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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 8 Jan 2009
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Location: England
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I have never done a big trip, but am setting off on one tomorrow, and I can 100% ensure you that you know more than me. My dad told me yesterday that the clutch has a cable, and that was a surprise for me.

Andy (Joe C90) kindly offered to show me the difference between a sprocket and a shmurzle, but I couldn't take him up on it because of family/work committments, so I am going with zero knowledge. I don't know my arse from my cam rod, so will be relying other people in the world not being quite as useless as me.

You can always learn as you go. No better way to learn how to do than by doing.

Hope my shitness makes you feel more confident.

Hakunah Matata, an sha Allah, que serah serah.

Birdy.
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  #2  
Old 8 Jan 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Birdy View Post
I have never done a big trip, but am setting off on one tomorrow, and I can 100% ensure you that you know more than me. My dad told me yesterday that the clutch has a cable, and that was a surprise for me.

Andy (Joe C90) kindly offered to show me the difference between a sprocket and a shmurzle, but I couldn't take him up on it because of family/work committments, so I am going with zero knowledge. I don't know my arse from my cam rod, so will be relying other people in the world not being quite as useless as me.

You can always learn as you go. No better way to learn how to do than by doing.

Hope my shitness makes you feel more confident.

Hakunah Matata, an sha Allah, que serah serah.

Birdy.
Yes, Hakunah Matata...

I don't know that much either, but have a full set of tools and 2 manuals with me (in a 4x4)...
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  #3  
Old 8 Jan 2009
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: worcestershire,uk
Posts: 150
Nuffink
Top to bottom of Africa, 12 months, 15,000 miles and apart from mending punctures, I didn't touch a thing. Went on the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" principle.

I thought that if I tried to change the oil, then I would probably knacker the thread on the drain plug so I just didn't touch a thing, absolutely zilch

Bike is sat in my garage now, and it works just fine (10 years and 30,000 miles later) It did need a bit of love when it got home

Just hop on the bike and ride it (slowly !)
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  #4  
Old 8 Jan 2009
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hey, being a woman, you'll probably get help, even when you don't want it.
A woman with a technical problem calls on all male instincts to blow himself up and show all the feathers

That said, a minimum knowledge is practical, so you can check if the guy knows what he is doing to your bike.

And riding a XR, nothing should go wrong, as long as you change the oil and check the chain and sprockets
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  #5  
Old 9 Jan 2009
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Wells, UK
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umm Dodger.....you know I said I could name parts if you pointed to them, I am not sure my knowledge extends to the gearbox counter shaft, but I think I know what you're talking about.


Thanks guys, for the boost of confidence and the little tips. I was kinda banking on help from people as and when I need it, so I shall keep my faith in human kindness. I was also thinking that this would indirectly create more opportunities to meet people and communities.

Birdy and Dick, what great stories! Birdy, all the best for your trip, and let me know how it goes learning bike mechanics on the hoof.

I have a XR650L manual in the post to me. I wonder how much of a bible it will become......
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  #6  
Old 11 Jan 2009
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if you can reckonise things & have a slight clue what they do then you can work it out as you go along.
knowing the carb mixings fuel & air for the bike to run is enough to have a clue where to look when it wont run but you've got a spark for example.

im reasonably ok with taking bikes apart, but as someone said up there ^^ you wont have the tools/space/workbench/etc to do it on the side of the road anyway.

have fun on your trip.
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