Below we review 5 tips for traveling by motorbike, all obvious, of course, but it doesn’t hurt to keep them in mind from time to time, especially if it’s your first trip. This time we bring you a brief excerpt of tips and recommendations on how to travel by motorcycle.
Riding a motorcycle is not an easy task and from the beginning, we have encouraged you to do it with friends and family. Sometimes, however, the situation that attracts us the most is getting lost alone, and gaining a new experience or giving free rein to the sense of adventure reassures us. For them, this brief is instructive, because it never hurts to review these 5 points.
1 – Check your motorbike.
About when to check your motorbike’s condition, you should pay attention while you are having the last ride, and make a list of things that you should check for as soon as you’re done with that leg. Memory is fragile, so write them down if you are planning to spare the rest of the day for other things. Or, if you think the trip will be long and arduous, the safest thing to do, is to look for a place where you can have a safe checkup while you are on your trip or, shortly after your return. In addition to the review itself, it is often necessary to replace some components and consumables in the middle of nowhere, so we encourage you to check:
What to check?
• Tires: in good condition (both), thread (at least 4 mm), please don’t make’em last 10 years, the tire “expiration” date is located on one side. It indicates the year and week of manufacture. Consider replacing every 5 years for long rides or high-torque bikes. You can keep the current ones for your local outings.
• Brakes: Brake pads are in good condition. All of them, front and rear. Also always check the inner pad, the pad that fits inside the caliper, a minimum of 3mm is recommended. For the brake fluid itself, check its duration and that it is in good condition (minimum transparency…). This does not apply to mineral brake fluid.
• Drive kit: more precisely the chain, the sprocket, and the sprocket only that do not have very sharp teeth. The chain is clean and greased. For rides exceeding 500 km, lubricate the chain every 500 km (up to 1000 km) with a small bottle of chain grease.
• Oil: at the correct level, neither below nor above the maximum level. If it is tanner a year old, also change it. Mineral oils have their own policies about this.
• Coolant: Bear in mind that coolant expands more than oil when hot. Avoid filling it to the max when cold. Certainly not below minimum. Recommended, in the middle. Ensure you’re aware of your bike’s coolant type. If you suspect a small leak and can’t visit a shop immediately, carry spare coolant.
2 – Tire pressure.
In our experience, the component is crucial for assessing the product’s condition, especially tires, as mentioned earlier. You always have to be attentive that it has good pressure and to make good use of them.
For this, always be guided by the pressures listed in your bike’s manual. We can give you some tips, but your starting point should always be those specified by the manufacturer. Now, the little things; For trips, especially if you are traveling with a passenger or if the bike is more loaded than usual with panniers or backpacks, you can increase the pressure by 0.1 / 0.2 BAR. If your trip is going to have a lot of highways or straight stretches with high speed, a small tip is to increase the aerodynamic load, especially the rear, this way we will avoid noticeable wear in the center and maintain the curvature of the tires for longer.
Another detail that you must take into account is the altitude pressure at which we inflate the tire. Tire inflation at a service station differs at high altitudes like 1,800 m compared to sea level. If you inflate a tire at an altitude of 1800 m, and your destination or travel route is along the coast, you will notice that the tire “lost” pressure and will act strong and heavy. Conversely, if you inflate at sea level and go up the mountain, tire pressure will increase and reduce tire grip (contact patch decrease), reducing grip and increasing the risk of skidding.
3 – Stop every 200 km.
Stopping to rest every 200 km (or similar distance) is just a guideline. Fatigue often strikes around the 2-hour mark of driving.
In many cases, the fuel autonomy of a motorbike usually corresponds to this distance, but there are bikes like the KTM ADVENTURE R 1290 that have an even greater range of 400 km, so you have to be careful because, with many kilometers behind, you start to make silly mistakes and lose focus. Hence, we advise stopping every 200 km to stretch, hydrate, and refresh with a drink or snack to prevent fatigue.
4 – Calculation between gas stations.
On your trip, you must have well-controlled gas stations and refueling points. Distinguish between rest stops and fuel stops to ensure adequate time for both. Plan accordingly for a balanced journey. When planning your trip, factor in fuel stops based on your bike’s range and locate available gas stations along your route. Google Maps or Maps-me is your friend, use them, especially now that they still do not charge for their use.
5 – Carry tools
Tools are very important on your trip, that’s why we prepared a previous blog about everything you should bring on a motorbike trip. We hope that you liked this blog and that it will help to encourage you to go on a longer trip or come to a wonderful country like Ecuador where we will provide you with everything, you need to make your trip spectacular.
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