Preparations
Preparations
The trip is supposed to take a month, but preparing took us 10 months.
First, the bike, a 1200 BMW GS Adventure, fully equipped.
First mod was to upgrade the OEM rear shock with Ohlins, better quality and adjustable. Then fitting of Zega luggage from Touratech, sturdy and practical. Then a good quality
GPS, waterproof and practical, a Garmin 276 C where I could upload maps of Europe and Africa along with all needed waypoint and tracks. Against drops, the GS Adventure is outfitted with cylinder guards.I added the carbon protections on the cylinder heads.
List of modifications to the bike:
- Ohlins rear shock
- Zega luggage + rack,
- Topcase Givi 36 L
- Touratech tank panniers
- Low pilot Touratech saddle
- Decatted Leovince exhaust manifold
- MIVV exhaust
- Front arm (telelever) protection
- Cylinder head carbon fiber protection
- Radiator guard
- Headlight protection
- Sidestand extension
- Tank bag and card holder
- Touratech foam airfilter
- Iridium spark plugs
Preparation of trip and bike wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the following sites and blogs:
forum pasdegaspillagedevirage.com
July 22 2009
Tests in Vercors Verdon Gorges and Mount Ventoux
To test pilot and pillion we took a 3 days trip to Vercors, the Verdon gorges and mount Ventoux. Results, pilot saddle too hard, garments too warm and Zega luggage not that sturdy. I destroyed on on a very simple laydown at 20kmh. Anyway, Fabienne, not used to bike trips enjoyed it enormously.
La bataille pass
Par fabetamauryenafrique le 4 août, 2009 dans voyages, aventure, moto, trek
