5 Easy Ways to Make Right Decisions on a Motorcycle Trip?

[@motorcycleadventures]

If you want to learn more about the long motorcycle trips check the rest of the videos in the channel or buy my book: "How to become a better long distance motorcycle rider" rtw-adventures.com/books-1.html

[@johnpali5894]

Pavlin I like your tutorial videos, but I love the ones that start “ I was riding with Dima “ . I think your best story’s start with You and Dima. Great information on this video as usual. Thanks for sharing.

[@publicNickname]

I'm not an adventure rider myself, but I do love your videos and your tipps. The stuff you say is just so simple and practical without any fluff. Great content overall. Thank you!

[@motorcycleadventures]

You are always welcome!

[@allanb52]

Your videos keep getting better and useful for me. My life is split between campervan and Vespa adventures in Europe from my summer base in central Portugal...and my winters in south-east Asia from my base in NE Thailand, where I have an Enfield Meteor 350 and access to a few other bikes..and a pickup truck to cut the long highway dangers. I am 71 and semi-retired and looking for adventure all the time, centered around my age and health related ability and always take the missus. To other older people out there who are bored being a couch potato, get a bike and ride, listen to Pav and do what you can, start with short easy trips, ride at an easy pace and one thing Pav doesn't tell you, ride with your lady... 3 reasons:- 1. Not only are you physically close, but emotionally close too. 2. I claim its safer too, as 2 pairs of eyes and ears are far better than one. 3. And because you hold a loved one's life in your hands you will ride more sensibly, you will have more time, to stop, look around, explore and chat. Maybe you should look at us older riders and those with willing spouses, offer some advise? Thanks for your good work.

[@drewwilson636]

Pavlin, you never fail to impress with your direct, open and honest outlook.... Keep up the great work

[@motorcycleadventures]

I will, thanks Drew!

[@dilwyn1]

@@motorcycleadventures Great video ... Great advice too.

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks!

[@terryhaught9976]

Long video, but Pavlin l really enjoyed it, lots of just common sense decisions!

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks Terry!

[@markoukic6328]

Pavel, you are absolutely right about difference between east and west. I'm from Croatia but drive a truck in Canada. Westerners are so limited in their thinking. Where they see problem we see many solutions. Have 100 stories about we helping them deep in the bush on oilfields in our 1st winter in Canada. Keep doing what you do and maybe we'll meet somewhere on the road when I go back to Europe

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks Marko!

[@ivanstoimenov9762]

Абсолютно съгласен. Стратегическото мислене е ключът към успешната реализация. Доброто планиране в цялостен мащаб и решенията които са насочени в перспектива.

[@motorcycleadventures]

Мерси за отделеното време Иване!

[@ivanstoimenov9762]

Следя с интерес.

[@mikemarthaller8789]

Once again I'm reminded why I find your site so valuable. It is about thinking. Not just HOW But of greater importance, WHY

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks Mike!

[@MrJchen1]

I appreciate your very practical thoughts and wisdom. Great video. 👍

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks!

[@pmg1772]

Pavlin , You are great ! I watch many of your video , but this one is the best ! You are ( again ! ) 100% right ! Well done !

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks George!

[@tommybarbarossa]

Pavlin, Du bist EINMALIG!!! You are soooo special!!! Tommy from Bavaria/munich

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks Tommy, but I am the same as you and 99% of the riders around the world!

[@tommybarbarossa]

I didn t tell, I am not special. But you are really a very cool person. I learned a lot from you. And I was laugthing also about your jockes!!! Only want to say thank you Pavlin for sharing your experiences, Tommy

[@motorcycleadventures]

You are welcome anytime Tommy!

[@RevelatorAlf]

This is exactly right. so many people miss the point and get in a bigger problem by not evaluating all the information and being the whole picture. Great video thanks

[@motorcycleadventures]

True

[@andreass3930]

Well done Pavlin. I agree 100% with your way of thinking. Good Video, simple, straight and comprehensive.

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thank you Andreas!

[@normandegeorge6526]

Pavlin I always like your stories. They come from experience and not bullshit!

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks Norman!

[@samehsouissi6986]

We need to see Dima on another adventure with you. Dima is a legend.

[@motorcycleadventures]

Agree, he is a legend!

[@dimitry4463]

Very insightful, thank you

[@gerardomusano6919]

You said every thing perfect this time I always hear my voice from inside when I have to make a decision.

[@motorcycleadventures]

Good! Thanks for taking the time again Gerardo!

[@herethereandelsewhere1941]

We are lucky in western Europe to have these repair cans available from any supermarket, just put one in your registered luggage. Get as well those kits from motorbike shops with insight rubber seams, it weights nothing, and can help a lot. Very small investment. For all the rest, use local resources! As a foreigner, you always have 100% support, trust me! I lived those incidents a lot of times, by bike or car. Locals are just amazing help for your travels. Just ask, even in another language, no problem ever! Just be polite and smiling, you'll get every solution you need! You'll always find some help, and big smiles in return!!! Ride long, ride safe!

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks man!

[@anif3910]

Your decision is correct at time the at the place and that situation. 👍

[@motorcycleadventures]

Exactly my friend!

[@carloscarvalho1961]

The last story about the desert is very a wise one! Some year ago two portuguese brothers died in the Maroccan desert, as far as we learned, because they took unecessary risks, they got lost and died of dehydration.

[@motorcycleadventures]

Sad to hear that, but...

[@rihanna850]

very practical tips. keep riding..

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks man!

[@stevensmith1902]

Thank you great video as usual my brother

[@marklloyd4153]

Great video . I really love your practical advice .

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks!

[@seanemma9559]

I’m now going out to purchase a mini pump and some tire repair kits. Thank you for the good “solutions”

[@motorcycleadventures]

You are welcome anytime Sean!

[@bhushantendulkar2484]

Considering the whole situation and considering your options, you took the right decision to ride down on the flat tyre by using the cylinders available with you. A tyre inflator would have helped you to travel more km by just filling air periodically. Every decision taken is right when the end result is right. So glad at the end that you are safe & ready to move further to complete the trip.

[@motorcycleadventures]

Absolutely! Thanks Bhushan!

[@marciobritorosa]

Man. You are a really big reference for me! Thanks for the advices and great insights. Did a 2.300 Km trip with a scooter last month. I know it is not the perfect bike for that, but with some planning and patience we can go very far... Greetings from Brazil.

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks Marcio! The important is to travel, no matter with what!

[@artman6789]

i think on this occasion as with all your calls you called it right. I know this because your hear to tell us about it. Ride safe Tony

[@motorcycleadventures]

Exactly Tony!

[@terryboyle]

Some seriously good life advice, suitable for a lot more situations than just motorcycle travel

[@motorcycleadventures]

Agree

[@nickb9397]

Great philosophical video Mr P ! Thanks. It does indeed apply to everything else in life too. Ha ! I hadn't seen the puncture video you refer to before I made my comment on the 'accident' video so, coincidence ? But you're absolutely right about the decision making process, the involvement of the risk assessment within this process and the bigger picture. To bore you with another, relevant recollection of my aviating days, I was once flying an unpressurised aircraft on a 5 hour flight and due to turbulent conditions over the hot ground below, decided to climb to altitude for a more comfortable ride (it would also save fuel!). After a couple of hours, I realised my fingers were a bit numb. Thinking it was the cold, I removed a glove to manipulate them and I could see they were also showing early signs of cyanosis (oxygen deprivation, appearing as a bluish tinge to the fingernails and skin), I also realised, when i spoke to the other pilot, that my face must have also been affected because my lips felt a bit numb as well ! Whoops.........I hadn't realised that I might be so affected at an altitude at only 12,000 to 13,000 feet when the other pilot was fine (later events in life indicated a possible reason for succumbing early). The decision to descend immediately was the obvious one and this is something high altitude climbers plan for too. Bear in mind that at 18,000 feet or so, there is roughly half the typical atmospheric pressure that you would experience at sea level. The pre-flight planning ought to have included this possiblity and my decision to climb narrowed the parameters of the rest of the flight and the decision making process, so I agree with you that to potentially sacrifice a tyre to improve the success of other, more pressing priorities was the only way to go. So you're right, the real problem to solve is this : Survive by the road at lower elevations with a shredded tyre or die overnight higher up the valley in sub-zero temperatures with a good inner tube fitted but unable to refit the tyre ?............................or use a softer tyre, knowing you can get it back on? I used this mentality when choosing mountainbike tyres; no need to take tyre levers and you could stuff them with grass to at least get you down the mountain ! Makes me wonder how easy/difficult it might be to change the standard tyres on my Himalayan by hand in the UK (MT60s)

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks again Nick for taking the time, watch the video and write this commend. I will definitely suggest to try your tires on the normal conditions. At least you will know what to expect.

[@hodaka1000]

When traveling on my old Hodaka 125 I would always carry patches and a simple push bike pump. The tyres were always easy to change on it anyway, but I only ever had one flat tyre while traveling, it was only leaking so I kept topping it up with the push bike pump until I got to a town with a tyre service about 20ks down the road where I bought a new tube and replaced it and inflated it with their compressed air. It's leak was caused by the rim lock chaffing the tube so latter after noticing while replacing tyres that it was still chaffing the tube and after reversing the tube and patching the chaffed part a few times while fitting new tyres I eliminated the rim lock and replaced it with a chrome dome nut and a bolt with the head ground down to cap the hole for the rim lock.

[@LeytonC]

This advice applies to just about anything adventure! and maybe some life choices as well - excellent video!

[@motorcycleadventures]

Agree. Thanks for taking the time!

[@DavidHarbottle]

Excellent. Thank you. Please keep up the great work.I'm inspired by your vids.

[@motorcycleadventures]

I will, thanks!

[@tombeckett4340]

Good video & good advice. Thanks & ride safe . 🇨🇦

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks for taking the time Tom!

[@gelatoibiza7226]

Always follow your instinct, i like to say. Thanks again for another great video.

[@motorcycleadventures]

My pleasure!

[@doughaskins3995]

Maybe consider Tubliss for your tires, or change to tubeless rims, and only buy tires you can manually swap. An electric tire pump is better than those canisters for longevity. You could add #6 here, learn from your mistakes. Great video, thank you.

[@motorcycleadventures]

You cannot ride tubeless tires on a normal wheels. The bike was not mine and it has tubes. I know what the mistakes were, but they were made before the flat tire, it as a result of the flat tire.

[@doughaskins3995]

@@motorcycleadventures It isn't possible to go back to fix this, but in future, maybe make different choices in bikes/rims/tires/pumps etc. That is all I am saying, learn from it. Future thinking, as you mentioned.

[@aspinaki]

sir, I do remember one of my tough situation. my motorcycle's rear brake was broken. I came from 17600 ft down to plain land only depending on my front brake. it took huge time, but i did it ultimately. i had no choice then, cause there is no village, no people.. almost nothing... except terrains. and heavy rains including snowfall on the upper altitude.it was around 200 km almost.

[@motorcycleadventures]

Good that you made it.

[@djeffhawk7987]

The best part is about people

[@motorcycleadventures]

Agree

[@MotoHolic]

Great tips, I think these kind of system can be applied in everyday life too, not just on motorcycle trips. Thank you!

[@motorcycleadventures]

Absolutely! No difference, the decisions need to be taken every day, not only when we ride.

[@chitaramshathasivam4586]

Quite informative.... hope to hear more from you soon...

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thank you!

[@geregivan]

just great video my friend 10++

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thank you!

[@MohammadAlilaghari]

yes it was really helpful and after seeing whole picture your decision at ladakh was right. thumps up for you

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks!

[@jfrncjr]

Drive a bike with a left broken leg, this guy surely is "heroe". It is possible and imagine that there are some shift gears that can also be changed by pressing the heel against it , instead of pushing it. Cool what he did

[@sujoydey8469]

Everyday I find something new in your channel... Keep going Pavlin !!

[@motorcycleadventures]

Great, this was the idea!

[@sabeillard]

Great tips! Thanks!

[@motorcycleadventures]

My pleasure!

[@spikeccx]

All good advice from personal experience....

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thank you Chris!

[@dougharitopulos7694]

Good advice

[@zazugee]

about the morroco one, i live in neighboring Algeria, and i believe the culture is kinda the same but the thousands dollars is a ripeoff, i remember when the borders were open, people said that in morroco, they price things differently when they know you're a tourist and sell stuff x10 more expensive to you price of transportation shoudnt exceed 100euro and renting a car or a minipickup truck is also not that expensive

[@motorcycleadventures]

It is what it is.

[@debjyotichakraborty1960]

Very useful video

[@motorcycleadventures]

I am glad that it helps, this was the idea.

[@debjyotichakraborty1960]

☺️

[@zazugee]

Going deep in the desert offoard and unassisted is suicide, i live in desert, but we never go inside it offroad for good reasons only the hardy ones who have grown as nomads or traffickers know how to survive there

[@motorcycleadventures]

I agree

[@edjd0]

I would still change the tube in your situation. Looking at the whole picture, if you're using the original CEAT tires on a Himalayan, they are not nearly as stiff as a Metzeler. Very dangerous to ride on gravel on a flat tire "as fast as you can". If you had destroyed the tire, you would be left with just the rim and no way to continue anywhere or posibly even crash. I know the altitude doesn't help but the Himalayan is "easy" to handle and change/repair the tire. Yes, I have been at that altitude with lots of equipment. I'm not saying that you did wrong or that I am right. I just think changing the the tube was a safer option. Thanks for the videos and all your advice.

[@motorcycleadventures]

On the rear I had Continental Metro. It was fine after more than 50km completely flat, but I rode with 15-20km per hour. If you are able to change the tire great, but I have a question for you: What you would do if you try to change the tire and you cannot, because of many possible reasons: no power, lack of oxygen, punch the spare tube or injure yourself?

[@edjd0]

@@motorcycleadventures I agree, but what would you do if after 1km you tire shreds to pieces? I have changed/fixed my share or tubes on adventure bikes and even if it can be hard most times, it will be my first option in that particular scenario. Again, it is what I would personally consider the safer option in that specific situation.

[@motorcycleadventures]

" what would you do if after 1km you tire shreds to pieces?" I knew what can I expect from my rear, I had similar situation many years ago with my dirt bike. I need to ride about 40km with flat tire. I know that the rear is wider, harder and if you ride it carefully you can have more than 100km before it's fall apart. With the front is different. With flat front you cannot make even 100m. As I said in one of my videos - I know my limits! You did not answer on my question! What you would do if you try to change the tire and you cannot, because of many possible reasons: no power, lack of oxygen, punch the spare tube or injure yourself?

[@edjd0]

@@motorcycleadventures I'll answer in the same way you do: No power, lack of oxygen? I know my limits. I've been at roughly 4800 meters with 40kg on my back trekking for 5+ hours. I think I can tackle a tire change at altitute. Punch spare tube or injure myself? Could happen but it could happen anywhere any time. I know my limits and know how to change a tube. How could you possibly be sure the tire would hold the distance? You may know your limits but rely on some luck too. A sharp rock can destroy it with no air pressure. There could be thousands of outcomes for every scenario. I don't think there is ONE correct answer, like you seem to think yours should be. I'm not trying to convince you, I'm just expaining why I would have chosen a different path that is not necessarily wrong. I understand why you took that desition and it is valid but it's not the only correct course of action.

[@motorcycleadventures]

I never said that it is the only one. It was the one I token at the moment and worked well for me. The idea of the video is to show you what is mean to see the full picture. To play macho in this situation will never helps. As Mike Tyson said: 'Everybody has a plan until he receive a punch in the face' You think that you can handle it and you did it are two different things. The point that you did it once is not a guarantee that you will be able to do it again. Did you consider the temperature around zero and only 3 Co containers. If you have had flat tire you should know that you might need to repeat the procedure number of time before you really succeed. How I am going to do it if I don't have air compressor or pump with me? Blow in the wents? By the way on that altitude the pumps are useless. Everything could wrong and there will be no turning bag. This is Ladakh, not walk in the park. As I said already I was pretty sure that the rear will hold at least 40-50km. After that I can walk, the point was to go at least 1000m below, where I will have a better chances to spend the night. Again you are not answering the question. You just giving me the best scenarios when everything is going well. It was simple what you would do if the plan you had didn't work?

[@gajananpatil01]

Good.

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thank you!

[@maxvb9764]

Great advices, Pavlin!

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks!

[@iSpike]

Great Advice mate Great Video

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thank you!

[@dikydiky7252]

Thank you sir, anyway in digital world we know that picture is just about bunch of pixels stuck in together so take some mistakes that we do as part of the picture that we'll present to others as experience.

[@aspinaki]

Sir, I am from India and have been watching your videos..I did lots of riding in Himalayan mountains. I also went to falut with a honda 250cc which is extremely steep. I admire you from the bottom of my heart. in youtube so many bloggers are there but no one like you. you are down to earth and close to heart. you are very rational. A separate question to you, can you suggest any one between Royal-Enfield-Himalayan, Benelli 600Gt and Harley-Davidson-Street 750? I want to buy one for my touring purpose.

[@motorcycleadventures]

From the bikes you point I will always pick the Himalayan, no doubts.

[@aspinaki]

@@motorcycleadventures thank you Sir for your advice.

[@MSMOTOVLOGS]

As always great advice..

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks man!

[@advmotorrad]

👍❤🇵🇰❤👍 respect people..👍❤

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks for taking the time!

[@mototroter]

Did you ever try to use sealing foam for your flat tire instead of patches?

[@motorcycleadventures]

No never. It works good on tubeless tires, but friend of mine complete the entire Central Asia with foam in his tube. I will definitely take one next time for cases like this.

[@mototroter]

​@@motorcycleadventures I have one but never used it too. I am afraid that it will be hard to remove tire having foam in my tube but this is better situation than to stay with flat tire in the middle of nowhere.

[@motorcycleadventures]

True

[@blues-indianer8667]

Pavlin, the flat tire problem in Ladakh could be solved quite easy ;-))) Phone Big Daddy, tell him to send a heli or the army to get you out there! But the survival crew shouldn.t forget to serve a 5 course menu in the copter and the best champagne as possible. This would be the best solution (in the mind of Donald Trumps son Barron, I pray for him every day)!! Unfortunartelay you didn.t think at this, the most easy way to get of of this shi... situation! ;-)))))))))))))) But I hope for you to become a good motorycle adventurer! Kind regards, Henry Ok, now seriously: Again a very helpful video and reasonable help when comming at such a situation in that altitude!!! It's nearly impossible there to do such a job alone.

[@elendshuraglump3620]

Hi Pavlin, in most of the topics i agree with you. But to the topic with the flat tire, i have still an other opinion. Don´t be angry on me my friend, but you didn´t made the right decision, you only had extremely much LUCK. What had you done, if the tire further on getting totally demaged? Riding on the rim? Had you knowledge at this moment , how are the road conditions the next 70 km? What had you done, if the dealer had sold his last tire 10 minutes before you arrive there? Especially, because you had the tools and a patch or a spare tube with you? Would you then still say, it was the right decision? Was you ever the master of the situation? Really? As you know by yourself, you often had good luck, but you cannot eternal count on it ... and to sell it then as right decision. To see the whole picture in this special moment, does it really help? But i accept your decision and i am glad with you, that the story ended well. Ride safe, Hans

[@motorcycleadventures]

I cannot be angry just because you have different opinion Hans. From your commend I guessed that you have never been on such an altitude. If you have been you will know that any physical activity is not easy. Even a healthy acclimatized person, like me at that moment start to feel it after few hours. For some people this could be fatal, please read more about it! To change the rear tire is a hard work even on the normal altitude. The cold weather and the remoteness make everything much risky than you can imagine. This is not Germany or Alps where you can call ADAC or friend to come in the case you fail. Over there you are on your own! Was you ever the master of the situation? Yes all the time. I knew what can I expect from my rear, I had similar situation many years ago with my dirt bike. I need to ride about 40km with flat tire. I know that the rear is wider, harder and if you ride it carefully you can have more than 100km before it's fall apart. With the front is different. With flat front you cannot make even 100m. As I said in one of my videos - I know my limits - Yes, master of the situation! If, in the worst scenario the tire was totally damaged I can always jump in one of the trucks and leave the bike there, but not before I tried everything I could. Yes, I am a lucky guy, but I never rely only on it. I knew exactly what I had to do and I did it. If you are able to change the tire great, but I have a question for you: What you would do if you try to change the tire and you cannot, because of many possible reasons: no power, lack of oxygen, punch the spare tube and injure yourself? I will repeat it again: You missing the whole picture my friend! All the best!

[@motorcycleadventures]

... and to sell it then as right decision. Common Hans, I do not sell anything, I am giving you free advice! I am giving you my experience in the situation, not the theoretical thoughts!

[@motorcycleadventures]

'To see the whole picture in this special moment, does it really help?' I believe yes! I am here to tell you the story, don't you think?

[@geregivan]

sorry my friend as you always told big BUT i much enjoing long video please make it as well

[@motorcycleadventures]

Thanks!

[@bilalmuhammed3987]

One thing which am wondering since the incident is, why you didn't use tubeless tires, and is there any downside of using them?

[@motorcycleadventures]

The bike I have is with tires with tubes. Most of the tubeless tires are on alloy wheels. It is very easy to bend it on hard terrains. Some of the new models like BMW, Yamaha and Suzuki offer now tubeless spoke wheels, which is maybe the best option at the moment.

[@bilalmuhammed3987]

Thanks for the info, I was just thinking why Himalayan has no tubeless tires being latest bike, but forgot it has rim wheel. Also there will be a tool kit which comes with every bike. Mine tool kit has a screwdriver, 2 flat spanners and a hexagonal spanner. I came to know we can change spark plug and tight the break, any other things we can do with it? And please make a video on basics repair things which we should know

[@pinkiewerewolf]

Great video... I'll simplify it; Use your head and when some fool gets a wild hair up their arse don't hesitate to tell them to eff off.

[@pppallav]

Pavlin, bring the beard back!

[@motorcycleadventures]

I will, when I go on trip again...

[@Texmotodad]

👍

[@babuchandra6666]

today i missed ur riding video....very saaad

[@motorcycleadventures]

Coming tomorrow.

[@robinwells8879]

Could this actually be sound advice for the whole of your life and not just on your bike?

[@motorcycleadventures]

True!

[@stankropiunik2539]

Bullshit ! It was an adventure trip , so a flat tire should really not matter . The ride was a success, with no major mishaps, that was the most important . A ride on the back of a pick up trip to Keylong, too should be considered an adventure .

[@motorcycleadventures]

Everything matter on that altitude and if don't know soon or later you will understand.

[@MotoHolic]

It was an adventure, for sure. But if there is a mistake isn't it better to learn from it then to repeat it again and again? Although, he did explain his reason for making this decision quite well and now looking at it made me realise that I was not looking at entire picture, but just at the problem.

[@stankropiunik2539]

@@motorcycleadventures Well ! I have ridden that circuit about six times now and there is nothing that really made me think twice . Neither the altitude nor the terrain . For some who are not well prepared, it might be a big deal . Yes ! I had an accident, on one of my trip, due to black ice on Tanglang la but it did not dampen my spirits . I repaired the bike, since I had my tool box, nursed my injuries , with the help of a few good Samaritans and carried on . I wish, I could post pictures of my bike and my injuries on here, it would motivate most .

[@motorcycleadventures]

True, thanks for the support Sergey!

[@stankropiunik2539]

@@MotoHolic The lesson should have been learnt, before the ride . Since the man in question was very aware that he was riding to an area where even air was scarce, so not to carry tools or a pneumatic pump was not such a good idea .