CORRECTION: Hassle-Reduced Journey.

Early on in our journey I had written about some of the quick modifications I made to our motorcycle, in hopes of some hassle free maintenance. Now 12 countries, 15 months, 42,000 long, hard kilometres later it is time for a review of these seven items. Were they worth it, did they save any headaches, and what I would have done differently knowing what I know now. At the end I included some additions to our original list that are worth mentioning.



1. Washable Stainless Steel Oil Filter

Oil is easy to find, bike specific oil filters are not.

This has actually been one of the best simple mods we did. There is nothing special needed for this oil filter. You can clean it with many solvents, I use gas. Then wash it with soapy water, rinse, dry, done. There is no need to search for an OEM oil filter. However, I was naive to think finding the right oil would be easy in Latin America.

Repeat: Yes.
Changes: No.

2. Washable Uni Foam Air Filter
No need to search for a replacement filter.

I had the right idea with this one, but who knew finding foam air filter cleaner and oil would be such a challenge. I would go into shops that sold foam air filters, and they looked at me like I was crazy because I wanted to clean and oil them. After months of searching, and a long overdue filter clean in Colombia, we have it sorted out. I now clean the filter with gas and soapy water instead of ready to use cleaner. I had to buy a can of filter oil that was two feet tall, because thats all I could find. I sprayed all of its contents into a water bottle for future use and now carry it along. Its a pain in the ass to have to carry a liquid I only use every eight to ten thousand kilometres, but still better than searching for OEM air filters I suppose.

Repeat: Yes.
Changes: I would have set off with filter oil.

3. Motobriiz Wind Powered Automatic Chain Oiler

Keeps your chain oiled with very low maintenance and no messy spray oils.

I have been back and forth with this one. Here is my breakdown of the Motobriiz chain oiler.

Pros: There is no need to oil your chain, *while on pavement.* Before the install I could only drive eight hundred kilometres before the chain started squawking at me, now no issues, *while the chain is clean.*

Cons: For a dual purpose, long distance bike, this model may not be the best solution. When driving off road the chain gets very dirty, which is no problem, but you need to clean and spray your chain often. Carrying the extra spray oil was what I was trying to avoid. You also have to carry spare oil pads, and once I’m out of those good luck trying to get new ones shipped to South America easily. Also, the type of oil I am using in the Motobriiz is very inconsistent, depending on what I can find. This poses an issue, thin oil runs too fast at highway speeds, and thick oil doesn’t run fast enough at off road speeds. Resulting in very inconsistent functioning.

Conclusion: I have been in contact with Mike Steele of Motobriiz since the install, and he has been great to work with. In the beginning he had sent me some alternate flow restrictors so I could find a happy medium for the type of riding and wide range of oil I would be using. Which has helped, but the real solution would be to have a model with adjustable flow. That way you can ramp it up or down as needed. Likely you could even get rid of the spray oil needed after cleaning your chain, you could just crank up the oil for a few km then dial it back to your riding situation. Coincidentally, the last time I spoke with Mike he informed me that he was working on an adjustable model to improve his already great product. I look forward to seeing this and putting it through a solid real world test.

Repeat: No. It is better than having no chain oiler, but I believe there are better options.
Changes: I would install an automatic chain oiler that had an adjustable flow. Because Mike has been so helpful, I would give his new model a try before going with a Scott Oiler.

4. Aluminium Skid Plate (Custom) – Similar to this one.

Piece of mind when traveling off road.

There have been more bike shaking, ear shattering rocks smashed off this skid plate than I can count. I am scared to think what may have happened to the engine case if it wasn’t there.

Repeat: 100 percent.
Changes: No.

5. Touratech Headlight Protector
For those unexpected flying rocks.

Luckily so far I haven’t experienced any large rocks or birds flying into the headlight, but the guard is there for when and if that happens.

Repeat: Yes.
Changes: No.

6. SW Motech Tank Bag

Great for easy access items and the extra space is a necessity.

I am not too sure why this made the modifications list in the first place. Luggage is an entire topic on its own. There are countless combinations of bags and panniers, and each is different depending on the rider and bike. But, a tank bag is a must for anyone I believe. The SW Motech has been great for us, especially because of the adjustable capacity. Sometimes we get a little crazy with the grocery shopping, and its nice to expand the bag temporarily for the extra items.

Repeat: Yes.
Changes: No.

7. Profill Australia Fuel Pre Filter
Protect your fuel injection system from foreign particles.

Pros: This is a very cheap modification that can save you severe headaches with your fuel injection system. Especially when you are filling up at sketchy gas stations. Many times we have had to fill up with gas from barrels. When transferring from the barrel to a bucket, then into your bike you can see all the shit just waiting to ruin your day. Thankfully it doesn’t get past the pre filter. I have pulled it out a few times and cleaned it, and there’s always a few chunks.

Cons: It takes FOREVER to fill your tank at the pump. I also have a fear of a careless attendant jamming the nozzle into the tank and ripping the mesh filter, so I am always pumping my own gas. (Something I would do anyway, but I’ve inadvertently offended many attendants because I didn’t let them fill my bike.)

Repeat: Yes.
Changes: No.

There are a few things not mentioned in the original post that I feel warrant a mention. Sometimes it takes some time to realise what may or may not be a helpful upgrade.

1. Spot Trace
We thought it would be a great idea to have a GPS tracker on the motorcycle. It would be cool to see where we have travelled, but more importantly where the bike is when we are not with it. In countries where theft insurance is not a thing, it’s important to keep an eye on your assets.

In our situation the Spot Trace ended up costing us more money than it was worth. The device, plus the charge cable, and the subscription was in the hundreds of dollars. When we shipped the motorcycle to Mexico, the spot did not work (for obvious reasons, it was in a metal shipping container). When it arrived we were greeted with a dead battery, costing yet another hundred and forty dollars. Throughout our travels the spot worked okay for the most part, until it finally stopped working altogether. There was a lengthy back and forth over email with the company, and it was a real struggle to get the device warrantied. The device is not actually covered under warranty unless you have a subscription. But who in their right mind is going to pay for a subscription on a failed device. They eventually agreed that it is fair to warranty their product while we are not paying for a subscription, but it took some convincing. So, when we return to Canada we can get a new device, they can’t help us in South America, where we need it.

Repeat: No.
Changes: I would buy an electronic theft alarm. They are loud, disable the bike from starting, and some models notify you when your asset is being stolen.

2. Sheep Skin
Many travellers have sheepskins on their motorcycles. It was something I always thought was a novelty until we had one. Now, I think it is a wonder we made it this far without it. The long days and rough roads are much more enjoyable sitting on the plush wool. It is also customary to name your sheep. Ours is Baba, Baba Blacksheep.

3. Gearing Change with New Sprockets (Similar to these ones.)
This is a very situationally dependant modification. For the type of journey we are on and the locations we are travelling it made a lot of sense to lower the gearing of our 1290 Super Adventure. I had not used fifth or sixth gear for months, so losing some speed was no issue. While climbing the steep Andean switchbacks having low gearing is very helpful, and will likely prolong the life of our clutch. The motorcycle seems happier with this as well, there are no more low rpm crunching noises coming from the motor, a problem these bikes are known for.

Repeat: Yes.
Changes: I should have done this way sooner.