WHAT ARE YOUR MOTORCYCLE TOURING SUGGESTIONS?
A friend of mine just bought a new motorcycle (he’s been riding off and on for many years) and will be taking a trip with his wife and asked my advice regarding motorcycle security on the road; best gear for touring through mountains with variable temperatures and unpredictable rain; tips on gear storage while traveling; and “anything else” I might want to suggest as touring advice.
Below are my responses, and you probably have some thoughtful suggestions for such questions, so please add them below!
1) MOTORCYCLE SECURITY ON THE ROAD: A motorcycle cover, a lock (that attaches to a sign or pole), an alarm, and Lojack are the best security options available that I’m aware of. However, I don’t use any of them. I just park right outside the motel/hotel lobby entrance and ask the night clerk to keep an eye on my bike. (I have a bike cover and big lock, but I don’t like to carry them because mine take up too much storage space. However, there are much lighter-weight covers specifically for touring and lighter locks, too). Of course, when I’m camping, the motorcycle is right outside my tent.
2) TOURING GEAR: I utilize a variety of different options as I’m not aware of any one perfect solution. I have a heavy, one-piece, thermal-lined, waterproof motorcycle suit that I wear with an electric vest, along with waterproof boots and gloves, as my ultimate protection against everything. But I rarely use the big suit in the summer because it’s too warm to wear and too bulky to carry. Hence, I have lighter, waterproof jackets that I use for summer trips and I only use my non-waterproof leather for local travel. I also have lightweight, waterproof overpants that I carry when I’m not bringing the suit. In fact, I also have waterproof overboots, that I’ll wear when I’m riding for extended periods in the rain, since my leather, waterproof boots will get saturated. In other words, I have a variety of different types of gear. Oh, And I have more gloves than I can count. Currently I have three different motorcycle jackets and one motorcycle suit.
However, based upon my experience, if I was doing a summer trip though the Rocky Mountains that you will be doing, I’d wear a comfortable, waterproof, summer-weight jacket with armor, and carry an electric vest (in case it gets too chilly at higher altitudes), as well as rain pants, all in addition to waterproof gloves and waterproof boots.
The following link offers a more complete overview of rain gear:
http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/motorbike-rain-riding/330/Here’s more info on motorcycle boots:
http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/tips-best-motorcycle-boots/913/There’s more to know about motorcycle gloves, if you’re interested:
http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/motorcycle-riding-gloves/181/Finally, if you are inclined towards heated motorcycle gear, you might find this of interest:
http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/motorcycle-heated-clothing/32/3) TOURING STORAGE AND WHAT TO TAKE: Many years ago I would probably have just presented my list of what to carry, but I seem to like to change it routinely. However, what I can offer is my viewpoint: Bring as little as possible in order to be comfortable.
A more general touring adage is “Carry less stuff, but more money and credit cards.”
With my current, purpose-built, sport-touring bike, I have the capacity to carry more than I need. In fact, it has served me well for carrying two persons cross-country with motorcycle camping gear. Hence, because of the load capacity, I’ve found more times than not, that I’ve brought more stuff than I really needed for any give trip, and I continue to refine how “little” to carry.
Having said that, what any two different riders consider to be necessary accouterments for a week on the road can vary. My main criteria is simply to stay warm and dry. From my perspective, anything else is a personal consideration.
Oh! I also like to bring tools as a sort of assurance that nothing mechanical will go wrong. But “which” tools is a subject of lengthier discussion, especially since, in my experience, any kind of mechanical problem is such a rarity.
Since your bike has two saddlebags and a luggage rack, the primary storage option I would offer for consideration is the notion of a tankbag. Personally, I have always used them, but there are reasons not to, which I note in this article on tankbags:
http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/tankbags/43/
4) OTHER: As a point of general advice, I would attach all your touring gear and ride around for a week or two prior to the actual trip. In fact, as a point of additional safety, I would suggest packing and storing your full complement of touring gear to ride around fully loaded for a week before you go, so that you are fully adjusted to the handling characteristics.
Additionally, here are three articles that might be of interest:
Rookie Mistakes for Touring Riders:
http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/rookie-mistakes/573/I’ve become a fan of earplugs in the past several years:
http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/ear-plugs-motorcycle/30/And I consider a kidney belt to be an indispensable touring item:
http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/kidney-belt/27/
So, that was my advice. What would be yous?
For security, consider taking along a personal GPS Tracker that uses satellites, so will work where cell phones will not… Units such as SPOT will even allow you to send an “I’m OK” message to family as well as an emergency signal virually anywhere in the world…http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=101
Also…take a deactivated cell phone as backup…at least here in Canada, even deactivated phones can still call 911…
Don’t bother with wheel locks for your ride. Most thieves just throw the motorcycle into the back of a truck and drive off with it… Consider a motion alarm that will page you when the alarm is activated. Riding with a few buddies? A chain or heavy cable run through all the bikes with a heavy-duty lock will give some peace of mind, as it acts a deterent for any opportunistic thief.
Wear clothing with lots of pockets to keep cash/credit cards; camera etc. on your person. Many a rider has returned from paying for fuel only to find his tank bag or other luggage gone, along with their valuables.
Find a creative hiding spot for a spare key…some place not obvious to a thief and where some work may be required to access it, such as the inside of a saddle.
Unless you are doing an Iron butt ride, chances are that you will not be changing out a tire or replacing a final drive on your motorcycle. Carry basic tools that can multi-function (Leatherman for example) and join a good auto club that will tow you to the nearest dealership. A tire repair kit and knowledge of how to use it can be beneficial if way off the beaten path
Going on a long tour is not the time to test out new equipment. Make your ride as comfortable as possible by changing out the saddle or having it modified to your comfort; adding handle bar extenders or changing out the handlebars; installing highway pegs that are adjusted for your comfort etc.
Make sure your ride is road-ready with lots of tread on the tires; fog lights; a good horn; fresh oil and all fluid levels, brake pads etc. checked. If you do your own wrenching, do a thorough circle check…check all the bolts and fasteners for tightness and carry some blue loctite…just in case you need it…
Where wearing a helmet is the law, consider taking a spare. While they take up room, (the helmet can be stuffed with gloves, etc) it is not quite as easy to replace, if lost/stolen as one’s under wear
I live in the south, so find keeping cool is as much a challenge as staying warm. Invest in cooling vests as well as heated clothing. Pack what you think you’ll need, then leave half at home. Carry a copy of your license, insurance, debit and\or credit cards and emergency contact seperate from your wallet. Same for passport if going abroad. If you take medication, carry printout from drug store listing your meds and keep all meds, prescription or not, in original containers. Take a extra bike key. Carry a cell phone and let people know where you are. Always carry water. Rest and take frequent breaks in any extreme weather. Have fun and ride smart!
Take a plug kit for fixing flat tires.
For touring in the western U.S. and Canada I think you can count on hitting almost all conditions during any extended trip. I hit about 70 miles of freezing rain and sleet going to Aspen last summer and was back into 100+ temperatures in Utah and Arizona. Same thing with the Canadian Rockies–hot to freezing rain for a couple of days. I take layers and pack them in color coded cubes so I can get them fast. I use nylon pants and jacket with removable waterproof liners. This works adequately for touring but not so well as real rain suits. Some days you just have to limit how far you go if the conditions are poor. A rest day never hurts. The main thing is to just go–there’s nothing like a long motorcycle tour to set your perspectives straight–unless it’s a long sail in the Caribbean.
Rain gear, of course. I carry a small bottle of RAIN-X and some kitchen paper towels to coat my face shield, inside and out. It really does prevent streaking and definitely improves visibility in the rain. Cruz Tools has a complete set of tools which are very portable.
I pack my old T shirts and underwear. Discard them along the way and replace with new stuff if your trip is really long.
Travel light, bring credit cards, have fun
Simon
Wear the gear you will want to be wearing if you come off the bike. Too hot for that gear? Too hot to ride. Open the vents, wet down your shirt and head gear at the fuel stops, you’ll be fine. Resist the urge to unzip the front of that jacket…
Im planing on going on a trip at the end off july to south off italy on my zx-10r,the weather will probable be hot around 100f,do you think i can stand my full leathers?the jacket has air vents.i had a 5 day trip last year in italy and used them but it was in may so wasent as hot.
Iv been on 3 trips so far and usually we used to ride with just a t shirt,jeans and trainers before but this was not safe riding.
get up early
If you roll out and get on the highway by 0600, you can be more than a hundred miles down the road before breakfast. After your second cup of coffee, another two hours of riding gets you another hundred miles, and it isn’t even lunch time yet. The guy with the really cool Beemer who slept until 1000 and then had breakfast is only just pulling out of the parking lot.
I find the best thing to pack is slutty lingerie when you meet up with other riders And hang them out to dry Wink Wink it ensures you get more of the fire and you sometimes meet folks with perversion like your own and occasionaly a newer and sicker habit that repulses you and at the same time excites you.
I’ve only been riding four years, and only made 2 riding trips where I spent the night away from home. On one, my group left early in the morning with air temps around 34 F. I found that fleece gloves over my “winter” gloves were a necessity. I had many layers, top & bottom, and a face balaclava under my full helmet. My other trip was a week-long trip with my family, in the blazing heat of a TX summer. This summer we had 68 days of 100+ degrees, and it started in June, when we planned our trip so we could “beat the heat.” We rode early every day, wore long white sleeves to reflect the heat, and had on water evaporation vests under our armored jackets. These vests soak in water for 10 minutes and you put them on over a shirt. As you ride, the wind evaporates the water & cools you. They work! Whatever you do take, wrap in compactor bags to protect against rain damage. Even if your bags are waterproof, high winds may allow some water to seep in, and no one wants to put on wet jammies when stopped for the night.
Nobody has all the answer to such a personal question. As for me, I’ve been around the world a few times and motorcycled on three continents. I’ve concluded that you need very little for long trips … if you take your debit card, cash and travel very light with an attitude for safety first.
I expect my second R/T from Surprise, AZ to Santa Fe, NM of 1,200 miles in two weeks. I’ll take my tent, two days clothes (from hot to cold weather in layers), rain jacket, toiletries, first aid kit, snacks & water. Having the AAA RV coverage (towing within 100 miles) and a CCW permit and common sense covers security. I’m a Suzuki Burgman 650 rider and made three trips to San Diego, Irvine and home. Piece of cake! If you enjoy motorcycling, do not fear long trips. Stop often, rest, eat, refresh, refuel and get back on. Don’t drink and ride! Expect the other guy to turn in your path! If you do these things, you’ll be fine.
I think your advice is good. As far as “what to wear”, the industry as a whole has really stepped up with many textile offerings that liter the market today. My suggestion would be to go with a brand that offers armor, plenty of vents, waterproofness and a thermal liner. Heated liners are of course fantastic, but unless folks plan to ride in the 50F’s and below, heated gear is not as much use IMO. Having said that, my heated gear lives on my bike as I frequent thoughs low temps.
To echo your point…less is better when packing.