As the mantra for any long distance trip is always light, light, light! . . . what spares would you carry?

In my case, thinking of an unassisted, solo, lots of dirt roads, across Australia trek (say 7000km over a couple of months) with relatively long distances between towns but with reasonable size towns at the end of each stretch on a relatively new bike, I like the idea of minimalist travel but also like the security blanket of some spares (even if I never use them).

So option 1 - the minimalist; carry no spares but a simple, very basic puncture repair kit (few patches, bicycle pump, tyre levers) and nothing else and virtually no tools.

Option 2 - The Rolls Royce option; including a good puncture repair kit (spare tubes, patches, 12v pump, 3 good tyre levers, G clamp help to break the bead), spare sprockets and chain, chain breaker, spare battery (LiFe type, very light), spare rectifier/regulator, spare levers, spare cables, few spare bolts and the usual bodge stuff (gaffa tape, cable tyres, oil, grease, wire, bulbs, fuses) combined with a good (fit for purpose) tool kit. Plus any other specific xt660z recommended spares. I figure most of this option would fit comfortably in the bottom of a soft pannier but the sprockets and chain are heavy!

On my last trip (many, many years ago) on a very second hand old 2 stroke dirt bike (Yamaha DT250) I carried no spares (not even a puncture repair kit! . . . more though ignorance and poverty rather than any well thought out plan! and it all worked out okay. Not that we much room on these small light bikes anyway.

So what would/do you carry?

At minimum for most trips ive made sure to carry the standard tool kit, gaffa tape, extra cable ties, good pen knife, two lengths of electric cable the length of the bike, couple of different sized bolts and nuts, some spare oil, puncture repair kit and levers and small hand pump to get even the smallest amount of pressure in the tyre.

I normally like to keep it simple, light and small. As long as you can get the bike up and running again, even at say 20-30mph you will get to somewhere or someone in most places who could help you out, put you up for a while, or help with tools etc.

So my option is simple, light and small. Test out a few of the bits and bobs before you use them, no point having something you dont know how to use.

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Plough on

I think the main criteria has got to be what you can actually fix, no point in bringing a spare piston if you can't realistically change it! However, things like wheel bearings, steering head bearings, etc, are fixable on the side of a road if you need to and could bring you to quick and abrupt stop if they fail - and given that they are relatively small and light might be worthwhile bringing.

The next thing is to bring spare parts for items that could actually fail, no point in bringing a part if it is highly unlikely to fail in the first place.

And finally the part isn't too heavy or bulky.

Ditto for service and wear items if you are going to be away from 'civilization' for a time (although in Aus you could realistically get most of what you need in any decent sized town so I wouldn't bother).

So my three main criteria would be that;
1. you could actually fix it,
2. part has been known to fail and if it did could leave you stranded, and
3. the spare is not to heavy or bulky.

So what should be on the list for an XT660Z?

Very good post. I guess I'd probably add "how much time pressure are you under to complete your trip" as something to think about as well - as long as you can at least limp to a town then even if there's no bike shop you can sit tight for a few days while someone at home gets the part and ships it to you. Might end up paying more to FedEx (or whoever) than you actually paid for the part, but it's an option

I'd probably put things like wheel bearings on that list - as long as they're in good condition when you leave, they shouldn't fail unless you're away for months and thousands and thousands of miles. But they're small and light enough to post cheaply, so maybe buy a set and leave them somewhere a friend can retrieve them and sent them to wherever you are.

I probably wouldn't bother carrying a whole chain, as it's quite a bit of weight. A short length and a few soft-links might allow you to reattach a snapped chain and limp to the nearest town, and any bike shop will have 520 chain.

I will be carrying a spare front sprocket when I set off on a 2500 mile round trip to Spain in a few weeks. I think my chain/sprockets should be fine, but it's always the front which goes first, and it's pretty small and light. I'm actually going against your point 1. above, as I won't be carrying the tools to change it - because they're big and heavy and I'm not expecting to need them. But if I do, I know that in Western Europe I'm unlikely to be more than a few miles from a garage with a 32mm socket and a rattle gun, whereas I might be a long way from a Yamaha dealer, and a couple of days wait for parts can spoil a two-week holiday.


It's all an assessment of risk vs weight, and you can be sure you'll only need the spares you didn't pack

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I spent a lot of money on travel and racing motorcycles - the rest I just squandered.

XT660Z - Commuter, Adventurer...Racer?

www.dashmoto.net

Other bikes >> MT-03 / CG125BR-J / ER-6F
Departed >> ZXR400L3 / EC300 / DR-Z400E / DR800S / GPZ500S / GS400

Interestingly, the chain (and the associated tools required to properly brake and rivet a chain back together) and sprockets as well as a spare battery are the 2 items that are causing me the most angst - heavy to carry but both could fail unexpectedly (especially being bounced around in the Aussie outback).

I could get around the battery scenario by buying 2 Shorai LiFe batteries (very light and small) and wiring them in parallel with a switch (dual battery setup similar to the way most outback 4wds are wired up here in Aus). The chain and sprockets could end up as one of those "one unlucky rock" and your stuck scenarios, so I'd probably get spare Al sprockets and a new chain (sacrifice one can of beer to make up for the weight!), relatively light except for the chain.

Another way of looking at this is.....

Get to know your Bike Well.

If your going touring and intend doing 4 to 5 thousand miles on the trip dont set off on a worn out chain and sprockets , or 2 mm on your brake pads .

If you prep your bike before the trip you should not need to carry much at all.

Consider fitting new C and S and Pads before you leave, also start the trip on new tyres. { my C and S on my Tenere have now covered 12.000 miles and are still OK} I did change half worn pads which I kept to refit at a later date at 7000 miles because we had a 4000 mile touring holiday to do.
If your bike as already done more then 15,ooo miles consider fitting new wheel bearings and strip the rear linkage and head stock and repack with high melting point grease.

The only problem XT's seem to have is the R/R which now we know about this can be fixed by a small Mod to the top of the plug.

I have only ever snapped one chain in 35 years so as long as your chain is adjusted correctly and looked after they should be no problem.

A extra clutch cable along side the one in use is a good idea.

So I only carry what cant be bought from a DIY store

My spares Kit...........

Brake and clutch lever
front and read tube
12 volt pump
puncture repair kit
clutch cable
tow strap
AA card.

I would also carry front and read wheel bearings, if I were going through Africa/ south america / Far eastern Russia.