Kit: Part 2
- Adam Seaton
- Oct 25, 2023
- 5 min read
This could easily have been Kit: Part 9. I have been unusually indecisive on many things but I think I've now got ticks in all the boxes. The main challenge has been testing time - given that I've not had a bike to ride for the last 10 days, just when a lot of stuff has been turning up. I've been consistently buying 2 or 3 of everything and then trying at home as best you can. Apologies in advance for several very helpful online retailers who are about to get a large parcel of returns.
But when all is done, the trip will not be made or broken by personal kit - just as long as I'm safe-ish, compliant with the event rules, and not suffering extremes of hot or cold. I'm sure when push comes to shove that there are shops in Tunisia for emergency socks or a toothbrush or whatever is needed.
So what has been added since part 1? Body armour has been the toughest challenge. Mainly finding a combination of jacket, trouser and armour that is comfortable. You might recall I had my Klim jacket with inset elbow and back protectors - but this was just too big and heavy for the heat expected. The Leatt jacket arrived and is perfect, but doesn't have any inbuilt armour. I had ordered a full armour vest - a mesh zip up shirt with elbow, shoulder chest and back protectors all built in and that seemed the obvious answer, but I tried 2 different sizes and neither were comfortable - it felt very restrictive. At the last minute I switched to separate items for chest and back and elbows. Again, I tried multiple versions and sizes but eventually settled on this Alpinestars setup, which just fits snug under the Leatt jacket.
I'm planning to wear a thin base layer, the armour, and then the jacket. If it's a cooler morning, I'll throw on the rain overcoat to keep out any chill. So upper body, done.
I had some trousers from Rev'it that were great on the Honda and BMW weekends - and are already shipped - but the more I wore them the more I felt restricted around the knee, particularly when sitting down. My knees are not in great shape anyway so any discomfort there is magnified. I was tempted to go with some pure motocross style baggy pants which have lots of room for riders who wear knee braces, but I couldn't find something plain (I'm no fashion victim, but I can't pull off pink any more) or in my size (motocross types tend to be a touch fitter than me!). Then Mosko came to my rescue. A pretty small outfit and with a very limited range of kit, but what they do have is very well put together. Two sizes arrived yesterday and they are perfect - lightweight, lots of room round the knee, a couple of pockets, job done.
Whilst I was on the Mosko website, I also got tempted by their luggage and a particularly nice camel pack. I did buy a Fox one earlier which was OK, but not a stella fit. I also have the option of putting the camel pack in the Leatt jacket and I might try that option, but I suspect I'll be carrying a more kit than will fit in my tail bag so a little capacity in the rucksack might help.
The last late item to turn up was my goggle inserts which I'm really pleased with. I had a terrible time in Wales trying to keep my glasses clear or riding with goggles and no glasses. The prescription insert just fits inside the goggle and whilst it's not perfect (you can see a little frame in your peripheral vision), it is by far the best solution I've tried. So I'll make that my default, and if we are riding road, or lower speed stuff, I'll perhaps just pop my prescription sunglasses on for a break from the goggles.
Other last minute bits:
The mousse arrived for the front tyre - a little pressure to fit that when I arrive
New larger pre-filter for the air filter should fit better.
Gloves: I was somewhat pleased that gloves were a zero cost item and these have already been shipped in my Sandraiders chest with the bike. But I got drawn into a purchase when i spotted these beauties from 'Cafe' leather. The fit and feel is off the scale, so these are going too.
I forgot to put my gas tyre inflation bottles in the chest that was shipped and I can't fly with them, so I've abandoned that plan and will take the hand pump off my road bike. Not ideal but you only need minimum pressure in the repair until you get back to base, so it will do the job. Classic puncture repair kit is also packed. I have a spare rear inner tube under the seat of the bike, and another in my base tool box, so the puncture kit is just belt and braces in case I get two punctures in one day.
The GPX files came yesterday so they are now all loaded up to the Garmin (and MyGoogleMaps just as backup).
So I think I'm done. As ready as can be. Just need to make sure I can fit all the late items in one flight bag. Next blog will hopefully be from the base camp hotel in Djerba, Tunisia. Woohoo!
Links:
https://moskomoto.eu/ I have the 'Survivor' pant (note you will pay VAT on import)
Addendum: A couple of bit I'm NOT taking
Sometimes important decisions include what you leave behind. I am trying, but you really can't take everything. If you read blogs and YouTube videos of other riders, there are a couple of 'must haves' that I'm not bothering with. The shipping box was full, weighed about 30 kilos already, and something had to give.
Spare brake and clutch levers. The theory goes that if you have an 'off', the brake and clutch levers are quite exposed and get damaged. You are a bit stuffed if you can't brake or change gear. On the BMW, there are some very substantial hand guards protecting the levers, and I calculate that if my 'off' is of such magnitude that it breaks the hand guards and the levers behind them, then I am almost certainly going to be snapped in two myself and will not be getting back on the bike
Complete service kit including oil and air filters. The BMW has just been serviced and only done a few hundred miles since. I struggled to source an air filter to match, hence the extra 'hair-net' style pre-filters. I have packed some oil for top-ups but don't see any scenario where I'm going to be doing full oil changes
Spare fuses, wire, connector blocks etc. I can tinker with a spanner, but electrics baffle me. I honestly won't know where to start. If something goes wrong in this corner, I'll be putting up the 'help' flag with local mechanics
I'm looking forward to event number two where I will take only 50% of the kit and will no doubt include the 3 items above after the bike falls off it's side stand at zero miles and hour and breaks the clutch lever. Hallas.
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