MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)|January - February 2024
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE ROAD
Mitchel de Jager
MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE

Some riders love it, others hate it, but it's an important aspect of long-distance overlanding. I'm talking about maintenance on the road. It might seem easy to do some checks and replacements at certain intervals, but it's not always that simple when you are on a long journey. In some regions and countries, obtaining spare parts and even decent oil can be extremely difficult, and it's impossible to bring it all with you. To avoid complications, here are some suggestions to help you prepare for road maintenance and deal with setbacks such as the unavailability of parts.

A DEALER WILL NOT ALWAYS BE CLOSE BY

One of the main challenges faced by motorcyclists traveling long distances in remote regions or foreign countries is the lack of motorcycle dealerships or the long distances between them. This can make it difficult to find spare parts or get repairs done, especially for models that are less common locally. If parts cannot be found, the solution is to order them online, possibly even internationally, using DHL. This typically leads to higher costs and long delays.

Even if you find a big dealer, they might not always provide a proper solution. When we were in the Middle East with our Yamaha Ténéré 700, we ran into issues. Although in-country dealers sold the motorcycle, the demand for parts was so low that they didn't stock spares. Most of the time, they weren't even able to order them within two months. That's why we bring certain parts with us (see the tip about tools below).

GETTING THE TIRES YOU WANT

Getting tires is usually not a problem anywhere in the world, but finding the exact tires you want can be challenging. In some countries, certain brands may not be available or may cost significantly more. Additionally, some countries may not stock suitable all-road or long-lasting tires.

Denne historien er fra January - February 2024-utgaven av Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto).

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra January - February 2024-utgaven av Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto).

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE (ADVMOTO)Se alt
Stuant Gregory IS IT AN ADDICTION?
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

Stuant Gregory IS IT AN ADDICTION?

Five-Time Dakar Malle Moto racer

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4 mins  |
January - February 2024
INTO THE MUD
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

INTO THE MUD

Strategies for Successful Off-Road Riding

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3 mins  |
January - February 2024
CHASING PEAKS IN THE HIMALAYAS
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

CHASING PEAKS IN THE HIMALAYAS

It was 2:00 a.m. on my fourth day in India. My eyes blinked open in the dark of a hotel room in Drass, a town in the Himalayas on the Indian side of the border. Yesterday was our first day riding on a six-day trip through the Himalayas, and my brain could not process everything I'd seen and experienced.

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5 mins  |
January - February 2024
Angels and Demons RIDING TWO-UP SOUTH THROUGH ALASKA
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

Angels and Demons RIDING TWO-UP SOUTH THROUGH ALASKA

A not-so-warm welcome as we entered Hatchers Pass from Willow to Palmer, Alaska.

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6 mins  |
January - February 2024
EXPLORING THE THRILLING WORLD OF RALLY RAID
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

EXPLORING THE THRILLING WORLD OF RALLY RAID

A GUIDE TO GETTING STARTED

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7 mins  |
January - February 2024
MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE

LESSONS LEARNED ON THE ROAD

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5 mins  |
January - February 2024
White Desert
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

White Desert

Riding Across the Frozen Landscape of Siberia

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3 mins  |
July - August 2023
Kitti and Martha Forget Black Dog CYCLE WORKS
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

Kitti and Martha Forget Black Dog CYCLE WORKS

How do you start something from nothing? That’s what Kurt and Martha Forgét did when they created Black Dog Cycle Works (BDCW) out of their garage 16 years ago

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4 mins  |
July - August 2023
Essential GROUP RIDING Tips
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

Essential GROUP RIDING Tips

FOR ADVENTURE RIDERS (ON OR OFF THE ROAD)

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6 mins  |
July - August 2023
MAKING MEMORIES
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

MAKING MEMORIES

Kevin and I initially met in the Marines. We have been riding together for a few years, and riding BDRs the entire time. Our first attempt at a BDR was in Utah, where we were completely unprepared and significantly ignorant of our capabilities. It led to some interesting moments conquering Lockhart Basin where we developed our backcountry motto: “Less Gear and More Water.” We document our rides on our YouTube channel, “Be Gone for Good.”

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5 mins  |
July - August 2023