a trip to the moon

KTM LC4 LSE 400 Military - model 2004
- a motorcycle chosen by the “Bundeswehr” to replace its old fleet of Hercules K125. They had to chose between BMW F650 GS and KTM LC4. The one from Austria won. The Dutchman made the same decision on their turn. KTM LC4 LSE 400 Military is a limited edition (2900 pieces) an my “Antilopa GNU” has 6400 km on board (previosly owned by Bundeswehr).

Details:
- 398 CM3
- 148 kg dry weight / 178 kg full weight
- top-speed: 130 km/h - electronicaly limited
- power: 39 HP - engine detuned for robustness (it can be overwriten but it feels strong enough like this and I think the Army knows why they’ve asked for this)
- works with 91 octane gasoline (or higher) but also with any lower octane if the engine is switched in the low octane mode
- 18L Acerbis fuel-tank
- reinforced frame/tail - max weight: 380kg
- heated grips in 2 stages
- Acerbis hand protectors
- 12V plug in cockpit
- Big 950 Adventurer battery
- side and main standers
- electric and kick start
- hydraulick clutch (that’s standard on a KTM)
- enduro foot pegs for driver
- 16:50 Sprockets (the standard LSE has 15:45)
- 90/90-21 and 140/80-18 Metzeler Sahara 3 tires
- WP Suspension
- very solid luggage frame from Hepko&Becker
- Topcase and Panniers from Hepko&Becker (we were very close to using soft Ortlieb waterproof side bags but took the old H&B because they can be locked. We had an Aluminium attempt as well a few months ago but various reasons let us into giving them up)
- MX rollbag (Cri will return with the topcase and I will replace it with the rollbag)
- KTM Tank Rucksack
- Scottoiler chain lubrication system
- Scottoiler cruise control(”bucatica de plastic”)

Spare parts and tools that we are carrying:

- 1 front and 1 rear MEFO explorer 99 Tyres (I expect to change to them in Almaty, Kazachstan and have them till Alaska where I should be able to get another change; It’s kind of impossible to find 21in spare tyres in ex-USSR since they are not used on Urals)
- 2X2 Oil filters
- 1 bottle of Castrol air filter cleaner and 1 air filter spray
- 1l 10W50 Castrol oil - for refilling
- DID 520 X-Ring chain and 17:50 sprockets
- 200g Brake fluid
- 4 Iridium NGSK spark plugs
- fuses, bulbs
- tyre repair kit (you can fix a punture without removing the tyre with it). It contains 3 compressed CO2 bullets for instant inflation.
- foot pump as back-up
- breake, clutch and gear levers
- brake cable and nipple
- Leatherman TTi Charger multitool
- oil/spark plug keys
- tape! this is the modern “sarma”.
- ABUS chain and ABUS brake disk lock.
- Louis coverall.

Navigation, Entertainment, Photo, Video, Electronics:
- Garmin 60CSx - uses SD cards (stores waypoints and routes so you can go limitless), electronic compass, barometric altimeter, point track log, very rugged antenna, one-hand operational, waterproof case, excelent piece of joy. I’ve mounted it on the handlebar
- Oregon Scientific bullet video cammera - Attached to the helmet, writes on a SD card
- Nikon D80 with 50mm/f1.8 Nikkon and 12-24mm/f4 Tokina lenses. I’ve given up the 80-200mm/f2.8 Nikon lense as it is to bulky, heavy and eye catching. UV and Polarization filters with a bunch of spare SD cards. The camera writes on SD cards.
- Polaroid instant camera with 7×10 films (to leave memories).
- Wolverine external HDD. You plug an SD card in it, press a button and it takes all the data from the card and puts it on the HDD. It has it’s own battery, so you don’t need a laptop with you. It charges through USB(from the USB charger adaptor that I’m carrying) or from 220 (from the 12v-220V converter that I am carrying).
- Petzl Tika headlight

- motorcycle to car 12v plug adapter
- 12v USB charger (for the iphone, phone)
- 12v GPS addaptor (to run the GPS without batteries)
- AA&AAA battery charger
- 12v to 220V converter
- 8 rechargeble AA batteries
- helmets intercom (so we can talk to each other while we ride..though.. I’m not sure I want that)

Clothing:
Cri:
- Probiker Textile jacket and Trousers.
- Probiker Touring Leather boots.
- Probiker Synthese Helmet (has flip-up function)
- Buse leather touring gloves

Dan
- Madhead S8 Textile Jacket. Waterproof, 8 Waterproof pockets
- Madhead S8 Textile Trousers. Waterproof. 2 Waterproof pockets and 2 non.
- Axo Boxer Cross Boots.
- Airoh S8 Helmet (can be converted from enduro to integral helmet)
- Arctic Cat face and neck protector
- Caffe Racer ledder gloves and Madhead S8 gloves.
- 4 T-shirts, 1 puly, underware and socks. Teva sandals.

Medical:
- water purification tablets (I bought a set of 960 pills from the British Army so I have plenty to give if anybody needs some. You use 1 pill/1L of water).
- mosquito spray
- antibiotics, cremes, furazolidon and dulcolax (for the happy-moments), anti-alergic, anti-inflamator, bandages, all that other stuff.

Other stuff
- pocketcomms - because you can’t draw to save your life
- maps
- LonelyPlanet books
- Journal
- charcoal pen
- a watch