RD07A '97- What spares for a West Africa trip

[CaBRita]

Hello,

I’m beginning preparation for my trip through West Africa. It will be a 5’500 km tour, lasting 2 weeks. Expected terrain is 90% tarmac, 10% gravel.

The bike that I’ll take is a ’97 Honda Africa Twin that I bought 6 months ago and it now has 30’000km on the clocks.



Beyond the normal service these are the extra tasks that I intend to perform. And this is where your feedback and experience is needed:

• Clutch and throttle cable - will pre-install alongside the existing ones. If the originals break it’s an easy fix
• Regulator - I plan to take a spare regulator. AT regulators are prone to fail. Anyway I’ve installed recently a voltmeter in order to check the regulator’s health and predict problems in an early stage
• Fuel pump – the existing pump is still the original one (13 years…). Still hesitating to take a spare OEM or install the acclaimed Facet
• Clutch and brake levers – will take a pair of levers. I have handle bar protection but who knows, I don’t want to get stranded in the middle of Africa because of a cheap lever
• Wheel bearings – will replace before leaving. AT rear wheel bearings are prone to fail

Feedback is welcome! On the points mentioned and some others that you think of.

Best Regards,
Luís CaBRita

[Snaphappy]

You seem to have it pretty much covered, new set of tyres and mayby chain set and enjoy your trip
the rest would be tools for the unexpected

The facet can be had from Rugged Roads give Annette a PM or mail them

Ruggedroads.co.uk

[GSPD750]

Your looking good. However.......i would replace that fuel pump now...... or bring a spare. As mentioned already the Facet is the way to go. Have a great trip!

[CaBRita]

Thank you for the feedback!

I'll depart with the standard fuel pump and take the Facet as a spare (together with your clear mounting instructions ) - Facet fuel pump installation...long

Best Regards,
Luís CaBRita

[lootch67]

If you have proper hand guards I'd rather take a spare gear and break lever if space is an issue. Other items I'd consider:

1.) A selection of spare nuts and bolts
2.) Pratley steel
3.) Spare headlamp if you're expecting to do some night riding.
4.) Spare fuses and some electrical wire + insulation tape. I have a small multimeter which I always carry with me. Some spade connectors?
5.) Everything needed to change a tyre by the side of the road.
6.) Gaffer tape and cable ties.
7.) Tools. Make sure you have the AT spark plug tool and a screw driver that's long enough to fit in the fuel tap so you can unto that to take the tank off. Both of these should be in the standard AT tool kit.
8.) Spare spark plug?

Now I've got a headache. Good luck with the trip!

[Zenarchy]

Self amalgamating tape - like this stuff:

Ultratape SOS Repair Bonding Tape Silicone Pipe Rubber on eBay (end time 15-Sep-10 18:59:38 BST)

Might be handy, as it can be used as an insulating tape for electrics (so no need to take regular insulating tape too), but is also waterproof so can repair leaky connections or hoses (amongst other things). The type like that one above with a thicker material backing tape seems to be better than the ones with the thin plastic backing (though there are lots of other brands available too).

Might be overkill, but I carry a tiny cheap gas soldering iron too (came in handy last year). You can pick these up very cheaply from ebay and while they're a bit rubbish compared to a decent gas iron, they're very cheap and small so light and take up little space, and can be used as a little gas torch with the solder tip removed.You need to be careful about the tips coming loose and falling off some of the cheaper ones when they heat up though, and I'm not sure if you'd have an issue crossing borders carrying them if anyone found them.

[GSPD750]

If you have proper hand guards I'd rather take a spare gear and break lever if space is an issue. Other items I'd consider:

1.) A selection of spare nuts and bolts
2.) Pratley steel
3.) Spare headlamp if you're expecting to do some night riding.
4.) Spare fuses and some electrical wire + insulation tape. I have a small multimeter which I always carry with me. Some spade connectors?
5.) Everything needed to change a tyre by the side of the road.
6.) Gaffer tape and cable ties.
7.) Tools. Make sure you have the AT spark plug tool and a screw driver that's long enough to fit in the fuel tap so you can unto that to take the tank off. Both of these should be in the standard AT tool kit.
8.) Spare spark plug?

Now I've got a headache. Good luck with the trip!

Absolutely. Minimum 3 tire irons and a patch kit...and a mini air compressor
as an added bonus providing you have the room.

[Simonz]

Hi there, I just returned from riding my RD07a from London to Cape Town via the West Coast of Africa. 23,000km and my AT didn't miss a beat. Sure, a bit heavy and a little tricky to ride in deep sand but what a machine!!!

Spare I took
Regulator
Inner tubes
Spark Plugs (not sure you will need a full set for 5,500km - maybe a spare?)
Fuses
Tyres (TKC80s) - rode on my road tyres to W Sahara and changed them there - again you prob won't need spares for 5,500km as long as there is plenty left at the time you leave)
CDI - didn't use
Clutch lever - did use
Bit of top up oil

Before Leaving
Chain & Sprockets
Change fuel pump for facet
Crash bars - SW motech are the best IMHO
New pads and brake fluid
New plugs & oil change
Headlamp guards - cheap perspex ones worked fine
Do some practice tyre changes - easy once you get the hang of it

Puntures - I got quite a few
2 x levers, valve tool, patches (lots) glue, talc, soap, mini compressor, backup manual pump
- Take the plastic fork guard fairings off aswell - easier and quicker access to front tyre

Useful kit
Duct tape, cable ties & jubilee clips (assorted sizes), super glue
Tools - Honda kit should do you
Bit of sturdy wire

Could have done with
spare rear brake pads - I lost one in Gabon

Tips
Pack light - the AT is heavy enough. eg, change the fuel pump for a facet before leaving instead of taking a spare
Make up some fische - printed details in french for you and your bike - v useful in Morocco, W Sahara and Mauritania
Don't pay bribes
If you are going there - enjoy Mali - amazing country
Moto cross boots - great protection - saved me a few times
Wild camp as much as possible
Take water bag (Ortlieb do a 5L or 10L bag) - fill up from wells or pumps in villages (Mali) or at servos - water was fine

Enjoy!!

[myfirstxrv]

Before a very similar trip I "slimed" my tyres unlike my buddy. I never needed to repair a puncture (on my bike!!) - was it luck, does it work, I don't know but he did get a couple.
Watch out for the speed cameras around Casablanca.
Can't recommend doing a fiche too much - saves ages at borders and checkpoints. I'd reccomend printing 10 or 15 off.
I've got some notes from 2 1/2 years ago if you have any specific questions PM me