"packing The Essentials" List

Gents, 250km to end point.  Assume x 2 - 500 km or 300 miles?  Seriously all of this crap?  These aren't old classics. 

For shorter day rides (anything under 350 miles) I GO LIGHT! - flat kit, small compressor, spanner for the chain, and basic 8/10/12 mm sockets, appropriate allen wrench, a phillip's and a standard screw driver, some strong tape, and that's it. Anything more serious than that and I can either borrow it or just get a ride home and come back with my trailer. That stuff goes into my tank bag with my water, snacks, and a map. 

I just finished a 4500+ mile ride this month and I did take half the garage with me thanks to excessive luggage capacity however the only thing I used was my chain lube every other day. The chain didn't even need adjustment over that period. You can break down going to the grocery store 2 miles away or you might go 30 years w/o a break down like me. You just have to decide what is prudent and what is beyond being prepared. As dgordon said, these aren't old classics and chances are that things will be ok.

Hi Everyone

I am going to my first rally the first week of October and have been trying to fathom the packing dalema of what NEEDS to go with - All my mates tell me that I am over thinking this whole thing and that I am going to end up with the everying in my house including the Kitchen sink on my bike... It is a weekend trip leaving the Friday and coming back on the Sunday - the trip is around 250km to the final destination.

Can you guys help with a list of absolute essencials that needs to go with besides Tent and Sleeping bag?

Maybe we can learn from each other and pick up a few tips each other that someone ells did not think of before...

Torch

Bottle for water (hangover cure)

Spare shreddies (pants)

Toothbrush & toothpaste

Sunglasses

Bank card & cash

Spare keys

Bike lock

Wet wipes

Puncture repair kit

Lots more but depends upon you.....

I like to carry a portable air compressor for potential tire repair and to be able to adjust air preasure not matter where I am, to go with the puncture repair kit.

I also recommend having something to put under the sidestand when parking on questionable surfaces like sand or grass. And a spray bottle with water and a cloth to clean your face shield of bugs and other junk.

Well, since it's a VFR.

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And the tools to access wiring.

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A flask of whiskey (or is that a given?)

Duct Tape and Sweetwater IPA is all you need sir.

Rollin

Wise to carry colored duct tape that matches your machine. (They don't call me Duct Tape Terry for nothin'.) Thanks for your support Dutchy. :wink:

In the hopes of never having to use it Of Course.

I also carry a spare r/r and multi meter.

This is what I call my Oops Kit.  It goes with me any time I go farther than the grocery store.

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Gents, 250km to end point.  Assume x 2 - 500 km or 300 miles?  Seriously all of this crap?  These aren't old classics.  Gosh!  I'd pack the lightest clothing and hygiene needs.  A multitool, tire gauge, tape and some spare tie wraps and fuses.  I'm saying this assuming you have a good voltage meter on your ride.  Most importantly I'd simply carry a CAA or AAA card.  (Or equivalent) Whiskey is good too. :-)

AlI know is, the first time I took an overnight bike trip,

I had to take 1/2 the stuff back into my apartment while packing.

No way was it gonna fit on the bike. :rolleyes:

Bring money. :beer:

A flask of whiskey (or is that a given?)

LOL... Not only one... PLENTY of Whiskey

OK... This is the list that I worked on but it is an extensive one for propably a very longer trip than the current one at hand:

Bungee nets/cords

Cell Phone

Ear plugs

First Aid Kit

Knife

Small Flashlite

Batteries (Flashlight)

Plastic Bags

Sidestand Plate

Suntan Lotion

Cable Ties

Duct / Insolation tape

Tire Gauge

Tools

Tire Weld

Empty Water Bottle

Tent

Tent Zipper Locks

Sleeping Bags

Self inflating Pillow and matress

Extra Keys

Disc Lock

Cigarettes

Extra Lighter

Tickets / Passes

Caps / Hat

Rain Coat

T-Shirts(riding)

Shirts(long-sleeve)

Socks(regular)

Swim Shorts/Suit

Underwear

Thermals (Seasonal)

Deodorant

Eye Drops

Hairbrush

Insect Bite Lotion

Shampoo

Soaps

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Towel

Wash Cloths

Handy-Wipes

Detol / Cotton Wool

Toilet Paper

Immodium and Valloids

Gents, 250km to end point.  Assume x 2 - 500 km or 300 miles?  Seriously all of this crap?  These aren't old classics.  Gosh!  I'd pack the lightest clothing and hygiene needs.  A multitool, tire gauge, tape and some spare tie wraps and fuses.  I'm saying this assuming you have a good voltage meter on your ride.  Most importantly I'd simply carry a CAA or AAA card.  (Or equivalent) Whiskey is good too. :-)

+1

A self-renewing AMA membership comes with roadside assistance insurance. Once you're signed up, You Can't Leave Home Without It. (Although one must remember one's got it!)

Duct Tape and Sweetwater IPA is all you need sir.

Rollin

You forgot WD-40, for those things that should move, but won't  ...

ACE

Tire pressure gauge

Small cans chain lube & bike polish

2 rags

spare earplugs

real camera

cash and CC

rain gear

old socks and underwear that I can toss out along the way

that should do for 2-5 day jaunts. If you have to carry a garage worth of tools, it's time to get a 4th gen ;)

I've been bringing those Starbucks VIA packets for instant coffee on my trips.  I throw a few of them in my toiletry kit.   A little hot water and you've got a pretty damn good cuppa considering the convenience factor.  

Hi Everyone

I am going to my first rally the first week of October and have been trying to fathom the packing dalema of what NEEDS to go with - All my mates tell me that I am over thinking this whole thing and that I am going to end up with the everying in my house including the Kitchen sink on my bike... It is a weekend trip leaving the Friday and coming back on the Sunday - the trip is around 250km to the final destination.

Can you guys help with a list of absolute essencials that needs to go with besides Tent and Sleeping bag?

Maybe we can learn from each other and pick up a few tips each other that someone ells did not think of before...

a 3 piece cocktail shaker. stuff it with sox, underwear, spare parts. anything   then you also have a cup, a strainer and a shot glass.calculate how much room this takes up when it is filled with other stuff. ENJOY

Hi Everyone

I am going to my first rally the first week of October and have been trying to fathom the packing dalema of what NEEDS to go with - All my mates tell me that I am over thinking this whole thing and that I am going to end up with the everying in my house including the Kitchen sink on my bike... It is a weekend trip leaving the Friday and coming back on the Sunday - the trip is around 250km to the final destination.

Can you guys help with a list of absolute essencials that needs to go with besides Tent and Sleeping bag?

Maybe we can learn from each other and pick up a few tips each other that someone ells did not think of before...

Your mates are correct. Remember others are with you so you don't have to be self sufficient. Skid's list and your little tool kit will probably do you more than well. Have a great time!!

Thanks for all the help - I have "Test" packed my stuff last night and seems I will have ample space left - Now it is just to pack the stuff so that the bike is balanced. All that I need to pack still is clothes and toiletries and off I go!!!

Ok... some feedback after the trip... I must say there were some eccentails I am very glad I packed and some things that was a total waste of time:

Positives:

1. Sunscreen

2. Cable Ties (used by someone ells, Not me)

3. Snacks

4. Insolation tape (used by someone ells, Not me)

5. Toolkit (used to connect electric pump for someone ellses blowup matres)

6. WHISKEY!!!! (never a bad idea)

7. a warm fleece jacket

8. slops for the shower

9. Wet wipes - Small pack to clean helmet visors (everyone in the group used mine)

10. Pocket Knife

11. Empty bottle for water - Goes well with point number 6 - Saved me a few trips to the tap and back.

12. LOTS and LOTS of Cash

Negatives:

1. too much clean clothes

2. too much food - only ate the snacks and the rest bought at the rally

3. Pair of sneakers - waste of time - walked around in my boots the whole weekend

Things I should have done different:

1. Blow Up matras - The self inflating matras I bought is useless - I could not walk for 2 days afterwards because of basically sleeping on the ground

2. Pitch the tent before you leave - I bought the tent from a friend that used it once - The poles were broken and could have turned nasty on me if there was more damage to the tent

3. Dont touch the BBQ drum with your bare hands - It is HOT....

4. Bring the bigger tent - The one that I bought was very small and if the wife goes with the next time it will most certainly not be big enough.

All in All a good trip and enjoyed it very much!!! Now to plan for the next one!!

I did my first motocamping thing recently. I used a Thermarest 20 inch wide pad and my neck was in agony for days afterwards. It went back and I need to find a smallish inflatable mattress. And a slightly bigger tent - getting dressed in a three foot high tent is for the birds. And good ear plugs are a must - dozens of tents snoring away feet from you makes for sleepless nights.

4. Bring the bigger tent - The one that I bought was very small and if the wife goes with the next time it will most certainly not be big enough.

Careful how you phrase this when you are in the store with your wife looking at tents....... 

All good information so far and I would add a few suggestions.

- Carrying a flashlight is good but what you really want is an LED headlamp. A lot of things you might be doing in the dark, unpacking or packing the bike, pitching a tent or cooking require two hands and holding a flashlight in your mouth gets tiresome after a very short time.

- Agree with the idea of a bigger tent. Most tents marketed as 'two-person' are barely big enough for one adult. A good three-person tent is minimum for one person and their gear and tight for two people. Remember, you're going to need to change clothes in there and that's really hard to do if you don't have the headroom to be at least in a kneeling position. The difference in weight over a smaller tent isn't going to matter to the bike.

- A really handy thing to have is a small rectangle of ensolite or other closed cell foam, big enough to let you sit on a wet picnic bench or the ground and to kneel on when you're working on the bike in the gravel on the side of the road. It can also go under your hips when you're in your sleeping bag to make things a little more comfortable. Unlike the OP I've had very good luck with the REI brand self-inflating mattresses. If you're going to use a blow-up mattress have a patch kit with you.

- I'm not a big fan of Starbucks but agree with the recommendation of the VIA coffee packets, especially the Columbia variety. I have them with me whenever I travel. Even if you're staying in a motel room the VIA coffee is likely to be better than the cheap coffee packets that come with the typical motel coffee maker.

- And remember, you can fix anything if you're handy with a credit card.

Things I should have done different:
 
1. Blow Up matras - The self inflating matras I bought is useless - I could not walk for 2 days afterwards because of basically sleeping on the ground

One of my skiing buddies calls advil (ibuprofen), "Old man candy."

Everything I need for a trip is carried in a modified Chase Harper tank bag...
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The Chase Harper rest on my home made aluminum tank bag bracket...

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Tank bag rest upon the bracket and does not in any way touch the
expensive $2,500 aluminum tank...
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Mr.RC45's tank bag contents:

1 Home made aluminum chain adjuster spanner
2 & 3 BMW tire repair kit
4 tape measure
5 fuses
6 pen
7 flashlite
8 razor
9 digital infrared thermometer for tracking tire temps
10 digital air pressure gauge
11 Rolaids (CHP gives me heartburn)
12 Brown Bomber (Advil)
13 home made tool to access tail cowl storage space
14 5mm allen... spare mirror screw... cross point tool...
15 525 master link...
16 Home made collapsible lift to levitate the rear tire in order to
lube my stinky chain every tank full of gas... (my belt drive
conversion will eliminate this silly stuff...)

Total weight 2 pounds 5 oz
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Stand extended...
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Stand in place...
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