Adventure in Ohio?

[MeefZah]

Originally Posted by ArmyJoe

Hi all,

I originally posted this in the Yamaha WR250R Mega Thread, but I'm re-posting here for more input. My birthday and Christmas is coming up and I'm looking for gift ideas under $100 to give my wife.

The only mods I've made to the bike are a lowering link and a Powerlet outlet on the handlebars for my GPS. I have a Fly Trekker helmet, but no other moto/DS clothes. I have Harbor Freight stand, but no other motorcycle-specific tools.

Here's what's been recommended so far:

radiator guard
skid plate
body armor
boots
shin guards
msr chain breaker
air filters
hook & pick set
snap ring pliers
bearing grease

What's do you guys carry for trail-side maintenance?

You really want a skid plate and some barkbusters for even mild off road stuff. Those two items are pretty much the only mods to my current WR. The radiator guard is nice but I've had a WR with one, and a WR without one, crashed a million times, and neither radiator got damaged.

Boots, shin guards, body armor / pressure suit; all good ideas but personal preferences play into those so you'd need to try some stuff on and make up your own mind there.

Grease would be a pretty shitty gift, no?

Might also consider some bags, maybe a Wolfman Enduro tank bag, a spare tube fenderbag (with a spare tube), a small tailbag for tools and such. You probably have a Camelbak already from the Army, that's a good idea too.

Trail side maintenance... I hate working on my bike and I hate it even more in the middle of nowhere. Thats why I ride with guys who know more than me, I defer to their expertise. Nonetheless, I carry at a minimum, 12VDC electric air pump, 2 tire irons, a spare 21" tube and some patches, hand tools to fit all exposed fasteners on your bike, a good multitool, zip ties, little bits of wire, a few spare bolts, chain press tool, spare master links, spare fuses, a few electrical connectors, electrical tape. Probably some other little stuff I'm forgetting. On a dual sport ride I also carry a first aid kit and a folding saw. Not related to each other...

[dragoon]

Originally Posted by vivid dadas

mgorman

[Danjal]

Skip generic clothes names unless she knows exactly what size make and model you want. Skid plates are almost a must have. Barkbusters too, but some factory bars bend no matter if they're on or not. Check with current owners and see if yours will go south easy with a single drop,if so add aftermarket ones and risers if you want them too.

Bags sound good too if you don't have any. I like my Chase Harper super deluxe hideaway. Personal preference comes into play there too.

Tail rack? New tires?

[Danjal]

Check here for tool kits.

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=262998

[ArmyJoe]

Originally Posted by Danjal

Check here for tool kits.

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=262998

Saw that a few days ago, got overwhelmed, and pulled an Abe Simpson.

[Gonzo_Matt]

Originally Posted by z@ch

I like Los Jalapenos on Hamilton near Morse. El Rayo has been hit or miss with me.

That place is damn good too, didn't even think of it.

[Danjal]

Another idea thread. Not as big.

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=754346

There's one in the garage section labeled as most useful tools too. Should give you quite a few ideas.

I know the feeling armyjoe. This place is loaded with info. Some of those guys pack more tools than most guys own. I see no reason to pack so heavy for most trips. Build your kit to suit.

[Gonzo_Matt]

Mpenner, Tom (not on the board) and myself decided the best bike for today's ride was a KLR, as that's what we were all on..... We meandered around Morrow, Knox, Richland, Ashland, and Coshocton counties, ate at Peggy Sue's, and in general had a good time. We visited all the usual suspect roads and I can report that they are all still there.

Now that I have a bike that can get out of it's own way, I pulled a Meef several times and ran out ahead of the other guys to get some pictures...you know, for posterity and what not.

[Mikef5000]

I need to get back up to danville with ya'll!

[Gonzo_Matt]

Originally Posted by Danjal

Check here for tool kits.

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=262998

Some of those are a bit excessive, i'm not doing a valve job trailside. And stuff like carrying a spark plug on a thumper? Why? Multiple plugs for multi cylinder bikes? what are the odds you are going to need 4 plugs?

Meef's list is pretty comprehensive,I carry most of that and a PDF of the service manuals for my bikes on my phone. You will get a feel for what you need for your particular bike and skill set. A few basic hand tools (especially ones that can do multiple things in a pinch, like vice grips) a tube, a way to inflate and instal said tube, some wire, zip ties, tape, and you can macgyver most stuff on the trail to get home.

I carry:

Vice Grips
Crescent wrench
1/4 drive screwdriver
1/4 T handle
Sockets to fit the fasteners on my bike
Phillips and flat bit (used with a socket and the 1/4 drive and you have screwdrivers without having to carry them separately, the screwdriver can also double as an extension)
Open end wrenches for my bike, including a combo that has both front and rear axle nut sizes
Tire irons
21" tube (will work in the rear in a pinch)
Small patch kit
Valve core tool (on the spare tube valve stem)
Gutted 12V air compressor, it fits in my pocket
Cotter pins (various sizes, you can rig stuff up with them if needed)
Mechanics and safety wire
Zip ties
electrical tape
Small tube of Fasteel
stop leak
Hose clamps


All of this fits (or fit until I destroyed) in a tractor tool tube and in the factory soft case that was on the back of the KLR 250. I'm going to get a front fender bag for both of my other bikes for tire stuff, and the few tools that are bike specific, the generic stuff is going in the tank bag so I can just take it from bike to bike.

I need to add chain tools, and a first aid kit to my carry all the time, just havn't yet.

[BOB RAMSAY]

Originally Posted by GregsBro

Does anybody know a good place for Mexican food in C'bus over near the airport area?

I can help with you Greek - good Greek food. Real quality food, decent prices (and they have beer if that matters).

The Mad Greek - on the north side of east Broad - about 1/2 between Hamilton and James (right close to where ASK had a motorcyle shop.

It ain't Mexican, but I can recommend it.

[ssreed84]

Bob,nice meeting you today . Travis and I got back to the pits and you had already split hope everything was ok.

[BOB RAMSAY]

Originally Posted by Danjal

Another idea thread. Not as big.

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=754346


I know the feeling armyjoe. This place is loaded with info. Some of those guys pack more tools than most guys own. I see no reason to pack so heavy for most trips. Build your kit to suit.

I found that the well accessorized fanny/tool bag I used to carry always found me repairing someone else's bike on the trail. I can't remember using my tool kit on my bike. . .
I provide the tools and the labor. . . parts if I have them. It's kinda like owning a pick-up truck on the first of each month - I provide the truck (and the labor).

Seriously - I go light as possible- at the end of 100 miles of on/off road, the bag can get heavy on my (bad) lower back (since I'm carrying the bag for someone else. . . )

I carry at least one wrench size for the basic metric fasteners. I carry open and closed end wrenches for the common, 8-10-12-13mm. Sometimes a over-tightened fastener needs more than a open-end wrench. (Snap-On makes neat little combo wrenches with open and closed for a particular size in one tool - get your wallet out).

I have an axle wrench (I cut off one end of a combo wrench). Allen wrenches as the bike calls for. An 'either/or' (Phillips/flat blade) screw driver. A knife, a little duct tape. Most importantly, if the bike has any really specific wrench/allen needs (odd-ball size) I try to have one of them. One other that I like is a small, needle-nose Vise-grip plier - it has proved very handy.

A note on the axle wrenches - when you get up to 20-22-24mm wrenches,many times you can substitute a SAE 1", 1-1/16", 1-1/8" combo wrench - maybe you can find those big wrenches at a garage sale - and then cut it in 2.

And a $20 bill. Amazing what that can do for you when you're 'out there'.

[BOB RAMSAY]

Originally Posted by ssreed84

Bob,nice meeting you today . Travis and I got back to the pits and you had already split hope everything was ok.

No problems here other than I decided that the last 25 miles of single track (only) would have kicked my butt. So, I bagged it after lunch. I should ride off-road more often than twice this year to keep up to speed. . . I would have been trashed 1/2 way through the last 25 miles, and when you're tired, you (I. . .) start making mistakes. When I start making mistakes, I start getting hurt. I don't do hurt well.

I was supposed to ride with Indy Pup today and it turned out to be a comedy of errors. I let him lead into the first woods area - and I never caught up to him! He must have been bustin' out. He thought I was ahead of him, so he kept lagging back at the 'rest stops' to reunite. Somewhere along the way, I had passed him - one way or another - so we were chasing our own tails.

Great conditions today, great trail - there wasn't 40' of ruts on the course! The little bit of rain Logan had last night just turned the terrain to a condition between dry and mud - just mois,t broken dirt. Must have been only about 40' of real mud too! You don't find that combination too often.

How about the "Hero Hill" just before lunch? A course worker was directing traffic around 'a hill' at the rider's option, a by-pass as such. I though he said the by-pass was to the left - so I went left (puss that I am. . . ). It was my mistake and I started up that hill, and it went up and up and up (and then some!) I was thinking "if this is the puss by-pass I wonder what the manly-man hill was like!"

I knew Travis would be 'on the gas' (without even trying) and knew I wouldn't be seeing you guys doddering along the trail. Do you slow down for him or is it the other way around? There sure were a lot 2-strokes today - and a bunch of the new Husky 2-strokes. Those are for the 'go-getters'. Also, it was not a 'young crowd' there today - other than you guys. There were a lot of 'seasoned veterans' getting with it today. No pukes need apply.

Now I've got Travis' number - I'll get in touch and maybe I can take you guys trail riding down in Laurel Township. Tell Travis I said "Hey!" and thnx for covering my car keys.

It was good to see so many of the ADV riders down there today - can't pass up good riding when the weather starts getting right for riding!

Or naught. .

[Danjal]

Originally Posted by Gonzo_Matt

Some of those are a bit excessive, i'm not doing a valve job trailside. And stuff like carrying a spark plug on a thumper? Why? Multiple plugs for multi cylinder bikes? what are the odds you are going to need 4 plugs?

It's a throwback to the old 2 cycle days. Fouled plugs and all that. Nowdays one wont hurt taking,but its not necessary IMO.