Being a motorcycle enthusiast, the most exciting part of starting your motorcycle journey is when you actually get your first motorcycle. The process is lengthy, you think about a lot of things, look at the budget and finally make a purchase. However, unless you don’t go on a long trip using your two-wheeler, you will never be able to bond with the machine. You will not be able to know about its weaknesses and strengths. For a whole week or for a few weeks, it will become your crime partner. You will get to explore everything and know how to adjust in the worst possible situations. Although your motorcycle and its capacity play a very important role in how you pack for the trip, what you carry with you, and how much you carry with you are all very important. Most people bring too much stuff and then regret it later because carrying more stuff means you will find it hard to adjust and balance when you are riding your motorcycle. On the contrary, if you don’t carry enough things and start your journey, you might be stuck somewhere questioning your packing skills because you forgot to buy something.
Why Packing For A Trip Is Such A Challenge?
While packing for a long journey you have to keep in mind that packing is an art that revolves around balance. If you end up packing too much, it will become very difficult for you to balance your vehicle. However, if you end up not carrying enough you might be making your traveling experience difficult. Apart from this, you also have to keep in mind that without knowing how much weight you will be carrying you cannot consider any luggage options. Most people like to carry things on their tank while others look for back carriers however some even bring along backpacks. Since options are endless, you have to consider what will be suitable for you and your travel experience especially if you are going on a long journey.
With the help of this article, we will mainly look at some of the basics that you should keep in mind while planning your long tour on a motorcycle. We will also look at some of the best luggage options and a basic checklist for your luggage so you don’t have to waste time figuring out which option will be ideal for you.
Things to Keep In Mind before Going on A Long Tour On A Motorcycle
Before you get on your motorcycle and think about traveling, you must know about the places you want to visit and the routing option. However, most people just look at the destination and never at the routing option so eventually, they ended up with just one option. However, when you are on your way there are so many other things you need to keep in mind. From milestones to the process of carrying the luggage along, you will keep in mind what you find convenient.
Select a Good Motorcycle
When you decide about the destination and the route, only then you can select the motorcycle. If you have a route with mainly paved roads you can get any motorcycle that offers you good speed. On the contrary, if you are looking for an off-roading experience, you have to keep in mind that you should seek a motorcycle with good ground clearance and only then you can travel easily. With high ground clearance also look for tires with knobs and high shock absorption power as well.
Check Weather Conditions
Weather conditions will dictate the way you will travel and dress up for the travel. Apart from this, your motorcycle safety is highly dependent on the weather condition. If you will be traveling in the rain, you should have rain boots and raincoats as well. Apart from this, some of the areas have a high chance of wind so you need a windshield as well.
Get the Best Luggage Options
Carrying your luggage will become a hassle if you don’t know how much stuff you are carrying and how you are carrying it. Most people end up tying their luggage with ropes but do not realize that dangling ropes, and losing luggage options will eventually put you at high risk of an accident. To make sure you don’t end up facing these issues, you should get a pair of saddle bags and carriers where you can easily put your luggage. Apart from this, the type of saddlebags you need and what kind of things determine the size are also very important. Eventually, the idea is that you have to find the fitting that suits your motorcycle.
Food Items
Carrying food with you is very important because almost all experts say that dry food options are very important for survival. This is important because most people don’t carry any food items with them and when they are stuck somewhere they end up starving themselves.
Water
If you are traveling in the summers, bring along a water thermos filled with cold water because you will be dehydrated in no time. The issue is that when you are riding your motorcycle, you will feel that the moment you sweat it dries. So, you will never notice that you are dehydrating. Apart from this, if you are traveling in extreme winters, you should carry a hot water flask with you so you can drink water when you want. This will help you sustain a healthy body temperature as well.
Safety Gadgets
Safety gadgets are very important if you want to travel safely. However, most people think that safety gadgets are all about helmets, safety gloves, good shoes, and a good motorcycle riding jacket. However, they usually forget about the things that they are trying to cover. One of the worst issues that most people encounter is that they don’t tie their hair. As a result, the hair becomes damp causing itching and redness. Throughout the ride, they get frustrated because of itchiness and this eventually impacts their riding experience, similarly, wearing socks is also very important because it will help you improve the traction and your feet even when they become sweaty will not slide from the shoes.
Bottom Line
To sum it all up, if you are planning your trip just knowing about the route and the destination is not enough. You should know about the weather and then look at the conditions of travel. Most people get an online review, others ask their friends about the next destination they should visit but they usually forget about the climate and weather differences. Time, weather conditions, and travel conditions are very important. Apart from this, make sure you know the basics of traffic rules for the destination that you will be visiting. Although the basic motorcycle riding rules stay the same in some places, there are overtaking restrictions whereas in other places helmets and other safety gear are mandatory, and violating these rules can result in risking your life and the life of others on the road. You also need to keep in mind that luggage options can only be secure based on the route and the motorcycle. For long journeys dangling ropes and lost luggage can become a risk for your safety.
