An oil change every 8,000-12,000 km, new brake pads or a new clutch right away?
On vacation tours in Europe, maintenance or the replacement of parts is rarely an issue, since you can change everything you need before you leave. Should you ever travel more than the kilometers specified in the service manual, the network of workshops in Europe is very well developed for almost all brands. In an emergency, you can always reach for your cell phone and have your bike picked up from any corner of Europe by the automobile club you trust. Provided that one has invested in advance - as for example in Austria the approx. 150 euros in the ÖAMTC protection letter.
But what do you do if you leave your home country or simply want to avoid the official workshops and their fantasy prices?
Europe:
Once you travel a little further afield, you really learn to appreciate the benefits of the European Union. Ordering spare parts is easy in the EU, as almost every online retailer ships quickly and cheaply to any location within the Union. The only small obstacle is a delivery address. Here it is advisable to simply ask on various Facebook groups whether you can give someone's address. You can hardly believe how helpful people are here and sometimes there's even an invitation to a drink or meal on top or a new friendship develops. Otherwise, most hotels or campgrounds will gladly accept packages for free or for a small surcharge if you check in there as a guest and it's not a whole engine or tire.
Since there are also various motorcycle dealers in most countries, you can also have the parts ordered to a branch and pick them up there.
In case a tool is missing?
You have exactly this tool, which you would need now briefly for five minutes, but still unpacked to save weight and left at home? Normally this is no problem. Simply ask a car or motorcycle mechanic. Against a few euros in the coffee fund, you can usually borrow one or the other tool briefly. In our experience, many "normal" things, such as a hammer, can also be borrowed briefly from most homes.
Where do we do our repairs?
If it's not a matter of draining fluids, you can usually do minor repairs at any hotel parking lot or campground. Otherwise, the motto is to look up in various forums, whether someone has a garage in which you can bring his bike to shape. It is also advisable to look in advance online from time to time the pictures of parking lots or campsites. Sometimes you have to put your bike straight or on the main stand. If the surface is only loose gravel or the parking lot has rather a slope, it may be more difficult with a short and quick service.
Where did we order from?
Since we are from Austria, we mainly ordered from stores that delivered directly to us or were also represented by us. Of course, there are many other good stores, for example in Italy or France - or even in other countries, which we do not list here. Here we have primarily listed the German-speaking stores from which we have ordered most spare parts and accessories.
Louis: Louis is the largest motorcycle technology and clothing retailer in Europe and ships throughout Europe. Besides a good motorcycle specific database, there is a huge selection of parts. You can also order things to the stores in many countries and pick them up a few days later. Also the flexibility and advice directly in the store was often a plus for us.
Polo-Motorrad: This is more or less the counterpart to Louis with a slightly different range, where other manufacturers/brands are also represented.
Leebmann24: If you drive a BMW (like we did) and then want more specific parts for the BMW, Leebmann24 can supply any original BMW screw if necessary. If you are not sure about something, you can also find the spare parts catalog (with pictures) and can also call directly there in the service team, which really helps you.
Amazon: You can like Amazon or not - but they deliver quickly everywhere with a large selection. You can also have it delivered to various places, like parcel stations or Amazon stations and you don't need your own address.
Ali-Express: To make your bike "suitable for travel", you usually need some accessories, which are often offered by European manufacturers at fantasy prices. Interestingly, there are also many well thought-out solutions for almost every brand, especially at Ali-Express, and often at a good price. Comparing and collecting ideas pays off in any case! It is important to note, however, that you may have to add a customs fee or import VAT to the price and you should not be in a hurry. Delivery times of less than one month count as express delivery.
Touratech: And last but not least Touratech. Here, especially for travel, many good additional equipment is offered. However, these items tend to be in the higher price segment. Here you are always faced with the decision of whether it is worth the money or not and above all whether these things are really necessary. For many of the things was not only the price decisive for us, but also how much additional weight thereby arises and the durability. Who is like us on a longer trip, finally wants nothing that must be replaced every few weeks.
Where did we order new tires?
Depending on your mileage and the surface you drive on, you should also regularly check your tires. If they are already rather square from driving straight, you probably won't have much fun on winding mountain roads. The workshop of confidence can certainly provide here for new tires. But there is also the option of ordering the tires yourself.
Motorradreifendirekt: Delivery to any desired address and in many countries is also a delivery to a mounting partner, which one the new tires immediately mounted, possible.
Canada:
In Canada, services and spare parts orders are somewhat more difficult due to the sheer size of the country and require more advance planning. Basically, however, the same applies as in Europe - with one address, virtually anything goes. Depending on where you are in Canada, however, you should take into account the different delivery times.
Where do we do our repairs?
Doing a repair is easier here than in Europe, because even on a hotel/motel parking lot it is less likely that someone cares if you screw on your motorcycle. This is even more true the further north you go.
Where did we order from?
We did not have to order any BMW-specific parts in Canada. In this respect, we can unfortunately not give any experience reports.
Fortnine: is comparable to Louis and the largest online retailer. Here you get everything from helmets, spare parts to tires delivered what the motorcycle heart desires.
Amazon: At amazon you can have it delivered to an address or shipping station.
Dualsportplus: Is an alternative to fortnine and also has some European brands, such as Enduristan and a large selection of tires in the range. By the way, according to the owner, they still ship tires to Alaska.
Hardware and auto supply stores: Small parts, brake cleaner, screws, etc. can be found on every corner in various auto supply stores and hardware stores. Many things are also available in supermarkets, such as Walmart. Especially in more rural or lonely areas, basic needs for repairs or services can also be found in small supermarkets or gas stations.
Shipping: Of course, there is always the option to have parts shipped from home. This is basically no problem with DHL, Fedex, UPS or the Austrian Post. The shipping time depends on how much you are willing to pay. Here, however, it is important to note the issue of customs and taxes, which are still added.
USA:
The land of unlimited possibilities, or in many cases rather unlimited impossibilities.
In the USA, you should definitely exercise patience and read the famous "fine print". Delivery times are highly dependent on where you order from (if they deliver to that corner at all). Most of the time, it is also not stated how long the delivery will take, but only when it will be shipped. In addition, the costs for return shipping are in most cases to be borne by the customer.
Where do we do our repairs?
Americans are extremely helpful. Borrowing a tool or doing a repair in someone else's garage is usually no problem. If you have to repair something in a parking lot, it usually doesn't take very long before the first offer comes to do it in someone's garage at home.
However, caution is advised with official motorcycle dealers. Repairs not related to the brand are often not carried out, with the indication that they do not know what they are doing. This can also be simple things like changing a chain. Whether this is because they really do not know their way around or because stores in the USA are regularly sued, we could not find out.
Where did we order from?
Cyclegear: Cyclegear, Revzilla and J&P-Cycles all belong to a parent company and also have a very similar range. We ordered everything from Cyclegear (including our tires twice) because they have their own dealer network. You can also order the goods there and return them without any problems if necessary. The advantage for us as travelers was that the goods ordered to the store could be picked up within 30 days. At some Cyclegear stores, you can also have your tires changed at a reasonable price.
The other two are online-only stores, only ship to one address, and you pay for return shipping on returned goods.
Bmwpartsuniverse (link only works in the USA): This is the ordering platform of BMW USA. You can have your parts ordered to one address or to a BMW dealer. However, no stock levels or delivery times are shown.
BMW dealers: When we needed to order multiple parts, we usually tried directly through the appropriate BMW dealers. With these, we as travelers could also usually specify a time period by when we would pick up the parts.
Especially for BMW parts, if something has to be delivered from Germany, it can take 4-8 weeks! (see also blog post #14 Are the F 800 GS and F 700 GS suitable as a motorcycle for a world trip?)
Amazon: An address or shipping station and everything is delivered and within the specified time. No matter if in Canada or at home! But for Prime deliveries you have to open your own account in the respective country. Normal orders without Prime also work with the account from home, but then there is no free return shipping.
Hardware and auto supply stores:
As in Canada, you can find the usual small parts, cleaners, liquids, screws, etc. at every corner in various auto supply stores and hardware stores. Much of it is also available in supermarkets. Walmart also has its own departments just for vehicles at some locations and at some stores they will even put the tires on the rims, even if you ordered the tires elsewhere.
Shipping: see Canada.
To be continued! - We'll let you know how we continue with these topics on the road!
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