Load Capacity for South American Trip

[Take-Away]

Hi guys,

I am a french guy willing to undertake a year trip around South America.
I am currently looking at luggage solutions but I am kind of lost in the volume I should take.
This is the Set up I was thinking about:

1 tank bag of around 8 Liters
1 duffle bag (I already have the Mosko Moto backcountry) : 40L
1 set of saddle bags (such as Enduristan Moonsoon) : 60L (30L per side)
I was also thinking of smaller saddle bags such as the Blizzards from Enduristan 24L (12L on each side) but not sur if it is enough or not.

I will also carry on my back a small backpack that I will mostly keep empty during rides but will be used during daily visits around town.

So (without the backpack), I should have around 110L of carrying capacity.

Is that enough / too much for a year long trip in both warm and cold weather with camping gears?

Trying to be as light as possible. Will be on a KLR 650 European C model from 2003.

How did you do? More space? Less? Would have taken less stuff?

Thanks for your help and have a good new year.

V

[mark manley]

Hello and welcome to the forum,
That is a question with an infinite number of answers, it sounds like you have enough to me but I am quite a minimalist, some will have more and a few will have less, if everything you feel you need goes in it you have enough.

[Take-Away]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the reply. You are right, it is a tough question as we all have different standards as of what to take with us while travelling. What about you?
What is your load when you go travelling? Taking camping and cooking gears?

It is hard to know if everything is going to fit in without having the saddle bags first. And I don't know which one I need in terms of volume

[markharf]

Outfit your bike sequentially. Panniers/saddlebags first. Buy the larger ones for any extended (or complicated) trip. Add a hard-shelled top box with a lock if you’re using soft panniers. Duffle and tank bag next; personally, I don’t use a tank bag at all, but there’s no question they’re convenient for stuff you want visible or accessible while riding.

Backpack last. If its empty, don’t carry it on your back at all—just stick it into your baggage. It’s definitely handy to have a day pack for excursions on foot, but it should be chosen according to likely use. Something minimal will roll up tiny but can be deployed whenever necessary.

You might want to add a small camelback (or similar). It’ll fit inside or outside your jacket and won’t get in the way, but can make a big difference in keeping you hydrated, therefore alive and alert.

I’ve also carried smaller bags and cases up front, mounted low on my crash bars. This works better for me than the monstrous pile of duffles, fuel cans,l tires and other crap I’ve often seen on overlanders’ bikes. And don’t forget the classic tool tube, permanently mounted someplace out of the way and stuffed with tubes and tire change tools.

Hope that’s helpful. Per the above, there are as many solutions (and strongly-held opinions) as there are riders.

Mark

[shu...]

1 tank bag of around 8 Liters
1 duffle bag (I already have the Mosko Moto backcountry) : 40L
1 set of saddle bags (such as Enduristan Moonsoon) : 60L (30L per side)

This looks just about right to me. Aside from tools and the quantity of water and food that you might carry, you should strive for a load that you could carry on your back.

You will probably find that you need to buy a lighter sleeping bag or tent to make this work and that you will have to think hard about clothing necessities- what to take and what to leave.

But if you can fit your gear into these bags, your load should be fairly easy to deal with, while still maintaining a nice level of comfort.



This was 28 Liters each side, 40 Liter duffle (not full at all), and 4-6 liters each side for the tank panniers. I had tent, sleeping bag, mat and tennis shoes in the duffle. I did not take a stove, but I did carry 2 Liters of water and a couple of days worth of food. (My tent and sleeping bag were expensive- but lightweight and compact- well worth it, I think).

.......shu

[Take-Away]

Hi,

Thanks for your help.
I hope I will be able to fit all my stuff into a small volume. Not sure about carrying a top box (even though it is lockable) I feel like it would be easy for anyone to break in. Not a huge fan also due to the weight increase at the far rear of the bike.

Shu... I will be interested to see your packing list (if you have one) to compare with the items I'll be looking to take.
Do you have one?

I whish you all an awesome new year full of adventures

Clem

[Warin]

When considering things you need to think about items that can do double duty.

The back pack can be used in place of the duffel bag. That reduces your load.

Keep it small, light and easy to wash.
Don't take jeans. They are heavy, take for ever to dry when washed. Take the synthetic zip off pants - light weight, quick drying and they pack much smaller than jeans.
I'd not take a wool jumper. Again they take a while to dry and they are bulky to pack. A synthetic fleece takes less room, dries quickly.

Consider everything your going to take. Anything more than one off should be questioned. You don't need more than 3 of anything. 3 pairs of socks is enough, one to ware, one drying and one spare. Be ruthless, you can always buy more of something that will suit the local conditions from the locals.

[shu...]

This is a fairly complete list for a long trip; I am always changing things depending on the length of the trip and weather conditions expected.

Warin's advice is dead on. All my clothing is lightweight nylon, easily washed every night in camp or in a hotel sink- and will be dry in the morning. All of my spare clothing would fit in a shoebox. (jeans and hoodies are a waste of space.)

Hope this helps...........shu

WEAR:
__ __ boots
__ __ socks
__ __ Ex officio underwear
__ __ Capilene LS shirt
__ __ Longsleeve travel shirt
__ __ running tights
__ __ Moto Pants-goretex or similar
__ __ Riding Jacket- goretex
__ __ ..ear plugs
__ __ ..sunglasses
__ __ ..cap
__ __ multitool pocket knife-small
__ __ bandanna
__ __ Money Belt/Passport
__ __ knee pads
__ __ helmet
__ __ summer gloves

MONEY/PAPERS
__ __ Wallet
__ __ Document copies: ziplock bag (and GoogleDrive)
__ __ ..glasses prescrip
__ __ ..passport
__ __ ..title
__ __ ..registration
__ __ ..insurance
__ __ ..Medjet
__ __ ..carnet, visas,etc
__ __ ..emergency contact info

TANK PANNIERS
__ __ notebook/pen
__ __ tire gauge
__ __ maps/guides
__ __ TP
__ __ compass
__ __ ..sunscreen
__ __ ..chapstick
__ __ waterbag- 1 L.
__ __ Camera
__ __ Rain Jacket light
__ __
__ __ ..Winter gloves
__ __ ..Leather gloves (med wt)
__ __ ..glove liners
__ __ ..rain gloves
__ __ ..neck buff
__ __ Garmin Montana
__ __ SPOT

SADDLE BAG:
__ __ pannier liner (2)
__ __ KIT T-BRUSH,etc
__ __ 2 liner socks
__ __ 2 Ex off. Underwear
__ __ Capilene LS shirt
__ __ (1) t shirt- poly
__ __ Capilene LS zip sweater
__ __ 1 running tights
__ __ puff jacket
__ __ (1) REI travel pants
__ __ packtowel small

REPAIRS ETC
__ __ Sleep pad patch kit
__ __ Sewing kit
__ __ Duct tape
__ __ Cig lighter
__ __ Detergent
__ __ nylon cord
__ __ DEET- Bens
__ __ mosq. Head net
__ __ Whistle
__ __ Headlamp
__ __ Steripen-H2O pure
__ __
__ __ (3)CR123 batt (steripen)
__ __ (4) AAA lith batt
__ __ Glasses spares
__ __ Keys-spare (side cover)

ELECTRONICS BAG
__ __ Cam. Batt -spare
__ __ [Cam storage disk-spare]
__ __ Camera charger-wall
__ __
__ __ Ipod-charge cord
__ __ Phone charge cord
__ __ Tablet charge cord
__ __ Wall plug charge unit
__ __ SAE-USB bike charger

FIRST AID
__ __ Triangular bandage
__ __ TP (1/2 roll)
__ __ Bandaids
__ __ Kotex pad
__ __ Adhesive tape
__ __ Tweezers
__ __ Alchohol pads
__ __
__ __ Triple Antibiotic cream
__ __ Hydrocortisone Cream
__ __ Diamox
__ __ Ciproflaxin
__ __ Aleve (12 hr)
__ __ Benadryl tabs
__ __ Pepto bismol/tums
__ __ Immodium tabs
__ __ Oral Rehydr. Salts
__ __ Cough drops
__ __
__ __ HydPeroxide-small

REAR RACK DRY BAG
__ __ tent poles/stakes
__ __ tent
__ __ ground cloth
__ __ Sleep bag
__ __ thermarest pad
__ __ pack pillow
__ __ stove/pot/bowl
__ __ stove fuel(alcohol)
__ __ food bag
__ __ spoon
__ __
__ __ TEVA sandals
__ __ 3 L platypus water bag
__ __ ltwght duffle/pack small
__ __ Rok straps
__ __ bungie pair

TOOLS
__ __ tool roll (in tool tube)
__ __ 1/4 in. breaker bar/sockets
__ __ 3/4 socket adapter
__ __
__ __ slime air pump
__ __ tire lube
__ __ bead buddy
__ __ tire irons (3)
__ __ valve core snake
__ __ Rear wheel tools
__ __ chain lube (gear oil)
__ __
__ __ rag
__ __ cl/br.levers-spare
__ __ 14 T front sprocket
__ __ 2 tie down straps
__ __
__ __ [cable and padlock]

PARTS/SPARES
__ __ JB weld
__ __ Superglue
__ __ RTV
__ __ Duct tape
__ __ Elec. Tape
__ __
__ __ Zip ties
__ __ Wire
__ __ Hose clamps
__ __
__ __ Fuses-spare
__ __ Spark plugs
__ __ Oil filter/oring/cr washer
__ __ Gasline filter
__ __ chain master link
__ __
__ __ Bolts/nuts/washers
__ __ Carb parts
__ __ Pickup coil
__ __ forks seals
__ __
__ __ Headlight bulb-spare
__ __ Tail/signal bulb-spare
__ __
__ __ Plug gap tool
__ __ Valve gap tools
__ __ File
__ __ Hacksaw blade
__ __
__ __ Tube patch kit
__ __ Grease(sm. bottle)
__ __
__ __ FRONT Tube spare
__ __ REAR tube spare
__ __ rags/paper towels
__ __ Shop manual (PDF)

[tohellnback]

My god SHU he is not going to the Moon NASA had to think of all these things for just in case.
South america has it all in the major cities and the price is not much more than you will pay at home
Buy your Panniers top box and dry bag at home and buy synthetic clothes , cotton is no go too hot and hard to clean
basic tools because your bike can be fixed anywhere SA knows your bike and labor is cheap Here is a good example i needed rear brake pads for my G650gs
and the nearest bmw shop was 250 k away so i went to a yamaha dealer in the city i living in and they had pads for the brembo brakes because yamahas have the same brakes on some models
My point is start riding and figure out what you need along the way and the South Americans will be happy to help you because you will be contributing to there economy

[shu...]

Hmmmm......My list, excluding tools, only weighs about 35 pounds. I'm looking through it again and can't really see what you think is so excessive. Two pairs of socks is too many?

I rode in Ecuador about a year ago.



I needed cold weather high altitude gloves as well as something that would work for the lowland hot places; I was happy to have Immodium with me rather than having to ride into the city to buy some.

This list is just about what I would carry riding passes and camping in the mountains of Colorado.



In a couple of hours of riding I can get 40-50 miles back in on some dirt road. Denver would only be a couple of hundred miles away but I would have a 2 or 3 day walk out to the main road if something went wrong with my bike (or me). I'd feel pretty dumb if I could have fixed it with a spare bolt and some duct tape and wire and ridden it out.



My buddy rode a BMW650 into Tblisi, Azerbaijan (pop. 1.5 million) with a leaking fork seal.

The hotel desk clerk knew a guy, who knew a guy who had a bike and who knew the guy who ran the oil store, who called around and found us bottle of fork oil.


But, he had packed a set of fork seals (small and light), and we replaced them in the courtyard of the hotel. Finding parts for his bike would have been difficult (maybe impossible) there.

Things don't usually break or go wrong in places where it is convenient and easy to get what you need to fix it. I choose to be as prepared as possible without making my load into a burden. (I have friends who carry very little, and have been happy I had a bunch of tools and some bolts so they could ride their bikes out.)


..........shu

[brclarke]

I don't think Shu's list is all that bad. I would use it as a basis: take a look and see what you might need and what you might not.

My packing list is a lot shorter, but having a checklist is a great idea.