Here for anyone who is interested in what we are taking with us, is an almost complete list of what we packed into our alu boxes and ortlieb sacks.LIST OF EQUIPMENT WE STARTED OUT WITH.

BIKE EQUIPMENT
No ‘rocket science’ here, just common sense! The Spare parts and tools we take, will take up a lot of space and are relatively heavy, however, they will, we hope, give us more chance to help ourselves if, or when we break down.

SPARES
Bulbs, sparkplugs, fuses
Electrical cables and connectors
Small sheet each of rubber and aluminium
Tubes for tyres, valves
Throttle and clutch cables, for both bikes
Assorted nuts and bolts and washers
Litre of engine oil, grease, aluminium paste, copper paste
Oil & Air filters
Sealing paste
Fibreglass repair kit,
Clutch and brake levers
Cylinder head cover (BMW)
Black box (XT)
Ignition coil (XT)
Chain & Sprocket set & spare links(XT)
Distributor (XT)

TOOLS
BMW toolkit plus - file, metal saw, 12mm allen key nut for shaft, sandpaper
XT toolkit plus - decent pair of pliers, spanners and screwdrivers
Bit set
Various sorts of tape
Tyre levers and puncture repair kit
Pump
Handbooks for both bikes (not the minimalist ones you get with the bike)

CAMPING EQUIPMENT
Tent
Sleeping bags and liners
Sleeping mats (Thermarest)
Mosquito net
Cooker
Pots, pans, utensils and mugs
Water sacks
Head Torch (thanks Biljana)
Folding sink (Not from the kitchen though!)

RIDING EQUIPMENT

Helmets, boots gloves, scarves
Cordura type riding jackets and trousers with removable waterproof liners.
Glasses and sunglasses
Kidney belts
Earplugs
Thermal underwear
Walkie talkies & accessories
Multi charger 12V
Lots of spare keys for everything!!

CLOTHES AND STUFF

As far as clothing goes, we are not going to list every pair of pants and socks!! We will take what we normally take for a week or so away, the only question yet to be answered is do we take a pair of hiking boots or a pair of trainers?
Well we have gone for the middle road, a pair of light mid height, walking boots, as we won’t be doing any extreme hiking with heavy rucksacks, just the odd day here and there. Still not sure if we will be treading where the Incas trod, I think we will see what the oxygen situation is like when we get there :-)
A washing kit each, a first aid kit plus a day pack, round it off.
Our clothes and personal stuff will be transported in rucksacks, that will stay with us, while the bikes (together with Alu boxes etc) are being shipped. We have big Ortlieb sacks to put the rucksacks in and these will be strapped onto the back rack when riding.

A MOUNTAIN OF PAPER
I am sure that this will end up weighing much more than the tools, but it is all just as necessary. We have with us copies, colour and B&W of all original documents.

Passport and identity cards.
National driving licences.
International driving licences.
Bike ownership and registration papers.(German and International)
Health insurance documentation.
Letter of introduction in 3 languages.
Lots of spare passport pictures.
International student cards.
Address books
Journals
Book to read (only one!)
Small amount of writing paper and envelopes
Guide Books – with lots of notes already written inside:
Lonely Planet Mexico (from my last trip), Footprint Central America, Footprint South America
Maps:
Mexico & Central America 1:2.5m
South America - North 1:4m
South America – South 1:4m
Central America 1:1.7m
Peru, Equador 1:2.5m
N.Argentina 1:2.5
Chile 1:2.5m

I'm sure I have forgotton a few things..............