What-If total breakdown
 

Hello people,

in a few months, my RTW motorcycle trip is starting. I can repair a flat tire and fix some regular things myself.

But.. what if something really nasty is happening in the (larger) backroads of e.g. Mongolia or the Pamir highway? What if your motorcycle just doesn't work anymore?

How did you get back to a larger city to have someone with more knowledge, get it fixed? Hitchhike and arrange a truck to get it? Have it towed? Just wait a few hours until someone passing by arranges a transport?

I usually find crying followed by curling up in a tight ball and rocking back and forth helps. Sorry, you mean after that right?

Any of the above. You make it up as you go along. Sometimes a really nice blonde lady in a Porsche pulls up and not only drives you to the bike shop and buys you coffee but gives you a ride back to the bike (she was married but I had to ask), other times you hear stories of guys pushing for miles or getting asked for cash by truck drivers. I think the only advice is to try and be honest but also gauge the chances of a better or worse deal coming up. If there are roads and vehicles someone somehow will be up for sorting the ones that aren't happy.


Andy

I too tried crying followed by curling up in a tight ball and rocking back and forth the wife wasn't impressed. Swearing and throwing spanners was the next step. :taz::cursing:

Perhaps that's where the techy stuff comes in useful satphone / spot tracker etc.. I'm not a fan but I see where it comes in useful.

You won't know what you need to do until it happens. Every situation is going to be different. Unfortunately it can happen and all you can do is trust in peoples kindness and reduce the risks as much as possible before you commit to remote routes, prep the bike etc.... The more risk you take the more chance of something happening, but surely that's why we do it, go on adventures I mean.

In general a lot of the time we worry about stuff that probably won't happen. When it does happen its never as bad as you think ........mostly

One thing I have learned. It is pointless carrying a load of new spares if your bike is about to need them anyway. Some examples

Start your long journey with new chain and spark plugs. Tyres/tubes and rim tapes also if you are doubtful about their ability to complete your journey to some place where it would be simple to change them. By all means carry spares. If the plugs and chain you removed are still good for 3,000 miles then carry them as spares. they will "get you home" (home being somewhere easy to fit new). Usually I run chains as a pair. get both at the same time same make/batch /supplier and fit one carry the other.
Same with cables, fit new, carry any used ones if they are Really good.
On cars this includes belts (not toothed ones).

Also if your vehicle need special tool for a job, it may be worthwhile to take the special tool.

For really remote areas with no traffic, like desert-crossings abroad - get a Satphone or Satellite-Messager.

For any other roads there is some traffic. The people will help you or offer their help for money.

Read some blogs of other travellers and you will see - there is a solution.

Surfy

having recently watched one of Oisin Hughes videos in Mongolia, where his GS broke down several times until he couldn't go any further. He was picked up by a couple of guys with a truck. One of the guys had a mobile phone who managed to contact someone who spoke English - she told Oisin how they could help.
It wasn't easy, the truck broke down several times too but eventually he got to a place where he could pick up a new parts (sent via a variety of HU contacts).
......
where there's a will, there's a way :)

I find that giving the vehicle a sound thrashing with a leafy branch broken off a nearby tree sometimes helps.

Travelling is about finding out the "what" in "what if". Once the "if" occurs, throw some spanners, then cool down, get yourself a beer and a good sleep. Come next morning, everything will work out. Next to a tire iron carry a tent and always enough water and food to have a good late night meal whereever you need to camp out. This is all you´ll need.
Cheers
Chris

I worry about everything :innocent:. Having said that, if we knew for certain that trips were going to be uneventful, would we still go? Part of exploring the world in its ever more far flung regions enables us to experience the "what ifs" and forces us to deal with the consequences. There's a famous quote that says "do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough of its own worries". Once I read this, it did change my outlook on "what if?".

You will find a way... That is certain. Whatever happens. You won't spend the rest of your life next to a broken down motorcycle on the side of a road.

There are things you can do to make this situation easier...

1) Have a bike which is well maintained and reliable in the first place. With a little knowledge you will probably get yourself going again. PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE. If you think something is going to break, it probably will. Don't wait until you're in the middle of nowhere.

2) Only travel in the daytime and get on the road early. A Sunday evening is not the time to be looking for a shop with spare parts or a hotel (I know this through experience)

3)Have all your 'can not live without' valuables packed into one bag like a tank bag that you can walk away with. Or a 49L Ortlieb with a shoulder strap that you can get 100% of your important stuff into. Then you can hide your bike somewhere. (A lightweight rattle proof lock and a bike cover will make you sleep better) This is where having a £2000 dirt bike is better than having a £15,000 BMW. One is easier to write off and walk away from in the worst case scenario.

4) Always have emergency food and water for the area your're travelling. Don't ride into the desert with 1L of water and a mars bar. In western Europe, this isn't so important. In remote regions, it is more so..

5) Keep a DECENT stash of emergency cash. You will need it. Local currency is best. Dollars will do.

6) Don't travel solo into places that you can't walk out of....


Scenario.... Your bike dies on a road in Mongolia. You're miles from a town.

Get comfortable... Compose yourself and think things through. Make a brew.. Try and fix your bike. Wiggle this, kick that, check connections and switches etc.

If it's beyond your skills, spares and tools then you need to get yourself and your bike to a town or village. Collect your valuables together and flag down a vehicle.. Best case scenario you flag a truck for you and your bike.. You will probably get a free ride. Flashing some cash will definitely get you some help.

Find somewhere to sleep.... You need a base-camp to solve your problem from. Once secure, ask around for someone with a trailer, truck, van etc to get your bike back to the place you are sleeping if you couldn't do this to start with.. This is actually WAY easier in small remote places. People WANT to help you. You will probably be saved by a do-gooder before you even realise you have a problem. It sounds like a nightmare but it will just happen. You won't have a choice anyway. It will be the natural 'thing to do'.

Then it's just a case of putting your feet up. Ask around for transport to a mechanic etc... Try and enjoy the mini adventure... You didn't think you'd be doing THIS when you got up this morning.

If it's late and no cars have passed, put your tent up, make a cup of tea and think things through. Sleep on it. Unless you're REALLY remote, you will get help.. Eventually. Even if it costs you $$$$$$

You will find it's just a minor inconvenience. It will be memorable. You will make new friends and have great stories..

With hindsight you will often find that it is the unexpected halts that are the making of a trip. Always remember in the grand scheme of things five years after it really wont seem that big a deal to have thrown a con rod in the desert. You just need to learn to relax and go with the flow. This is why a tight schedule is such a pain and silly thing to have.

This is SOOOOO true and GREAT advice... It's only a stressful situation if you have a tight deadline. Otherwise, it's just another day and another adventure.

This is one of the MAIN reasons I do 6 month trips. I've met plenty of people tearing their hair out due to breakdowns or set backs.


eg. Ushuaia 2008.. I met a German guy in the camp site. He was waiting for a new fuel pump.. He had 6 weeks off work and shipped his 1200GS to Chile. He rode all the way to Ushuaia in a week after releasing his bike. His fuel pump gave up on him in Ushuaia. He had to wait 3 weeks for a new pump to be shipped in then ride straight back to Chile to fly home. 3/4 of his trip was spent in a cold wet camp site on the phone to DHL...

If he had a longer trip, he could of left his bike there and jumped on a bus, plane , train and seen some great sites while his parts were in transit without always stressing about fixing his bike and return flights. Even better he could of arranged transport back to Buenos Aires and enjoyed some great Asados at Dakar Motos.

Anyway, I'm going off topic. You will be fine if you have the time. :smartass:

All the more reason to travel on a well used bike. If I had a $20,000 GS and it took a dump, I'd have a melt down worrying about it. A 7 year old KLR on the other hand, I could walk away from.

Exactamente....

If you're short of time and don't like using threats of physical violence on freight company managers to persuade them to do their job properly, don't use DHL as your freight company :innocent:

Chapter 17 The Big Trip

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