[Lacessit]

So I'm currently planing a road trip from WV to someplace in CA (destination unknown as yet) and back again. As it stands, I'll be heading out with one friend on a Triumph with as little riding experience as myself.

• I've never been west of the Mississippi.
• I've been riding for one short season (only ~3500 miles)
• I'm currently planning for around May or Sept

Things to do:
detailed pre-ride bike inspection
pack layered clothing (cold mountains/hot desert)

My gear list to prep for the trip so far:

Helmet
Joe Rocket Pheonix 4.0 Jacket (may *hopefully* replace it with leather before the trip)
Teknic Jet Stream Rain Suit
Alpinestars SMX-2 Air Carbon Gloves
HD Leather cold weather gloves
Sidi Canyon Boots

MotoPak GTS-60 Saddlebags
Rapid Transit Recon 19 Magnetic Tank Bag w/hydration bladder (2L)
Corbin saddle
Givi Touring Screen

Tire Repair Kit
First Aid Kit
Tool Kit

yet to buy:
Renntec Sport Rack & Tail Pack
Some form of bike-to-bike communication (haven't narrowed it down yet).
Throttlemeister bar ends/throttle lock


Since I know I don't know enough... what else should I be considering?
What items have you found out the hard way you should have packed for a longer trip?
Are there any items that you find important to have?

Your input is appreciated.
Dan

 

[MrSciTrek]

I've done a lot of cross countries w/ cars but never on a bike.

You've probably got it covered but you didn't include:

All purpose tool pack w/ emergency fix it tire plugs, air pump, spare gas filter, headlight bulb, chain lube, and maps.

Cell phone charger. Bike lock, theft alarm?

This is a good topic: I was kicking around riding out to visit my son in San Diego this summer. I'm in NE.

Might select the timing based on the chosen route & weather.
South trip... May.

 

[Lacessit]

You've probably got it covered but you didn't include:
All purpose tool pack w/ emergency fix it tire plugs, air pump, spare gas filter, headlight bulb, chain lube, and maps. Cell phone charger. Bike lock, theft alarm?

I was including all the tire gear with the "tire repair kit"; I thought about the lube, but not the bulb. Bike lock/alarm I was going to put off... perhaps I'll give that more thought after all. The cell phone charger goes in my toiletry kit- so not mentioned but going along.

You did key off a supplemented tool kit. The standard took kit won't cut it for anything that happens far from home. I'll have to look into what should go in there. (i.e. duct tape etc. lol)

 

[MrSciTrek]

Lucky, what the heck are hydration tablets?
Just add to water & drink?
No, seriously. You don't mean like the old pre-1970's salt tablets, I hope.

 

[Guest]

Are you camping, hotelling, or staying at houses? I'm curious to see your list to compare to mine if camping..

Do you have hair? Bring a hat, you know why

I'm sure with a thorough check over on the bike, some new fluids, you'll be fine. Perhaps get your friend to double check your check....better safe than sorry if you're blasting down some canyon roads!

 

[Lacessit]

Are you camping, hotelling, or staying at houses? I'm curious to see your list to compare to mine if camping..

Do you have hair? Bring a hat, you know why

I'm sure with a thorough check over on the bike, some new fluids, you'll be fine. Perhaps get your friend to double check your check....better safe than sorry if you're blasting down some canyon roads!

Hair, yes. I'm going to try using a silk balaclava the next time I ride... see if it helps. As for a hat, yeah- I keep one with me everytime I ride.

I hadn't totally made up my mind as far as accomodations. I had been thinking camping; it would be cool fun (and cheap) but as all my camping gear is old & heavy it means going on another shopping spree. If it's not camping, it'll be hotels on the way out and one sofa at a friend's in CA. So, if anyone knows of some good light-weight, easy to pack camping gear.. by all means post up (especially if it's not expensive).

The buddy check is a great idea- something I learned from SCUBA diving, and will certainly use.

 

[Guest]

So you're a diver too, eh? I've managed to cram all my snorkel gear, two nights equipment and a fiance onto my little 500! I'm still figuring out how to add an air tank to that mix.

If there's two of you, the easiest way would be one carries the tent, the other carries the two sleeping bags. Another trick I used, which perhaps some would find uncomfortable, is place a second set of saddle bags of the gas tank...if you hang them just right, they won't shift, or interfere with turning the bike, and they should be far enough ahead of your knees to not bother you. You can still fit the tank bag on too!

 

[knightslugger]

I'm looking at kinda the same thing, and i'm taking all that i can in here. lots of good ideas. I'm planning a trip to the Mazda Raceway for the 2007 USGP from the heart of Wisconsin, total of 2,265 mi one way. Google says it will take a day and a half. I say bull ****! as soon as i get there i will be camping, and most likely will be camping along the way or hotel (most likely the later for campgrounds don't have spas )

I need to start from SCRATCH as i don't have much touring stuff (READ: any). there was a link to some touring type equipment, specificlly a tent tube (thing) that mounts to some other rather inspiring gear. i can't seem to find it.

if we could get a must have list for long distance touring going, that would be MOST helpful.

 

[Lacessit]

I've managed to cram all my snorkel gear, two nights equipment and a fiance onto my little 500! I'm still figuring out how to add an air tank to that mix.

God.. wouldn't that be a sight.

I like the idea of splitting the load between two bikes.. but a second set of saddlebags just makes me think of the weight I'd be dealing with. There's gotta be a limit somewhere right?

 

[maverick9611]

don't forget vise grips. they'll save ya in a tight spot

 

[render]

My best advise is to load all your gear and try it out before your trip. You learn a lot that way. I did that before my 1000 mile each way trip. Learned that I needed, a corbin seat as well as to keep hydrated. I ended up setting up a camel bak in the tank bag so I can get water while riding. Worked great. Buy good packable gear, that will save you lots of $$ instead of hoteling it. And its more of an adventure you can tell your kids. I just strapped a big duffel bag on the back of mine including a tent, pad, and sleeping bag and camped out. It was great.
Don't foget to pack plenty of ear plugs and use them.

 

[fog]

Another of FOG's stories,
Way back in 1984 I bought a Yamaha Venture Royal. Now this is a big touring bike with all the bells and whistles. Should be the best thing in the world to tour on right? Wrong.
OK the things got more luggage capacity than my Miata so I can take anything I need, so I did. When fully loaded the thing weighed over 1000 lbs, hey no problemo , right? Wrong. Went went up to Can A Da, out to Gaspe', we camped (Oh the we is my Son in law, on a 1100 cc Virago) . well all the camp grounds out on the Gaspe' peninsula are down by the river, and the road is way up on the top of the cliffs. So every night I had to slither a 1000 lbs down a wet grassy slope to get to our campsite. SO every night I fell down.
The Mourning's were worse. Now you have to find traction enough to drive the bloody thing back up that same hill you fell down on the night before. One mourning the thing sank it's center stand into the turf so bad that I had to get the camp ground owner to tow me out with a tractor.
In short. you don't need a Behemoth like that to have a good tour. All the way from about 1/2 way of our trip I was wishing for something about 600 size.

FOG

 

[blent87]

Remember that it's easy to fit stuff on while you're at home, but once you're out and about it's hard to get access to stuff and repack it as well as you did the first time. Pack stuff in order of how you'd use them, with things like clothes and water on the top, and other stuff like repair kits on the bottom. That way, more used stuff is easily accessible, and stuff that isn't used as often (hopefully) is out of your way.

Some nylon rope can also save you a bunch of time and effort when it comes to packing stuff on. I'd bring 20 feet or so of that so you have it.

 

[MrSciTrek]

Anyone ever check behind the fairing... there may be some space there for some non-valuables if it is WELL secured.

 

[MrSciTrek]

Anyone ever check behind the fairing... there may be some space there for some non-valuables if it is WELL secured.

SO...thats where you hide your stash

If it was MY stash... It'd be Peanut M&Ms!
Hey, now that you mention it, my wife/daughter are on a reduced "goodies" kick in the house,
so maybe I could use this idea...

 

[MrSciTrek]

Munchies...

Hey, that brings up the idea of what portable food to take on long rides.
We aren't burning carbs like our pedaling brothers so it seems that small, hi-protein, high fiber, low-carb foods would be good.

Course, there's a difference to what one could safely (?) nibble WHILE riding, and what could be snarfed down at gas & purge stops.

Jerky comes to mind.
Baby carrots w/ peanut M&Ms (Don't laugh til you try the combination).
Other... ?

 

[knightslugger]

Doing anything BUT riding while riding puts you at greater risk.  the only thing i hate more than a soccer mom talking on a cell phone in a Ford Excursion is a motorcyclist multi-tasking.  You'll be stopping in about an hour to either fill up or take a whiz anyway EAT THEN.

Food that provides long term energy (complex Carbohydrates) are idea for quick meals.  Energy bars were mentioned earlier, and that's not a bad idea.  they're small, pack a punch, and leave little waste.  a campfire dryied/rehydrated breakfast is also a good idea.  might taste like crap, but in the military i've learned to take what you can get. If you've got to kill it, so be it.

 

[MrSciTrek]

Wait...

Then you won't support the marketing of my magnetic tanktop laptop-computer holder, w/ antiglare screen or optional on-visor heads-up display, and clutch-thumb mouse ball attachment?

 

[knightslugger]

an OMG-WTF-Whos-a-what? no.

 

[MrSciTrek]

an OMG-WTF-Whos-a-what? no.

HA! Gotcha!

I made up the on-bike computer thing, then did a Google image search for "Motorcycle Laptop" or such & found that image.

Woo... I'm happy.
I need to retire from 8th grade.