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Podcast-There are so many things to think about before heading out for a long motorcycle trip. It is important to pack key items, but not too many unnecessary items. And so, it becomes a delicate balance. We all know how limited space can be when traveling on a motorcycle. That is also one of the reasons we love it so much. Pack what you can fit on your bike and ride into the sunset! Free your mind and soul!
This episode is spawned from an internet voicemail we received from audience member David Schwartz from Isreal. He is planning a long motorcycle ride here in the United States very soon and wanted to know what to pack. He wanted our thoughts, experience, and insight into packing for motorcycle trips and that's exactly what we give everyone in this podcast episode.
David Schwartz of Israel also mentioned how pleased he was with our Harley oil change and maintenance video. He has saved a ton of money doing his own oil changes and routine maintenance.
We dive deep into this topic and it will make you think for sure. You might even refine what you pack yourself. This episode was also a live broadcast and we had much input via audience participation over on our Live Page. We appreciate all the Patron Members of Law Abiding Biker™ Media in the live chat.
Being prepared for that long motorcycle trip is very important. We here at LAB Media have changed things throughout the years of riding from both good and bad experiences and we share it all with you. Not being properly prepared can make a trip miserable and take the fun out of it. What are you packing for your next motorcycle trip? Leave your thoughts and comments below this article.
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List of Items to Pack for Your Motorcycle Trip:
- Full Face Helmet
- Helps reduce rider fatigue substantially
- Resource: https://www.lawabidingbiker.com/schuberthc3
- Keeps the sun from burning nose and face with tinted visor etc.
- Great for rain and cold weather
- Helps reduce rider fatigue substantially
- Half or 3/4 helmet
- Make sure you have a protective face mask for rain or hail
- Rain hits your face like gravel
- Hail storm is even worse
- Have a good pair of riding goggles/glasses for these conditions
- Make sure you have a protective face mask for rain or hail
- Many bikers pack both a full face for the long day rides and a 1/2 or 3/4 helmet for shorter local rides
- Good riding glasses for wearing with 1/2 or 3/4 helmets
- A good thick riding jacket
- Resource: https://www.lawabidingbiker.com/harleyilluminationjacket
- Best to be water proof or water resistant
- Zip out liners are great
- Vents on jacket for different conditions is also nice
- You may wear a leather jacket instead
- If you wear a leather jacket then definitely make sure you have great rain gear (covered below)
- Leather vest for warmer rides or light riding jacket
- Chaps
- Resource for packing chaps, so they don't take up much room
- Chap Pack
- https://www.lawabidingbiker.com/chappack
- Resource for packing chaps, so they don't take up much room
- Good riding jeans or pants
- Riding gloves
- Good riding shirts
- Moisture wicking are great for hot days
- Sweatshirts and light jackets for layering (colder weather)
- Have several shirts to layer for cold weather riding
- Heated gear
- Resource for heated gear
- Heated vest liner
- Heated pants (or heated seat)
- Resource for heated seat
- Heated socks
- Heated gloves (or heated grips)
- Resource for installing heated grips on your Harley Davidson (you'll love them)
- Good quality Motorcycle Specific Rain Gear (Don't buy cheap regular everyday rain gear or you'll pay)
- Good quality Riding Travel Bag if no trunk
- Most sit over your passenger backrest and strap down
- Socks, underwear, shirts, pants, and shoes for around town if staying for several days at a location
- Resource for packing socks, shirt and underwear
- Clothes Pack
- https://www.lawabidingbiker.com/clothespack
- Resource for packing socks, shirt and underwear
- Hats & beanies
- Stocking hats-beanie (for cold conditions)
- Baseball hats (if you wear them)
- Toiletries
- Things such as toothbrush, shave kit, deodorant, etc
- Small travel size items can be purchased to save space
- Things such as toothbrush, shave kit, deodorant, etc
- Medications
- Any medications you take
- Ibuprofen etc for those headaches
- Good quality sunblock & chapstick
- Spray on type is most convenient for bikers
- Quick and easy to apply at stops
- Face sunblock sticks are great too
- Put on multiple coats of sunblock throughout the day
- Spray on type is most convenient for bikers
- Allergy/Emergency
- EpiPen as an example
- Allergic to bee stings as an example
- Other riders in group should know where you keep it for emergency application
- EpiPen as an example
- A small tool kit to fix minor issues
- A few small rags for fuel spills on gas tank etc
- Any cleaners & rags to wipe bugs off windshield etc
- Tents, sleeping bag, pillow etc if not staying in hotels
- Smartphone & necessary chargers
- Law Abiding Biker App installed
- To listen to podcasts while riding
- Access to the Law Abiding Biker website
- To search for things should a question arise
- Law Abiding Biker App installed
- GPS devices or physical maps
- Maps loaded and ready to go
- Resource for Harley Boom Box Infotainment System and integrated GPS
- Complete Tutorial Series Here
- https://www.lawabidingbiker.com/harleyboombox
- Extra bungee cords & motorcycle cargo type net
- For securing things to your motorcycle
- Extras, because they do break at times
- Emergency snacks & fluids
- In case long distance between food
- Or if you get held up in traffic jams or road closures
- I carry granola & almonds in saddlebag
- Several extra water bottles in saddlebags
- If riding in group
- Emergency contact number for spouses/family etc should something happens
- Any hotel confirmation or reservation info
- I keep it on my smartphone
- Possible Misc. Items
- Camera/still photography
- Video camera equipment
- Make sure you have a fresh oil change and safety maintenance has been done recently
Quick Tip and Tricks:
- Pack lighter:
- You can pack lighter if you know where laundry services are at in a town you may be staying in
- Schedule to clean or for someone to clean your laundry while passing through
- You can pack much lighter this way and use clothes again
- Souveniers & Purchased Items:
- Remember that if you buy things on your trip to stop by UPS or USPS and have them shipped back home
- They will be there when you return home
- You don't have to pack them around this way and are not as limited on the amount of items you can purchase
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Great shows as always, what you need to pack for a long trip does depend on were you are heading but thought I would share my packing list for a trip I did from Nepal to Scotland over 9 months … I have not included spare parts such as tyres etc 🙂
Riding Gear
– Gloves (warm and cold weather)
– Jacket with pull out liner
– Riding Pants
– Boots (that you can walk about in as well)
– Helmet
General Clothes
– 2 tshirts
– 1 shirt (just incase you need to wear a collar)
– 1 shorts (easy to dry trekking ones) with zip on legs
– 1 pair of sandals (easy to carry and can wear in showers of dodgy places)
– 1 pair of jeans
– 3 pairs of socks
– 3 pairs undies
– Sweater
– thermal vest
You can use sleeping bag compression bags to make this stuff fit in a small place and keeps some water out. I compressed by clothes, sleeping bag and tent.
General
– Sleeping bag
– Tent (1 man)
– Petrol stove (and cooking stuff, I had one pot and ate from it as well)
– Camera etc
– Simple tool set, work out exactly what tools you would need beforehand, no point carrying a 1/2” spanner if you will not need it.
– Spare inner tubes and repair kit
I used a tank bag for my passport, camera wallet etc so that if I was leaving the bike for a couple of minutes I can take what really matters.
Travel as light as you can, as you can see in the photo I needed to carry spare parts and tyres etc however if you can easily buy the parts why carry them. Wash your undies and socks and night in the hotel etc
Happy to add more information if people are interested but don’t want to put you to sleep!
Cool and thanks for sharing. Ride Safe!
Great show guys. Thank a million. I feel so privileged you based this show around my query. I learned so much. Especially your tip about the octane booster. I have never see or heard mention about this problem before. This was one great episode.
Great to hear from you David!! That’s how we roll and we love community involvement. Ride safe brother!!