Do You Know How To Pack Up For An Ultimate Cross-Country Motorcycle Trip?

Enter your text here...

Read also:

Take A Quick Look At The Best Harley Battery Reviews
A Quick Run Of The Best Snowmobile Goggles Reviews

The thought of going on a Cross-country motorcycle trip is bound to boost the flow of adrenaline in any motorcycling aficionado.

Whether you are planning to ride in a known territory or a totally new area, through the hills and mountains or just a trip along the rolling countryside, every territory has its own uniqueness. Preparing for such an adventure can sure be a challenging task.

You may read a lot about it on the internet, pour over the travel guides and books for hours looking for tips and tricks on how to pack your travelling gear but there is nothing like knowing it from somebody with a firsthand experience of riding over thousands of miles in various countries with diverse terrains.

tips-for-cross-country-motorcycle-trip

In this article, we will show you some tips on the best practices that would serve you well in a Cross-country motorcycle trip.

Here Are Essentials For Your Cross-Country Motorcycle Trip

Know Your General Objectives And Priorities

Are you going for camping trips or just cruising along, sightseeing?

Remember, a motorcycle cannot carry much! It is always a delicate balance of maximizing comfort, while at the same time minimizing weight.

Therefore it is important to first know your objective.

If it is a camping trip out in the wild, then you have to consider a lightweight, secure, waterproof and adequately spacious tent. Packing it is another thing that you will need to learn. After all you do want to minimize its size so that it fits in, don’t you?

Here is a video that will guide you:

Give a special thought to the clothing and ensure that is lightweight yet adequate; something that would not need too much cleaning and would serve you well in the weather that you anticipate.

Maintain a clear focus on minimizing the weight to make handling the bike easy and at the same time you can be comfortable while negotiating long distances.

Make Sure About Placement of Gear

Have a clear idea of your itinerary. That will dictate what you would be carrying with you.

For example, if you have chalked out the route, you would know whether or not you need to carry spare fuel and lubricants, if there are not many filling stations around!

Similarly, your night halts would dictate the items of personal clothing that you would need. Then of course, there are things like first aid, emergency repair kit, etc that add up to the weight.

Lay out everything and pack keeping in mind the sequence of requirements and ease of reaching out for the items.

Maximize the top case by storing your tentage items and sleeping gear. Keep it light and keep spare space for last minute additions like food and water.

tips-for-cross-country-motorcycle-trip

The left pannier can be used for carrying accessories like the foldable chairs, shovel, utensils, camping stove, a folding bucket, mug etc; pretty much everything needed while camping out in the open.

The right side bag can be used to carry bulkier items, spare pairs of shoes, warm clothing, rain kit, etc. You can also fill it up with towels, emergency tools as well as the first-aid kit!

Use large Duffel bags to carry clothing. It is essential to have it within reach and kept dry. Hence strap it up on the top case so that it is easily accessible, should we come across varying climatic conditions; this is common when negotiating mountainous passes.

Carry adequate undergarments, socks Pair, Long Sleeve Shirts, Cargo Pants, Fleece warm driving Cap, a pair of leather gloves with inners, etc

Take materials that are easy to wash and dry.

In case you are carrying electricals & electronic items like cameras, music devices,  subwoofer, mobiles etc, do not forget to take adequate batteries and backup charging arrangement.

Little Known About Important Accessories’

Tie-down straps

tips-for-cross-country-motorcycle-trip

It’s always a good idea to carry tie-down straps with built in clamps. They are very useful to strap down the luggage bags securely to the motorcycle

Fuel Tube

Carry a two-meter long plastic or rubber tube, it can come very handy when you want to refuel from your emergency fuel bottle or from a passing car.

Duct Tape

tips-for-cross-country-motorcycle-trip

It is one of the handiest items which can come handy in the smallest of “situations” like a leaking tube, a torn cable, a cracked accessory, etc.

Fixes for Flat Tires

tips-for-cross-country-motorcycle-trip

Believe it or not, every rider has been through the harrowing experience of having a flat tire in the middle of nowhere. It can be a really daunting experience and is best avoided by being ready for it!

You must not only carry the tire fixing kit but also should be proficient in using it. Ensure that you have the patches, air compressor or pump, spare plugs, etc.

Food and Water

When you are covering large distances, you cannot hope to always find a place to eat. Add to it the delays due to bad weather, flat tire, border check-ups, etc.

It is therefore good to carry your own supply of canned items, nuts & dry fruit, non-perishable snacks etc. You can also carry other camp equipment for cooking.

tips-for-cross-country-motorcycle-trip

Also remember to carry your days supply of drinking water and do not forget to replenish it from the nearest place “on the go”. Especially in the case of international motorcycle travel there’s always the potential for a delay during border-crossings.

Add the possibility of a flat tire, breakdown, or a handful of other situations, and sometimes may be you won't have a chance to eat when you're hungry.

It is also good to carry some Water Purification tablets, just in case you have to rely on unreliable source of water en-route.

Medicines and First Aid

tips-for-cross-country-motorcycle-trip

Carry your supply of Aspirin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc especially in case you are going in a mountainous area where you expect frequent changes in altitude as well as weather conditions.

A Spare Ignition Key

tips-for-cross-country-motorcycle-trip

In case you misplace your key in the camping site Backpacks or if the luggage gets be stolen having a spare key can save you a lot of trouble. Secure it with a Velcro/nylon band on your riding belt or any other such place permanently.

Conclusion

These practical tips can save you hours of hassles and mistakes during your maiden trip and give you great riding moments by making it comfortable.

tips-for-cross-country-motorcycle-trip

So, Pick up your Helmet and Ride on!

Hope that after reading this article, you get the way to have a wonderful cross-country motorcycle trip. Let us know if you have any comment or if you want to share your experience. Feel free to share this article to anyone with the same question as you.

Click to rate this post!
[Total: 0 Average: 0]
Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 0 comments