motorcycle travel tips
Post on 11-Sep-2014
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Motorcycle Travel Tips at Igalia Summit, May 2011.TRANSCRIPT
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel TipsChoosing your motorcycle
So apparently I am now an expert…??
● Started riding in 2004● Toured north of France in 2007● Toured Ireland in 2007● Toured The Alps in 2008● Ushuaia to Cusco in 2010● Joined IMTBike.com in 2010...
● I do not consider myself an expert!
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel TipsContents index
Topics covered (more or less ;)
– Choosing your motorcycle
– Choosing your gear
– Luggage and packing
– Food and shelter
– Mechanical problems
– Dealing with the weather
– Planning and choosing roads
– Staying safe
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel TipsChoosing your Motorcycle
First of all: you will need a motorcycle, right?
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel TipsChoosing your motorcycle
Roughly there are a few major categories for Motorcycles
● Sports bike● Tourer● Cruiser / Custom / Classic● Standard / Naked / Street Bikes● Trail / Off-Road● Scooter / Maxi Scooter (*should not be included, Carlos)
● The Swiss army knife: The BMW R 1200 GS
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel TipsChoosing your motorcycle
Sports Bike
… your back will nottake it too long ;)
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel TipsChoosing your motorcycle
Tourer
Tourers are built for touring, but they are heavy and a bit boring
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Motorcycle Travel TipsChoosing your motorcycle
Custom
Cruiser
Classic
…
Custom bikes are built to look cool but they are not that practical
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Motorcycle Travel TipsChoosing your motorcycle
Standard
Naked
Street
…
Regular naked bikes are usually small and lack of wind protection
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel TipsChoosing your motorcycle
Trail
Off-Road
Trail bikes are good for off-road riding and pretty decent as tourers
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel TipsChoosing your motorcycle
R 1200 GS
● 1200 cc● 110 hp● ABS● ESA● ASC● Telelever● Paralever● Drive Shaft● + it does it all well :)
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel TipsChoosing your Motorcycle
Actually any motorcycle will do if you really want to :)
Pilot: GustavoYear: 2001Engine: 124ccPower: 12,5 hpTank: 13 ltsConsumption: 30 km/l (loaded and on the road)Weight: 107kg (original) / 210kg (with baggage)Fabrication: Manaus, Brazil
http://www.re-moto.com/
(Plus he found a woman in Spain that followed him, married him in Germany and went to live with him in Argentina)
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel Tips Equipment for you
Clothing and rider equipment
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel Tips Equipment for you
Try to look like a rider!
● 3 liner by Rev' It● Thermal● Waterproof● Lots of ventilation● Cordura offers protection and comfort● Leather, not so good for travel● High boots for protection● Buy long pants!!
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Motorcycle Travel TipsEquipment for you
What you should buy in order of importance
● Helmet● Gloves● Jacket● Boots● Pants● Lumbar / back protection● Ear plugs
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Equipment for you
When compared to other tourists, you look like a total freak
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Luggage and packing
Luggage and packing
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel TipsChoosing your Motorcycle
When on a motorcycle, space is a real constrain
● Carry less and less things● You will be on your riding gear● Gear besides your clothes● Tools, repair kits, spare parts● Books are a luxury● Liquids are heavy● You can buy things on the road● Comfortable clothes● Assume the bum look
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel Tips Luggage and packing
Waterproof cover for the backpack, based on a Decathlon plastic bag
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Luggage and packing
The net is the cheapest (3 €) and most useful accessory ever
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Luggage and packing
This is a proper waterproof pillion bag made of rubber
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Luggage and packing
Tank bags are quite handy too but they may damage the paint in the tank
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Luggage and packing
A top case allows you to carry a passenger and serves as back support
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Food, drinks and shelter
Food, drinks and sleeping
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Food, drinks and shelter
Riding requires lots of energy
● Eat and drink in advance● Drink a lot● Eat more sugar● Listen to your body● I do not usually carry food● You will want hot meals● Keep in mind local times
● I do not usually camp● After a day or riding you need a proper bed● Riding solo is easier to find places● You may also need shelter for your motorcycle
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel TipsFood and Drinks
Food should be balanced!
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Motorcycle Travel TipsFood and Drinks
Developed the rule of the cake and coffee
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Motorcycle Travel TipsFood and Drinks
Have cake and coffee everyday you are close to death
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel TipsFood and Drinks
Have cake and coffee every day that riding is unpleasant
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Motorcycle Travel TipsFood and Drinks
Fuck it! Have cake and coffee every day :)
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel TipsFood and Drinks
No alcohol!! Unless...
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel TipsFood and Drinks
This is how unnatural camping is for a biker
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Motorcycle Travel TipsFood and Drinks
In some hotels you will feel just like in the wild
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Mechanical problems
Be prepared (or at least informed) for the most common mechanical
problems
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Mechanical problems
Learn how to fix a flat tire
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Mechanical problems
Which is totally useless when you have to change the ball bearings of a direction system...
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Mechanical problems
… or when you have to remove the mudguard so the wheel can spin again
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Mechanical problems
In long you will have to service your motorcycle
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Dealing with the weather
Dealing with the weather
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Dealing with the weather
● Weather can be unpredictable● Weather can change your mood● It always feels colder on a bike (-10ºC)
● On cold weather ● Avoid riding below 2-3 ºC● Avoid exposing skin● Wear layers● Drink hot liquids● Have an eye on your hands and feet● Keep you neck hot● Snow, ice or mist? Do not ride!
● On hot weather● Hydrate your body frequently● Avoid exposing skin● Keep your neck cool● Wear mesh clothes● Over 35 ºC? Do not ride!
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel Tips Dealing with the weather
Cover your neck, your head, your mouth and nose
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Dealing with the weather
Wait for the ice to melt
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Dealing with the weather
Wind and sun can burn your skin
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Dealing with the weather
Keep a good attitude about rain
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel Tips Dealing with the weather
Keep the throttle alive with wind
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel Tips Choosing Roads
Planning and choosing roads
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel Tips Choosing Roads
What are the best roads?
● Plan ahead, but not too much● Mountain roads● Narrow roads● Roads from nowhere to nowhere● Highways are boring● Highways are faster● Cities are not recommended● Allow for the unpredictable
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel Tips Choosing Roads
The perfect ride :)
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel Tips Choosing Roads
It is easier to get lost than with a car
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Choosing Roads
Crowded roads are dangerous
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Choosing Roads
So are lonely roads
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Choosing Roads
Mountain passes become playgrounds
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Choosing Roads
Do not plan too much
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Staying safe
Try not to hurt yourself!
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel Tips Staying Safe
How to stay safe
● Follow signs and instructions● Apply all the regular rules● Also apply an extra care● Forget about sport riding● 90% is about looking and anticipation● Develop a 6th sense● Assume everyone else wants to kill you● Practice● Do not ride too long
● Never ride at night! (*Invisibility superpower)
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel Tips Staying safe
Invest on a safety course
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Staying safe
Watch out for animals on the road
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Motorcycle Travel Tips Staying safe
Remember that abroad things change
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel Tips Staying safe
There are two kinds of bikers...
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Teo Romera | [email protected] | www.igalia.com
Motorcycle Travel Tips Staying safe
Thanks!Questions?
Btw, I also have a video... wanna watch it?