Motobins BMW list again

I quite liked this one:

Q. What Should You Take on a European, or other long tour? The means to
stay mobile is paramount

A. a BMW pump, tubed and tubeless tyre repair kits (with tyre levers),
followed by inner tubes (even if you have tubeless tyres), and a small
tin of instant tyre repair. On the electrical side, lightweight jump
leads, plug leads, spare bulbs (mandatory in most countries) and fuses,
are a good start. Always take some stiff wire, nuts and bolts, and
nylon cable ties, and PVC tape. Most European states require a
first-aid kit, with rubber gloves for use in Aids-concious Germany. The
level of spare parts is up to you, but a fuel filter (for K- Series)
clutch and throttle cables, spark plugs, and contact breaker points (if
required) is a good basic level. Remember that engine oil is very
expensive in Europe. Some people carry spare coils, voltage regulators,
alternators, etc! Whatever you take, know how to use them! The best
insurance to take is a reliable motorcycle and a Moto-Bins catalogue.
Remember we are always ready to despatch parts anywhere in the world.
We can arrange very fast overseas delivery often within a day or two.

They really must trust their ultra reliable steeds. I'd just take a
Japanese bike instead. Even LN's seriously ill ZXR400 made it to Italy
and back with not even a spare cable tie for the fairing

 

Well, oddly enough I never carried any of the above (apart from the
mandated crap) on any of my BMWs, mainly because the one part I needed
when I took the GS abroad needed a trailer to carry (well, the
diagnostic computer is a bit on the large side for these).

Of course this has me wondering as to what you're doing on the Motobins
website in the first place?

 

My brother leaves on Thursday for a month, touring around Europe to
various VOC rallies. He's taking nowhere near that much stuff, & he's
riding his 60ish year old Vincent.

--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

Our resident Big Gay Pirate stuck a link in a reply to one of my posts.
I thought I'd have a laugh by reading how reliable they are.

 

A few odd spare nuts & bolts, a roll of tape, a couple of solderless
nipples, and a puncture kit. Oh, and a recovery card.

 

Fitting a kickstart?

Moving to a house onna hill?

Getting one of those 'leccy rolling road starter jobbies?

 

Can't be. He's our resident Fat Gay Pirate.

 

<snip long list of bits>

I've just been talking to a very pale Belgian, whose 6 month old
K1200RT(?) left him stranded in lane 2a this morning.

 

Post accurated.

 

See this is why you need a nice old one. The only things that have
gone wrong with mine over the past year/15k miles have been down to my
own mechanical numptiness. Like pinching the fuel pump cable when
putting the tank back on which cause the wiring to short out when in
lane 2 of the M5 level with a juggernaut. Fortunately there was a
spare fuse. Unfortunately this popped 5 miles later. Fortunately the
M5 is amply supplied with old drinks cans which can be fashioned into
high value fuses to get you home.

 

That's bollocks. Last time I took the car to France, apart from
stocking up on several crates of wine, I brought back 10 litres or so
of branded semi synth bike oil.

It's seriously cheap in Carrefour et al, and all the big hypermarkets
seem to stock a good range of bike oil ...

P.

 

<takes note>

Since I'm going to be more frequently in France these days, what other
things are worth bringing back?

My list so far includes: garlic, veal, whatever cheese takes my fancy at
the time, cider, beer, LU biscuits
(http://www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com/biscuits/previous.php3?item=51),
wine and now oil.

 

I've certainly never taken stuff with me apart from the toolkit to be
honest, whether I've been on a Japanese or a German bike.

I was very worried going to the Bol in the 80's two up on a KLR600 that'd
had a full rebuild prior to my ownership but it worked well taking us to
Cote d'Azur, Italy, Switzerland and back into France.

I have never been stranded by any of my Beemers, the only problem I've had
at the side of the road have been a duff throttle position sensor on one of
my 5 K100RS's, still got me home just at 50mph if I recall correctly, and
water in the tank of my F650 after being outside in a month of downpours
last year. Tank drain pipe was kinked ... my fault.

However, I've lost count of the amount of pistons and rings I fed my RD's
over the years, or the kickstart gear that stripped its teeth on my SP370
(when I was up to the axles in bog, or the camchains, tensioners and/or
tensioner blades I've had to replace in most of the Japanese fours I've
owned.

To be honest I like just about all bikes, good and bad, but after the day
out in the USA with a Harley I REALLY struggle to find a single redeeming
feature of them!

--
Steve Parry
BMW R80RS, BMW R45, 01 Kawasaki ZX12-R, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
07 VW Passat SE Estate for comfort
www.gwynfryn.co.uk

 

Are you allowed to bring veal in? Isn't there a restriction on raw meat?

--
Steve Parry
BMW R80RS, BMW R45, 01 Kawasaki ZX12-R, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
07 VW Passat SE Estate for comfort
www.gwynfryn.co.uk

 

Foie gras (there are now protestors outside restaurants and shops in
Bath which sell it, god help us); confit de canard; rillettes (unless
you make your own).

 

best not lick the chocolate off those, eh?

 

Foie Gras, Crémant d'Alsace [1], fresh fish and seafood, cheap power
tools[3], proper french bread[4], patisserie[5], err that's about all
that springs to mind right now...


[1] Which has seriously taken over from most of my Champagne drinking,
and while normally about 7 EU a bottle, decent unknown brands can be
had for less than 5 Eu
[2] Obviously only if a) you like the stuff and b) you've gone
equipped with a chiller.
[3] Or are they as common in the UK now as well?
[4] Only if it's for same day consumption, of course.
[5] Dunno about you, but I can never resist a nice French tart.
--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com)
\`\ | /`/
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Only from outside the EU AFAIK.

 

http://www.thisisbath.com/displayNo...tentPK=20287402&folderPk=89126&pNodeId=163047

 

Welcome to the modern UK .....

--
Steve Parry
BMW R80RS, BMW R45, 01 Kawasaki ZX12-R, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
07 VW Passat SE Estate for comfort
www.gwynfryn.co.uk