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Whilst running in the bike and crossing Europe and Turkey, I will be using an Iwis Nano chain. it utilises groundbreaking Nano technology on the bearing areas of the chain, resulting in a 50% improvement in chain life.
Iwis chains are Made in Germany from high quality, quenched, tempered and case-hardened steels. They are pre-stretched with shouldered pins and have a high fatigue strength and superior wear resistance. Once I reach the dry and dusty regions of Iran and Pakistan, I will change to an Iwis Megalife chain. This chain has a silver coloured coating that ensures it will not rust and special bushes which are sintered. This means it can be run dry or with minimal lubrication and therefore not easily pick up dust or sand. Contact: UK dealers: Sprockets Unlimited Tel: (+44) 01386 831341


I chose a
Yuasa battery as engine-builder Andy Berry swears by them. His experience is they hold their charge far better than other battery makes he has tried. We upgreded the electrics on my bike to 12 volts, so I fitted a Super MF YTX7L-BS battery. The Yuasa website is well worth a look as it has some useful information on battery maintenance and how to select a battery for your bike. Contact: Tel: (+44) 08708 500257 (sales); 08708 500259 (technical)


I have used
Maldon Shot Blasting & Powder Coating to powder coat all the parts likely to be subjected to rough treatment. They have a scaled approach to their work, with a choice of guarantees on finishes ranging from 1 to 10 years. Of special note is the finish they have used on the sump guard, crash bars and luggage racks. Using an new ultra-tough preparation from Dupont, the team at Maldon are confident that the finish will survive the rigours of the journey. Contact: Unit 2a Benbridge Industrial Estate, Heybridge, Maldon, Essex CM9 4ER Tel: (+44) 01621 841100


My bike's rims and spokes were completely shot. I sent the hubs to wheel experts
Central Wheel Components who rebuilt them using stainless steel rims and spokes. The result is a superb finish that won't rust. The company also provided spare spokes for the journey. Central Wheels sister business, Wheel House Tyres, also sell motorcycle tyres suitable for classics. I chose to fit Dunlop K70s as they're a good all-purpose tyre with a reasonable amount of tread if road conditions deteriorate. They also look in keeping on a classic bike. Contact: Wheel House, 8 & 9 Station Road, Coleshill, Birmingham, B46 1HT Tel: (+44) 01621 841100


Polishing alloy motorcycle parts must be one of the dirtiest jobs known to man! I visited ace polisher Mick Farrant of
Alloy Polishiong Service in 2002 and wrote a feature of him polishing a Bullet engine in The Bullet-In magazine. Mick polished the crankcases, primary, timing, gearbox and rockerbox covers on the 1953 Bullet to a mirror-like finish. Contact: Alloy Polishing Service, Unit 10 Drakes Holdings, Ferry Road, Fiskerton , Lincoln, LN3 4HU. Tel: (+44) 01522 753071


© 2015 Gordon G. May. All Rights reserved. | info@overlandtoindia.co.uk

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