Road Trip/Travel Essentials?

Hi all!
Now that I've had my GRiSO for a summer, I'm thinking of maybe doing a 1 week road trip someplace (TBD). I thought there was a thread someplace here where folks listed their suggested items to take with but I can't find it. This will be my first road trip on a bike and I'm curious what "essential" items would be suggested to bring along for the unforeseen situations. Hoping to keep it to easy to pack, minimalist items but things that experienced travelers have found to be good to have. Thanks in advance!

Puncture repair kit.

clothes that you don't wash but just throw away.

- Portable compressor and tubeless tyre repair kit, I find are essential - though I never had to use mine, yet!
- First Aid kit and get trained yourself, specifically in first aid for motorcyclists.
- If camping a good camp bed.
- 2 pairs of undies ( you can get 2-3 days out of each one by wearing the inside out the next day, or putting them on back to front).
- Toothbrush and paste.
- Wet weather gear.
- A sense of adventure, and a sense of humour.
- Drinking water (don't worry about food, you won't die from lack of food over a 24 hour period) - dehydration and fatigue should be avoided.
- A good camera/phone to record some sights for the rest of us to enjoy. Minimalist communications capability.
- A plan/route of where you are going, and let significant other(s) know about it, just in case.
- Stop and talk to the locals - you never know what surprises (both good and bad) are in the local area.
- Cheap accommodation list that is biker friendly.
- Fire starting kit.

I do a long run each year and generally by myself, so these things are important to me (not having a centre stand) so I can keep going and be self sufficient. I also camp, so I have a sleeping bag, camp chair, single burner stove, rum and a kettle - camped under the stars with a good rum and enjoying solitude, or with like minded individuals, is something I find quite refreshing and lets me dispose of some of the shit that clutters up my life.

Not everyone will agree to this list and everyone is individual, so there may be lots more or even less.

Minimum
1. Credit card
2. Tooth brush

After that, anything you can carry that will make your adventure more enjoyable, comfortable and safe.

A lot depends on where you intend to travel.
Sticking to the major freeways with all tourist trappings every 50 miles (boring), or riding the roads less travelled where you might be off the grid (cell ph/web), prepare accordingly.

3. Water
4. Tyre repair kit + tools
5. First aid kit
6. Everything else from here are creature comforts.

I like a tour where the only destination I have is "Home", sometime next month.

Don't for get alcohol...for when you remember that you forgot to pack the puncture repair kit.

My 2 rules for ANY travelling:
1. Take 1/2 the stuff, and twice the money
2. NEVER pass-up an opportunity to pee....

jeremyb wrote:

My 2 rules for ANY travelling:
1. Take 1/2 the stuff, and twice the money
2. NEVER pass-up an opportunity to pee....

Duct tape
Cable ties

A few spanners in the toolkit - to tighten up those bits that loosen off. Perhaps a few spare nuts & bolts, but only a few - a set of fuses - these will fit in the nooks & cranny a in the luggage. A tiny bottle of a favourite strong liqueur - for recovering from the odd "brown pants" moment, or just for when it's really cold. A spare pair of gloves is often useful. For you guys - a spare length of submersible fuel hose (SAE 30R10) & clamps, for when the hose comes off the in-tank fuel pump in the middle of nowhere. ( I'd guess you'd have a 1-5% chance of that happening! BUT if you take it, you won't need it).

A handy, credit card, tire plug kit, CO2 cartridges, small foot pump, paid up road assistance, rain gear and a box of condoms - essentials for road trip.

Yes, forgot about that - a decent roadside assist really comes in handy & saves lots of grief - can turn a disaster into an inconvenience.

BMW, Ducati & Harley come with 2 years free roadside assist. Backed by Allianz Global Assistance.
They need it.

AGA seem to be good to deal with and favour towing to the nearest "brand" dealership. Check them out.

For the long tours in Australia you can also try RACQ/NRMA etc, as long as you get the top level cover, approx $265 p.a.
You only need to have one vehicle on the policy, then anything else you drive/ride is automatically covered. Even if you don't own it.

I've done several recoveries from Walcha/Narrabri back to Brisbane (500km each way) at zero cost to the client.

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions! They were all very helpful and things I could easily source before I depart. Now I just have to plan a destination and wait for spring/summer to arrive here in Chicago. May still be a while yet. :-(

Got loved ones who think you're nuts for wanting to go on a motorcycle trip?  Stroke their worries with this.

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Nice find GNORTS! Seems like a cool little gadget. Does anyone have a suggestion on a small air pump that I can plug into my pig-tail that doesn't take up much space? I recall someone here providing a link to one at some point in time.

I second the SPOT tracker advice.  I've been using one since their first generation came out (2008 or so.)  Not only is it a salve for loved ones back home, but it can summon help if you're off the beaten path...

There are lot's of small pumps out there, I currently use the Airman Sparrow.  To be honest though, nothing beats the CO₂ canisters for portability.

The Airman pump is currently available on Amazon for about $23.

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I use a cycle pump - one the newer, small double action ones - less can go wrong - but don't know how much effort required for a GRiSO's rear tyre: for 90 & 130 wide, the effort is acceptable.

Last year I added a portable 12V power pack jump starter that's about the size of a pack of cigarettes. It's great for keeping accessories charged while on the road such as the phone or bike camera, and it can jump start a vehicle or run a portable 12V compressor, which I also carried with a tire repair kit. I purchased one for my wife's car and one for my bikes. It has two USB plugs, Small Jumpers, an LED light and a meter on it that you can monitor the current charge status at a glance. They hold their charge for a long time (Lithium Ion) and I charge them every three months whether they show they need it or not. I think its a good item to have for long trips, especially if touring through remote areas like out west and such. They don't take much space and could definitely be very handy to have if needed.
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Steak wrote:

There are lots of small pumps out there, I currently use the Airman Sparrow.  To be honest though, nothing beats the CO₂ canisters for portability.
...

What size CO2 canisters, and how many of them, does it take to fill up the GRiSO's rear tire completely?

Moto

P.S. I pack a Slime compressor, about 2x4x5 inches, plus hose and wiring. Sounds small but it's not small enough.


WAIT. Maybe I've found a reasonable answer elsewhere on the web (Advrider):

"It takes six 12 gram bottles to inflate a 180/55/ 17" tire to 20 psi. Six 16 gram bottles inflate the same sized tire to 23 psi. One 68 gram bottle will inflate the tire to 22 psi." -- this from "Murph"

Another comment followed that one:

"Some of the 12v compressors take up less space than some of the cans of air and the number of CO2 cartridges required to inflate a tire."

I guess that second thing is my fear.

I see Walmart sells a two-pack of 90 gram cartridges for paint ball guns. I suppose one of those might work to fill a tire. Any one know?

Walmart 90g cylinder link

M.

Especially annoying when one or more of the rationed cartridges discharges, but NOT into the tyre. Take a reliable 12v pump (test them some at home first) or a bicycle pump. Note that some bicycle pumps can also use CO2 cartridges screwed into the body. Note that of the last 8 or 9 times I got a flat on trips, in 5 cases I've been at or within pushing distance of a service station with air. That makes it easier, but you can't always be lucky.

Yes a 12 V pump , buy a cheap one test it out top off your tire , if it works then you are good to go .
And some adhesive tire plugs push in type , they work great to get you home or to a shop.

Have a mate who rode his 1200 GS in the Sahara & over the old Dakar track. He swears by those mushroom plugs from Stop n Go - his tyre had dozens of them in there after that trip & he just kept riding until the tyre worn out.

moto wrote:

Steak wrote:

There are lots of small pumps out there, I currently use the Airman Sparrow.  To be honest though, nothing beats the CO₂ canisters for portability.
...

What size CO2 canisters, and how many of them, does it take to fill up the GRiSO's rear tire completely?

Moto

M.

The unit I have uses 20 g cartridges, which were sufficient the two times I needed to use them. Look to Paintball gun stores for unbranded alternatives (cheaper) to the replacement tire cartridges. Just make sure they are threaded cartridges.

Spare key hidden where only you know how to get it. I also carry spare money on the bike with a rig made that I can take the seat off without a key.