Travel arrangements

Posted on by admin

Table of contents

Travel arrangements
Schulz

to travel

Travel arrangements

Travel arrangements
Fit for the tour

When do you experience more with a motorcycle than on vacation? When days and weeks are spent in the saddle. Targeted preparation of the bike helps to avoid frustration on the way.

Annette Johann

06/22/2006

Our statistics clearly show: Almost all MOTORRAD readers like to go on vacation with their motorcycle. Regardless of whether you are an athlete, enduro or cruiser freak, whether a short trip or a North Cape tour: making a route is obviously in the essence of the biker genre. In order for this to actually bring the hoped-for fun, good preparation and a few basic thoughts are essential.

What it means, for example, to convert a manoeuvrable, light, comfortably tuned motorcycle into a packhorse for a short time and burn it over passes and highways with a double payload. Central question: What should I do with my luggage? Those who travel alone can often cope with light throw bags plus a pack sack, teams of two have to think about suitcase systems. The motorcycle manufacturers often offer well-integrated luggage systems that are anchored to the vehicle in an optimized manner. But the first pitfall is already lurking: it is essential to check whether it really has to be the XL size. Although it promises the best comfort, true to the motto “a lot helps a lot”, the following applies: Every centimeter of width or height increase, every kilo of extra weight generally worsens the handling and maneuverability of the machine. A lot of ballast at the rear relieves – logically – the front wheel, swinging and handlebar flutter are often the result. Sometimes even the front wheel lifts off when accelerating. Topcases in particular harbor real pitfalls in terms of shifting the center of gravity and unrest in the chassis. The lighter the motorcycle, the greater the impact. It should also be borne in mind that when the vehicle is loaded, the lean angle shrinks, the braking distance increases and the brakes can get so hot when driving down passes that, in the worst case, they lose their effectiveness. So even if it’s still so difficult: pack sparingly. It’s better to take a tube of detergent with you instead of 15 T-shirts and invest in the lightweight tent instead of hitting the seven-kilo knauser offer for 49.90 euros including a folding chair from the discounter. Whether a tank bag, map pocket or backpack is a question of taste and desired freedom of movement. Anyone who already has to reach for the handlebars should forego additional handicap levels such as the tank bag. However, such a heavy photographic equipment offers the best shelter. Attention when attaching magnets: The worst case scenario when you are on vacation is the deletion of all bank cards.

The first civic duty on the machine is a thorough check. Motorcycles are now working as reliably as cars, but sometimes the sales of wearing parts are higher than in the past. A 170-horsepower super sports car can easily gnaw its rear tire down to the screen in 5000 kilometers. Brakes and drive chains are also exposed to significantly higher loads when on holiday, as heat, dust and load often exacerbate them. Talk to the workshop or the spare parts dealer in good time. In summer, appointments and now and then some types of tires are rare. If you maintain your machine yourself, you will see the areas on the right that are always worth a look. In addition, previous experience with the motorcycle should be viewed critically. In other words: If the badly shaped bench, the weakly damped fork or the unfavorably cranked handlebars are annoying on a weekend trip, they do it even more on vacation. In such cases, seek remedial action at an early stage, speak to dealers or specialists or browse the Internet, MOTORCYCLE, classifieds. Even repairs that have been postponed are no longer waiting. A dubious clutch collapses at the latest in the hustle and bustle of traffic in front of the ferry port in Genoa.

Before departure, the chassis must be set up for the travel job. It is essential to adjust the spring base at the rear. Rule of thumb: Increase the preload so that the stern does not sag deeper with luggage than without. If more than 35 percent of the suspension travel is used while stationary (including the driver), a harder spring is actually required. If adjustable: Increase compression and rebound damping (“turn down”), whereby the rebound (rebound speed) must be treated more sensitively.

The last look is on precaution. Although major defects are rare today, falling over or just a nail can cause real nerves. The flat tire is usually fixed temporarily with a tire pilot or a tubeless patch kit, and the hand lever is often hit in the event of a fall. While tape and wire are often enough for cracked panels, levers are model-specific and not available at every corner. Therefore, although it is sometimes expensive: take a replacement with you. Hobbyists file a predetermined breaking point in the originals. Nowadays, real failure symptoms mostly come from the electronics. Nothing works without a specialist workshop. Therefore, carry an international dealer directory and domestic service numbers with you. In an emergency, DHL delivers spare parts reliably to the pack ice. And? Checked everything? Then have a good trip!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *