What things to pack on a LONG trip?

Essentials:

Lot of good stuff here so I won't repeat. I carry a can of lemon pledge in my tankbag for my face shield and it doubles to wipe the bike down once in a while.

I recently melted down part of my wiring harness on a trip through Ky. ($700 dollar repair) so a spare wiring harness, and extra R/R, and a back up battery might be good to stash in your trunk. Otherwise, you are good to go!

 

dono if its been said but your registration card. just in ase you dont have it on you.

 

I just got a tank bag, so I'm going to be compiling a small kit. Here's what I'm thinking:
Spare main fuse and 'other' fuses
Multi-tool (in addition to complete stock toolkit), pen and a sharpie
Zip Ties, small length speaker wire (8-10ga)
Pencil Gauge & Valve Stem Cores/Tool/Cap
Cleaning wipes for visor/sunglasses, EK cat-crap (anti-fog & lens cleaner)
Band-aids and eye drops and a small bottle asst. tylenol, advil, etc. and some Tiger Balm for the neck/hands
small flashlight, spare aa's for the GPS
2 small rags/towels
Electrical tape

I'm interested in the WD-40 or pledge?? is that to be used like Rain-X for the visor on your helmet?
Anyone carry a spare spark plug, oil, chain lube,

 

Extra ear plugs

A backpacker's trick is to wrap a supply of duct tape around a pen or mechanical pencil to suit. That way you have tape in a compact package and something to write with.

A Leatherman or similar tool can also come in handy.

Waterless hand cleaner or pre-packaged moist towels and a small hand towel

Hex wrenches to fit the fasteners on your ride - at a minimum a 6mm.

 

Install a 12v socket. Walmart and autozone (maybe others) sell a small small air compressor. It's about the size of my small hand. Sure you have plugs for holes, but how you gonna air the tire up? LOL

Plus a 12v socket is universal. I also pack a 12v socket to usb port. Just in case I have to charge my phone on the go.

 

I found at the local lenscrafters wipes for yor glasses. They also work great for removing bugs off visors. They are small, and may save room instead of the windex, and they don't leak, no extra cloth needed.

 

What worked for me for 5227 to LA and back.

One Dark face shield for the day, and a fog free clear for the night/rain/sleet. Sunglasses under a lid is NOT for all day. The most badonkadonk padded bicycle shorts you can find. An AMA membership and the free roadside/towing. Waterproof boots. Fresh tires for the Texas hill country.As little else as possible. Njoy!:thumbsup:

 

If you have a problem it will be the one thing you did not pack that would save you. Hind site is 20/20 and always will be. Pack light and keep a fresh credit card handy. Abooot to go on a long trip and that is the plan.

 

extra light bulbs.

 

I don't know what the deal is with the pledge, and nothing against the Poster that listed it, but I wouldn't allow furniture polish anywhere near my lid, and certainly not my bike.

Extra plugs and oil - no.

Chain lube - Hell yea. If you're going on that long of a ride, you definitely want to be able to lube it.

One other thing - if you do a lot of riding in the rain (or get caught doing it), its nice to have clear packing tape to run across the top of the lid/visor. Keeps those drips out. You can actually "seal" the top of the visor, while still cracking open the lower part a 1/4 inch to let some additional air in.

 

Really? I can go years and years without replacing bulbs. Unless you are going around the world, why would you bring bulbs?

 

why recommend no sunglasses? I use them all the time. Even on 1,000 mile in a day rides, much easier than changing visors, and I can take them on and off while riding.

 

One of my bulbs is out, so it was just an idea.

 

I agree with the sunglasses. I can't find a visor that I like anywhere near as much for the lens itself, and at slow speeds it's nice to open the shield all the way for the ventilation.

On a long enough trip, and if it had been a while, I could definately consider an extra headlamp & tail lamps. Espeially if I'm going somewhere I am wary about their availability (I can take 2-3 day trips in CO mtns where I'd worry about being able to get one, as well as other parts) but yeah, those bulbs do seem to last a short eternity!

Also, I am an avid Jeeper, and while I agree that I always need what I didn't bring (which is a LOT), having a well and smartly equipped vehicle has saved my @$$ more times than I care enough to count, and certainly enough to warrant a small tank bag worth of crap for cruising on the VF