





                     -= Packing For Motorcycle Travel =-



    Planning your motorcycle trip is extremely important, and how well you
    prepare strongly effects the enjoyment and safety of your journey.  In
    the past few years I have made probably every fundimental mistake you
    can imagine, and one area I have found to be critical in setting the
    foundation for your travels is packing...WHAT you pack and HOW you pack
    it.



                              Things to Take

    I'm not one of those people who believes in preparing for every possible
    need... you can't!  Their simply is not enough storage space on a motor-
    cycle to prepare for every situation, even if your ride-of-choice is a
    Goldwing or Tour Glide.  But by carefully selecting certain items you
    can cover MOST of the needs you are likely to encounter, minimizing the
    number of things that can delay, or even cancel, your trip.
    I have divided everything into two areas:

        SECURITY ITEMS  (this includes personal safety, motorcycle security,
                           and tools to use for motorcycle maintenance/
                              repairs)

        PERSONAL ITEMS  (at least as important as the previous category,
                           and if you've ever forgotten the sunblock you
                              know what I mean)

    Before I begin to list the suggested items I need to point out that,
    unless otherwise noted, these things are chosen with a 1 week trip in
    mind.  A week is a common incriment of time that the average person can
    can get away from their job.  If you don't have to operate under the
    constraints of work or school, then you need to be writing a text such
    as this one about packing for some serious long-distance touring!  I've
    also found that I can travel most anywhere in the country and back in a
    weeks time, and after seven days of 400+ mile days, my butt is in need
    of a rest.
    Well, here's the list... (in no particular order)



    SECURITY ITEMS:

    Cycle Locks- Don't assume that just because you ride a '76 Honda CB360
                 with 140,000 miles that no one will steal it.  And don't
                 put all your trust in a single form of lock.  Two or more
                 are preferred, even over a single lock that is supposedly
                 "theft-proof".  A disc-brake lock is an excellent addition
                 to a chain or Kryptonite-type U-lock.  Remember, ALL security
                 devices can be defeated.  The idea is to make stealing your
                 bike too risky or too much trouble.

          Tools- Unfortunately tools are heavy, so you need to put a bit of
                 thought into their selection.  Do you have a wrench big
                 enough to loosen the axle nuts?  Flat tires and loose chains
                 are a couple of the most common rodeside repairs.  A roll
                 of bailing wire is recommended to hold something together
                 until a proper fix can be made.  And while you should use
                 loc-tite on vibration prone parts before you leave, be sure
                 to take it with you!  (Harley owners, are you listening?)
                 Look your bike over and determine what the common sizes of
                 screws and bolts are.  A medium sized phillips screwdriver
                 is always needed, as is a crescent wrench.  And above all,
                 you MUST have a repair kit for flats.  The best type comes
                 in a small zipper bag, and contains plugs for tubeless tires,
                 patches for tubes, and Co2 cartridges to inflate the repaired
                 tire.  These can be found at bike shops, but maybe not at
                 the first one you go to.  They aren't a high demand item,
                 and many shops aren't prompt about re-ordering.  You can
                 also get them from one of the major mail-order houses, such
                 as Dennis Kirk or Competition Accessories.  And while we're
                 getting our hands dirty, do you know the oil consumption
                 of your bike at prolonged highway speeds?  While bulky, a
                 quart of oil is priceless when needed.

        Weapons- Ah, now HERE'S a delicate subject!  People vary wildly in
                 their moral/political views on weaponry.  I haven't brought
                 up this subject to instruct trouble-makers, but to inform
                 the traveler of their options.  The easiest way to increase
                 your safety is to have one or more people join you on your
                 trip.  Their is no substitute for the safety of numbers.
                 I suggest that NO ONE pack a gun of any type.  I'm armed to
                 the teeth in my own home, but on the road a handgun can get
                 you into way more trouble than you can handle...'nuff said!
                 Mace is an option to consider.  Be sure you are aware of
                 the legality of any defense item you carry.  Laws on such
                 things vary from state-to-state and can change frequently.



    PERSONAL ITEMS:

       Clothing- I learned on my first week-long trip how many different
                 weather conditions can be encountered in seven days.  My
                 maiden voyage to Sturgis, South Dakota presented me with
                 temperatures varying from 45 to 102 degrees F, and at 65
                 mph in a drizzling rain, I soon realized just how cold
                 45 degrees can be!  Needless to say, I was better prepared
                 for the 100+ degree temperatures I left behind in Texas.
                 (Hell, isn't everyone over 100 degrees in August?)  The
                 warming, wind-blocking properties of leather can't be
                 over-stated.  Leather jackets are both comfortable and
                 stylish, and chaps drive women wild.  (really!)  Actually,
                 my primary reason for preferring chaps over traditional
                 leather pants is that chaps can be quickly removed on the
                 road as the temperature rises.
                 T-shirts and jeans are my favorites when the weather gets
                 hot.  Long-sleeved T-shirts are great, as they give your
                 arms protection from the sun's rays.  An important thing
                 to remember about T-shirts... wear a size that is a bit
                 on the small side.  A loose fitting shirt will flap around
                 in the wind at freeway speeds, and can cause considerable
                 discomfort (pain!) over a period of time.  While I always
                 have a T-shirt packed for each day of the trip, I wear blue-
                 jeans 2 or 3 days.  They simply take up too much room,
                 and I don't want to spend my vacation going from one
                 laundromat to another.  A couple of notes on T-shirts...
                 if your destination is a place where you'll feel the urge
                 to get souvenir shirts, short the number of shirts you
                 pack by the number of shirts you plan to purchase.  And
                 if you have some T-shirts that you need to retire, then
                 why not wear them and pitch them at the end of the day?
                 Dirty clothes and souvenirs take up a lot of space on
                 return trips!  And while they usually look pretty goofy,
                 rainsuits make a BIG difference when you don't have time
                 to wait for the weather to clear.  I normally have a
                 schedule that doesn't permit me to kill time waiting for
                 a storm that may or may not blow over in the next few
                 minutes.  Wear boots!  Only imbeciles wear sneakers on
                 a cross-country trip.  (I know, I've done it!)  Be sure
                 to treat all your leather items with as protective water-
                 proofing spray, too.  Gloves are a must, as your hands
                 are the first things to feel the cold.  Be sure to select
                 gloves that are of a "gauntlet" style, which keeps the
                 wind from traveling up your sleeves.
                 Unless you have hard luggage that is sure to keep your
                 things dry, you'll need plenty of zip-lock plastic bags
                 to keep your clothes in.  The gallon size bags are the
                 most useful, and are perfect for storing T-shirts, socks,
                 underwear, jeans, etc.  On the trip back you can re-use
                 these bags to keep your dirty clothes or store all those
                 nifty souvenirs you have accumulated.

Misc. Personals- If you wear glasses, "sight savers" or a similar product,
                 are great individually packaged wipes that will get the
                 grime/bugs off in a jiffy.  Items such as toothpaste and
                 mouthwash can be gotten in sample-size containers that
                 will save considerable space.  One of my favorite things
                 to forget to take is a comb or brush.  Those new folding
                 brushes are great, taking up little room yet getting the
                 job done quite well.  As for deodorant, the stick type
                 is ideal because it takes up so little space, but be sure
                 to keep it in its own zip-lock or it'll do unpleasant
                 things to anything stored with it.  And don't forget the
                 toothbrush!  It's a good idea to put several paper towels
                 in a zip-lock, and you'll be suprised how often they come
                 in handy.  They're perfect for cleaning up after doing a
                 little roadside bike maintenance, wiping your mirrors,
                 checking your oil level, etc.  Don't underestimate how
                 much money you will need.  The ammount required varies
                 greatly depending on how frugle you're willing to be, and
                 whether or not you are camping.  You can't do much with
                 personal checks out of state, so you'll need cash, plastic,
                 or travelers checks.  A VISA card or equivalent is a good
                 idea to use for any emergency expenses that might crop
                 up.  And don't forget that Western Union is everywhere in
                 case you have to phone home for funds!
                 Sunscreen is an absolute must, I don't care how macho you
                 are.  The sunblock you select should have a SPF of 35 and
                 be waterproof.  (It won't work if you've sweated it off!)
                 All-day protection is another thing to look for, and I've
                 found that a single application in the morning does indeed
                 work all day.  Don't hesitate to use sunblock for fear that
                 you won't get that much-desired bronzed look...believe me,
                 you'll get a tan!
                 I considered including helmets under Security Items, but my
                 interest in them here pertains more to their comfort factor
                 rather than cranium protection.  I'll be the first to say
                 it... I HATE HELMET LAWS!  But I will also admit that most
                 of the time a helmet is a good thing to have on when you
                 and your bike part company at speed.  The reason I usually
                 wear a helmet is because they reduce fatigue-inducing wind
                 and accompanying wind noise.  Prolonged high-speed travel
                 results in a tiresome blast of wind that reduces the length
                 of time you can stay in the saddle.  Wind noise is even
                 more tiring than the wind blast itself.  A helmet (I'm
                 refering to the full-coverage type) reduces the winds roar
                 and is a must when the temperature drops.  To further
                 reduce wind noise, you might consider ear plugs or one of
                 those "Quiet Rider" helmet add-ons.  The Quiet Rider is
                 a padded item that attatches to the base of your full-
                 face helmet, gently fitting against your neck.  This reduces
                 wind noise tremendously while keeping you cooler in summer
                 and warmer in winter.
                 One more thing...take plenty of film!  Tourist-traps aren't
                 known for their bargain film prices.

    That covers the stuff you need to take.  Now I'll go over the various
    ways to keep it all from winding up scattered on the highway...



                               How to Pack

    Successful packing is dependent upon the luggage you select and how you
    utilize it.  I'm not speaking to the owners of full-dress machinery in
    this section, but rather the riders of "standard" type bikes, sportbikes,
    sport-tourers and cruisers.  I certainly have no objection to touring-
    specific motorcycles, I just can't improve much on the fine setup for
    packing that these machines possess.  But don't let anyone tell you that
    only dressers are suitable long-distance rides.  Any bike with the power
    to maintain prolonged freeway speeds can be setup to work just fine.

        Luggage- Things to consider when selecting luggage is capacity, ease
                 of removal, durability and appearance.  Their are generally
                 three types of on-bike luggage to consider: saddlebags, tank
                 bags and seat bags.  Saddlebags can be found made of either
                 nylon or leather, and generally offer the greatest capacity
                 of the three types.  (for some reason, the nylon saddlebags
                 usually hold more than the leather ones)  The leather bags
                 are often not leather at all, but a synthetic substitute
                 which looks and feels remarkably similar to leather yet is
                 more durable when exposed to the elements.  Depending on your
                 bike, your rear turn signals may interfere with the bags and
                 necessitate relocation.
                 Tank bags are only found made of nylon, and come in a great
                 variety of sizes and mounting styles.  The smaller bags are
                 usually of the magnetic-mount style, whereas larger ones will
                 have a system of straps and hooks to attach to the tank.  Most
                 have a clear plastic pocket on the top of the bag to hold a
                 map for easy viewing.  While the small tank bags have little
                 value on an extended trip, the larger ones are quite useful.
                 TourMaster offers a tank bag with a 24 liter capacity that
                 holds more than many saddlebags, and comes in handy as a chest
                 support when riding in a tuck for an extended period of time!
                 The mounting straps on these bags have quick-release buckles
                 that permit easy removal for refueling.  Tank bags are better
                 suited to some bikes than others.  Magnetic-mount bags won't
                 work on bikes with plastic bodywork where a metal gas tank
                 traditionally resides.  And many cruiser-type machines have
                 instruments mounted in a tank top "dashboard", which forbid
                 tank bag usage.
                 Seat bags are of nylon construction and mount to the passenger
                 portion of the seat.  Most have built-in bungees for mounting
                 and are of modest capacity.  As long as you're not carrying
                 a passenger, a combination of tank bag, seat bag and saddle-
                 bags provides an enormous amount of room.  My recommendation
                 is that regardless of your choice of type, don't scrimp on
                 quality.  Spend that extra bit to buy from one of the major
                 manufacturers, as they are of superior construction and will
                 prove to me more durable.  Some of the top-of-the-line models
                 will also come with rain covers to further protect your stuff.

     Packing
     Techniques- Just throw yer crap in the bags, right?  No way!  You have to
                 consider what you'll need to access most often, and what you
                 will need to be able to get to quickly.  We all head out with
                 the hope that our rainsuit won't be needed, so it's tempting
                 to put it at the bottom of one of the bags.  But when it starts
                 pouring you have a limited time to suit-up.  After all, they
                 don't work if you're already soaked.  Keep it up top!  Other
                 items that need to be easily accessible are sunscreen, maps,
                 tools, and your camera.  If you will be loading up any type
                 of luggage that doesn't have its own method of mounting, use
                 "bungee nets".  These are elastic nets with bungee-type hooks
                 around the edges.  They are ideal for securing a duffle bag,
                 tent, helmet, etc.  Bungee nets often come in two sizes, and
                 I always get the smaller of the two.  To have a sufficient
                 ammount of tension, the large ones are just too big.
                 The more places you have available to hook bungee's to your
                 bike the better.  You can get "bungee nuts" from your local
                 motorcycle dealer that will give you extra mounting spots.
                 (bungee nuts are simply replacement fender-mount nuts that
                 are designed to hold a bungee hook)  A backrest or "sissy
                 bar" is also useful as a place to which luggage can be
                 secured.  There is even a kind of bag, the T-bag, that is
                 designed with an upside-down pocket on one side to slide over
                 a backrest to secure it.



    Well, I'm running out of steam, (finally!) so I'll say so long for now,
    until I decide to share more of my pearls of wisdom with a waiting
    world.  (yea, right!)


    Ride Free...
        Mark Stevens












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