Advertisement
Published: July 31st 2010
Edit Blog Post
31 July 2010
The Plan
To ship our motorcycles (BMW R1150GS and BMW R1200GS) to Halifax, Nova Scotia from the UK and ride from East to West to Vancouver over a nine week period.
Why and How
As Sally always tries to be away somewhere on her bike on her birthday she decided that as this one was a biggy she should get away for longer than the usual week and go further afield than the usual September destinations of southern France, Italy or Germany. So the idea was born to cross Canada from East to West (heading away from home always gives a better feeling when travelling). For those of you who do not know, Canada is the country of Sally's birth, but she has only been back there once for just a few days since she was a baby.
Sally's employers kindly agreed to give her two months off work and Mark decided he would come too and gave up his job to do the trip.
What we are taking
Tent: We decided to camp to keep the cost down and to give us more flexibility in the remoter areas and I
understand that the camp sites in Canada are well equipped. We are using a Khyam Biker tent as it has a very spacious porch area in which to store stuff and also goes up in a jiffy due to its umbrella like mechanism of poles. It is a bit heavy at 5.8 kg (but we reduced this by almost 1kg by changing the tent pegs, the original ones weighed in at 1.1kg) and bulky at a packed size of 60cm x 20cm x 20cm, but as we are only taking one tent on two bikes we can live with that although if we were not camping we would have much less luggage!
Cooker: We bought a new camping cooker, a Trangia 27 which is extremely compact. 7” x 7” x 4” including 2 x 1 litre pans and 1 frying pan. We also purchased a 0.6 litre Trangia kettle for that all important cup of tea! We are also taking a couple of plates and thermal mugs and knives and forks and the purchase that Mark finds most amusing: the kitchen sink (see pic) 6 inch diameter by 1 inch deep folded.
Cloths: Full motorcycle kit of course.
Plus waterproofs. We have both managed to fit all our “other” cloths into a 10 litre bag each. We are both taking: Long sleeved wicking tops x 2, shorts x 1, zip off trousers x 1, socks x 2, thin fleece x 1, flip flops x 1 pair, heated jacket x 1, swimming togs x 1 (Sally: and I’m allowed to take my trainers and 3 pairs of quick drying knickers as I had done so well with compact packing!). We also bought hats with mosquito nets attached as we’ve heard horror stories about the bugs!
Tools: As we both have BMW GSs we are taking loads of cable ties and duct tape. If you have one you will know what I’m talking about! A couple of puncture repair kits using different technology. The tool kit that comes with the 1200GS is more or less useless. We have built a tool kit that can take the bikes completely apart and do a full service without it taking up to much space. Oil is the same in both bikes although they use different filters and hence different removal tools. (Why BMW?). A Slime 12v pump was bought as we anticipate having to lower and raise tyre pressures for different parts of the route due to different road surfaces. As mentioned below we are using dual sport tyres which should be the best compromise for the trip.
Misc: first aid kit, head torches, washing stuff, camping chairs (seems daft and bulky on a bike but makes such a difference when you can sit down properly when camping), hydration packs for use whilst riding, air pumps for mattress and tyres, mosquito repellent, more mosquito repellent and more mosquito repellent!
Bike Preparation
Sally’s bike - BMW R1200GS - There was a little bit as I have always had it set up for off roading with mud slings, collapsible gear change, headlight guard, crash bars, cylinder head guards, etc. So I put a new rear tyre on (Bridgestone Battlewing) and new brake pads all round. Oil changed only about 2500 before we left so that will happen en route so packed an oil filter and got the tool required to change it.
Mark’s bike - BMW R1150GS - which he bought earlier in the year and although in excellent condition required attention to bring it up to his standards as far as handling, etc, was fettled within an inch of its life. He also had new tyres (Metzler Tourance) and new brake pads all round. He fitted crash bars and a headlamp guard from Moto-Ap, (www.moto-ap.co.uk) as many of the roads have loose gravel and it would be sods law that any flying stones will hit that area.
Both bikes have top boxes. Most of the kit is carried in two Gul waterproof bags (bought from a boat chandlers - so much cheaper than stuff from motorcycle luggage suppliers) and bungeed with the rest of our kit across the rear carriers (both pillion seats removed). We tried to not use panniers but a last minute decision meant fitting spam cans to Mark’s BMW (ie aluminium panniers).
Spent a bit of time messing about with electrical bits and pieces so that cameras, etc can be charged and air beds inflated, from the BMWs’ power sockets.
Weight bias to the rear will need a bit of suspension tweeking once in Canada.
Shipping
We are flying the bikes to Halifax, Nova Scotia through James Cargo www.jamescargo.com who ship loads of bikes (and anything else apparently) all over the world. They use the crates that UK BMW dealers get their new bikes in so there will be no need for us to take the bikes apart for the journey. Coming back we will drop the bikes at their agent in Vancouver and they will be trucked across Canada to the eastern seaboard and put on a boat from there so we probably won’t see them for about seven weeks. So this week we dropped the bikes at James Cargo’s depot near Heathrow Airport and hope to see them in one piece in Halifax.
Documents, etc
Passport
Vehicle registration document V5
International Driving Permit (£5.50 from certain Post Offices)
Insurance for the bikes whilst away at an unbelievable US$700! Through www.motorcycleservices.com but this does seem to be the going rate.
Breakdown recovery insurance through the same people at a reasonable US$35
Transit insurance for the bikes as shippers only provide a nominal compensation if they wreck your bike came out at £260 for Sallys R1200GS and £140 for Mark's R1150GS.
No carnet required for Canada which is a relief.
Personal travel insurance - extended trip policy required which will cover us for motorcycling from www.go-walkabout.co.uk at c£80 each
Advertisement
Tot: 0.186s; Tpl: 0.014s; cc: 8; qc: 48; dbt: 0.0837s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Ann
non-member comment
Good Start
I am enjoying all the details of your blog - Dave will probably write on his own behalf. Look forward to hearing more later xx