0If you are planning on going on a quick 5 day getaway, you would bungee strap one bag on the back of your bike and head out. However when you plan to be on the road indefinitely,or at least for a long period of time then you need to really be prepared. Unfortunately, bikes have very limited space that should not be abused. Don’t fear there are opportunities for you to be creative with it without endangering yourself and the bike.
Camping Equipment
Space is limited but so is money, if you are planning on saving money by packing sleeping equipment (aka tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat), then you’ll really be limited on space because you do not want to build a wing on the back of your bike. You’ll need to make the decision about packing camping and sleeping equipment early on! There is a lot of different ways to travel that don’t have to include pricey hotel bills.
My camping checklist
For reviews of the tent I have press here
For reviews of the sleeping bag press here
For the review of the Sleeping Pad, press here
When buying these products, the most important things to consider are price, quality of material, weight, size/compatibility, and multi weather purpose. I write about everything you need to know for camping solo here.
Waterproof Duffel Bag
Before we discuss the nitty gritty of what to pack, we need to discuss the luggage situation. You can’t exactly strap on a few suitcases in the back and expect to make it far. You’ll need the obvious waterproof bag. These come from sizes of 30 Liters to over 130 Liters. I would definitely say to at least do the 50 or 60 Liter bag as you’ll definitely need the space. Personally I went with the 80 Liter but would not recommend going much higher than that. These bags tend to get pretty long in length and it creates a sort of a wing on the back of your bike. The larger the wing the more you’ll struggle with turns, wind, and weight distribution. Here is the review for the one I travel with here.
Top Tank Bag
The top of your Fuel tank is a great spot to hold a magnetic top tank bag. They snap on and off and I’ve ridden with them on the bike going over 110 MPH no problem. The bag has a carrying handle and can also be converted to a bookbag with straps. This is the part of the luggage I always take with me. I hold my wallet, keys, phone, gum, cigarettes, sun glasses, etc.
The review for the one I have is here , VIKING.
INSERT PIC OF TOP TANK ON BIKE
Saddle Bags
To compliment the Viking Top Tank, I’d recommend their saddle bags, review here. (You can also buy them here). As long as your bike can handle the extra weight, saddle bags are needed for any road trip. If you can afford it, I’d even recommend the extra sturdy one’s like THIS ONE.
Saddle bags that are made with nice leather compliment many bikes nicely and are very popular. For road trips, the hard plastic coated saddle bags provide ample space and sturdy protection. Saddle bags are designed to give bikers more room without damaging too much of the riding experience and safety.
Motorcycle Pants
I can’t stress how important gear is for your trip. Don’t be a squid. If you are taking on such an exhilarating trip please survive to tell the tale. Motorcycle Pants are a must! Most riders who have gotten into accidents and were blessed to wear the most gear will tell you how much gear matters. No one wants to imagine crashing, but you sure as fuck better be dressed for it.
Motorcycle Helmet
Well DUH!
Make sure that the helmet you buy abides by DOT standards (in order words make sure it works). You might want to invest in a helmet that has bluetooth already installed instead of buying a seperate piece. Also, do yourself a favor and make sure your helmet visor is compatible with the sun.
Motorcycle Jacket
My advice is to go with an all season jacket with maximized protection. My jacket has an extra layer that is removable and that makes all the difference. Wind ventilation, waterproof material, and pockets are also important here
FootWear
I recommend that you buy motorcycle shoes (I will also say I am a hypocrite because I never owned one). In reality, these are shoes that make riding easier and much more safer. If you are stubborn a winter type sneaker would do the trick. You’ll also need sneakers or water shoes if you plan on doing hikes at state parks as often as I did. If you still have room, flip flops for the beach would be nice.
Motorcycle Gloves
Don’t skimp out and get bad gloves. Get all seasoned gloves with Goretex for extra protection. Fun fact – Alpine gloves always keep the pinky and index finger wrapped together so you won’t lose it in a a motorcycle accident.
GPS Holder
You need to know where you are going so this is kind of an obvious one.
Motorcycle Bluetooth Device
I have a Sena 50 R but don’t think they are as good as they are. Being able to hear gps, listen to music and be on the road are nice perks when you ride hours a day.
Assisted Cruise Control
This one is a life safe. They are super cheap but useful. Basically instead of keeping your whole hand on the throttle, you can push with the palm of your hand.
Motorcycle Cover
Being able to cover your bike with a sturdy waterproof cover makes you feel safer. I’m not exactly sure why but it seems like less robbers will go after a covered bike but naturally we feel like it is true. Plus you can use those waterproof covers for all your luggage when you get stuck in the rain.
GPS Tracker
I use these little buttons connected to an app on my phone called Tile. I won’t swear by their technology but there are better options out there. Point is I always know where my bike is and I can sleep better at night.
Hygiene and medical Supplies-
Everything from toothpaste and body wash to advil and first aid kit. You should use your own discretion on what to pack here but I would make sure not to skimp out on a first aid kit. I would add cologne, deodorant, nail clipper, towel, razor to this list.
Clothes-
Bring enough clothes but not too much. I would rather suggest you pack more underwear and socks then nice clothes. You’ll need to do laundry pretty often, so I would say take enough clothes to last about a week. Swimming trunks would be a good idea here. Plus a pair of non riding shoes or sneakers if you have the room.
Gopro/ Camera
It’s not a legendary road trip unless you have proof. Extra batteries and memory cards are also a good bet here. Recording your adventures gives you a way to hold onto some great memories forever. Even if you are camera shy, don’t forget to snap a few photos once in a while!
Portable Hard drive
With all the photos and videos you’ll take, it would be super helpful to have a hard drive to back up all your media on. This way you can constantly keep shooting without worrying about space.
Water bag/ coffee cup
I have a “hyrdation pack” that I wear on my adventures to keep hydrated in the sun. The hydration pack acts like a book bag with a 3 liter (can get bigger if needed) water pouch. These bags are great for hiking and water sports. An alternative is to install a cup holder on your bike.
Keep in mind that this is my checklist and know it is pretty long. However I did leave NYC indefinitely so I have a lot more luggage I needed. I have already been gone for over 4 months surviving on my own and with such a detailed list can continue doing so. If you plan on doing a 5 day trip or even anything less than a month you might want to pack a LOT less. The more stuff you have the more it affects the riding experience.
Once you finish packing, you should load up your bike using multiple bungee cords. If you are interested in learning how to hold your luggage on your motorcycle, I have a whole article on it.
Once your bike is fully loaded it is time for the testing phase! Drive out with all your stuff a few hours away and see how the bike handles everything. Is the bike too heavy? Is the luggage creating too large of a wing? Is the weight improperly distributed? How does the bike handle top speeds with wind? How does the bike handle tight corner turns with all the luggage? How many miles does you tank last with all the extra weight. Does the engine make any new noises or anything else feel off on the bike? How difficult is it to load and unload your bike?
If you test drove the bike more than a handful of times and fixed all the issues that came up, you should have a motorcycle all ready for an epic journey across new lands and future stories to tell the grandkids!
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