Calling all F850GS (or other BMW adventure bike) owners

[OreoGaborio]

Didn't wanna start a new thread just to prepare for this trip, but this one's a bit more bike specific, so...

Sylwia and I are renting a pair of F850GS's for an epic, two-week, 3500ish mile, unguided, unsupervised camping trip from Anchorage, AK to Portland, OR.

The organization we're working with said something to the effect of "They come with the OEM tool kits, but basically only what's needed to remove the battery".... So I'm putting together a slightly more comprehensive tool kit that I can bring along with us as I really don't want to rely on roadside services or cell service which will very likely be scarce to nonexistent...

Because I'm not overly familiar with these bikes and the fasteners commonly used, I'd love to hear from some owners on what essential items to bring & what can be left at home.

The basics:
A handful of assorted Zipties
A couple yards of Gorilla Tape
1/4" drive ratchet
8, 10, 12mm sockets in 1/4" drive.
(Maybe mirror the above in 3/8" drive?)
4, 5 and 6mm Allen keys
Rope Type Tire Repair kit
Pump courtesy of MotoPumps (Thanks for the tip, Matt!)
Pressure gauge

I can't imagine I'd need to remove a front or rear tire... and I don't have a 34mm socket or big Torx bits even if I did... I'd probably be looking for help at that point, anyway.

What other items would be worth tossing in the bag? More sockets? A couple of other wrenches? Screwdrivers?

Thanks

[SRTie4k]

Is this trip inclusive of offroad riding? If so and you're going to be out in the middle of nowhere with no cell signal, it might not be the worst idea to pack all the necessary tools, spoons and a tube just in case something goes sideways. A simple adjustable wrench should be compact enough to do a 34mm nut, a front tube packs relatively small (get a front, it can be used in the rear in a pinch), and a set of MotionPro bead breakers pack down to basically nothing.

[OreoGaborio]

It will involve some sections of dirt roads, but I'm not expecting anything more demanding than that.

I contemplated bringing spoons & tubes but the tires are tubeless and the company we're working with said rope style repair kit should be sufficient.

[Sheppo]

I would stop at Home Depot or Lowe's and get one of those 4in1 screw drivers that way your carrying one not 4. Everything else looks OK to me.

[OreoGaborio]

I would stop at Home Depot or Lowe's and get one of those 4in1 screw drivers that way your carrying one not 4. Everything else looks OK to me.

Ah yeah, I got a screwdriver that's a 1/4" socket driver with room for a couple of bits in the handle. Dunno if these things use many screws, though, I kinda figured BMW would mostly use hex & allen bolts

[Sheppo]

Ah yeah, I got a screwdriver that's a 1/4" socket driver with room for a couple of bits in the handle. Dunno if these things use many screws, though, I kinda figured BMW would mostly use hex & allen bolts

yea thats kind why I went with an all in one. Im old school, but my F800 was mostly hex and allen.

[SRTie4k]

It will involve some sections of dirt roads, but I'm not expecting anything more demanding than that.

I contemplated bringing spoons & tubes but the tires are tubeless and the company we're working with said rope style repair kit should be sufficient.

Tubeless is great until you hit a sharp rock that slashes your sidewall. A rope plug won't plug that. My buddy had to throw a tube in his 1290SAR on the MABDR due to a sidewall slash.

That said if all you're doing is graded dirt roads, you shouldn't have to worry about slashed sidewalls.

[MattR302]

Poke around here https://www.advrider.com/f/forums/parallel-universe.77/

Nevermind, you’re already there!

[PinHead]

I always include some safety wire in my bike kit. I pull out a few yards and just roll it back up, doesn't take much space and weight is also minimal.

[OreoGaborio]

Poke around here https://www.advrider.com/f/forums/parallel-universe.77/

Nevermind, you’re already there!

Yeah... and the first person to reply responded EXACTLY like I should have expected a BMW owner to respond. A smug, condescending douche.


"You'll need none of it except for a credit card"...
"3500 miles, even from Anchorage really isn't that big of a trip, not trying to be smug"

"Not trying"?... must come naturally, then. In two lines he exemplified why people think BMW owners are condescending douche bags, effectively saying:

"Just pay someone else to magically make your problems go away"
"Your trip of a lifetime is no big deal"

Get bent, fuck face.

[SRTie4k]

Yeah... and the first person to reply responded EXACTLY like I should have expected a BMW owner to respond. A smug, condescending douche.


"You'll need none of it except for a credit card"...
"3500 miles, even from Anchorage really isn't that big of a trip, not trying to be smug"

Yeah fuck you, champ.

Shoulda rented a KTM. Way cooler riders, and you'd have a chance to use all those tools!

Forgot to mention, I'd bring along a 3.5oz can of chain saver and maybe a grunge brush (I stick them and a towel in a gallon ziplock bag). That was enough to get 3 bikes through 3 days and 1500 miles of all dirt riding for our mid-PA ride earlier this year.

[OreoGaborio]

Think I found my kit to replicate (as best I can).



What's in it:
34mm for rear axle.
10mm, 12mm, 19mm, 22mm hex for front axle and other things.
1/4" drive ratchet with 8, 10, 12 & 13mm sockets
Duct tape
Torx wrenches (not hex) t20, t25, t30, t40, t45 and t50 (don't have the last two)
Locktite
Standard 6 in 1 screwdriver/6mm & 8mmnut driver
3, 4, 5, 6 and 8mm hex keys (but the bike doesn't really use that, it's mostly for accessories so i'll prob leave these at home)
zip ties
tire gauge
compact locking pliers
8" adjustable wrench up to 20mm
8, 10, 12 and 13mm wrenches

Dunno if I'll bother bringing stuff to remove tires... can't imagine I'll need em, but if i don't bring em, i'll need to remove tires

[OreoGaborio]

What I've got vs what I don't in red...

34mm for rear axle. (10" adjustable wrench will do)
3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12mm, 19mm, 22mm hex
1/4" drive ratchet with 8, 10, 12 & 13mm sockets
Duct tape
Torx bits: t20, t25, t30, t40, t45 and t50
Locktite
Standard 6 in 1 screwdriver/6mm & 8mmnut driver
zip ties
8" adjustable wrench up to 20mm (the 10" above will do)
8, 10, 12 and 13mm wrenches
JB Weld
Rope Type Tire Repair kit
Tire pump
Tire gauge
compact locking pliers (surprisingly don't have)

Think I'm in good shape... now to decide how much of it I actually want to pack & take on a plane. It packs down nicely but it's kinda heavy for air travel. We're gonna have a lotta shit...

[PinHead]

Another thing to think of when packing. Bring some old clothes you won't mind throwing away, underwear, socks, t-shirts etc. After you use the items throw them away instead of worrying about repacking and or laundering.
I've also got a couple of tank bags you are welcome to use if you are willing to pick them up.

[OreoGaborio]

Thanks dude. Yeah we're gonna be roughing it for most of this trip, mostly camping wherever we go, wearing our clothes for multiple days and rotating out... we're gonna be stinky bastards. And on the nights we do get a hotel we'll probably be showering with our clothes on and doing laundry in the sink.

[Garandman]

Poke around here https://www.advrider.com/f/forums/parallel-universe.77/

Nevermind, you’re already there!

He’s everywhere he’s everywhere!

[e30addict]

"3500 miles, even from Anchorage really isn't that big of a trip, not trying to be smug"

I'd love to know what his idea of a big trip is. Dakar rally or a lap of the equator?

[Garandman]

////3.5oz can of chain saver[/URL] and maybe a grunge brush (I stick them and a towel in a gallon ziplock bag). That was enough to get 3 bikes through 3 days and 1500 miles of all dirt riding for our mid-PA ride earlier this year.

Not sure you can fly with aerosol cans?

We carry a plastic squeeze bottle. Apply it every night or every other fill up.

[breakdirt916]

I saw on FB that you’re already there, but the list you posted is enough. Bikes are expected to be low mileage and in good condition to do the whole trip without major issues. The tools you listed are enough; anything more than that and you guys just 2-up to safety and contact the rental company. I have a Cruz toolkit as a backup for simple things and it’s 85% complete.

Enjoy the trip; I am super duper jelly.

This is living more than a lot of the world ever gets the fortune to do.

[golden chicken]

It's too late but I don't think there are any 12mm bolts on a European bike. 8, 10, 13 is what I'd expect to find, along with a mix of torx and allen.

[OreoGaborio]

Thanks, all!

I was able to put together a nice and compact, sub-6 pound kit (including the tire repair kit) that had everything I could have needed and nothing too overkill. In the end, I used as much of it as I had expected... ie, very little. But I'm definitely glad I had it as it did come in handy on a few things, including OTHER people's equipment.

Our bikes were excellent. They weren't without their flaws but they were in excellent mechanical condition and their shortcomings were minor enough that Sylwia and I both want a pair of our own now

As for our adventure itself, it was absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! We ended up doing over 4k miles - the equivalent of Caribou, Maine to Key West Florida... AND BACK AGAIN -
Or, Boston, to Miami... AND THEN TO SAN DIEGO... This adventure was simply spectacular. It was everything I could have hoped for and a LOT more. I could go on forever about the memories & friends we made along the way. Truly a life-changing adventure.

I'll be posting up a ride report in the future, but it's going to take a LOT of "unpacking" (both literally and figuratively) so maybe you'll see a thread later in the week.

For now: a few shots...
The first from day 2, taken somewhere South of Anchorage along the Kenai Peninsula.
The second, the Northern Lights from our campsite Beaver Creek, Yukon.
The third, a night time photo shoot at a campsite a little further south.

[SRTie4k]

You lucky bastard. Alaska (and Aurora Borealis) is bucket list material for me.

[boosten lebaron]

Sweet

[OreoGaborio]

I started a recap thread for those who want to hear details on how it went: Operation: Anchorage to Portland (an adventure recap in progress)

Spoiler: It was EPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIC