R1200RS + R1250RS Forum
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Would you always travel with a spare spark plug or 2? In my 10 plus years of riding - other bikes - I’ve never had to swap a plug out. My kit for touring is like;y to consist of small 200ml containers of oil and coolant, bulbs as per spec, a tyre inflator and puncture plug kit, gaffer tape, zip ties, electrical tape. And the bare essential tools for torx etc fasteners. I wouldn’t even think it necessary to take a wheel out - if it’s that bad then breakdown will have to come. Seasoned advice much needed. Bike is 18 1200RS btw. |
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I have a 2016 R1200RS. I have toured many parts of Europe on it from Porto to the Harz in Germany and from Scotland to Provence in France.
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I wouldn't bother with an extra spark plug. Those things last a very long time and even when old they still spark fine. Besides, if you needed to change a spark plug, you would also need a coil puller, a thin wall spark plug socket, a ratchet driver and extension and maybe a 3/8" drive torque wrench, too. No doubt there are better uses for any luggage space that you might have. Like an extra headlight bulb. As usual with BMW just bring along a credit card and that will solve all of your servicing and repair issues.
Current motorcycle collection: 2002 Yamaha FZ1; 2020 KTM 390 Duke; 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500; 2009 BMW F650GS; 2016 BMW R1200RS; 2018 Zero S 16.6 kWh
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Mon Dec 12, 2022 1:15 am (Last edited: Mon Dec 12, 2022 1:22 am)
Zitat von Martf im Beitrag #1 Me either - in much more than 10 y of riding..., but my with my switch in 2015 from 4 cylinders to 2, I find I still pack an extra spark plug and socket. The quality of materials in high-end plugs is so good, I could probably give up this practice..., but in the extremely rare event of plug failure, replacement is a much easier and more satisfying procedure than arranging and waiting for pick up by 4 wheels and a trailer. I carry way too much in the way of tools and emergency stuff - maybe because I don't mind getting off on the gravel of remote US Forest Sewrvice Roads by myself. I've posted photos elsewhere on the forum, but only to demonstrate that, though not pretty, overkill always works. Of everyone I've met, Lee for some reason, has the most documented on-road repairs - photos of his kit and repairs are available throughout the forum - you can look them up. Darrell, I think, carries the best thought out kit for on-road US travel - though he might not have a picture of it. “A good man always knows his limitations.” |
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Ditto- Credit card and a mobile phone. That said...I still carry a puncture kit, some band-aids and (for my glasses) lens cleaning wipes that double as hand wipes. i like to carry a paper map as well, but that's not a spare- that's just for fun.
St. Louis, Mo, USA
R1250RS couple of Moto Guzzi's dirt bikes |
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Zitat von Martf im Beitrag #1 My 2 cents. I have a full tool kit on the bike…even for local rides. Murphy’s Law is always in action. Every time I’ve had an issue on a trip, it involved a tool I didn’t have. Not a bulky move. You carry only the bits your bike needs. As for spare parts…I don’t normally do that. Too much bulk, and there are few parts accessible in a field repair. That said, I save old spark plugs. If they look good, I put the new ones in and save the old ones. For a long trip, I would toss a couple of used plugs in my kit…just in case. I’ve done multiple cross-country (USA) trips and trips to Canada. Flat tires are my most common issue. Had my chain give up the ghost on the way home on one trip. Low side took out a turn signal, etc.
I’m a Notary Public. RESPECT MY AUTHORITY!
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Zitat von Martf im Beitrag #1Well, you ought to know whether your bike is likely to use oil over the duration of a tour, surely? Unless you don't have that much experience of the bike, in which case it's probably not ideal to be touring on it? Until I bought my present RS, I don't think I've ever owned a bike which needed any oil in between services. Certainly not in my 'born-again-biker era, anyway, so I've never taken spare oil on tour (until this bike, unfortunately). Same applies for coolant; but anyway I've got coolant in my drinking water bottle if I really needed it! Zitat von zer0netgain im Beitrag #6Seems to me you've just pointed out exactly why a mobile phone and a recovery company's number are all you need!
KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS
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Me too with the 'carry what I do not use' and it makes a relaxing trip. |
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Zitat von Freddyfruitbat im Beitrag #7 I get the impression that recovery service is much better in the UK. In the US I hear a lot of horror stories about waiting half a day for a recovery truck and then you add the problem of not having many dealers. Always have a way to charge your phone from the bike battery. I know one guy who waited several hours before the operator found a recovery truck who could pick him up. His phone was almost dead at that point and it did die before the truck arrived. Lucky for him the driver had good directions and was able to find him.
Lee
2022 R1250RS White Sport Iowa, USA |
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Yes, distances are compressed in the UK & Europe compared to the USA. You have to try very hard to ride for a tank of petrol without passing a service station.
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While do still cary 500ml of Oil (that my friends have used more than me), it's a mental thing because I'm quasi neurotic about oil and an old friend gave me a Solo bottle from Norway that originally had orange soda, but is super thick and durable. That and an air pump + tire plug kit are the major mechanical items. Tools: I cary a torx, mm hex set, a tiny Philips screw driver for small batter doors, duck tape, zip ties and tire pressure gauge in addition to the stock tool kit. These are mostly for farkle adjustments.
now: 2020 R1250RS
then: 2015 K1600GT, 1999 VFR800, 1994 VFR750 |
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In 2015 took my new RS to Europe for the first time. Not knowing the bike I took some engine oil.
Carpe Diem!
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