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TRAVEL Hints and Tips Post your TIPS to travellers - all the interesting little tidbits you learned on the road about packing, where to get stuff, and how to cope with problems. Please make sure the subject describes the tip clearly!
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #16  
Old 8 Dec 2005
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If it's -40c .Stay put in a nice yurt somwhere and wait for it to get warmer .
No amount of preparation or synthetic lubricants will make riding in -40c PLUS windchill bearable .

Dodger
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  #17  
Old 8 Dec 2005
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also see the Trip Planning section - winter camping.

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  #18  
Old 8 Dec 2005
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Quote:
Originally posted by svenpwrenn:
I did think of purchasing electric vest and electric shoe soles. However I have decided against instead, since the risk of them failing are to high and if the bike fails anything electric will become useless. As u say, nature is still best. i do have heated handles though.
I'd go for the electric clothing anyway - AND carry sufficient extra clothing to keep me warm if they do fail. Reason: - much less bulk = easier to ride safely and comfortably, and when you stop you don't have to peel as many layers off to do anything at all - such as take a roadside toilet break!

In other words, don't trust your life to electrics, but do use them for comfort - not to be underestimated in those conditions.

As for reliability, the electric vest I am using today is the first one I ever bought - in 1982. Wore out the material, but the wires keep on working - now in a new down vest.

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  #19  
Old 9 Dec 2005
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Running all that power, you might concider upggrading your stator... and I agree, the electric vest in ADITION TO, not in stead of, other clothing.
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  #20  
Old 1 Feb 2006
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hi,

if you really go, have a look here

www.iceride.com

and contact my friends Rob and Dafne de Jong.

they rode two xt600 in siberian winter.

but if you go thru siberia in september it should not get that cold, and going south thru mongolia and into china it should get warmer.

my advise: get a very good batterie or a bike with a kickstarter, oil viscosity is important, carry a can of wd40 for locks and other parts, and I agree with many things said above.

greetings

mika riding thru swiss winter

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  #21  
Old 3 Feb 2006
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Hello. Talking about batteries, what batteries would be best for a 650gs? something with the most power possible than can start at any temp.
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  #22  
Old 5 Feb 2006
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Check out "Riding the Ice" by Dave Barr.

http://www.davebarr.com/

Dave rode from the English Channel to the Sea of Japan on the NORTHERN ROUTE in the WINTER! That includes Siberia!

Dave rode a Sportster that I believe he fitted with knobby tires.

Dave did much of what is suggested here, such as emulating the locals, using natural fibers, and using a propane torch to warm his crankcase.

Dave doesn't drink, but kept vodka for friends met on the journey. The vodka was often frozen in his tent at 40 below!

Mike

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  #23  
Old 6 Feb 2006
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I've been riding around in the Norwegian winter with my Ural sidecar rig. I bought myself snowmobile gear and a full face helmet with double visor to prevent fogging/freezing. This stuff is made for winter riding, so I figured it'd suit well - which it does. MX helmet and goggles are cool, but I found that a full face helmet is better and warmer.
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  #24  
Old 8 Feb 2006
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Hey Indu,

Is that a motorcycle helmet or a snowmobile helmet?

I haven't seen a double visor. Is that for snowmobile helmets?

Any tips for keeping your hands and feet from freezing? I like Wheelie's comment about two pairs of loose wool socks and boots large enough to accomodate them. As I used gloves instead of mittens and froze, I also liked his comment about mittens.

Mike



[This message has been edited by ChicagoMike (edited 08 February 2006).]
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  #25  
Old 9 Feb 2006
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Mike.
I've got a Shoei Syncrotec helmet with the "pinlock" visor...sort of double glazed.I guess this is what Indu was on about.The visor fitment code is CX1 which also fit several other of Shoei's range,so if you have one of these it should be quite easy to get hold of one as they're a genuine part.

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  #26  
Old 11 Feb 2006
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hi There,

for double glazed visors you should try your local BMW dealers who can order them for the System range of helmets.

Regards

Reggie AKA The Cameraman
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  #27  
Old 11 Feb 2006
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WOooooooooowwwwwww
I never knew people do ride on temperatures like - 40!!!!!!!!!!!! Phhhffffffff from where I am In India we consider even 6 degrees to be too cold, Infact in Pune this year's 6 degrees is the coldest in 15 years!
Wheelie , Bill Ryder, Ekke and Margus and others, thanks a lot for putting all the info here! This really Puts cold riding in perspective!
Hell, I am starting to feel cold already reading this...
Hats off to all of you who ride in Such un hospitable weather!
I would rather handle Indian roads / Crazy traffic rather than Battle mother nature!
This scares the shit out of me .
Thanks for the info
Red Bull

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  #28  
Old 11 Feb 2006
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You can get electric boot warmers



The Canadian Kamik boot model "Oslo" has a comfort temperature of -74 degrees celcius!!!



My wife has these boots and claims her feet have never been cold, but they do not make you very mobile. Great for snowmobile riding etc, but not for walking around.
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  #29  
Old 15 Jul 2006
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you might want to take you battery in you tent to keep it from freezing, since you have no kickstarten...
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  #30  
Old 16 Jul 2006
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Hi,

there´s a yearly magazine in Germany called "Winterfahrer". In the last two issues you´ll find many hints and tipps for winter riding. Check
www.winterfahrer.de

Keep it cool

Winterbiker
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