Most important equipment to carry for UK to Alps

[halfpint]

there is not much off roading in the french alps try going to susa in italy stay in andora if you want off roading miles of it ....

[Tramp]

Why not do plymouth to bilbao then down the back roads along the spine of the pyrenees so nice easy gravel trails around espot..then cut acroos to millau and the alps...

To be totally honest the picos and french/spanish pyrenees are far better than the stuck up Alps anyday...but your trip...

The ability to laugh in the face of danger helps i find ....and a phrase book .

[Helicoptermanr22]

Thats weird you mention that. My mate who is currently bike-less after giving his 1190 to Fowlers to sell,wants a 1290 and a good trip buddy so the new Itinerary is: Plymouth...Bilbo baggins...along as you say the spine of the Pyrenees..Andorra...poss South west head to Palencia Im trying to find a great off road route to Portugal.. north up the coast to Vigo.... to santander... ferry back to Plymouth.. What you think>?

[byewayrider]

Be very carefull in planning too much and riding a sudo adventure bike with luggage on the trails is like a wallowing hippo....distances are huge and say a 400mls dirt track would be a 6 day ride...compared to 1 day on the tarmac....

Look up in wikiloc the transnpyrenees and the portugal top to toe...the pyreness route is easy gravel and mainly scenic roads..

[Peirre]

Something many overlook are spare throttle and clutch cables, so consider buying spare cables for your bike and route them on parallel to the original cables, tie wrapping them side by side along the length, leaving the ends loose and wrapped in tape, or heat shrinked to prevent corrosion. That way should your cable snap or become damaged while out on the road, it will be a simple case of switching the ends over. As the cables are already routed on the bike they'll take no space up in your panniers or luggage.

[benp1992]

A camera!!

[Helicoptermanr22]

Good Advice. My bike has only done 800 miles so hoping that cables n stuff will be ok, will take spare levers tho def, considering a go pro where i can turn on and off on the dash

[RandG]

Something many overlook are spare throttle and clutch cables,.

What !

I've probably done a million miles on the last ten years and never snapped a throttle cable yet, absolutely OTT IMO.

[sprintster]

Something many overlook are spare throttle and clutch cables,.

What !

I've probably done a million miles on the last ten years and never snapped a throttle cable yet, absolutely OTT IMO.

I've had a throttle cable snap on a 20k mile bike before.I now carry a repair kit with spare inner cable that can just be run through the original sleeve.Comes in a small tin and weighs about 50g.Not worth being stranded at the roadside without it imo.

[halfpint]

what a load of bollocks , just go and enjoy the adventure. dont take all the crap with you it will way you down and piss you off in the end . cheap hotels and move on live on the edge its only france and spain.... make sure you sit facing the front on the bike otherwise you wont find the handle bars.!!!top tip if your willy touches the tank its the right way to go