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I have managed to get myself talked into doing a Tech Seminar at the 2011 BMW RA Rally. The subject will be "What to do if you do break down somewhere on the road far from home". I guess I should know something about this topic as it has happened to me more then once.

I need ideas.

So far I am planning to talk about;
1. The first thing when you break down is getting the bike and yourself somewhere safe to do some basic trouble shooting, safety first.
2. Tools every Airhead rider should carry.
3. Spare parts to carry and those you should have at home where someone at home can find the parts and ship them to you on the road.
4. Rig repairs that will get you moving again.

Any idea will be welcome. Thanks Curt

You know sometimes we take it for granted that people know the basics....but if a bad event happens they somtimes really don't know

Example: Breaking a bead on the tires after a flat on a 2 laner, with no help or riding buddies around. Then getting the taire off the rim without ruing the rim, brake disk, etc.

Lot different "out there" than in the garage...ask me how I learned the hard way. My old brit bikes were easy to change a tube on. Snowflakes, a little tougher.

Example 2: What to do when that "new" sound starts out in the boonies. I remember when I did my solo cross country for flight instruction - thought there was a new sound the Cessna 150 was making and I was going to crash

Just some random thoughts

If its is an airhead pull the bike down with the supplied and added to tool kit.

If its an oil/hex head call the number under the seat and pay lots of money for the parts and labour once they tow your bike to the workshop.

FUTURE wrote:If its is an airhead pull the bike down with the supplied and added to tool kit.

If its an oil/hex head call the number under the seat and pay lots of money for the parts and labour once they tow your bike to the workshop.

As someone who does all the maintenance and repair work on their own Oilhead, I'm sorry to hear your skills are so primitive.

I don't have anything to offer you in line with your actual question, but I think you should be sure to tell your story about being broken down in the deseret, miles from nowhere, to get the audience's full attention.



Ken

Major Softie wrote:

FUTURE wrote:If its is an airhead pull the bike down with the supplied and added to tool kit.

If its an oil/hex head call the number under the seat and pay lots of money for the parts and labour once they tow your bike to the workshop.

As someone who does all the maintenance and repair work on their own Oilhead, I'm sorry to hear your skills are so primitive.

I can keep my airhead going by banging rocks against it.

Curt Henry wrote:
So far I am planning to talk about;
1. The first thing when you break down is getting the bike and yourself somewhere safe to do some basic trouble shooting, safety first.
2. Tools every Airhead rider should carry.
3. Spare parts to carry and those you should have at home where someone at home can find the parts and ship them to you on the road.
4. Rig repairs that will get you moving again.

Any idea will be welcome. Thanks Curt

5. PM at home so your bike doesn't break down.
6. Make sure that the spares you carry do fit your bike and can be replaced by you on the side of the road.
7. Keeping your bike as simple and as stock as possible so that others can help you along the way. (Important for the less mechanicaly inclined.)

Curt,
You may want to divide your recommendations into technology categories (mechanical ignition, electronic ignition, ECU ignition-fuel injection) so that you may relate each recommendation on tools and spares to specific segments in the audience.

DaveM
1975 R90S, 2000 R1100RT

how about "just get you somewhere" fixes? simple things like when your charging goes how to disconnect your lights. or swap batteries with your buddys charging bike (you can go a long way like this) or How to make a throttle return spring from whats available at the corner hardware store, but then again can you teach McGiver type stuff? the tools thing is a must! In my 9x5 tool roll I could do most every thing short of pulling the crank! The parts to carry is a good idea also! How about a bit on how to prep the bike BEFORE you leave, then the rest may not be needed?! You know , if you are going to go coast to coast and your battery is 6 years old....