Originally Posted by rjmorel
Welcome Skyteams90, All good questions, here we go:
-How often did you do your laundry? Every 2-3 days? How many days of clothes would you bring? 2, 3, or 4?
EVERY ONE PAKS WAY TO MUCH STUFF WHEN THEY FIRST START OUT TRAVELING BY MOTORCYCLE. REMEMBER YOU CAN ALWAYS BUY THINGS YOU NEED ON THE ROAD HERE IN AMERICA. IF YOU BUY THE UNDIES, SOCKS, AND SHIRTS THAT CAN BE HAND WASHED IN A SINK AND AIR DRY OVERNIGHT HELPS BY ONLY NEEDING 2-3 OF EACH.
-Did you use the stock tires on the RX3 or switch them out for your ride? I am leaning towards swapping out to IRC GP1's or something similar.
STOCK TIRES WERE FINE FOR WHAT I DO. GRAVEL, DIRT ROADS JUST BE CAREFUL AND DON'T RIDE OVER YOUR HEAD.
-Did you change out your inner-tubes before the trip? I am leaning out to switch out to HD tubes to avoid breaking-in issues.
NOPE ONLY HAD 1 FLAT TIRE IN OVER 17,300 MILES AND I PATCHED IT WITH TOOLS I HAD WITH ME. CENTER STAND IS A GOOD ACCESSARY TO BUY FOR THIS REASON AS WELL AS OILING AND ADJUSTING CHAIN
-Has anyone tried to waterproof the bike as some people have reported problems when the bike would gets wet? What did you do to waterproof?
NOPE ,BEEN IN RAIN ALOT THEN RAIN WILL STOP AND BIKE AIR DRIES QUICKLY AT 60 MPH. I'm SURE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS WHO GET WET FOR HOURS ON END ALSO BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN SHUT DOWN FROM IT.
-How much drinking water would you carry on your bike or with you?
VERY IMPORTANT. IF YOUR RIDING IN 100 DEG HEAT YOU WILL HAVE ALOT OF MOISTURE PULLED OUT OF YOUR BODY. NEED TO STOP AND DRINK EVERY 30-45 MIN. WHEN I RODE IN 105 DEG HEAT ID STOP EVERY 30 MIN AND RUN WATER IN MY HELMET AND SOAK MY T SHIRT AND IT WAS STILL TORTURE. BOUGHT A COOLING VEST AND THAT HELPED ALOT. BRING AT LEAST 1 LARGE BOTTLE FOR EACH OF YOU AND REFILL IT WHEN YOU STOP FOR A BREAK OR USE A CAMEL BACK TYPE THEN YOU CAN DRINK WHILE RIDING.
-What GPS would you recommend?
GARMIN IF YOUR EVER GOING TO GO TO RALLIES WHERE THEY DOWNLOAD RIDES OR POKER RUNS. ALL RALLIES USE GARMIN. I USE THE CHEAPER 7" SCREEN ONES FOR CARS. THEY ARE NOT WATER PROOF BUT USSUALLY LAST IF I KEEP THEM DRY AND OUT OF THE DUST WITH A ZIP LOCK BAG. MORE IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW YOURS WORKS THEN BRAND AS IVE USED GARMIN, MAGELLAN, CHEAP $50 CHINA ONE FROM EBAY.
-What was or is a good sleeping bag which is light and would measure to about 10-degrees? What has worked for you?
I HAVE CHEAPER ONE THAT IS 40 DEG RATED AND I CARRY A FLEECE LINER IF IT GETS COLD. JUST LOOK AT THE WEATHER FORCAST WHEN TRAVELING AND IF IT SAYS IT SHOULD BE 80-90 DEG DURING YOUR TRIP IN SUMMER IT USUALLY IS. AGAIN YOU CAN ALWAS BUY A FLEECE LINER IF IT GETS COLD ON YOU. SNUGGLES UP WITH YOUR WIFEY MAKE IT FUNNER TOO.
-did you use a foam mattress or an air mattress?
SELF INFLATING AIR MATTRESS . I HAVE DEGENERATIVE DISK DECEASE IN MY 62 YO BACK AND IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER FOR ME TO SLEEP COMFORTABLY.
-Do you have a recommendation for a light 2-3 person tent?
I USE A 4 MAN TENT BECAUSE I LIKE TO HAVE A CAMP CHAIR IN IT TO SIT ON AND PUT ON MY BOOTS, ETC ALSO IF IM STAYING IN ONE PLACE FOR A FEW DAYS IT ALLOWS ME TO LEAVE MY PANNIERS IN THE TENT AND THEN I CAN RIDE AROUND DURING THE DAY WITHOUT ALL THE LUGGAGE ON BIKE. WITH 2 OF YOU TRAVELING TOGETHER I THINK A 2-3 MAN TENT WOULD BE A PAIN, TOO SMALL. ALSO KNOW THE AREAS YOU WILL BE CAMPING IN BECAUSE NOT ALL OF THEM ARE NICE GREEN GRASS WITH SOFT DIRT TO PUT THE TENT PEGS INTO. IF YOUR CAMPING ON ROCK OR RIVER BED WITH BIG ROCKS IN THE DIRT ITS VERY HARD TO GET THE TENT PEGS IN. SO YOU MAY WANT A SELF STANDING TENT THAT WILL STAND BY ITSELF WITHOUT ROPES AND PEGS.
-Do you stop every 3-4 days for a rest day, or did you continue riding? How did that affect the trip, your back, or other aspects?
YES, AFTER RIDING EVERYDAY FOR A WEEK OR SO I NEED TO STOP FOR A DAY OR TWO REST, WASH CLOTHES, CHECK BIKE, JUST ENJOY THE SCENERY OR EVENT CAUSE RIDING A CYCLE DOES GET TIRING. MY NECK AND BACK GET PRETTY TIGHT AND SORE. ADVIL IS YOUR FRIEND. IF I KNOW ILL BE RIDING A LONG DAY , I WILL POP A FEW ADVIL OR IBUPROPHIN BEFORE I START SO HOPEFULLY IT TAKES THE EDGE OFF AND I WONT CRY.
-How did you work meals? Did you eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner? How much do you think a good budget for a 30-40-day trip would be? Did you try to buy food at a grocery versus fast food and gas stations?
IVE HEARD OF BUDGETS OF $50 A DAY IN 3RD WORLD COUNTRIES AND $100-$125 IN USA.
I JUST USUALLY EAT AT PLACES ALONG THE WAY OR AT THE RALLIES PROVIDED FOOD VENDERS. PACKING A STOVE, FUEL BOTTLE AND FOOD IS A PAIN AND TAKES ALOT OF ROOM UP ON THE BIKE. IM ON VACATION , AND DON'T LIKE TO COOK . PART OF THE BEST THING OF TRAVELING BY CYCLE IS THE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN THE FOOD PLACES, CYCLE SHOPS ,ETC. DEFINATELY NO FOOD , CANDY ,GUM, DEODERANT, PERFUME OR ANYTHING WITH A SCENT IF IN BEAR COUNTRY.
-did you use a mini-gas stove versus a fire? Which did you prefer more? I HAVE A LITTLE MINI STOVE AND THINK ITS WAY MORE CONVIENENT THEN A FIRE. BUT NOT AS CONVIENENT AS A MCDONALDS, ETC. ALSO WITH ALL THE FOREST FIRES WE'VE BEEN HAVING IN THE PAST 10 YEARS ALOT OF CAMPS WON'T ALLOW OPEN PIT FIRES.
-What are somethings you would have to worry about when camping? Wolves, bears, theft? Bugs?
NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH ANY OF THESE THINGS. MOSQUITOES CAN BE ANNOYING. DONT LEAVE YOUR TENT SCREEN OPEN FOR THEM TO FLY ON IN AND PESTER YOU ALL NIGHT. IF YOU CAN, ALWAYS CAMP NEAR RV AND OTHER CAMPERS AND THE ANIMALS USUALLY STAY AWAY. LISTEN TO THE PARK RANGERS OR HOST AND IF THEY TELL YOU THERES DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN THE AREA GET A CABIN OR MOTEL.
-What are three things you recommend bringing or knowing about? YOUR GIRL, YOUR BIKE, A MAP AND YOUR GOOD TO GO. EVERYTHING ELSE CAN BE BOUGHTEN ALONG THE WAY,
-What would you recommend for a ADV jacket and pants? boots?
IF YOUR GOING TO BE IN HIGHER ELEVATION WITH COLD TEMPS, I USE MY JACKET AND A WIND BRAKER OVER IT TO KEEP THE WIND, RAIN OUT. LIKE IT TO HAVE ALOT OF POCKETS TO PUT STUFF IN AND A HEATED VEST HOOKED UP TO THE BIKE AND HEATED GRIPS. WATERPROOF PANTS TO GO OVER RIDING PANTS OR REGULAR PANTS. I HAVE BATES BOOTS THAT LOOK LIKE SIDE ZIP UP POLICE BOOTS, THICK SOCKS. YOU CAN BUY VERY EXPENSIVE RIDING GEAR AND IT'S PROBABLY WORTH IT. ON MY BUDGET I BUY WHAT WORKS AND IS AFFORDABLE.
ON HOT TRIPS I USE REGULAR PANTS, BOOTS OR TENNIS SHOES, WINDBREAKER
. I KNOW WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ATGATT BUT IF ITS HOT AND YOU CAN BARELY STAY AWAKE AND YOU CAN'T STOP BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE SOMEWHERE THEN I DRESS WITH WHATEVER MAKES ME COMFORTABLE. ALWAYS HAVE ON PANTS AND LONG SLEEVES SO YOU DON'T GET SUNBURNED. A HAT IS GREAT FOR US BALD PEOPLE. ALSO KEEPS HEAD WARM AT NIGHT IF IT'S COOL OUT.
TAKE ALL THIS FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH. ITS WORKED FOR ME ON MANY TRIPS TO CANADA, BAJA MEXICO, GRAND CANYON, ALASKA ,MOAB, COLUMBIAN RIVER GORGE, HELLS CANYON AND A 1000 MILE CERTIFIED IRON BUTT ON MY RX3. MOST IMPORTAN IS TO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR WIFE AND BE FLEXABLE WITH YOUR SCHEDULE BECAUSE UNFORSEEN THINGS CAN HAPPEN. RJ
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