Before a long haul of a trip, there are a few things I would
strongly recommend you to do.
1. Replace your engine oil and oil filter. No need the synthetic
kind unless you are riding like Valentino Rossi and redlining the
bike most of the times.
2. Replace or if not at least carry spare spark plugs with
you.
3. Check brake pads wear, especially the front as 70% of your
stopping power comes from there which is why they wear out faster
than the rear.
And mind you, you will probably be going fast at some point of the
trip.... that might be a time you don't want to find you have
fading front brakes.
4. Check the wear on your drive chain, replace it if it is almost
worn to its limits. Drive chain wear tends to accelerate when it is
nearing the end of its useful life.
5. Carry a can of chain lube with you. Long distance riding plus
rain plays havoc with chain lubricants. Dry chain equals friction
equals heat equals melt sealed grease within O ringed chains equal
wear equals elongation.
6. Install a fuel filter if your bike does not have one. Malaysian
fuel is dirty. Trust me... I know. Stripping your carburettor to
pieces or trying to figure out the fuel injection system in the
middle of the NS Highway is no fun.
7. Carry a raincoat. Riding wet for half an hour around Singapore
is OK, for longer than that, cramps can set in especially on the
fingers. Whilst trying to e-brake to avoid colliding into the back
of a palm oil tanker is not the time to find out that the fingers
on your right hand have got the cramps.
8 Avoid following closely or riding alongside tankers and trailers,
especially empty ones. The empty ones normally go fast. In an
emergency brake... the backend of the rig will tend to fish tail,
more so if it is empty, good luck to you if you are close behind or
right beside them, you will be smacked off the road like a
housefly.
9. Carry only bills lesser denominations than RM10 in your wallet,
The big notes stash some in your pants or elsewhere. When stopped
by the dirty Malaysian cops, and they want coffee money from
you.... show them your wallet and say you got not much money left
and can give only offer them mebbe RM10 or RM20 only. Needless to
say you are a dumbass if you carry stacks of hundred dollar bills
in your wallet.
10. Plan your trip rest points. Never rush. Book your accomodations
in advance. It is no fun riding round in circles in the rain
looking for accomodation at night in a strange place especially
after you have been riding the whole day and just want to bathe and
rest. You will feel like killing people at that time.
11. Ride smart. Ride safe.
