Seguramente muchos tienen una gran experiencia viajando en auto o camioneta, pero escasa o nula en moto.
Four -wheel vehicles "have static balance, motorcycles, on the other hand, dynamic, that is the first and fundamental difference, they are not handled in the same way.
The city driving is very different from the route, as well as the clothing to use, usually the motorcycle is used in the city to go to the office and in addition to the helmet a technical jacket- when it is not very hot- and some, few, gloves.
Nowadays we have a wide range of technical clothing for motorcyclists, shirts, pants, gloves, boots, all so that before an eventual fall we get as unharmed as possible.In the variety, there are removable interior and sufficient ventilats so that they can be used in every station, not only in the cold months.Some do not allow the passage of water to the rain, but there are also specific equipment for that situation.The rain team is essential to take on a trip.
The values of technical clothing fluctuate according to its quality, but they have something in common, they are amortized over time.
As for the type of helmet to be used, the most practical- although heavier- is the folding, since it is “transformed” into open.En route, integral and when we stop to load fuel or directly enter a town we lift the lie.
To arrive rested and without waist pain, the strip for travelers is very useful, similar to that used in motocross and enduro.
The motorcycle has its cons.
The thing is aggravated if two travel on the motorcycle ...
If we lack space, everything has a solution, and it is something that many travelers who go to a specific point do, send a suitcuer to the place of destination as buse, for example: San Martín de los Andes.
Suitcases and saddlebags adaptable to any type of motorcycle, there are recognized Italian and national brands.The anchors for the suitcases if they do not correspond to our motorcycle because there is no, in the market there are those who manufacture them.
They are also sold as accessories in the case of Yamaha, Honda and BMW.
For the Yamaha Super Ténéré are the side suitcases and the top case "or Baulito".In the case of Honda for the Africa Twin 1000 and 1100, side suitcases, top case, easel and take for GPS, cell phone, etc..BMW since many decades ago, it offers different types of accessories for travelers, in addition to technical clothing.
The side suitcases provided by Yamaha, Honda and/or BMW are externally of the same dimensions, but do not have the same interior capacity.The latter is because the shape of the silencer follows, then the interior space is reduced.
Another important element is the tank bag, somehow balances the weight of the top case and improves driving.
The first step before filling the bags, saddlebags and bags, is to read in the user manual of our motorcycle the maximum admitted weight.
The second step is to see the maximum load of each suitcase, starting with the top case or "Baulito", they will be amazed, it is very little admitted.Beyond that it is behind the rear wheel axis and the lever arm is important, the motorcycle is destabilized- peak in height and behind the axis- and can break the false chassis ... between the minimum and the maximum- according to the motorcycle-It is between 8 and 15 kilograms.
Of course, side suitcases admit much more weight, but in the case of Yamaha, BMW, etc., that the suitcase on the escape side has less capacity, the load must be compensated with that of the opposite side;It is any matter of balance.Side suitcase manufacturers advise not exceeding 120 km/h.
In the tank bag more than weight is volume: papers, filter or photographic machine and some coat, which can be the motorcycle jacket.
One has the motorcycle that has, they are not easy times to change brand or model.If we consider 0km, we start from 12.000 dollars up.The "potable" for long trips around the 22.000 (kawasaki klr 650), going through almost 38.000 of the Yamaha Super Ténéré 1200, the 40.000 and currencies of Africa Twin 1100 and follow the BMW boxer ... so, "violin in the stock market" and enjoy what you have.
What is the type of motorcycle that best suits the geography of our country?Obviously the trails in all their displacements and sizes, since they allow us to travel by unpaid roads.
The motorcycles, unlike the cars, not all of them can be modified the height of the seat to the floor - except the Honda Tornado - that has a second eyelet in the rear monkey, and the possibility of acting on the fork to decreaseits height about 4 cm.
This is an issue to take into account, on average the height of the seat to the floor on the trails is 84 cm up.And if the seat is wide, the issue of reaching the floor is more complicated.
Sport and Super Sport limit us to asphalt, but not everything is a gravel and sand.
In terms of motorcycles, it is like clothes, there are "sizes for almost all".
When we mention the destination, we must bear in mind that the motorcycles en route consume between 5% and 25% more than in city.The wind, the earrings, are factors that make consumption rise.
The autonomy goes from 150 km to 250 km, according to the capacity of the fuel tank, external factors, etc., so you have to know where there are service stations, and the most adventurous carry a drum- specifically for hydrocarbons- ofAn American gallon for doubts.
You have to check the oil level, if it is necessary to add, a rare thing but it happens, tension of the transmission chain, air filter, status and battery charge ... that is, a complete service in the Official Concessionaire of the brand.
In addition, we must notice that we are going to go to the route, so the pressure of the tires has to be adequate for the load to be transported, the same as the suspension of the suspensions.
The consumption of the tires on the route and more in summer is very large.A rear tire at 14.000 kilometers you have to change it, the striker at 18/19.000 km.
A review before leaving is adequate.
Some place a preventive sealant in the tires whether with or without camera.
Let's go to what a car/truck and a motorcycle to drive on the route have in common: 1) Common sense to adapt to circumstances: rain, fog, smoke, wind, dense transit, and so on;2) Documentation: Enabling license for the category of vehicle or motorcycle, RC insurance, VTV (vehicle technical verification), green card, blue/trucks, bike pink, as appropriate and patent payment;3) Unrestricted respect for traffic standards.In everything else, it is totally different.
The rain, the wind, the fog, the heat, the cold, the traffic influence and much in the handling.It is not the "fairy tale" that can be seen in advertising videos of the brands or expressed by "youtubers".
A renowned Japanese brand advertised his motorcycles many years ago with a "owner of the sun and wind" ... we added, also of the rain, of the cold, of the heat ...
A very important detail to decide what time we undertake the trip, with the car is not decisive, but on the motorcycle it is somehow.If we leave very early in the morning to the east/southeast, we will have the sun in front for a couple of hours at least.If the helmet viewfinder has even a minimum scratch, we will drive almost blind and it is very dangerous.The same in the afternoon if we return, to the west/northwest, after 18/18.30 The sun complicates the vision.
In the morning early and at sunset the temperature is lower, and at night the cold is felt on a motorcycle, you have to foresee this theme.
The wind can become very complicated according to the motorcycle, if it is high and it has weight in height, it makes it difficult to handle.If it is lateral and comes from our right, it must.Upon reaching the point of overpaso you have to be prepared to close on the right as soon as the wind hits us, always accelerating.So that the wind does not push us to the opposite bench.That is, it accelerates looking for our lane.
In the event that the wind comes from the left, when a large vehicle is approaching a vacuum, the motorcycle accelerates and we must be attentive to the time we receive the strength of the burst and that does not push us to our bench.This occurs with strong wind, in some cases sodred, as is the case in our immense plains.
The wind is to take into account if we make a trip to Patagonia.
The fog is an important against motorcyclists, in addition to making visibility difficult, the helmet viewer is tarnished and in case of using lenses, these also these.It is preferable to stop at a service station as long as necessary before continuing.
In summer there are usually storms with copious rain, the hail fall is also produced, the precautions in the handling must.The helmet viewfinder is also usually tarnished, opening the ventilatas that effect is minimized.
With a motorcycle you can not "paste a flying", changing trajectory is not easy, we do not have four wheels and the possibility of a spin, so you have to foresee very much and carefully each maneuver.
In both wet, dirty or clean floor, it must be taken into account that the braking distances of a motorcycle are higher than that of cars.Today ABS systems help them not block the wheels, still braking on dirty floor.
Driving a motorcycle does not admit distractions, remember that the balance is dynamic.
The idea of traveling through grass, sandy roads, is present more in those who have trail motorcycles, but it is not advisable if it was never traveled by such soils to do so for the first time on a vacation trip.
There are tourist off-road management courses, in addition to the motor and enduro classics, dictated by specialists in the subject and former MotiCampeones of Motocross and Enduro such as Claudio Pesce and Diego Graziosi.Knowing the "secrets" of leadership in grain, sand and loose earth, will avoid unnecessary, dangerous and expensive fall.
In modern motorcycles we can intervene little, almost nothing, so that saves us from loading useless things.
For motorcycles with chain transmission, spray to lubricate them.In case of rain, when we arrive at destination we pass a dry rag, before lubricating it.
Nor is lubricant consumption generally registered, but it is not enough to bring a liter to add, for doubts.Of course the same brand that has placed, although all oils are compatible by international agreements.
A roll of insulating tape is not others, and a main and rear lighthc lamp.Although at these times it is very difficult for him to burn and everything is signed up to the LED.
The kit to repair a puncture for roofs without camera;In the event that it has a camera, the spray with sealant.
If the tires are new it is difficult to have click problems, more if they have the correct inflation pressure.
Crankcase protections, motor defenses, higher windshield, USB port, and a very important one, the easel.
Few motorcycles leave the factory with easel, they have it as optional, but when having to lubricate the chain- in those that have that transmission- or to have to take a wheel, it becomes essential.
Also warm fists, take for GPS and support ...
The author is director of the Informoto magazine.Informoto@infore.com
