How to equip yourself for an off-road endurance race? Bikers and motorcycles

The Gibraltar Race, what's it all about? 12 days of racing, 200 to 300 km of off-road daily, 5000 km in total with road connections: that's the picture. It just so happens that this motorcycle endurance and navigation race is my next challenge! In another article, I've already explained my preparation for the race (physical, navigation, technical, mechanical, etc.). Now I'm going to share with you the equipment aspects. How did I accessorize my Yamaha T700? What biker gear did I choose for this challenge in the pure trail spirit? I'll tell you all about it.

Must-have crash protection accessories

The Yamaha Ténéré 700 is, in my opinion, the ideal bike for this kind of event. It's got plenty of travel, generous ground clearance and, above all, a kick-ass engine. But before you hit the trails, it needs a little protection. So I fitted SW Motech crankcase guards to minimize engine damage in the event of a fall, and an AXP engine mount. Why do I like this model? It's super wrap-around, very light and effectively protects the exposed water pump.

----> SW-Motech Yamaha TÉNÉRÉ 700 fairings

----> AXP PHD Enduro Shoe Black (AX1564) Yamaha 700 TÉNÉRÉ 19-20

To preserve my 10 fingers even after my daily ration of bowls, I installed Cycra handguards. Aluminum frames, two attachment points, ultra-resistant plastic shells, they're perfect for our anvils. Er, maxi-trails, sorry.

Finally, the original mirrors have been replaced by Doubletake Adventure models. It's simple: I always fit them on all my bikes. They've proved their worth.

----> CYCRA ULTRA PROBEND HCM 28mm handguards

----> Doubletake ADVENTURE mirrors + XL arms + M10/125 balls + booster and adapter

Improving comfort for long off-road rides

The Gibraltar Race is a 12-day event with almost 5000 kilometers to cover. A real endurance event! What have I installed to take it easy? A Camel Adv brake pedal for incisive and efficient braking of the rear foot, which is normally rather soft. This means you don't strain your right foot as much. In the same vein, the Camel Adv clutch multiplier extends the slipping range and, above all, reduces the effort required to apply the lever. Life-changing!

----> Camel ADV The Fix brake pedal Yamaha TÉNÉRÉ 700

----> Camel ADV Products clutch multiplier Yamaha Ténéré 700

The original suspensions are a bit soft, so I changed them: suspension at the rear and cartridge/spring at the front. Which brand did I choose? Ohlins. I've nothing to say. It's just great.

Finally, I replaced the muffler with a Zard Inox silencer. How's that for comfort, you may ask? Well, it weighs almost 2 kilos less than the original. And when you have to lift the bike 15 times in one day, that's a welcome weight saving.

What motorcycle luggage should I choose for an off-road raid?

During the Gibraltar Race, I'll only need to carry my equipment in case of bad weather, my tools and a few spare parts. And yes, I'll need to be self-sufficient in the event of a puncture or minor mechanical problem.

Which solution did I choose? The GIVI GRT723 saddle bag. In it, I'll put my rain suit, levers, spare shifter and the essential rilsans and US tape. In my opinion, this is the most sensible place on the bike, as it doesn't alter the bike's shape and doesn't hinder my freedom of movement.

What about tools? I'll be sticking with the little Givi toolbox that's been with me for years. Waterproof and compact, it fits between the case holder and the fairing. As for my Swiss Army knife, it's not really Swiss, since it's designed and manufactured in the USA. It's a Leatherman Charge +, a practical little gem that combines no less than 19 tools in one clip!

----> Givi GRT723 40 Liters MONOKEY motorcycle saddle bag

----> Givi S250 toolbox for Monokey PL/PL-CAM side mounts

How to design your cockpit?

As you'll understand, the Gibraltar Race also involves a good deal of navigation. As I explained in this article, it' s also an orienteering and regularity race. Miss a waypoint? Penalties. Are you running late? Penalties. Finish early? Penalties. So I fitted out my cockpit to accommodate stopwatches and guidance systems.

The Rally Motoboxer fork head met all my criteria. It can be fitted in place of the original, with a few electrical modifications that remain accessible. It has slots for mounting the road-book and stopwatches, as well as my Samsung Tab active 3 tablet on a Ram Mount powered bracket.

The ultimate in ergonomics? The Carp Iter adventure remote control. 3 buttons and a joystick that you mount next to the commodos. There you go, no need to manipulate the tablet screen! It's not only practical, it's safe too.

----> Rally Motoboxer fork head 2 LED lights Yamaha TÉNÉRÉ 700

----> RAM MOUNT connected stand for Samsung Tab Active2/3 - RAM-HOL-SAM60P-V7B1U

----> Carp remote control Iter ADVENTURE

The challenge for my biker gear? To combine protection in the event of an off-road crash, abrasion resistance on the road stages and comfort, as this endurance race lasts 12 days. The Gibraltar Race is a challenge in the true trail spirit!

The essentials: jacket, pants, helmet, gloves and boots

Let's start with the headgear. Being a big fan of high-quality Klim, I'll be wearing the Krios Pro-Charger model, complete with Scott prospect Enduro masks. Equally at home on the road or off-road, this helmet weighs in at a featherweight 1200g! My neck will thank me for this choice after 12 days of motorized gymnastics. For gloves, I'll be alternating between the Klim Mojave Pro and the Enduro T.ur G-Three. It's the model worn by the winner of the Africa Eco Race, so it's sure to help! Superstition? No, not at all.

----> Klim KRIOS PRO CHARGER GRAY helmet

----> Scott PROSPECT ENDURO Light Sensitive 2023 Camo cross face mask

----> T.UR G-THREE enduro motorcycle gloves

As for the jacket, I opted for a Klim Baja S4. What makes it special? It's particularly well-suited to off-road riding in hot weather. Ventilated, lightweight and reassuring, it's perfect for tackling the Iberian heatwave. In terms of pants, I'll be wearing the Klim Baja S4 for hot-weather special events, and the Dakar OTB model when temperatures are reasonable.

I'm sticking with my pair of Toucan Gore Tex boots from Alpinestars, which I've been wearing for 1 year. Waterproof thanks to their Goretex membrane, ultra-comfortable thanks to the accordion leather and highly protective, they're the perfect shoe! I'm just as comfortable on the road as I am off-road.

----> Klim BAJA S4 2020 motorcycle jacket

----> Klim BAJA S4 motorcycle pants

----> Enduro pants KLIM DAKAR OTB

Additional protection: back protector, airbag, braces

I'll trust my Klim airbag to keep me safe from falls. I've been wearing it for years. Detection and inflation in 55ms. Can you believe it? Before you know it, it's already protecting you. To complete the package, I'm riding with a Furygan level 2 back protector. What does level 2 protection mean? The spinal armor bible is here. You'll think I'm overdoing it, but I'm going to supplement the already excellent protection of these two pairs of pants with Leatt X-Frame knee braces. Much more than just knee pads, these are real medical devices that protect menisci and front cruciate ligaments. The best of the best!

----> Airbag vest Klim A1-1

----> Furygan/Klim D3O level 2 motorcycle back protector for AIRBAG INMOTION

----> Leatt X-FRAME HYBRID Orthesis knee pads

Underlays and rain gear

As close to the body as possible, I'd opt for technical underwear that's as breathable as possible, such as the Aggressor Cool thermal jersey. By the way, have you heard of the 3-layer rule? If not, check out this article.

Okay, so it'll be muy caliente in the Spanish rock, but what if it rains? In case of rain, I'll have my Scott Ergonomic pants and rain jacket in my saddlebag. And yes, it has the advantage of being able to fold into a small storage pocket like a K-way.

And if I can't collect rainwater while riding, I can always rely on the 2-liter reserve of my old Hydrapak Klim. Still in great condition even after 8 years of intensive use.

Well, I think we've covered everything, haven't we? Motorcycle protection, navigation gear, rider equipment, it's all there. And if you have any questions about my physical and technical preparation, we've already devoted an article to the subject. In the meantime, I'm back in training, as the Gibraltar Race is just around the corner. Tick tock, tick tock...