What is needed for an African Motorcycle adventure?

Have you ever been scared off by the logistics of organising an overland motorcycle adventure? I was about five years ago. I thought it was almost impossible for an average Joe like me to pull it off, but after a lot of research I found out that it is not as difficult as it seems if you plan it correctly.

There are a few points that need to be taken into consideration and NOT over looked e.g. weather, route, terrain and clothing to name a few. There are a lot of websites that have some really good tips on offer for the basic preparation e.g. http://www.bigearth.co.uk/experts.html . These websites are brilliant but they don’t really get down to the nuts and bolts of the trip. What people seem to do is try and scrimp on things like tyres, spares, tools etc. These are some of the most important items you will need to complete your journey and make the difference between an enjoyable trip or a logistical nightmare. I have listed one of the reasons below.



Tyres – Scrimping on tyres could really put a damper on your trip especially in Africa where there are not that many Kwik-fits around! Cheap tyres could affect things like handling, comfort and fuel consumption which are three of the most important points to take into consideration. The other thing is obviously durability. A cheap tyre is more prone to punctures and rapid tread ware which could cost you more in the long run and slow you down considerably. Some of the best tyres include Michelin and Bridgestone.


Michelin





Bridgestone


There are a few things you need to look at when choosing the right tyre e.g. Size, direction of rotation and load capacity to name a few. Michelin have got some good info on how to get exactly what you need.

http://www.michelin.co.uk/motorcycles/

http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/index.cfm?fa=contentGeneric.efqfogzxxrcwvkgn&pageId=735969

There is a lot to consider when it comes to tyres. But with a little guidance it is not so difficult to get it right.


Additional reading:


Building the Ultimate
Adventure Motorcycle:
The E... by Robert Wicks
5.0 out of 5 stars (2)
£11.15