By Stephanie McDonald
Source | Hogarth de la Plante/Unsplash
Hi, everyone! Stephanie here, aka the Blonde Bandit. Spring is coming soon, and that means it’s time for some long and exciting road trips. But before you set off, make sure you’re prepared. If you’ve been on a long Trip before, you know the importance of having an emergency kit.
Recently, I took a four-hour ride through the mountains of Little Switzerland, NC. That’s not the longest trip I’ve ever taken solo, but I still packed some key items. During the journey a funny noise started coming from the chain of my Motorcycle, a 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600 (get the nickname now?). I sprayed it with my emergency chain cleaner, and after inspecting my motorcycle, I noticed I was a little low on oil. So I topped that off too. Being prepared with the right essentials really saved me on that ride.
You may get into, or have already been in, a similar situation. There’s limited storage space on motorcycles, especially since your saddlebags are already loaded with personal items. So here’s the absolute essentials packing list.
Essential Motorcycle Packing List
Tire-repair kit & gauge
The gauge is a must to make sure you have the proper amount of air in your tires. The tire-repair kit comes in handy if you get a flat and need to get to the closest shop.
Emergency roadside kit
These kits are great to have on-hand in case you end up with a dead battery and need a quick jump to get going. Plus these roadside kits usually have first-aid items and flashlights, too.
Zip ties
When bolts rattle loose, minor accidents happen, and your fairing is flapping around, zip ties are a great quick fix. I also use them to secure my USB cable to the frame.
Bungee cords
You can never have enough bungee cords. I use them for extra support in holding my saddlebags, since I have the soft detachable kind.
Towels
It’s always great to have a few towels on hand in case you need to clean your visor or wipe down your bike before you enter it into a show.
You can also pick up:
- Oil and filter
- Batteries
- Brake fluid
- Radiator fluid
- Brake-parts cleaner
- Electrical tester
- Tools—will vary depending on bike metric/SAE
- Detail items
- USB cable
- Fuses
Whether it’s a three-hour or 30-day road trip, it pays to be prepared.
Have any extra tips or motorcycle-trip stories to share? Leave a comment below!
Heads Up! We’ll Be at 12 Hours of Sebring
Want a free lunch? Speed Perks members attending the 12 Hours of Sebring on Saturday, March 10 will get one. Just bring a receipt from Advance Auto Parts showing a Mobil oil purchase to the Mobil tent at lunch time.