You will also find my views appearing on The Bike page regarding Idris in general, and the various modifications I did to it.
Camping Gear
Lifeventure Downlight 900 Sleeping Bag - This is a great three season down-filled mummy sleeping bag; well made, washes well and hard wearing. I sleep pretty warm, so with my thermal mat, silk liner and thermal underwear I´ve slept in comfort with this bag at -5. It also comes with a waterproof rollbag with an air valve so you can squeeze it tight for an even smaller pack size. This bag was also my back rest inside my pillion roll-bag throughout the trip. Very Highly Recommended.
Thermarest Treklite Sleeping Mat (and repair kit) - I didn´t need to do any repairs, and I didn´t need to worry about the mat either. A good size, good thermal properties, self inflating (if you give it time) and easy to clean (in the shower!), I think I´ll be using this for some years to come. Highly Recommended.
Silk Sleeping Bag Liner - packs down to nothing, easy to wash by hand or machine, quick to dry and reasonably cheap on the internet, I can´t imagine overland travel without it. Used in cold weather (see above) and in hot while sleeping on top of my mat and bag while under canvass - it also doubled as hostel bedding when the cleanliness of rooms was in question. Plus that added luxury feel after a long ride. Highly Recommended.
Inflatable Pillow and cotton Pillowcase - This was a cheap but hard wearing model that I´ve had for years and practice has shown that I sleep best with it, while being covered by a cotton pillowcase for comfort. I also used the pillowcase at some hostels along the way too, and as a laundry bag once or twice. Recommended.
Decathlon Tarp (minus the poles) - Well made and pretty cheap, I took this as extra cover in case I was having to camp in the rain. I used it only a couple of times, and then as a bike cover. I would only take again if I was planning to do more camping on a trip. Good quality - but not used much.
Petzl Tikka 2 Headtorch - One of the more popular brands and models, and for good reason. Small, reasonably powerful, comfortable to wear, easy to operate (even with gloves), and great battery life. Ideal. Highly recommended.
UCO Camping Candle, with anti mozzie candles - A neat little set up, which I used when I did camp as a softer light and to ward off bugs. I like it, but it is more of a luxury thing than an essential item.
4 Sandpegs, plus half doz 6" nails for hard ground - I took these just in case, but as I didn´t camp that much I didn´t end up using them - aside from using a sandpeg as a makeshift camping shovel. I would only take again on a trip where I was expecting to do more wildcamping - or if I was doing the same trip again - I would just take two sandpegs (for the two tent ties at each end).
Decathlon Camping Mallet - a well made item that also doubled as a maintenance tool for the bike. The handle also has a peg puller built in for easier striking of camp. I also carried it on the top of my pannier box for easy access when I was riding through some, shall we say, 'less-safe' areas (it gave some comfort even though I never felt the need to wield it). Highly Recommended.
Mini Trangia Spirit Burner Stove and (one pot) Cook Kit - I like my little spirit burner and cook kit, it packs really small and takes up little room. That said, I think on this trip I could count the number of times I used it on one hand! Aside from some remote parts of Argentina and Chile, when it was essential, I had little problem in finding cooked food as I travelled. I off-loaded this in Guatemala. Highly Recommended for ad-hoc use.
Heat and Wind Guard, and Trangia Fuel Bottle - A well made fuel bottle, that does what it says on the tin. Likewise the folding heat and wind guard, while a bit of a fiddle to set up, made a real difference when trying to cook in the wilds and winds of Patagonia. I off-loaded these in Guatemala.
Spork, and folding Camping Knife, small plastic Chopping Board, cleaning stuff, tin opener, flint fire steel - Sporks are great, and well worth taking no matter whether you plan to cook on your trip. I ended up not doing much on that front, so I off loaded these items (aside from the spork) in Guatemala.
My home made Cook Kit, including: salt, pepper, sweetener, olive oil, herbs, hot drinks (tea, coffee, herbal tea, hot chocolate), porridge oats, pasta, tuna, tomato sauce, dried mash, dried milk, noodles, dried fruit, nuts - plus other stuff. If you are cooking, you need stuff to cook. The kit, which all packs down into a square plastic zipped bag (see top left of above photo) would feed me for around 3 days - and was off-loaded in Guatemala.
1 litre Water Bottles x2 - You´ll see these strapped to the back of the right hand box on the bike. Great bottles that really lasted the course. The only problem encountered was the water would heat up in the hotter climes - to the extent that I made coffee without use of the stove once or twice! Even so, essential to carry. Highly Recommended.
Thermal Cup - Mine is relatively small, made of plastic, with a lid you can drink through (a good idea). It works really well. Take one! Highly Recommended
Clothing
Summer Socks x1 - The Icebreakers were so good I never wore these during the trip - I even forgot I had them! Not recommended.
Casual Shoes, plus Flip Flops - Both these items were cheap. The flip flops were a good idea, I think, but in reality I didn´t use them very much at all - so I off-loaded them in Guatemala. The shoes I wore pretty much every day after riding, and by the time I hit North America were falling apart on me. They were in the bin within 10 minutes of arriving home. They did the job, but next time I´ll buy some better quality lightweight footwear.
Icepeak Outdoor Trousers x1 - In olive green with patch pockets (both zipped and velco flaps) and zip off bottoms to double as shorts, I cannot praise this piece of clothing enough. Velcro flapped rear pockets were not used much (never a good idea to 'advertise' things in your pockets when travelling), but the trousers also have a secure 'hidden' pocket inside (which you can only get at by opening the fly). They were not the cheapest, but I wore them almost every day and the creases fell out within minutes of putting them on. They hand and machine washed well, were thin enough to dry really quickly, and looked smart (in cold weather I doubled them with my thermal leggings) Also, they never stained from my dribbling of food, drink etc. These are fantastic, and still look like new. Very Highly Recommended.
Shorts-style Swimming Trunks - It seemed a good idea to pack some trunks, and it probably was, but the only time I used them was when my other clothes were in the wash! When I wanted shorts - I unzipped my Icepeaks. I didn´t swim. Cheap and easy to carry - I´d probably take them again. Recommended
ZD Soja Undies x3 - Now we are getting serious. A lot of travellers take the cheapest undies they have, others just some from their supply at home. My lovely wife furnished me with these especially for the trip - and I am really glad she did. They retail at around 25€ each, so not the cheapest, but you get a cotton and soya fibre mix - with a touch of lycra for comfort and a big measure of antibacterial treatment. The result is a hugely comfortable body hugging cut, with additional support in the seat to avoid ´riding up´. I don´t want to get into too much detail, but needless to say that last point also helped maintain cleanliness for longer! But when it came to washing, whether by hand or machine, these came out looking like new each time (and still do) - and dried overnight too. Very Highly Recommended.
Icebreaker Leg Baselayer - I can´t praise merino wool enough - and Icebreaker certainly know how to weave the stuff. This baselayer was used both on and off the bike - and at times overnight. Comfortable form hugging, smooth non-itchy texture and non-invasive stitching, these are the biz. They still look like new! Very Highly Recommended.
EDZ Layering Upper Baselayers x2 (short sleeve & long sleeve) - Here we go again with the merino wool products, this time from EDZ. I took a variety of tops, with different materials and brands. These two items (one short sleeved T in red, and a long sleeved one in dark blue - see photo above) quickly became my favourites on the whole trip. Smooth non-itchy texture, both were light and smart enough to double as either baselayers or as outerwear in warm climates. Don´t shy away from wearing wool like this in the heat - it is surprisingly comfortable - AND - as its is merino, completely odour free! Both items washed and wore really well, dried quickly, and still look (almost) like new. Very Highly Recommended.
Marmot Midweight Crew Baselayer, in black - This item looks really smart and is a thicker baselayer to the merino ones I took, so also doubled as a lightweight jumper. It was also from a brand known for quality and recommended - and, despite being of man-made fibres, was said to be anti-bacterial. But I´m afraid to say I felt a bit let down by its quality. Within the first few washes it lost its good looks due to bobbling of the fibres and, more importantly, at no time did it offer the protection from bacteria needed to avoid odours. After wearing for one day, it needed washing before it could be put into service again. I off-loaded this item in Guatemala as I had stopped using it by then. Next time I´d take another, slightly thicker merino wool item. Not Recommended.
Decathlon Fleeces x2 - (one lightweight, one heavy duty) - I took two, one as a baselayer, one as a jumper - and both because they were so cheap (6€ and 8€ each), so they could be disposed of if necessary. Both wore really well, washed really well, dried really well and did not betray at any stage their purchase price. I off loaded the baselayer one in Guatemala only because I had taken to wearing the merino wool ones. The other was my 'jumper' of choice right throughout the trip - and saw a huge amount of use. It still looks good. Very Highly Recommended.
Buff, Icebreaker Merino Wool Ski Mask - OK, these items are more for the riding than walking around, but I would not have managed without them. The buff is a half fleece half lightweight fibre type. Both really did a job for me - and washed well and easily. If you see shots of me in the deep south in Patagonia, you´ll note I´m wearing both under my crash helmet. Can´t praise these enough. Very Highly Recommended.
Wool Gloves, 'dessert' Scarf - The gloves were useful from time to time when off the bike / camping in colder areas - and I must have used them more than I realised, as I wore out the fingers. The scarf I didn´t use at all - apart from as a makeshift towel one time. I´d take gloves again - but would recommend using silk under-gloves next time that could double up for use when riding (avoiding the need for winter gloves). The scarf is great, but I tend to use it when I wear my leathers - and as I wasn´t using bike leathers on this trip...
Trail Hat, with mozzie Head Net inside - This is an old one I´ve had for years, so I´ve forgotten the brand, but it still washes well, has a neck strap for those windy days, poppers so I can pin up the sides, and a pocket inside to keep my head net handy. It is comfortable, flexible and works really well for me, also providing a bit of cover from the often strong sun. The head net was also tested in Alaska, and did the job well in conjunction with the hat, keeping the mozzies away from exposed skin. Highly Recommended.
ABR Beanie - don't leave home without one! - I think that just about sums this item up. But here are a few more words on the matter. It is fleece lined, so incredibly comfortable and completely non-itchy. It is also deep enough to have full ear coverage (with a double fold). It is very warm, and washes well. What more can I say... oh yes, it also clearly identifies you as an ABR! Very Highly Recommended.
Hein Gerike Budget Rainsuit - I only had 5 days of rain out of the whole 131 days on the road... yep, just 5. So I didn´t have a huge amount of opportunity to test this all-in-one item. But it was cheap to buy, packed small, was easy to put on on the side of the road without too much of a 'rain dance' - and kept me dry! Oh, also the zips worked well, and it has an elasticated waist and cuffs. The Velcro collar fastener also works fine. So it does what it says on the tin is my verdict here. Highly Recommended.
Hein Gerike Desert Sheltex Textile Suit - I bought this suit for the trip for two reasons. The first was its comfort / fit - the second was the price (I got a 30% discount at the shop). And I am pleased to report that the comfort stayed with me throughout the journey. This suit really is well made - as shown in particular by the continued and unfailing zip action (despite all the muck of the road) . It survived my falls with little damage, and looked after my bits through the inbuilt protection. The zipped inner thermal linings were effective and comfortable. It was also able to shrug off the rare cases of light rain encountered - and the reflective strips were really effective in the dark and half light, without overpowering the jacket's look. I also used the back map pocket a lot on the trip, which was a good size and I was able to open and access my map pack with gloves still on. But the suit does have drawbacks - ABR mag rated it at 6 out of 10 - and after living in it for over 4 months, I would say that was about right... at a push, perhaps a 7?
The drawbacks include insufficient velco at the neck and top patch pockets on the jacket - which make trying to close the neck gap an impossibility with anything other than bare skin underneath - and almost daily top pockets flapping around in the wind due to insufficient sticky stuff to hold them down. Shame really, because that is a bit annoying, and such an easy fix. The biggest drawback was, however, the zipped vents in both the jacket and trousers. I don´t know why, but after unzipping the vent, the mesh that becomes exposed is not the only material between the cooler air and your skin, the vent also has a complete inner lining which restricts airflow!! What is the point of that? Opening the vents does make a difference, don´t get me wrong, and it is useful that the front jacket vents are partnered by a large rear one across the shoulders. But I would say the vents are only working at around 30% efficiency when compared to the largely mesh jacket I use in Spanish summers. 30% was not enough of a cooling effect in the toasty climes I encountered - and as a consequence it became a bit of a sweat suit at times (I did loose two stone in weight!). At least it washed well - but took a good 24 hours to dry, even without the armour and thermal inners. After some time, I also felt that there was a little too much black in the design for hot countries - so if doing the trip again, I would look for something more sandy in colour.
Design problems aside, I´d rank this suit as Recommended, just for the comfort and build quality alone. When you spend so long in the same clothes, that is a really important factor.
Forma Adventure Boots - Do these boots strike the right balance between protection and comfort over a long trip? In short, yes! They also look pretty good too, and were a very competitive £125. Knee high, with well designed clip fasteners and a padded cuff with velcro flap at the top, I had no problems getting them on and off no matter how tired I was at the end of the day. The leather seams did start to leak a little before I set off on the trip (they were about a year old by then) but a re-proof with Nikwax sorted that, and they didn´t result in damp socks once on the journey. I wouldn´t do any serious off-roading with them, but for the gravel, dirt and tarmac I encountered they did the job well. And the sole pattern was sufficiently chunky to stay on the pegs and not slip when touching down. You can also walk around in them for a few hours before starting to notice that you are wearing big boots. In short... Very Highly Recommended as an overland boot.
Hebo Vented Kidney Belt - I´ve had and used this belt for years - I won´t ride more than an hour without it. Easy to put on, with velcro straps, and with a hard mesh back which both supports the lower back and vents body heat well, it provides all the support and protection you need from this sort of item. It also extends my riding day by hours. Very Highly Recommended.
Hein Gerike Gortex Leather Gloves, Buffalo Winter Gloves - The Buffalo gloves are a bit chunky, so like all winter gloves you loose a bit of dexterity, but worth it for the really cold stretch in Patagonia. Next time I would take silk liners for use with the HG gloves - I off-loaded the Buffalo's in Guatemala. The HG gloves on the other hand (no pun intended) I used a lot more. Completely waterproof and with a wiper blade on the left hand, they are very comfortable and flexible in use. I also like the decent sized cuff with velcro strap which allows both internal and external use in conjunction with the jacket cuff. They have become my favourite gloves! Very Highly Recommended. However, they were too hot for the hot bits, and in Peru I picked up a cheap pair of enduro gloves (no obvious brand), which served me well until Montana.
Nolan N102 flip up Helmet, with N-com link - I´ve had this lid for a few years, so decided to take it on the trip as it was comfortable, had speakers inside, was a flip front (which I prefer when travelling), had a pin-lock anti misting system, and it also has a sun visor which I find useful. And as it was already nearing the end of its serviceable life, it would be less of a loss if I, well, lost it! It did the job, but in the wind I encountered it was simply too heavy, and challenged my neck on a regular basis. It was also black and got pretty toasty in the warm weather! In its defence, the liner was anti-bacterial and easy to remove for washing purposes. In short, next time a flip front, yes - but a model which is much lighter in both colour and weight! Not Recommended.
Keis X5 Heated Body Warmer with temp controller - I bought the waistcoat version as it packs easier and is considerably cheaper - and I ´m not fussed on my arms being bulked too much anyway. I also found it very comfortable to wear as a mid layer even when not switched on. But did it work? Did it heck! I don´t think I would have completed my run in the south if it was not for this item. It was simply fantastic. Very Highly Recommended.
Tools and Spares
Chain and sprockets, extra sprockets, chain links - The 520 chain was from DIN and put on in Peru - I´ve been impressed by how well it is wearing without, in reality, that much by way of chain lube! I also swapped out the rear sprocket the same time. I didn´t use the front sprocket or the extra chain links during the 20,000 plus miles - but I would most definitely take them again.
Front and rear HD tubes, spare valves and covers - Used the front tube when I couldn´t patch the puncture in Argentina, the rest were carried just in case, and would be carried again.
Head and wheel bearings - Carried just in case, and because they are small, but in my case - they were not needed. I might take the head bearings again, as they are a weak point on this bike, but perhaps not the wheel bearings (I had the full Yamaha parts list and workshop manual in pen-drive, so had the necessary to pick up locally new bearings if needed).
Spark plug - I put a new iridium one on before I left, and didn´t need this one, but would take again.
Engine Oil (1 ltr) plus x2 oil filters - Always useful to carry top up oil - but the two oil filters weren´t enough, I needed three oil changes in total. I picked up an extra spare filter in Guatemala.
Clutch cable - carried and not used, but would carry again.
Cush drive rubbers - fitted in Peru when the old ones were starting to get pretty slack. A while after changing them, I packed them out with inner tube and they are still doing well (over 20,000 miles later). I would take a spare set again, just in case, but would fit new ones and pack them out like this before heading off next time (allowing them to compress after around 3,000 miles first).
Spanners, axle drives, plug socket, Gerber multitool, motion-pro multitool - I was very pleased with my tool kit in the end, which I tested out by doing work on the bike before setting off. Both multitools held up really well, and were really useful. I´d recommend both.
Tyre pressure gauge, steel rule - The pressure gauge broke (I ended up relying on the compressor's built in gauge), and I didn´t use the rule.
Assorted allen keys, plastic tubing - The allen keys were used on a regular basis, tightening up fittings etc. I can´t remember why I was carrying this length of 5mm clear tube(?), but I never used it.
Tyre levers, lube and talc, rim protectors - Well worth carrying, and having a bit of practice on how to use them before heading off if you´ve never swapped out a tyre before.
Chain splitter and riveter - This was needed to change out the chain in Peru, so proved its worth there. I'd carry again.
WD40 - I took the really small can, which was handy, but not used much.
Liquid metal, gasket seal, loctite, grease, small box of nuts, bolts, clips, washers etc - (see top right side of the above photo for this stuff). I was lucky and never used any of this - but I would take them again.
Surgical Gloves - Very handy, and carried 6 pairs in my bar bag for ease, but I should have taken more - say 15 pairs!
Airmax 12v Air Compressor - This was cheap to buy and has a built in pressure gauge which is very accurate. I would not do this trip with out this. It was really handy when changing tyres, and when changing pressures between road types. It quickly found its home at the top of my right side pannier. Great bit of kit! Very Highly Recommended.
Fast Funnel - These are plastic coated folding card funnels for use with fuel and oil (see above photo). They are designed to be disposable, but in reality if you give them a clean, will last a few uses. The oil filler on the XT660Z is a bit of a pain to get to, so these really proved their worth in helping avoid the dribbling of oil onto the engine / radiator. Cheap to buy in packs of three, and really easy to carry. Very Highly Recommended.
Electronic Stuff
Asus EeePC Notepad, with neoprene cover - I would have been lost without this machine. I thought of taking a tablet, but glad I didn´t as I ended up doing a lot more with it than accessing internet etc. It was also an older (and cheaper) model, so i was less concerned about its loss. I backed up all photos and text on my pen drive and online service on a regular basis. A great little machine. Highly Recommended.Toshiba Camileo S20 Video Camera - I had this slimline flip sided video camera, so I took it. But it was pretty fiddly to use on the bike with a bar mount (quite a bit of vibe) and consequently, I didn´t use it that much. Not recommended. If you want to do lots of vid - invest in a GoPro!
Samsung PL211 14mp Camera - All the photos you see on the blog were taken by this tiny pocket camera, set on automatic! Simply fantastic. Very Highly Recommended.
Garmin Nuvi 550 GPS, with detailed mapping for all the Americas - This is a great low cost machine, that does the job well, while being waterproof. I never managed to get the on bike charging working properly - but this was more to do with the position of the 12v socket than the machine - but it never took long to power up unit's battery from mains sources. Highly Recommended.
Assorted SD and mico SD cards, 16 GB pendrive - Easy to carry and very handy.
Travel adapter, 12v socket USB adaptor, USB cables - Necessary, but I would like to find a way through which I could reduce the total amount of cables I was carrying.
First Aid
Hein Gerike bike first aid kit, including and supplemented by: various plasters (20), various dressings (6), compeed cold sore patches (6), ORS electrolyte rehydration (12), burn dressing (1), tape, latex gloves (4), emergency blanket, sudafed cold and flu tablets (12), ibuprofen (30), spasmoctyl (12), chlorine diox tablets (30), paracetamol (30), mini super glue, safety pins, amoxicilina antibiotic (2 full courses), doxycycline antimalarials, rennie deflatine, imodium, antihistamines.
You need something like this. I used the antimalarials, some of the painkillers, all the sudafeds, and some of the rehydration tablets - but I was pretty lucky on the health front. Very Highly Recommended.
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WashkitIncluding: toilet rolls, Decathlon travel towel, wetwipes, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, nail clippers, tweezers, sewing kit, dental floss, toothpics, cotton buds, shampoo, sun cream, roll-on deodorant, mouthwash, moisturiser, lip balm
All necessary, all used.
Very Highly Recommended.
Other Bits and Bobs
Packsafe 55-85 ltr - I used this throughout the trip, aside from the remotest of areas. Easy to fit over the roll-bag, it gave peace of mind when leaving the bike during the day - particularly at borders. Highly Recommended.
Cargo Net, Tie Down Straps, Roc straps, Para cord, plus a few Bungies - The cargo net is a must to quickly put over the roll-back and hold down gloves, maps, drinks - well anything really - while on the road. The HG tie down straps secured the roll bag to the bike throughout the trip and lasted really well. I didn´t need any of the spare straps I took, but would probably take them again.
Harmonica - Not used.
Spare set of Keys - Kept with my paperwork, not needed, but I´d take again.
Dog tags, with ICE information (one for the neck, one for the keyfob) - worn everyday, cheap, and highly recommended (with name, blood type, passport number and emergency phone number).
Document Wallet, with papers as noted under The Admin - You will need something to keep all your papers handy. Highly Recommended.
Sunglasses - Don´t forget them. I carried mine in my bar bag. Highly Recommended, even in cold climes.
Hein Gerike roll bag (70ltr) - I've had this for a few years now, and there was no question that it was going with me on the trip (see bottom of photo below). Much cheaper than some other branded alternatives, it provides sufficient space for all my extra bits to be wrapped up neat and tidy. Tough, it remains in good order, was one of the check in bags I took on the plane with me, and full waterproof. Very Highly Recommended.
Dry Bags - I took a selection of sizes of around 6 in total, most of which were by Exped. Don't leave home without some. Very Highly Recommended.
Ziplock Bags - I took around a dozen of varying sizes, which would have been used more if I was doing more cooking. Used some in my bar bag to keep things dry. Recommended.
'Manbag' - this was a shoulder bag just big enough for the notepad, guide book, brolly and a sarny etc for use sightseeing off the bike - and which also doubled as my carry on bag on flights. A bit of a pain when not being used (stuffed at the bottom of the roll-bag), it was really very useful when not riding. Highly Recommended.
Elastic Bands - I used some to keep papers together, stop my sat nav mount from buzzing when the unit was not inside, to hold my 12v plug inside the socket when riding etc... in short useful for all sorts of things. Take some. Highly Recommended.
Notebook, Pencil, Pens - even if you are not writing your way around, taking notes makes for a useful way to support memory. I found these items essential, and wrote in the notebook every day. Very Highly Recommended.
Travel Umbrella - I didn't use it much, as I didn't get much rain, but it is a great tool for overlanding and camping in general. Highly Recommended.
Earplugs - I took 20 pairs of the disposable foam type - as I find those the most comfortable - and used almost all of them while riding, or at times sleeping, during the trip. I have a little plastic bottle just large enough to hold two on my bike key chain - very handy, especially when there are loud babies on your flight! Very Highly Recommended.
Paperback Novel - I took two in the end, and swapped / traded them out / bought others as I went along - usually carrying one at any one time. Highly Recommended.
I gave away the large travel bag (which I picked up second hand on e-bay for £5) on arrival in Argentina to a fellow ABR who was on his way home. When I off-loaded items in Guatemala, I imagine I saved around 10kgs, at some 45kgs.
