Road Trip Essentials: Things No Rider Should Leave Home Without
You already know the "usual things" to pack for a trip. But then there are those other things you never think until you actually need them, then you're like: "man, I really wish I had a ___ right now!" We've all been there, so we took all those handy must-haves you never think of when planning a motorcycle trip, and put them all into one handy list - check it out!
When you're planning a motorcycle road trip, there are plenty of things you already know you should be taking. But in every trip you've ever been on (motorcycle or otherwise) you've probably found yourself in a situation where you've thought "man, I really wish I had a (insert item here) - but it never even crossed my mind!" We've all had that feeling, but on a motorcycle trip it's a little worse - out on the open road, you need to be more self-reliant than usual, and prepared for just about anything.
So to help you out, we brainstormed about all those "damn I wish I had a (blank) right now..." moments we've had on motorcycle trips, and put all those things together for you in this handy list. Check it out, and if you don't have this stuff on your next trip - don't say you didn't get a heads-up!
Things You Shouldn't Leave Home On Your Motorcycle Without
A Spare Phone Charger
These days, our phones do everything - but they also burn through juice quickly, and when you're out on the open road, the last thing you want to be is cut off from all communication because of a dead phone!
At the very least, bring a spare phone charger with both a 12 volt adapter and a wall outlet plug, so you can juice up in a car or a roadside spot in case of an emergency. If you really want to be self-reliant and never be without power, check out our awesome portable power sources (which we cover later in this article as well.)
Tip: one of the best things about smartphones these days is using apps - check out our article on the best apps for motorcycle riders, which will also come in really handy on a motorcycle trip!
A Spare Key
This is one of those things you never think about having - until you lose your keys! This happened to me personally, and even though it was half an hour away from home, it was a huge pain to get sorted out. On a road trip, you do not want to be without a key, so keep a spare with you.
A few good places to keep your key securely: zip-tied inside a storage compartment, duct taped to the bottom of your passenger seat, or embedded under a layer of clear silicone sealant on the back of your license plate. Stick some cash in there with it - if you lost your keys, you're probably having a bad day, and some cash may come in handy!
Long Cable Lock (For Helmet and Jacket)
A long cable (24-36") with loops on each end makes a great way to lock up your jacket and helmet to your bike for times when you don't want to lug it around with you. Just slide it through the sleeves of your jacket and through the visor opening of your helmet, and secure it with a disc lock (which doubles as extra bike
A cable lock, or even just a cable attached to your existing disc lock, is a great way to secure your heavy riding gear when you don't feel like lugging around with you.
Baby Wipes or Sanitary Wipes
These things are lifesavers when you need a quick freshening-up, have dried up bug guts on your helmet visor, or run across a questionable looking toilet seat at a roadside gas station. Keep some on you, no matter where you're riding - they always come in handy.
A Gallon-Sized Ziploc Freezer Bag
If you're on an epic trip, you've probably prepared yourself with some good quality water-resistant motorcycle gear. But you could get caught off guard with some unexpected showers on any ride, and there are some things you absolutely cannot get wet (like your cell phone and wallet.) A Ziploc freezer bag is a perfect dry bag for small items in a pinch, and takes up almost no space. It also doubles as a place to put all your other must-haves. An invaluable item!
Earplugs (plus Spares)
If you don't ride with hearing protection, you're making a mistake. Hearing protection on a motorcycle is a must-have item, especially on a long trip, where extended exposure to high-volume noise will fatigue you much faster than normal. Keep several sets with you - they are cheap, and get lost easily.
Microfiber Rag
This is a great item all around, but when you go outside on a cold morning and find your seat, grips, and gauges soaking wet with condensation, you'll be really glad you have it. Also works great to clean surfaces, wipe off in hot weather, or as a rag when doing roadside maintenance. A must-have item!
Zip-Ties
Seriously, a pack of these will come in handy in more ways than I could possibly explain here. Just keep a pack with you - they're cheap, take up very little space, and have a million uses. Just get them!
The zip-tie tire installation hack - just one of a million uses these awesome little things have.
Duct Tape
Along with a package of zip-ties, you can MacGyver your way through a lot of simple temporary repairs with some duct tape! Tip: a whole roll takes up a lot of space, so either squish it flat, or wrap about half a roll around something small like a AA battery to save some space.
Bungee Cords
There will be times you need to strap something to your bike - I don't know whenor where it will happen, but it will happen - and when it does, bungee cords are the perfect in-a-pinch way to do it. A cargo net is also handy for awkwardly shaped items (like a spare helmet.)
A Tool Kit
Thinking about doing maintenance on your bike during a road trip is probably the last thing on your mind, but even the most minor repairs will require some basic tools. Keep a small travel tool kit with you - it pays for itself the first time you use it. A multi-tool is also something handy to have around.
The Cruz Tools Econokit M1 is a great compact tool kit that doesn't take up much space, but could come in very handy when you need it!
Tire Repair Kit
A flat tire can ruin your day really quickly, and you may not be able to get roadside assistance in some areas where there's no cell phone reception or if you wander off-road. A tire repair kit might be the only way to get back on the road if you get a flat, so don't ride without one!
Tire Pressure Gauge
One of the most important - but most neglected - parts of motorcycle maintenance is keeping proper tire pressure. Keep a small portable tire gauge handy so you can keep an eye on your PSI, and top it off as needed.
A Neck Gaiter
This not only comes in very handy when it's cold - it comes in handy for a bunch of uses, like soaking with water and wearing when its hot, or using as a rag in a pinch.
Copies of Critical Info
There is a lot of critical info in your wallet that is too important to not have backup copies of. The old school method is to make photocopies of all your cards and put them in a Ziploc bag somewhere; the new school method is to snap photos of all of them on your phone (this is what I do.) Either way, keep backups of this essential information just in case you lose your wallet.
A Flashlight
This is probably the most overlooked and most essential tool of all - because when you're caught in the dark, you can't do anything! Don't rely on a cell phone light, because it drains the battery quickly. Get a small, powerful LED light - or better yet, a headlamp - and keep it handy. When you need it, you'll be very glad you have it.
A Ballcap or Beanie
Unless you're bald (lucky you) your hair will probably turn into a tangled, sweaty mess on a ride, and there will be times that you want to look at least presentable mid-trip. Keep a ballcap, beanie, or even a bandanna to throw on when the helmet comes off, and you'll be covered.
Some Simple Rain Gear
If you're on a short trip or live in a sunny area, you probably don't think about getting rained on much - until it's too late! Rain gear doesn't have to mean an expensive Gore-Tex 2-piece suit - a simple, inexpensive waterproof oversuit will be enough to get you home in a less-than-miserable state.
When the weather turns on you mid-ride - you'll sure be glad to have at least some basic rain gear handy!
A Portable Po
wer Source
These days, battery technology is so advanced that you can carry power packs with you that will jump start your bike or charge your devices dozens of times without a recharge. These things are so cool, we think everyone should have one, not just in their bikes, but in their cars too. they're seriously amazing.
These awesome power packs are lifesavers - they'll not only keep all your devices juiced up on the go, but they'll jumpstart your bike and even a car multiple times!
A Snack!
You've seen the Snickers commercials where people are "not quite themselves" when they're hungry. This is true - but if you run into problems on the road and get jammed up for a few hours, you'll really be glad you have an emergency snack on hand. Keep a few protein or energy bars around just in case (and hopefully some water too.)