Me and my brother are off next Wednesday to the short way down to Dakar and now most of the kit has arrived.

We hope to spend this last week to work on the bikes, such like trial tube changes, chain replacement, getting to the spark plug and such. Not planning to get into the engine proper, but should at least become able to work on everything around the engine. Something should be left to discover in the middle of nowhere too!

The only problem, and unusual for many, is where to do it?! Our house is right on a fairly busy street in EC1 and it would not be cool taking the bikes apart on the street just in front of our house.

How would you go about it? Do you know any garage/workshop/shed owners in east London who would let you use some of their space for a week and for a small fee?

Many thanks for your advice,
Kristo-

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London to Bamako, Oct-Nov 2009, KTM 640 Adventure + DR650SE

I suppose you could argue you ought to practice in a "real life" senario - in the local wood or beach or similar?

You not got a friend/neighbour with a back yard?

From another (southeast) Londoner who've prepped 2 bikes, broke & fixed several engines etc. the following advice:

It is ABSOLUTELY cool to do it in the street.

When its sunny, do it on the street.

When it rains, get a big IKEA umbrella, and still do it on the street.

If you're very desperate, you can take the handlebars off and actually fit the whole bike through the front door - so do it on the landing/livingroom floor.

PS: Don't drain your oil on windy days - it blows all over the place, and your neighbours will sue you if they slip on it.

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If you find a lockup or whatever, make sure its secure - they'd steal the eyes out of your head in Saaf London.