TIPS FOR MOTORCYCLE JOURNEYS

Being Safe and self-reliant on the road

Despite my best efforts, sometimes I end up with an overloaded bike.

In addition to my general travel philosophy and tips, for motorcycle trips, I have to add a few more items.

• Trip planning
• Bike preparation
• Packing
• On the road

Bike Preparation

People with expensive bikes, kitted out with the latest and most expensive farkles, are usually too busy making money and don't have time for big trips. Most people that I meet on the road, ride whatever they get their hands on, possibly with some basic aftermarket parts.

I fit squarely into the second group. I have never been in a situation when I wished I had a shinier part, more luggage or even more horsepower. But I have been in situations where I wished I had less luggage and lighter, smaller, even cheaper, bike. Bling factor may not be your best ally when dealing with a corrupt cop trying to extract as much money from you as possible and it's definitely a magnet for thieves.

The list of items I like to add to my bikes is fairly short:

• Sturdy aluminum handguards (mostly to protect levers);
• USB charger and mobile phone mount (for navigation);
• Electronic chain oiler;
• Tool box, and
• Luggage rack.

I am not crazy about any particular brand and I usually mix and match. I don't believe that the cheapest product will be the best, but I don't believe that the most expensive products will be much better than 2nd or 3rd most expensive one. Sadly, I have a list of products I bought from famous manufacturers at top prices that were complete garbage.

I have had good experiences with Tusk products from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC and they are much cheaper than the competition. Their aluminum panniers were better designed than Happy trail panniers selling for twice the price and far better than SW-Motech panniers selling at 4x the price. SW-Motech aluminum panniers are designed to leak from day one. To add insult to injury, they want to sell you a plastic bag for $100 to protect your belongings from their leaky design. Tusk makes many aftermarket parts, all of them excellent value. On a recommendation of my friends, I tried even Tusk tires and I was very pleased with their performance.

As for the super cheap Chinese parts, I don't have much experience other than some broken RAM mounts. For critical parts, I try to stay away from rock bottom prices and manufacturers without history.

I find it rather amusing when my friends invest as much money in after market parts as they paid for their (expensive) bikes. Then they put 5-6 thousand miles on the bike and start looking for a newer, "better" bike.

Motorcycle travel, especially through developing countries, on other continents, is about survival, not about riding fast and showing off latest parts on your expensive motorcycle.

Packing

• Prep the bike - change fluids and, if nearly worn out, change tires, chain and brake pads (even though I usually end up doing these while on the road).
• Check ride reports from other riders on Horizons Unlimited, AdvRider (mostly Americas) or some other regional forums. This will give you an idea about the red tape, security issues and troubles travelers encounter in various countries.
• Read other travelers' experiences with money exchange, border crossings, police encounters, document requirements, etc.
• Camping stuff:
  • Small, lightweight, 3-season tent;
  • Sleeping bag and pad;
  • Fast-drying towel, and
  • Wet wipes ("shower", clean hands after fiddling with the bike and answering nature calls, etc.).
• Flip-flops, probably the most overlooked item;
• Mosquito net with light bungee cords for suspending the net;
• Money belt (passport, bike papers, drivers license, spare credit cards and bulk of cash);
• Light, wind-proof fleece;
• Light, metal, utensils (plastic utensils are useless - knifes are not sharp, spoons cannot carve fruits and food slips off plastic forks);
• Health:
  • Sunblock - easy to get sun-burnt behind the helmet visor;
  • Antibacterial ointment for minor cuts and scratches;
  • Earplugs for riding and sleeping in noisy hotels;
• Documents - keep all originals in the money belt and use copies whenever possible, keep copies on the phone and in the cloud:
  • Passport;
  • Driver's license;
  • International Driver's License;
  • Motorcycle documents - title, registration, insurance;
  • Laminated copies of the motorcycle papers and DL (for corrupt cops);
  • Passport-size photos;

Motorcycle Gear

• Motorcycle cover - useful when no secure overnight parking available;
• Bungee cords, bungee net and straps to secure luggage and useful for emergency towing;
• Bicycle lock cable to secure helmet, jacket and boots to the bike while exploring a town for a few hours;
• Spares:
  • Extra bike key hidden on the motorcycle;
  • Tubes, front and back, patches;
  • Chain master link;
  • Fuses, spark plug;
  • Clutch cable;
  • Gear shifter;
• Luggage soft or hard, both have advantages and disadvantages. While I was predominantly using aluminum luggage cases in my travels, on several trips, I enjoyed advantages of the soft luggage and I loved it. Viking Bags makes adventure riding luggage systems for all kinds of rides, from enduro to RTW.
  • Panniers - left for frequent access, right for rarely used items;
  • Top box (especially in combination with soft luggage) or waterproof duffel bag behind ;
  • Small, hard-plastic box for tools bolted to the back rack;
  • Detachable tank bag for camera and other frequently used, small items;
  • A small handle-bar mounted bag for glasses, ear plugs and similar small items;
  • A small day pack on the back;
• Tools:
  • Leatherman or similar multi-tool;
  • 3 tire levers;
  • Pump;
  • Wrenches and sockets (sizes are bike specific);
  • Screwdriver with various bits/sizes;
  • Wise grips;
  • A set of hex wrenches for the bike I am riding;
  • Needlenose pliers;
  • Multimeter, electrical tape;
  • Zipties;
  • Safety wire, ductape;
  • JB Weld, Silicon gasket maker, threadlocker;
  • Engine oil to top off when needed and to lubricate tire edges when fixing flats on the road;

On the road

• Start riding early, finish riding early, find hotel early, definitely during daylight;
• Never plan to ride at night, when it happens, find a place to stop ASAP;
• Wear a shorts and T-shirt under the riding gear so that I can take off riding gear as soon as I stop and be comfortable in hot conditions.
• Carry flip-flops and leave riding boots locked with other gear on the bike.
• Bicycle locking cable to secure helmet, riding jacket and boots to the motorcycle while walking around a town.
• Do sink laundry every night when showering;
• Fan, AC or outside AC compressor, if accessible, will dry clothes quickly;
• Scan for hotel options, and/or make booking, the night before, on an app or online maps, to have an idea of where to look for accommodation upon arrival;
• Look for places of interest along the route I plan on riding the following day and mark them on the map;
• Motorcycle care:
  • Fuel up at the end of the day for next day;
  • Lube the chain while it's warm, check fluid levels;
  • Check chain tension, sprockets and brake pads' condition;
  • Check tire pressure and tires' condition;
  • Check for loose/missing bolts/nuts and/or cracks on luggage racks/panniers;
  • Check lights;

I simply do not travel without a mosquito net through tropical countries. If backpacking, I carry a tiny, single attachment point net. In this photo, I hung this 4-point attachment net with bungee cords. Mosquito nets are available in most tropical countries, but they may not be as packable as the expensive ones from your home country.

I like to be able to do minor repairs myself. Fixing flats is the bare minimum. I've met riders who needed to be towed because of a flat.

I never thought I'd be changing a stator on the side of a road. Having experience changing stator previously helped tremendously. Doing as much maintenance at home will not only save quite a bit of money, but may also turn out to be the skill that saves the day if the bike breaks down in the middle of nowhere.

For all of my grand adventure rides , I bought and carried extra fuel cans. Cheap fuel canisters are available anywhere in the world. I buy one when I need it and then throw it away when I am done. Some people prefer to carry fancy, expensive, fuel containers throughout the trip.