Two of us have decided to embark on the UK TET route over a two week period in April, this will be roughly 1800 miles of riding and for us it'll be a north to south route as we are both going to be up north anyway at the start.
JP & myself will be taking out two KTM enduros, loading them up with kit and getting on the trails to ride the route and potentially add extra bits where we know the area well. After all, there are just too many things to see and experience around the trail as there are on the trail.
As part of the process I've started to catalogue what I'm taking and the prep I'm doing for the trip with my 2012 KTM 350 EXC-f. I've ridden this bike a lot over the last four years, something like 9000 miles of trail riding, both in Europe and here in the UK. During that time, it's had a new top end rebuild, who knows how many sets of bearings, tyres, chains and sprocket sets and of course oil and filter changes. It has proven itself to be very reliable, very durable and has showed me how little riding skill I actually possess when it comes to the real rough stuff!
Today the bike has just had it's latest MOT, for this I've replaced the wheel bearings, both sets of brake pads and put a clean air filter on/ That's it and it passed no worries.
I've started looking at tools and spares etc with a view as to what to take with me. I have managed to pair things down to a good set of basics but I am a couple of things missing that I would like, mainly a spare rear wheel nut and a spare front sprocket bolt and washer. Having had these disappear on trips before they are a show stopper if you lose them.
The other thing I'm thinking of changing is my clutch, it's started to slip and as the bike is going to be doing a large amount of miles for one trip as well as carrying luggage, I think the £150 from KTM is a necessary expense unfortunately.
Below are the images of my spares and tools, most of it is self explanatory, for some of the more oddball things I've written a list below too...
Spares
These consist of a selection of nuts, bolts, washers, electrical bits,oil / air filter, brake pads, front/rear bearings, spark plug, front sprocket, spare chain link, replacement levers, metal repair putty, thread lock, spare batteries, cable ties, electrical tape, repair kit for camping bits. I need to replace a few things like the front bearings and the above mentioned rear wheel bolt and front sprocket nut. There is no spare tubes and puncture repair kit as we're gonna use other things, again this is solely because we know most of the terrain and it's easy to sort replacements on the whole.
Tool Kit
I tend to carry the same tool kit whenever I'm out, I know everything in that Kriega tool roll fits to my KTM and has been used on the trails at some point. I don't like kit that is heavy or has moving parts, so I've stopped carrying a socket wrench, opting instead for a T bar with multiple attachments. I carry a tow rope which is just blue poly prop with a couple of loops tied in the ends, there is a length of 1mm household electrical cable with a couple of crocodile clips on it for flat batteries, there is a hand chain saw for nibbling bits of fallen tree, spare lights, which to be honest are less of an issue of this bike as the rear lights have been excellent. The front KTM EXC-f lights are nicknamed KTM candles, so anything to support them for those odd later night rides is a bonus! I've never weighed all this lot, so I will do and add it to this.
Something that happened on a previous trip was that the cam chain tensioner failed on this bike. It was around the time I was considering doing the top end rebuild anyway so just forced the issue. Since the new one and a new cam chain have been installed though, there has been a slight cam chain rattle to the engine. I don't like hearing it so one thing I was going to install was the Dirt Tricks Cam Chain Tensioner that Adventure Spec supply in the UK which I'm assured does a much better job that the original. It's on order so once I get it and install it I'll feed back.
I've ordered a set of the Motoz Tractionator Enduro tyres as a bundle from Adventure Spec. Lucy really likes the Hybrids she has on her bike, so I thought I'd give them a go and see how they get on.
On past trips I've put a larger tank on the bike, I haven't decided as yet whether to for this UK trip as petrol is generally easy to find and the bike has a standard range of 120 ish miles, by which time I often want to stop anyway because the saddle is awful.
Navigation Stuff
We'll both be using Garmin Montana's with a 12v cradle to keep them powered all day. the TET is a GPX route anyway, so once it's loaded onto the GPS that should be it. I've already made a few changes to the normal route so now just remains making sure JP & I have the same route. I'll also print out and laminate some map images with fuel stops / cafes etc marked on them for a bit of extra info if we need to come off the route at any point. Final thing to sort is some couch surfing with various mates. Wild camping will be the preference and the odd B+B or hotel if the weather is truly epic, so to break things up with a good gossip and some beer is always a good option!
Camping and other bits...
I'm taking my standard set up for the trip as I know it works well and so far has proven to be pretty solid. The bag carrying most of the kit will be the Giant Loop Coyote bag. This is the first generation one with a zip. So far I've never had any wet kit and it has taken some abuse. the zip can be a faff to do up, especially with cold hands, and it takes a bit of practise to get the loading right. But once you've worked it out, it is really good on an enduro bike. At some point I'd like to try the roll top version, which I think JP has now, much better from a potential failure point of view I think as zips do have a tendency to fail at poor times! I've listed the contents below with some weights to give an idea.
Kit List
Giant Loop Coyote saddle bag (2.4kg 39 litres)
Enduristan Sandstorm 4x Tankbag
Tent: Macpac Micro - 1 man single hoop 4 season tent. (1.4kg)
Sleeping bag: PHD Minimus (465g)
Thermarest Prolite Plus (570g)
MSR XGK Multi Fuel Stove (374g)
Petzl Tikka headtorch (86g)
Sigg 0.7 litre fuel bottle (empty 108g)
Clothing
I'm really lucky to have been asked to test some more kit for Adventure Spec on this trip, so I'm awaiting a delivery of 'goodies' to play with and comment upon. If it's as good as my 3 year old 'Linesman Jacket', it'll be superb and may well follow that to become my 'go to' kit for trail riding and adventures.
Until that kit comes, I'm not sure about the rest so it will all have to wait a bit for any final decisions I think.
I will be taking my Gaerne SG12's for the protection and warmth they offer, but I have to say, they are heavy and they do seem to make gear changes really awkward sometimes. They also take ages to dry out once soaked so along with 3 pairs of riding socks there will also be my goretex military long booties to try to keep my feet dryish.
That's about it for the time being, I'll add more as we get closer to the kick off time... happy trails!
JP & myself will be taking out two KTM enduros, loading them up with kit and getting on the trails to ride the route and potentially add extra bits where we know the area well. After all, there are just too many things to see and experience around the trail as there are on the trail.
As part of the process I've started to catalogue what I'm taking and the prep I'm doing for the trip with my 2012 KTM 350 EXC-f. I've ridden this bike a lot over the last four years, something like 9000 miles of trail riding, both in Europe and here in the UK. During that time, it's had a new top end rebuild, who knows how many sets of bearings, tyres, chains and sprocket sets and of course oil and filter changes. It has proven itself to be very reliable, very durable and has showed me how little riding skill I actually possess when it comes to the real rough stuff!
Today the bike has just had it's latest MOT, for this I've replaced the wheel bearings, both sets of brake pads and put a clean air filter on/ That's it and it passed no worries.
I've started looking at tools and spares etc with a view as to what to take with me. I have managed to pair things down to a good set of basics but I am a couple of things missing that I would like, mainly a spare rear wheel nut and a spare front sprocket bolt and washer. Having had these disappear on trips before they are a show stopper if you lose them.
The other thing I'm thinking of changing is my clutch, it's started to slip and as the bike is going to be doing a large amount of miles for one trip as well as carrying luggage, I think the £150 from KTM is a necessary expense unfortunately.
Below are the images of my spares and tools, most of it is self explanatory, for some of the more oddball things I've written a list below too...
 |
| Spares for the UK TET |
These consist of a selection of nuts, bolts, washers, electrical bits,oil / air filter, brake pads, front/rear bearings, spark plug, front sprocket, spare chain link, replacement levers, metal repair putty, thread lock, spare batteries, cable ties, electrical tape, repair kit for camping bits. I need to replace a few things like the front bearings and the above mentioned rear wheel bolt and front sprocket nut. There is no spare tubes and puncture repair kit as we're gonna use other things, again this is solely because we know most of the terrain and it's easy to sort replacements on the whole.
 |
| Tool kit: Carried all the time. |
I tend to carry the same tool kit whenever I'm out, I know everything in that Kriega tool roll fits to my KTM and has been used on the trails at some point. I don't like kit that is heavy or has moving parts, so I've stopped carrying a socket wrench, opting instead for a T bar with multiple attachments. I carry a tow rope which is just blue poly prop with a couple of loops tied in the ends, there is a length of 1mm household electrical cable with a couple of crocodile clips on it for flat batteries, there is a hand chain saw for nibbling bits of fallen tree, spare lights, which to be honest are less of an issue of this bike as the rear lights have been excellent. The front KTM EXC-f lights are nicknamed KTM candles, so anything to support them for those odd later night rides is a bonus! I've never weighed all this lot, so I will do and add it to this.
Something that happened on a previous trip was that the cam chain tensioner failed on this bike. It was around the time I was considering doing the top end rebuild anyway so just forced the issue. Since the new one and a new cam chain have been installed though, there has been a slight cam chain rattle to the engine. I don't like hearing it so one thing I was going to install was the Dirt Tricks Cam Chain Tensioner that Adventure Spec supply in the UK which I'm assured does a much better job that the original. It's on order so once I get it and install it I'll feed back.
I've ordered a set of the Motoz Tractionator Enduro tyres as a bundle from Adventure Spec. Lucy really likes the Hybrids she has on her bike, so I thought I'd give them a go and see how they get on.
On past trips I've put a larger tank on the bike, I haven't decided as yet whether to for this UK trip as petrol is generally easy to find and the bike has a standard range of 120 ish miles, by which time I often want to stop anyway because the saddle is awful.
Navigation Stuff
We'll both be using Garmin Montana's with a 12v cradle to keep them powered all day. the TET is a GPX route anyway, so once it's loaded onto the GPS that should be it. I've already made a few changes to the normal route so now just remains making sure JP & I have the same route. I'll also print out and laminate some map images with fuel stops / cafes etc marked on them for a bit of extra info if we need to come off the route at any point. Final thing to sort is some couch surfing with various mates. Wild camping will be the preference and the odd B+B or hotel if the weather is truly epic, so to break things up with a good gossip and some beer is always a good option!
Camping and other bits...
I'm taking my standard set up for the trip as I know it works well and so far has proven to be pretty solid. The bag carrying most of the kit will be the Giant Loop Coyote bag. This is the first generation one with a zip. So far I've never had any wet kit and it has taken some abuse. the zip can be a faff to do up, especially with cold hands, and it takes a bit of practise to get the loading right. But once you've worked it out, it is really good on an enduro bike. At some point I'd like to try the roll top version, which I think JP has now, much better from a potential failure point of view I think as zips do have a tendency to fail at poor times! I've listed the contents below with some weights to give an idea.
Kit List
Giant Loop Coyote saddle bag (2.4kg 39 litres)
Enduristan Sandstorm 4x Tankbag
Tent: Macpac Micro - 1 man single hoop 4 season tent. (1.4kg)
Sleeping bag: PHD Minimus (465g)
Thermarest Prolite Plus (570g)
MSR XGK Multi Fuel Stove (374g)
Petzl Tikka headtorch (86g)
Sigg 0.7 litre fuel bottle (empty 108g)
Clothing
I'm really lucky to have been asked to test some more kit for Adventure Spec on this trip, so I'm awaiting a delivery of 'goodies' to play with and comment upon. If it's as good as my 3 year old 'Linesman Jacket', it'll be superb and may well follow that to become my 'go to' kit for trail riding and adventures.
Until that kit comes, I'm not sure about the rest so it will all have to wait a bit for any final decisions I think.
I will be taking my Gaerne SG12's for the protection and warmth they offer, but I have to say, they are heavy and they do seem to make gear changes really awkward sometimes. They also take ages to dry out once soaked so along with 3 pairs of riding socks there will also be my goretex military long booties to try to keep my feet dryish.
That's about it for the time being, I'll add more as we get closer to the kick off time... happy trails!
