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08/10/2020 The beginning of winter, the cusp of autumn and spring are the best times of the year when people go on cross-country motorcycle trips. If it's that time of the year and you are feeling the urge to straddle across your bike and go on an epic ride of a lifetime, here is everything you need to know about packing your gears and apparels. So, let's get started!
Leave the big bags, get a pair of motorcycle side cases
When you have thousands of miles to cover, luggage and load becomes a key aspect of deciding how much money you and the spending on fuel expenses. Consider getting a pair of motorcycle side cases instead of packing big bags and tying them up with bungee cords on your motorcycle! While that is completely possible, and many people do that regularly, it is not advisable especially if you have a limited capacity motorcycle and huge distances to cover every day. The lighter the load, the better the dynamics and fuel efficiency.
Less fashion, more comfort
When you are packing your bags for a long road trip focus less on fashion accessories and fashionable clothes and think more about comfort. Baggy comfortable pants and full sleeved cotton T-shirts are best to stay comfortable even on a long day of rider. This is even more important when you consider that you will be wearing a motorcycle riding jacket on top of everything. Some riders are more comfortable with skin-tight apparels because it prevents vibration fatigue, but that does not mean putting on skin tight jeans! Do your research on vibration fatigue and what clothes reduce that problem and then invest accordingly.
Power back-ups are a life-saver, literally!
Do not compromise on power backup and battery banks because they can get you out of trouble especially when you are lost and you need to use the GPS on your mobile phone to find direction. In that condition, you can't afford to have a mobile phone that is dead or blinking red because the battery is about to die! Also, when you are on a cross country road trip your family members are bound to be anxious about your safety and keeping them updated of your progress will not just ensure their peace of mind but also make you feel good about yourself. While we're on the topic of staying connected make sure that you have a dual SIM mobile phone with two network cards so that you never run out of connectivity even when you are riding across rural areas.
Music & photography
Long distance rides can easily get boring if you have nothing to keep you entertained. It's a good idea to have a music playlist to listen to when you're on the road but make sure to keep the volume low so that you can hear all ambient noises around you and make the right decisions without being distracted by the music. Also, you are going to need a good quality mirrorless camera to capture all the memories on the road. While mobile phones are quite adequate for photography these days, nothing beats the charm of snapping photographs with a mirrorless camera with the proper lenses.
Healthy snacks & water
Eating along the road can get quite expensive especially with highway eateries and restaurants charging exorbitant prices even for simple meals. Make sure to have a dedicated space in your motorcycle side cases for healthy snacks and at least a 2 litre water bottle (which you can tie to the frame of the bike as well!) That you can refill at petrol pumps and other public facilities. That way you can save a lot of money on portable water and meal expenses.
Plenty of underwear and socks
There will be very few opportunities for you to wash your clothes and recycle underwear. That is why it is a good idea to carry plenty of underwear and socks when you are on a road trip to avoid jock’s itch and smelling like a homeless person!
Plan your footwear
Motorcycle riding boots are important for safety. But when you are at the destination you won’t be able to sleep in them. Carry a pair of slippers for indoors and soft-soled running shoes/sneakers for everything else. Riding boots are big and bulky so they need to be on your feet while you are riding, while the smaller slippers and sneakers can go in the side case, or consider getting a top box for additional space.
Take safety seriously!
Don’t skip on riding safety accessories. If your helmet has become old and dilapidated consider investing in a brand-new motorcycle helmet with the latest features in terms of safety and comfort which will make your overall experience a lot more enjoyable and safer. While we are on the topic of safety, spend a little money on motorcycle riding gloves as well because your palms are the first things that will come in contact with the hard surface of the tarmac when you lose balance of the motorcycle.