Tea2Wine

“Although I strongly believe all bikes can be adventure bikes, I wanted to take with me something that the market didn’t have to offer, a very special bike that would be a sort of homage to all the adventure riders that had come before me. With that in mind I talked with BMW Motorrad Portugal, and they, with their shop BMW Motorrad Motomil decided to help me. Together we created a 10-year anniversary F800GS that was built by a traveler for travelers.” – José Duarte.

The Tea2Wine duo is Jose on his BMW F800G/S and his partner Charlotte on her Yamaha XT660R. The idea behind their journey is simple. “A motorcycle overland expedition in search of tea and wine.” José’s parents produce grapes for wine in their native Portugal, so when he started thinking about a “topic” for the expedition, finding wines around the world was an instinctual leap. From there, the idea of researching tea plantations and finding parallels with corresponding elements between the two drinks was a natural choice. “The final idea is that I want to learn enough to try and use tea at wine tastings to clean the palate, and be able to curate teas for meals to add to the already widely known wine and food pairings.” But for this knowledge, he would have to travel the world. So a plan was hatched for an adventure motorcycle that would suit his every need.

José idea was to create a bike that would be as versatile as possible. That meant it couldn’t be less than 330 pounds / 150 kilograms as that would make it too uncomfortable for long days on the road. Especially when big trucks or windy days are your traveling companions. It also couldn’t be above 551 pounds / 250 kilograms, as that could create some severe problems for off-road sections. So a good compromise on ride-ability and endurance had to be struck. “On the road, the motorcycle will be more than a means of transportation. It will be my house, my garage and my support truck for the next year, and that forces some special and dedicated changes.”

“Comfort was the next point, but for me, comfort goes beyond a gel seat or electronic suspension. Although I don’t oppose in any way and even see benefits to off-road ABS’s, traction control and all the other new bells and whistles, they do not come without their setbacks.” With this consideration, José decided to ditch some of the modern electronics and go fully mechanical. The use of enduro tested parts would not only shed weight but would also generate a more classic riding feel while giving full control back to the rider especially when it comes to the abuse that gets dished out to expedition motorcycles. José also notes that: “It is ok to turn off all aids every time one goes off road, but it is not ok to do so daily, or multiple times a day, especially when you have a one year journey ahead. You could end up forgetting about it and get scared out of your mind down the road when the bike doesn’t react as expected.”

So the bike was completely overhauled. A Rekluse auto clutch was fitted “It corrects any clutch feathering mistakes due to tiredness and will also help on loose terrain and steeper hills. ”Due to this modification, a new left-hand rear brake system has been fitted along with a reservoir on the handlebar. This allows activation of the rear brake via the left hand or alternatively with the traditional right foot. “It takes you to an exceptional place in your riding confidence and comfort.” Pivot Pegz also provide enhanced bike feel with better bike control by allowing smoother body weight transfer while riding. “My weight can now be shifted anywhere on the bike without having to worry if I’ll be able to reach the pedals to change gears or to use the brake.”

Most adventure riders have add-ons, from heated clothes to GPS’s that plug into the electrical system. But these accessories are usually spliced into the bikes electrical system adding extra load to the circuits. “That is just not safe when you are out on the open road, and your heated grips short-circuit your bike to a halt.” A dedicated fuse box was installed to guarantee that any malfunction with aftermarket add-ons would only damage a fuse, or at worst the accessory while leaving the bike itself unharmed and road worthy. Fuel range was also a big consideration so after reducing the bikes weight Jose’ increased the fuel capacity and re-tuned the engine mapping. “We are now with a 6.3 gallon / 24 liter tank from the F800G/S Adventure on a 456 pound / 207 kilogram fully wet bike. That allows us to get 1.2 gallons / 4.5 liters per 62 miles / 100 kilometer average with highway and city rides included and achieving even less than 1 gallon / 4 liters if I stick to B roads and light off-road. That will allow me more than 310 miles / 500 kilometers on average between refuels.”

A WP Suspension 48mm close chamber set of forks with 270 millimeters of travel work in tandem with a Mupo rear shock. The rear shocks frame mounting point was also reinforced to handle the extra weight that gets loaded into the Enduristan soft panniers. A Scotts steering damper and an Xtrig handlebar riser sit below a Renthal Twinwall handlebar. An oversized 320mm front brake disk with a Moto-Master 4 piston brake caliper now works along with a 2015 F800GS front brake master cylinder. The wheels have been rebuilt with SM Pro rims and Bulldog spokes in the stock sizes. They now run a set of Continental TKC 80’s. A Modified 2013 F800G/S fairing sits well with the custom built instrument tower that houses a Lazer Lamp Spot Light and aftermarket light bar. A modified R1200G/S screen protects against the elements although José plans to switch this out for a taller screen for increased wind protection during the trip. Also up front is a set of suspension guards and a dirt style fender. A BMW OEM bash plate and crash bars protect the engine from any unforeseen impacts on the long road to come.

Other small upgrades include a cooling fan bypass so the fan can be switched on and off as needed. Another custom bypass switch also allows the fuel pump to be activated without having the engine running. Along with a dedicated T split installed on the fuel line the tank can now be drained on command. “Contaminated fuel that needs draining as soon as possible, filling up the cooking stove, or just giving a few liters to a mate in need is now an easy task.” An external plug for the onboard tire compressor was also fitted along with another connector that is directly run to the battery making it possible to either jump-start the bike or give a battery bump to anyone in need without having to remove cumbersome plastics. A complete QD exhaust replaces the stock shaving off some weight and bringing an agreeable upgrade to looks and performance while a custom-built seat now also cushions the long hours in the saddle.

“I was supposed to go alone. However, Charlotte decided in August 2017 to learn how to ride a bike. She got her license and purchased an XT660R so she could drive the 62137 miles / 100000 kilometers that we are aiming for on this expedition. Not only is she blowing my mind on how much she learned in the past half a year, but its so inspiring to see someone go from never having been on a bike, to a world traveler that is building her own bike in the space of 6 months.” José feels that this aspect of learning and sharing is key to what makes Tea2Wine special. “Although people can support us with our Patreon account, all the information we have will be shared for free all over our media. Everything from the preparation of the expedition to our day to day on the road, not forgetting about everything we will learn about tea and wine!”

And reflecting on his own journey and experiences up until this point José remarks. “About five years ago I found myself managing a project in Portugal that had a garage where we would modify a lot of dual sports bikes, where I would teach classes both practical and theoretical, from maintenance to riding techniques and where we also did off-road tours around the country. I was fortunate during those years to have met world travelers that stopped by our shop, but I also saw a lot of my students going out into the world on the bikes we prepared, and with the training we gave them. That was extremely inspiring! Two years ago when I left the project I decided, now it’s my turn to go. So I decided to create the kind of expedition I would’ve loved to follow when I started dreaming about motorcycle adventures.”

José and Charlotte set off on their trip on the 21st of March and is currently working their way across Eastern Europe. You can follow their journey on Instagram stories, YouTube, Facebook or on Twitter.

Motorcycle images taken by João Krull, follow him on Instagram.