Overland To Egypt


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The Bike


One chain, an Iwis Megalife supplied by experts, Sprockets Unlimtied, outlasted both rides. This company are undoubtedly the UK's leading suppliers of chain and sprockets for classic and vintage motorcycles. Their advice and service are also first class.


I used a 12 volt top quality
Yuasa battery on my Bantam to power indicators, horn, Sat Nav and a daylight runniung light.
The Yuasa website also has some useful information on battery maintenance and how to select a battery for your bike.


I’ve tried to fit stainless steel fittings to the bike where possible.
Halcyon, famous for their motorcycle goggles, make beautiful handlebar and bar-end mirrors with most components stainless.
I’ve chosen a pair of their Stadium 850 handlebar mounted mirrors.


The gearbox oil drips onto the main bearings on late Bantam engines such as the D14/4 I used.
Penrite oil did a fantastic job preserving my engine on my 2008 ride to India and so I used their 20/50 multigrade in my Bantam's gearbox for this journey.


Poorly stored, contaminated petrol was an issue on my ride to India. This time I fit an In-Line Alloy Fuel Filter from UK supplier AJS Motorcycles. This has a replaceble micro mesh filter and is far more robust than the more commonly available glass bowl type filters.


Burlen Fuel Systems kindly provided a major repair kit in case of damage to my Amal carburettor. This comprises everything needed to ensure smooth running, including float, needle valve and gaskets.


I ran the bike all day with its lights on, so used an LED tail light and a quartz halogen 10W, 12V bulb as a daytime running light fitted into the pilot light hole. Both draw minimal current. All bulbs came from Paul Goff, a specialist supplier of classic motorcycle electrical parts.


Bantam spares for the journey were supplied by Bournemouth Bantams. Parts include clutch plates and a clutch extractor, wheel bearings, gaskets, crank seals, rectifier, condenser, points, spark plugs, gear and kickstart rubbers and assorted nuts and bolts.


© 2012 Gordon G. May. All Rights reserved. | info@overlandtoegypt.co.uk

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