wrench with a carefully selected set of larger-size inserts such as 15mm, 17mm, 19mm, up to the size of my rear wheel nut, an adapter 3/8 to 1/2 for the large-size nuts, some allen key sizes, just those I need for our specific bikes;

- some length of 1,5 square mm electrical wiring,

- a replacement mike and replacement helmet holder for our Cardo communication sets,

- a pair of working gloves,

- spare fuses (BRAND NEW, not from some dark corner of my basement), remember that cars nowadays have these supertiny fuses and the old fashioned stuff build for a man´s fingers is not necessarily available at every gas station anymore,

- a fuel pump electrical contacts set for the AT (you may have other bike specific parts which do not cost much, are tiny to pack but can save a trip);

a couple of ratchet tie-downs to secure the bikes on ferries etc.; on the smaller boats there are none available and shitty weather is not for others only; in any case they are good spare straps if a luggage strap gets lost;

a small tie-down strap to block the front wheel brake handle with on the ferry,

last not least my beloved Flaig tire pressure gauge (the model with the deflation valve, not the basic version!). It´s perfect to check the tire pressure in the morning with cold tires, and it´s perfect to set the correct pressure even at gas stations where there is a compressor available but where the gauge is typically not worth a damn. Just inflate the tire somewhat excessively and then deflate with the Flaig down to the perfect pressure. No dirty nose when taking the readout - just connect and remove the Flaig, the reading will be fixed until the deflation button is pressed. Its beautifully engineered and is in my tankbag at all times. The Flaig comes with either with the 45 degree or the 90 degree valve connector, the latter of which is perfect for the Africa Twin and Transalp; the 45 degree connector does not work as either the spokes or the brake disks will be in the way. However, this may be different on other bikes and the adaptor is easily exchangeable. This is the advanced model with the deflation valve, which allows to deflate the pressure with a real-time reading on the gauge to the desired value. http://flaig.galgenkopf.com/index.ph...assventil.html . The basic model can only read the pressure and reset the reading to zero. This is not the original Flaig shop (which is under construction, it seems) but I have purchased from that company directly two years ago and they have been perfectly reliable and nice. Seems like their website is not available in English, but drop them a line in case of interest.

Sounds like much, but isn´t, if cleverly packed.

Cheers
Chris

[Tabbi]

Hi there,

I ask some of my question in this thread because I´m planning a trip to the North Cape next year.

A girlfriend and me start our tour in Germany and we have 4 weeks for the trip.

At the moment I begin planning and reading and searching all needed information.

My first question is about the gas and the distance between the gas stations becaue I´m riding an Suzuki GSF 1200 (Bandit).
Not really the most used bike if I´m looking around the forum, but the only bike I have.

It will the test for me for the upcoming bigger trip.

Normally I start searching a gas station at 200km so I have reserve for good 40km (Bandit has 19 liter fuel and consumes around 6-8 liter/100km).

Tabea

[yorkybar]

Hi tabbi,Ill let you know next year how to get on when im back. I travel from Hamburg to the North Cape on the 15tzh July this year on my Tiger 800 XC.



Cheers

Eddie

[The Dane]

Been there 3 times. Gastations are not a problem! Buy your insect repellent on Germany, as DEET still is legal in Germany, you can get it in any Globetrotter store...plenty of them all over your country. Dont bring to many things for your bike...you can get everything up there too..
Try use the Indlandveien in sweden...faster and cheaper than norway. Visit the Sami school and museum in Jookmook...all worth it!! From there go to kiruna, cross through Sarek Nationalpark and do the rest of the kilometers in norway...great road and nature.

[Tabbi]

HI Eddie,

would be nice to hear your experiences.
Can you describe your way to the north cape?

As for the insect repellent lotion.
I won´t buy it at Globetrotter.
A nice guy I met at the HU meeting a week ago give us the same advise using a good insect repellent lotion.

I´ll buy it from the US Army. Cheaper! He used it allover south america.

Tabbi

[The Dane]

Well, the 2 bucks diff, does not ruin my budget The 20%
Deet does the job pretty well ..with out risk of skin.

Have a nice trip...

[yorkybar]

Hi Tabbi where are you in Germany Im in Quickborn by Hamburg.

I will give you a break down when Ive got back but we will be running up to Frederickshaven and then To Göteborg and then through the middle of Sweden up to Lapland, Finmark and then Norway and on the way back we are planning to do the Lofoten and the follow the coast down to Oslo or even back to Göteborg. This is the rough plan but it can and undoutedly will change.

[Griffder]

Hi Yorkbar,
I have just done the same trip in May this year on my XT600E. I was lucky not to have any mechanical issues however I did take a few spares just to enable me to get to a local garage. The only problem I had was having to get a new rear tyre in Halmstad. It cost three times what it would in the UK. The roads in Norway especially the north are very abrasive so my tip is buy a new set before you leave and just keep your old ones to put back on when the others need replacing.
This was my only mechanical problem. I camped in my tent most of the trip and it saved me a fortune (even in the bleak snowy north). Did stay in a Motel in skaidi. Needed it. Nice Swedish waitres to talk to.
I didn't struggle for fuel ether apart from the road to the cape which was touch and go. I only have a 15 ltr tank and a range of 190 miles. I stuck to a rule of topping up at the 100 mile mark. Worked for me.
I absolutely loved the adventure and I hope you both will too.

Watch out for the raindeer and Moose.

[yorkybar]

Hi Griffder,

thanks I have just put a new set of Michelin Anakee 3's so I hope not to have any probs with that.Would you be so kind and send me the route that you used,
and what kind of daily milage you did and also any good camping grounds that you can remember. Not to forget that I shall be travelling 2up. Thanks also for the fuel tip I have a 19lt tank and will have 2lt as reserve but I will bare in mind what you said about every 100 miles to tank.

[chef jules]

Hi, I did the Nordkapp trip last May on my DL650 Wee Strom. I followed E6 most of the route. But if you have the time, a worthwhile detour is the route 17 from Steinger to Bodo west coast and island hopping. Mozzies as others have mentioned will eat you alive. Fuel didnt have any issues there [ 2ltr spare strapped to bike]. When I crashed on Nordkapp I had Carol Nash recovery by my side within 3 hrs. Also assistance from local family. Put your worries to one side and ride it . You wont have a problem. If your not camping there are plenty of cabins to rent. Good luck