Planning this trip has been a time consuming, yet exciting, activity. Researching and organising delivery of all the gear from Australia for delivery in Canada and the USA from across the Pacific has proven to be a lesson in organisation. Thanks to the internet, adventure forums and our North American based crew for taking delivery of boxes and boxes of gear.
Our bikes were always going to be BMW dual sport bikes. As Murray is 6’4″, the F800GS was the logical choice. At a slightly less 5’7″, a flat footed stance could only be achieved on the F650GS for Loren. The frame and internals of both bikes are the same, the main difference being larger suspension on the F800GS. With a water cooled, twin cylinder, 798CC engine, we should have no problems with any of the mountains on our journey.
The gear is very similar for both riders. This is the slightly summarised list.
| Loren | Murray | |
| Bike | 2010 BMW F650GS | 2009 BMW F800GS |
| Adventure Spec Crash Bars | ||
| Adventure Spec Rear Luggage Rack | ||
| Adventure Spec Sump Guard | ||
| Barkbusters | ||
| Jesse Odyssey II Panniers | ||
| Wolfman Large Expedition Dry Duffle | ||
| Wunderlich Headlight Cover | ||
| Wunderlich Tank Bag | ||
| Wunderlich Vario Touring Screen | ||
| Camping | Bowl | |
| Cleaning cloth | ||
| Cup | ||
| Espresso stovetop | ||
| Headlamp | ||
| Light My Fire Spork | ||
| Lighter | ||
| Liner – silk | ||
| Liner – thick | ||
| Mont-Bell Spiral Down Sleeping bag | ||
| MSR Cooking Pot | ||
| MSR Fuel cannister | ||
| MSR Nano Towel | ||
| MSR Original Towel | ||
| MSR Whisper lite stove | ||
| Nalgene storage bottles | ||
| OTHER | ||
| Plastic storage container | ||
| Plate | ||
| rubber hammer | ||
| small towel | ||
| Tent | REI Half Dome 2+ | |
| Tent Footprint | ||
| Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Sleeping Pad | ||
| Therm-a-Rest Pillow | ||
| Wash liquid | ||
| Wash pad/brush | ||
| Water Filter | ||
| Clothing | Camel Back 3L Day Pack | |
| Casual shirt (collared) | ||
| Gerbrings Heated Vest | X | |
| Gerbrings Single Remote controller | X | |
| Hornee Kevlar Jeans | ||
| Icebreaker 150 s/s | ||
| Icebreaker 260 l/s | ||
| Icebreaker 260 long johns | ||
| Icebreaker 320 GT l/s | ||
| Icebreaker Balaclava | ||
| Icebreaker Beast Jocks | ||
| Icebreaker inner gloves | ||
| Icebreaker neck warmer | ||
| Icebreaker Socks | ||
| l/s shirt (collared) | ||
| Lightweight hiker pants | ||
| Rev’it Cayenne Pro Jacket | BMW Rallye 3 Jacket | |
| Rev’it Defender Goretex Pants | BMW Rallye 3 Pants | |
| Rev’it Monster Summer Gloves | ||
| Rev’it Tempest Winter Gloves | Rev’it Alaska Winter Gloves | |
| Salomon Exit GTX light hikers | Merrell GTX light hikers | |
| Shoei Hornet DS Helmet | ||
| Shorts | ||
| SIDI Canyon Goretex Riding Boots | ||
| Swimmers | ||
| Documents | Canadian Registration/Insurance | |
| Driving licenses copy | ||
| Driving licenses originals | ||
| GPS files | ||
| International Driving License | ||
| Location Maps | ||
| Lonely Planet Central America | ||
| Lonely Planet Mexico | ||
| Lonely Planet South America | ||
| Mexico Insurance | ||
| Packing List | ||
| Passports | ||
| Passport Photos | ||
| Travel Insurance Documents | ||
| Vaccination Schedule | ||
| Electronics | Belkin Surge Protector Mini | |
| Centech AP-1 Fusebox | ||
| Cigarette Socket Battery Lead | ||
| Garmin Zumo 660 GPS | ||
| GOPro Helmet Cam | ||
| Laptop | ||
| Midlands GTX1000 5W 2way | ||
| SLR Camera | ||
| SPOT Beacon | ||
| Starcom1 Communication System | ||
| Medical | Aspirin | |
| Cold Flu Cough | ||
| Electrolyte | ||
| First Aid Kit | ||
| Ginger Anti-vomit | ||
| Panadol | ||
| Vitamins | ||
| Tools | 1 oz bottle of RuGlyde | |
| 10m – 5mm Maxim Techcord , 2270kg TS | ||
| Adventure Spec Tool tube | ||
| air pressure gauge | ||
| Airman Tour60 air compressor | ||
| Andyz Smart Strapz | ||
| BMW F650 Toolkit | ||
| bulbs (extra) | ||
| bulbs (turn signal) X 2 | ||
| chain master link clip | ||
| Clarity Defog it | ||
| fuses (extra) | ||
| JB Weld | ||
| Leatherman Charge TTI | ||
| Locktite | ||
| oil funnel | ||
| RainX | ||
| Rescue tape/Self fusing rescue tape | ||
| spark plug (extra) | ||
| spark plug holder (for extra) | ||
| tubeless tire repair kit | ||
| twin socket adaptor | ||
| vinyl gloves | ||
| wire |