Motorcycle Riding Tips: What To Pack On A Cross Country Tour

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Motorcycle Riding Tips: What To Pack On A Cross Country Tour



One of the most exciting part of motorcycling is going on a cross-country tour, whether it be a weekend jaunt or a full-blown month long cruising hiatus.







There are lots of choices of which types of luggage to take with you on your bike such as saddlebags, tail bags, tank bags, fanny packs or even a glorified coat hanger we now call a sissy bar bag. Just make sure every space count when you start stuffing items on your saddle bag. Choose tools like the army knife which performs various chores, resealable plastic bags which you can store dirty clothes or use to dispose of any trash. Another example is a bandanna, which you can use as neck protection, bandage or face shield cleaner.






Another motorcycle riding tip is to remember that the motorcycle's handling and braking will change once you get all your stuff on board, not to mention you will be bringing along a passenger and her stuff as well. That will add more weight. Make sure the air pressure in your tires is the correct one. Always bring along a tire gauge. The suspension settings are stiffen to accommodate the extra load.






Before heading out on the road, practice in a vacant lot to get a feel of any noticeable difference in the handling of the motorcycle like losing a measure of your maximum acceleration and increasing your braking distance.






Buy quality bungee cords and bungee nets which you can tie and loop around your luggage. Strap it on your bike for security of not losing your bags along the way. Even if your motorcycle or saddlebags have fasteners and bag guards you need added security of keeping your luggage from sliding down into the rear wheel by strapping your entire luggage than it seems to require.






One of the most important thing you can't leave home without is your cellphone. Encode your in case of emergency (ICE) numbers and phone number of a bunch of people that are ready to help or rescue you if something goes awry with your touring trek. Of course, you don't want to be caught in the middle of nowhere with a dead cellphone. So make sure to bring a spare battery,charger and a mechanism wherein you can charge your cellphone from the bike.






Just one of the few motorcycle riding tips is to always place the heaviest stuff on the bottom of your saddlebag closest to the center of the bike as possible. Line your luggage with trash bags in case it rains. Bring synthetic type of clothes, Cotton is a big no no. Cotton absorbs sweat and dries slowly.

For camping equipment, a small two-men tent works just fine and self-inflatable mattress that blow itself up. In the morning you just open the valve, roll it up and you are good to go. Limit to one pot and eating utensils.






Bring along food, unless you have ridden the road before you can never be too sure when the next meal is coming up.






The trick here is to keep your load manageable. Pack for all imaginable kinds of conditions you are likely to encounter but keep the load as sparse as possible. I suggest you use a three bag system of various sizes. Bag one-for the rider's needs, Bag two- for motorcycle tools and Bag-three for clothes.






If you buy quality products you are done shopping for years. If you have problems arising during your odyssey, it's comforting to know that the solution is probably in the bag.






Bag One- Rider's Needs:






neoprene face mask


extra pair of gloves


rain suit


sunglasses or goggles


bandanna


little bars of soap


small bottles of shampoo


razor/shaving creme


toilet paper


toothbrush/toothpaste


sunscreen/lip balm


spare face shields-clear and tinted


rags


first aid kit


local/state maps


compass


cellphone/charger.spare battery


cap


weather-band radio


notebook and pen


earplugs


hand cleaner wipes


wallet/money/credit cards


camera/battery/lots of memory cards


bottles of H2o


Gatorade


snacks






Bag Two- Motorcycle Tools:






crescent, Allen, torx wrenches


pliers


tie repair kits with inflator


pocket knife


led flashlight with clip for hands free illumination


jumper cable


duct tape nuts, bolts, screws


electrical wire


small container of oil


spare fuses, spark plugs


instrument bulb,taillight,headlight and turn-signal bulbs


motorcycle locks


bungee cords and net


spare AA battery


screwdriver


tire gauge


solution to clean face shields


tool roll or pouch for loose tools






Bag -Three Clothes:






Group smaller items into a small roll and put it into a mesh bag. Vertically, store separate bags so they are accessible. This includes your underwear. Plan wash stops.






Hope you get some ideas on what to pack if you are going cruising on your motorcycle, right here in the motorcycle riding tips category at Harley Davidson Accessories Guide.