Trans-Africa - The Kit

The Kit

Book Extract

The Pictures

The Route

The Bike

The Kit

The Thanks

'About as stable as the Uraguayan peso' Chris Scott, AMH

If there's one subject that keeps adventure motorcyclists arguing 'til sunup (in a friendly way of course) it's that old chestnut - the luggage system. I have never met a globetrotting biker yet who claims to be perfectly happy with their load-carrying set-up, and I'm no different. The system I used on my Americas trip was, if I'm perfectly honest, a bit rubbish, so for my African jaunt I am determined to learn from my mistakes. My previous arrangement (shown right) was too high and too heavy, or as Chris Scott so entertainingly described it in his latest edition of the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, 'about as stable as the Uraguayan peso'!

In summer 2005 I did a 3000 mile ride on my Serow around Western and Eastern Europe, using a plastic Givi top box and a couple of rucksacks slung over the seat. This basic DIY setup confirmed my suspicions that soft panniers were the way to go, plus one lockable compartment for valuables, such as cameras, passport etc. There's no way the Givi would cope with the rugged roads of Africa, so I found a lightweight aluminium box for just 60 quid from a company in Leicester called Potterton's Cases (founded in 1896!). It seemed perfect for the job, except for the fact that it wasn't watertight, so I slathered it with bathroom sealant in preparation for the tropical downpours of Central Africa The box is bolted to a steel rack, made by rally and overland expert, David Lambeth, who also fitted the bike with a 22 litre tank, a screen and an exhaust guard.Now with added bathroom sealant

For the panniers I have bought a set of Andy Strapz Expedition Panniers (see pic). These 40 litre bags look like the answer to my luggage prayers - made from tough, truckside canvas with a waterproof coating, they're simple and rugged, and according to Andy Strapz, 'born from a life on the road'.

And of course, the finishing touch was to fit the all important sheepskin on the saddle!

What am I carrying?

Andy Strapz Expedition Pannierz