Jan Weitner riding his XT from Terra del Fuego to Vancouver

The preparation

What kind of motorcycle do you take to travel from Fireland to Canada? Some people seem to know a simple answer: a Yamaha XT600. In my case it became one from 1986 with an unknown history. A general good condition with 32.000 km on the ODO meter and an engine case that was never opened. My lack of motorcycle knowledge was compensated by the King of Streetbikes - Maarten from McMotor. He knows how to talk to engines and makes sure they listen. He was not afraid to teach me how to put my XT into pieces and rebuilt it in a short timeframe.

This is a short summary of the parts that were maintained or replaced:
September 2006: XT in pieces, searched and found a large fuel tank to replace the standard 12L tank, new seals and oil for front fork
October 2006: engine revised, new oil pump, all 'lagers' renewed, front and rear brake cleaned, new carburator sprayer installed, K&N filter placed, frame and sadle adjusted to new fuel tank, rack with cases found in Maastricht
November 2006: new battery placed, new rear tire, rack adjusted, 1000 km engine test, new chain and chainwheels
Will it be enough?

Transport: This piece of produced art is going to be transported by DAMCO in the harbour of Rotterdam to Buenos Aires. Departure second week of November arrival in the end of the month, they say. We'll see. They seem to have a relaxed approach on the administrative side. Bill of loading some copies of licensepapers and we are done. Good that's what we like.

Before you go there are some vaccinations that you need to get. Hepatitis A (2x) & B (3x), TBC, Rabies (3x), DTP, Yellow fever and Typhoid. Party time.

What about insurrances? Do you really need them? Just to be sure I arranged a local insurrance for my XT in Argentina. From there we can see how to deal in the other countries.

To keep my XT running I will take some spare parts with me. I am still thinking about the list once I have it I will let you know. At least I can change a tire and do valve adjusting

Will I take a GPS? A GPS is for pussies. Look at the sun, look at your watch, check where the deer is running to.

Documents, paperwork, stamps, visa, my favourite part: The 'carnet de passage' I listened to Paul and will leave it home, an international drivers license the customs staff seem to like it down in South America so I bought it for them, international vehicle papers, a press card, some self made stamps that will do it.

The extended tool kit: let's talk in kg. Around 5 to 8 kg of tools with me. The exact kit has not yet been defined. All sort of imbus / ringkeys, bougie key, tire lifters, oil, grease, connectors, name it and I will have it. I can open a tool shop. The only exception is the electricity part. I refuse to take a voltage indicator with me, on this trip no voltage problems.