Yamaha TT600 (1991) fitted with 21 lt plastic tank
Photo: Dogon Country, Mali, North Africa.
FOR THOSE PLANNING TO GO
As for mechanical skills, I had none.
I began my travels with a friend from Australia who was a very good mechanic, but Africa was not for him. We parted in Nairobi.
When I started travelling alone I could not even change a flat tyre. I was in Northern Kenya and two Samburu warriors offered to help me. They only managed to get the rear Michelan Desert off the rim by their strength. But it was not long before I learnt the knack of changing flat tyres - in the end I could repair a flat tyre in 10 minutes plus inflating it.
Maintenance is the best bet - preventative maintenance to avoid break downs. Change oil regularly as you are always riding in the dirt - say every 5000kms even more if you are using mineral oil. Clean the air filter every day if you have been riding on dirt roads. Grease the swing arm regularly. Oil your chain every afternoon after a days riding when the chain is still hot so the oil can soak in over night. If you run out of chain lube, which you will - use old oil from any petrol station or workshop. The Africans will be only too happy to help you. Check and adjust tappets when recommended by your manual. On the Yamaha TT600 I hardly ever had to adjust them, this is the way with this bike, the tappets stay put.
Take a set of carb/engine connectors (the ones that go from the carb to the engine). On the Yamaha these wear out, I didn't notice until the dust had been going into the engine for a few days - a very quick way to kill the engine! So check this regularly. Also just sit and look at the bike (I usually do this at the end of the day). This way you can see if anything is loose or about to fall off. Go over the nuts and bolts regularly with a spanner to tighten any that are loose, especially when you are riding on very corrugated roads. Clean out the petrol filters regularly - that is if they need it - just keep an eye on this sort of thing. DEFINITELY take your bike's manual. Also a parts list, (which you can get from your dealer copied from their microfiche. (if they say they can't give you a copy, write to the CEO of your Motorcycle Company and COMPLAIN). You will need to order parts, but which ones are in the hands of the Gods, it just makes things easier if you can quote the correct part number. Check out the appendix for a list of parts I took.
I have heard great things from Honda, especially the Honda XR600, which is said to be a much more reliable bike than most of the off-road bikes. The Yamaha TT600 only did 40,000 kms before it needed a total engine rebuild - pretty slack for an engine if you ask me! But the Yamaha mechanic in Hameln Germany said it's premature death was due to an assembly fault. After this rebuild it only did another 40,000kms motorcycle couriering in London before it went kaput again (the main bearing seized). But then to be fair, this bike has had more demanded of it than most - I still love it!
My trusty old Yamaha TT600 now awaits my return in Hanoi Vietnam.
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