Everybody loves going on long motorcycle trips because we all need a break sometimes! Without a doubt it is easier for people who ride motorcycles to plan their trips because they don’t need to worry about the traffic too much. They can just plan a weekend getaway and drive to the mountains to enjoy a wonderful scenic journey! However, when it comes to packing luggage and other essentials then yes this can prove to be a huge challenge for people who drive motorcycles.
Packing is not easy for anyone in particular regardless of where you are going, for how long you are going or what your mode of transportation is. But it is especially challenging for those who commute on a motorcycle because of the lack of storage that they have. When you travel on airplanes, cars or buses then you don’t have to be too careful with how much luggage you are packing because you have plenty of space.
When you travel on a motorcycle then you have to be careful of what you pack and how much because of the lack of space that you have to carry on. Two major things that motorcycle enthusiasts need to keep in mind while packing is:
1. Packing Absolute Essentials
Since it has already been established that motorcycles don’t have a lot of storage you need to pack lightly, which means prioritizing carrying things that are absolute necessities. You can’t afford to carry too many luxury items and should try to pack as light as possible. Don’t worry! we will figure out together way you can do this later in the article.
2. Keeping Important Tools in Case of an Emergency
Driving on a motorcycle can mean you don’t have too much space to carry spare equipment such as extra tires or a proper tool kit that can help change tires. But we have a few ideas we are sure will definitely help you especially if you’re planning a long motorcycle trip!
Before Planning a Long Motorcycle Trip?
Before we start planning out ways how you can efficiently pack your luggage, we want to discuss other important things that any motorcycle enthusiast should be careful of before they start or plan a trip:
1. The Weather Forecast
Driving on a motorcycle means that you are especially vulnerable to the environment around you because you are not covered by anything and you’re completely in contact with the outside world. This outside world could mean the air pollution, fog, sunlight and the rain.
And although there are ways you can protect yourself from such weather conditions, it is always ideal and advised that you should always check the weather forecast before you leave for a long drive; not only because it will help you prepare yourself for the journey but also guide you in the things that you should ideally be carrying.
2. Condition of Their Motorcycles
It is also advised that you should first check your motorcycle thoroughly and make sure that all the functions are working properly. This includes checking up on the tires, the oil, the engine and the chains of your motorcycle.
If even one of these things needs repairing then it should ideally be dealt with immediately before they cause problems for you during your journey.
3. Have Proper Gear
Wearing a proper gear that is most suitable for a long motorcycle journey is also absolutely essential because what you wear and how you dress up will be the only protection you will have against the outside world and unpredictable weather conditions.
4. Picking a Luggage Bag
Depending on the kind of journey that you are taking you should plan what kind of a luggage bag you should be carrying since there is a variety:
Hardcover Saddlebag
This kind of a saddlebag will be most helpful if you are traveling to a place where you can meet heavy rainfall. A hardcover saddlebag will protect your belongings against the water as they are waterproof so you can easily carry your electronics with you; however, they can be difficult to install and you can’t easily take them off the motorcycle.
Softcover Saddlebag
Although they are not water proof, they are quite spacious and you can also easily take them off the motorcycle and install them back according to your preference.
Backpacks
The third option that you have are backpacks; now they are not that spacious but they do come in different varieties and they have many pockets so you can easily organize your belongings.
5. Security: Long Motorcycle Trips
Securing your belongings can again be very difficult when you travel on motorcycles, but you can always manage that by trying not to carry a lot of precious items and by investing in a luggage bag that is easily secured on to the motorcycle and that has a proper lock.
Packing for a Long Motorcycle Trip
Follow some of our packing hacks that will definitely help you pack efficiently for any kind of a long trip!
1. Carry a Mini Tool Kit
A motorcycle does not have enough space for you to carry all the major tools and equipment that you might need in case of a motorcycle emergency. However, our most helpful hack is to advise you to carry a good quality Swiss army knife that has a variety of tools already in it in a compact packing.
This tool kit will easily fit anywhere from your pockets to a small zip in your bag!
2. Spare Items to Primarily Carry
Extra items that we feel like you should definitely be carrying include:
- Spare deflated rubber tire
- Master links
- A mini hand pump
- Tire levers
3. Roll Your Clothes in Sets
Did you know that rolling your clothes in sets based on what outfit you want to wear actually takes a lot less space than folding your clothes separately? Trust us this is a hack we swear by!
4. Protect Your Clothes
Nobody wants to get their clothes dirty by having mud splashes all over them as you ride through various terrains! Our number one advice is to wear biker pants and a biker jacket over your clothes to protect them against any unwanted splashes! This way you don’t have to worry about packing too many clothing articles because they won’t be getting dirty that quickly.
5. Carry Important Things Close to You
When it comes to security, we advise that you shouldn’t be carrying too many precious things like electronics with you but of course cash and important identification is a necessity. We suggest carrying such things in your shoes, in your pant pockets or in your jackets so they are close to you.
Guest post by Bryan Lee, Marketing Associate at Viking Bags
Summary: Long Motorcycle Trip
Now you have all the tips you need to prepare for a long motorcycle trip! It is so important to be prepared so that you can stay safe and are ready for anything. Check out other motorcycle tips on The Travel Bug Bite. Written by experts because I am not cool enough to ride a bike.
