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TIRES

There should be an entire section of the internet devoted to conversations about which motorcycle tires are best.

I've been down some nasty roads in my time, so I look for something that can grip the rugged dirt and mud, while also keeping the bike steady on slippery wet pavement. Plus, I like to get as many miles out of a single set so that I won't have to change them as often.

So after thousands of miles and a few years of trial and error, the following are my preferred tires:

Front Tire

The Continental Twinduro TKC80 is a pretty aggressive front tire, but for me, that is where I want to have more traction. From cutting through rocks and mud, I like that the front tire is able to grip and slice through nasty terrain.

Rear Tire

The rear tire is the driving force to keep pushing the bike forward. I like how the MotoZ Tractionator GPS Dual Sport has a thin center strip of rubber that helps to get more miles out of the tire, but still has a pretty aggressive tread pattern. When available, and it hasn't always been in other hemispheres, this front and rear tire set-up is my preferred combo.

SEATS

Seat Cushions

I am on the never-ending quest to make my butt more comfortable. And unfortunately, the stock seats from KTM just weren't doing the job. So Marisa and I both have Airhawk Cushions which we highly recommend as they have doubled our riding distance tolerance. And because Marisa's pillion seat is narrow, she puts a cutting board underneath her Airhawk in order to widen the seat, and says it works well. I believe there's no need to buy all new custom seats when you can just have an Airhawk.

But what about that sheepskin?

These days, we cover up our Airhawks with a sheepskin that we bought in Peru. We call it "Jon Snow". We thought it would make the seats even more comfortable, but all that fluffiness gets patted down pretty quickly. Now we just keep the sheepskin for looks more than anything else. So if you're wondering, it's the Airhawk cushions underneath that actually provide the most comfort.

Sissy Bar

For Marisa's back to be comfortable, I did not buy a sissy bar, but made one out of a metal hose rack instead . Then I purchased a little seat cushion and bolted it on. This worked fabulously for about two years until the hose rack finally rusted through and broke.

But because our back bag is soft and filled with our sleeping bag, Marisa is perfectly comfortable now without the sissy bar.

CRASH PROTECTION

I'll admit it, the bike has been known to take a nap every once in a while. So for those instances, I've purchased some upgrades that help keep her all in one piece.

Our Barkbuster Hand-Guards haven't snapped off yet after countless drops, and a couple of power slides. A great investment to keep your levers safe.

We also have Double-Take Collapsible Mirrors so that when the bike goes down, the mirrors just fold in on themselves as they are attached to RAM mounts. You can adjust them however you want. This has been a great purchase, and I wouldn't have any other mirrors.

Finally, we have Rumbux crash bars and a bottom skid plate to help protect against any injury to our motorcycle's internal organs. These things have all worked fabulously.

THEFT PROTECTION

Even though we've ridden through many countries across the world, the only time someone tried to steal our bike was in our own backyard in the US. Thankfully, they were unsuccessful, but it just goes to show that it's important to take precautions against theft no matter where you are.

When I have to leave the bike, I put a Grip Lock on the break lever so no one can push it from where I left it. The lock is brightly colored and is a cheap deterrent that can help prevent your bike from being stolen.

TOOLS & FIXES

There has never been a great motorcycle adventure that did not involve some sort of breakdown. So far, we've been lucky enough to either fix our problems on the spot, or be able to get the motorcycle to a place where it can be fixed. Still, it's always best to be prepared.

I can't tell you how many times we used our indispensable Slime Motorcycle Air Compressor for keeping our tires properly inflated, and our Plug Kit to fix flat tires (tubeless). This combo has gotten us out of trouble in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and now throughout Africa as well.

We also have a Micro Start XP-10 Jump Starter to jump the bike in an emergency. We thankfully have never needed to use this on the trip, but it did successfully jump the bike back to life in the cold Midwestern winters at home.

And one last thing - duct tape and zip ties can fix pretty much anything. In fact, by the time we got to Ushuaia, Argentina, my whole motorcycle was practically zip-tied together. And it survived! Add that to rubber cement, JB Weld, and super glue, and you can get yourself out of almost any situation.

What's in my toolbox?

People always want to know what tools I've found indispensable and what spare parts I carry with me. So besides the stock KTM tool kit, I also keep tire irons with me, and a few extra screws, nuts, and bolts. Additionally, I carry extra oil drain plugs, a headlight bulb, and brake pads along with an assortment of wrenches and a pair of vice grips. Finding these simple parts has been tough in Latin America, and even more so in Africa, so they're good to have on-hand. And most importantly, I keep it all in ziplock bags to protect my tools from rusting since rain and humidity seems to find its way into everything when traveling on a motorcycle.

GAS, ELECTRONICS, & LIGHT UPGRADES

Gas

There are few things worse than running out of gas. We've had some close calls (especially in Chile and Argentina), but this handy extra 1 Gallon RotopaX has saved us on many an occasion. It fits discretely right on the inside of my pannier. In fact, in Bolivia where gasoline was hard to purchase, filling up with this canister one gallon at a time was the only way for us to fill up sometimes.

For countries with questionable petrol, I used a Gas Tank Fuel Filter Sock. It's a simple concept - it's just a fine net that catches all the grime before it gets into your gas tank. Only problem was it made it hard to pump gas. So for the US I've removed it.

Electronics

I also upgraded our electrical system using a PDM Power Distribution Module with outlets all around the bike to charge our phones and GPS, etc. This is essential for me to have my navigation (phone) running all the time so it can get me to where I need to go. The Distribution Module is a great device, simple to install.

The way in which I can charge my phone while I ride (or anything else with a USB) is through the tank-bag using a surface SAE Connector which I hook directly to my battery via the PDM. I then route it through my tank-bag using a separate Entry Cable Adapter, and then finally convert it to two USB Ports. Also, Magnetic Charging Cords come in real handy as they protect your phone's charging port from damage done by all the bumps of the road.

Lights

This isn't just about riding at night. Having auxiliary lights is essential for deterring any type of traffic from hitting you. I don't know why oncoming traffic in Peru and Tanzania likes to drift into our lane, but these lights let everyone know that we exist.

So I have the best out there - Ruby R4's. We love this company, and had the honor of personally meeting them at an expo. Based out of Idaho, these all-American made lights are 8,000 beautiful lumens for both distance and spot-lighting. Having a setup like this is life saving when on the road, and we've found that Ruby dishes out a better deal than anything else of equal brightness out there.

Lesser quality, but still works - Before we advanced to Ruby level, we used to have Auxbeam 4" Auxiliary Lights with the Mounting Kit, and an On/Off Toggle. This set from Amazon wasn't particularly bright, but it did not fail me after years of use through rain and hail.

WIND & COLD UPGRADES

Windshield

Some people like the tiny windshield that most adventure bikes come with. But I prefer a tall windshield that actually, you know, shields me from the wind.

The Puig Tall Windshield is so tall, it makes me think I may decapitate myself if I fall forward while riding off-road. Hopefully it will be a nice clean cut under the chin of my helmet, severing my head without pain or discomfort. But it is nice on the highways. I like the Puig Windshield much better than the Genuine KTM 1190 Adventure Tall Windscreen which did not block as much wind.

Heated Grips

Like most all-weather riders, I was really looking forward to having heated grips. Unfortunately, the KTM Heated Grips are only slightly awesome. If it's 65 degrees, and you want it to be 67 degrees, they work great... for any real cold weather, they don't do all that much, even when cranked on high. But this may just be these particular ones, since most everyone else on the planet love their heated grips.

PERFORMANCE UPGRADES

Airbox

Every motorcycle has its weaknesses, and the KTM 1190 is no different. From the beginning, I knew that improving the airbox was very important for the bike's longevity.

Powercell Pod Air Intakes are a critical upgrade. They work amazingly, and the KTM Powershop in Bogotá, Colombia, said they had never seen an 1190 with such clean intakes as ours! For all KTM 1190 riders out there, we highly recommend these.