Bike Upgrades: Adventure Equipment

Words Dean Mellor

Just as four-wheel drives have become popular in the automotive world, dual-sport bikes have been finding favour with Aussie motorcyclists who can see the potential for long-distance adventure travel to far-flung destinations.

While the bikes themselves are better than ever, there’s still room for some tailoring and improvement, and if you want to head to the Red Centre or up The Cape, you’re going to need the right gear… for both you and your bike.

As the popularity of adventure riding increases, so too does the range of specialty equipment and riding gear on the market. Here’s a rundown of some of the stuff you’ll need for ‘the big trip’.

The Bike

Tyres: To ride both on the road and off it, your bike will need to be armed with the right tyres. When choosing rubber for an adventure you’ll need to calculate just how much on-road riding you’re likely to do compared to how much dirt you’ll be covering.

If you’re going to be sticking mostly to the blacktop then you’ll want a tyre that’s going to offer good on-road grip in both dry and wet conditions, as well as good mileage. But if you reckon you’ll be doing a lot of dirt-road miles then you’ll need a tyre with a heavier construction that will better resist puncturing and more open tread blocks that will clear better in muddy conditions and provide greater ‘bite’. If all your riding will be on dirt, then you’ll want to fit a set of dedicated dirtbike knobbies.

Bear in mind that while more aggressive tread patterns will provide better off-road grip, they will not perform as well on the road, they will produce more noise and will they will wear at a faster rate.

Suspension: Most modern adventure bikes come with pretty decent suspension that can be tuned to suit the load, the riding conditions and rider preferences by way of adjustable spring preload and adjustable damping. If you’re heading off on a big outback adventure it’s likely your bike will be loaded to the hilt, so you’ll need to wind up the spring preload to suit.

If your bike’s rear-end still sags or it bottoms out over bumps then you’ll need to upgrade the suspension. Not only will this improve handling, but it will also improve ride quality and comfort, so you’ll be able to spend more time in the saddle.

Bike Protection: When you ride on the dirt or in off-road conditions there’s a far greater chance you’ll damage your bike by dropping it or bashing in to obstacles, so it’s important to fit it with protection equipment to ensure you don’t end up stranded, especially when travelling in remote areas.

Items to regularly cop a pounding include levers and footpegs, and if they break off they can prematurely end your ride. A pair of decent handguards that mount at two points on the handlebar will provide good protection for your brake and clutch levers, as well as hands. Fold-up gear and rear-brake levers, as well as fold-up footpegs, will have a greater chance of survival when riding in the bush.

Other items that need protection include your bike’s radiator, oil pan and engine covers. There’s plenty of high-quality protection equipment out there from radiator guards to bash plates to crash bars, and the more you have fitted to your bike the greater the chance of its survival.

Comfort: Australia is a bloody big country and if you’re going to explore it on your bike you’ll be spending some long hours in the saddle. There are several options for improving rider (and pillion) comfort including reshaping the standard seat, fitting a tailor-made seat, fitting an off-the-shelf aftermarket seat or adding a gel or sheepskin cover to the existing seat.

Of equal importance to getting the seat the way you want it is to ensure the seat, handlebar and footpeg triangle suits your height and body shape. Adjusting the handlebar on most bikes is usually straightforward but in extreme cases some riders might need to change the standard ’bar for an aftermarket item. Likewise, if the footpegs are too low or too high, they can be replaced with adjustable aftermarket ’pegs.

If there’s a lot of dirt on the agenda, you’ll want to make sure your bike’s footpegs have removable rubber inserts. While the rubber might provide on-road comfort and insulation form vibrations, when your boots are chock-full of mud you’ll want to be standing on the toothed-metal of bare ’pegs. And if you really think you’ll be spending a lot of time standing on the ’pegs then fit a pair with a wider base for improved comfort.

Weather Protection: Most adventure bikes are fitted with a windscreen of some descript, and some even have adjustable units, but if your bike’s standard screen doesn’t provide the weather protection you require, or its top edge is directly in your line of sight when you’re seated, you’ll need to flick it and fit an aftermarket item. When choosing a screen, make sure it’s going to be tough enough to handle the rigours of off-road riding and make sure it’s the right height. You’ll also want to check that it won’t interfere with your ability to control the bike and that it won’t affect your ability to turn the handlebar from lock to lock.

Another option for those who are quite happy with the shape of the standard screen, but not its height, is to fit an aftermarket windscreen adjuster.

Fuel capacity: Depending on where you intend to ride you might find that the standard tank on your bike will not provide the fuel range you need. If this is the case there are a couple of options: fit a dedicated long-range fuel tank in place of the standard tank or fit an auxiliary fuel tank, which can be mounted at the front or the rear depending on what model bike you ride.

Spares and tools: If you’re travelling in remote areas you’ll need to be self-sufficient, which means you’ll need to be able to sort out any mechanical issues you might encounter on your adventure. That means carrying the right tools and a few spare parts. You’ll also need to carry a tyre repair kit and a pump. If you’re running tubeless tyre then the kit will need tyre plugs, while those running tubes will need a patch kit. Also throw in a few spare valves and, of course, tyre levers. If you’re off the road nearly all the time another option is to fit mousse tubes.

The Rider

Helmet: A good quality, comfortable helmet is one of the most important pieces of equipment you can have. Adventure helmets combine some elements of dirtbike helmets with some elements of roadbike helmets. Like a dirtbike helmet they have a peak to keep the sun out of your eyes when riding in dusty conditions, a raised nose guard with a filtration system and wide eye-port to accept a pair of goggles. But like a roadbike helmet they also come with a screen to keep out wind and rain when riding at high speeds on the road.

Other features to look for in an adventure bike helmet are light weight, good ventilation, a removable and washable liner, and enough space to fit a communications system.

Boots: An adventure boot needs to offer more flexibility than a dirtbike boot for long-distance comfort but more protection than a roadbike boot to handle off-road conditions. It should also be breathable and water resistant, and it should have a good closure system and a grippy sole.

Clothing: Textile materials are the name of the game when it comes to adventure bike gear and if you want to stay warm and dry then make sure you don’t skimp when buying a jacket and pants. The gear needs to fit you well, offer a high degree of water resistance (don’t be fooled: nothing is waterproof) and the jacket and pants need to have a connection system. Your clothing should also be made from good quality materials, be well constructed and have high quality zips and fasteners.

Other features to look for are removable and washable thermal and waterproof liners, plenty of internal and external pockets, and a comfortable soft-touch collar.

The gloves you wear will depend on the season, but make sure they’re tough enough to provide adequate protection in the event of a high-speed crash yet flexible enough to give you a good feel for bike controls. They also need to be water-resistant and breathable, and they should have a good securing system.

First aid kit: Always carry a first aid kit and make sure your first aid training is up to date so you know how to use it. There are plenty of small motorcycle-specific first aid kits on the market.

The Luggage

If you’re on an extended trip, chances are you’re going to have plenty of gear to carry, including clothes, tent, sleeping bag, food, water, tools and spares, so you’ll need somewhere to stow it all.

Tanks bags are handy for storing small, light items, and are great for things like maps and phones. Don’t be tempted throw a huge tankbag on your adventure bike because it can really get in the way when you’re riding off road. A tail bag or a topbox is a better option if there’s a lot of off-road riding on the cards.

When choosing a pannier system, ensure the framework to support the panniers is tough enough to handle the weight of the bike if it’s on its side, and that the panniers themselves won’t break open when they hit the deck. Panniers should also be dust resistant and waterproof, whether that’s by way of the external structure or the fitment of inner bags.

Dry bags are another great way to keep stuff dust-free and dry, and they can usually be secured in various places on a well set-up adventure bike.

Other stuff

If you plan on heading into the great unknown, you’ll need to do a lot of research beforehand. Make sure you have appropriate maps for the areas in which you intend to ride, and when you’re route planning take into account your bike’s fuel range. You’ll also need to think about places where you can stock up on other supplies such as food and water, or where you can seek mechanical help if something breaks.

A dedicated GPS receiver will make navigating easier. Choose a unit that operates on both GPS and Glonass for the best possible coverage, and one that you can upload relevant maps to. Of course, it will also need to be compatible with a bike mount and your bike’s 12V power system.

Finally, you’ll need a communications system that will work when you’re out of mobile phone range. A satellite phone is the best option, but they can be expensive, both to buy and to operate. Another option is a Spot GPS Messenger that facilitates communication via text messages from anywhere in the world, or you could pack a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) for use if you get into strife.