Essentials for a road trip

[kpolito99]

I will be heading out this Wednesday for my trip to VA to final tune the R1216$ and was curious if any of you road warriors had a survival check list that you would not mind sharing.

Each other time I have been riding in the mountains I have towed my bike in the back of a truck or on a trailer. Now that I will be restricted to carrying only what fits in my expandable side bags I am getting a little concerned about forgetting something.

I plan to spend most of my time wearing my riding gear, kevlar jeans with a leather jacket, gloves, boots and helmet. Do you guys have any recommendations for tools, etc?

Here is my short list:

iphone for GPS (std charger and powerlet adapter)
GoPro for capturing a few memories
flat tire repair kit
second pair of jeans
second set of gloves
second set of footwear
rain gear/suit
bike cover?

couple pair of underwear, socks, tee-shirts
standard dop kit stuff {deoderant, tooth brush, band-aids, condoms }
ID, insurance card and credit cards/money

Thanks for suggestions in advance.

[wswartzwel]

Money will buy anything you forget, that you may need. Better to pack light and enjoy the ride, rather than the distraction of fiddling with all the stuff you think you should bring.

I do try to keep some water, and a few granola bars with me in case I am stranded on the roadside for awhile.
a spare key is nice to have, ear plugs, sunglasses, and some lip balm also stay in my tank bag.

[Milepost]

Originally Posted by kpolito99

I will be heading out this Wednesday for my trip to VA to final tune the R1216$ and was curious if any of you road warriors had a survival check list that you would not mind sharing.

Each other time I have been riding in the mountains I have towed my bike in the back of a truck or on a trailer. Now that I will be restricted to carrying only what fits in my expandable side bags I am getting a little concerned about forgetting something.

I plan to spend most of my time wearing my riding gear, kevlar jeans with a leather jacket, gloves, boots and helmet. Do you guys have any recommendations for tools, etc?

Here is my short list:

iphone for GPS (std charger and powerlet adapter)
GoPro for capturing a few memories
flat tire repair kit
second pair of jeans
second set of gloves
second set of footwear
rain gear/suit
bike cover?

couple pair of underwear, socks, tee-shirts
standard dop kit stuff {deoderant, tooth brush, band-aids, condoms }
ID, insurance card and credit cards/money

Thanks for suggestions in advance.

I'd carry a few extra tools, a small tupperware container set up for first aid, another with some healthy snacks. Also a spare external battery to charge your smart phone. and if you don't have one get a good LED hiking headlamp.

Another thing is to pack emergency contacts in a place that can easily be found and include your basic medical info. Be sure to check in a few times a day by texting. (I usually just post my GPS coordinates and my planned route) Oh yeah... a AAA card too!

Good luck, be safe and have fun! Really looking forward to seeing your results of your hard work! Hope it exceeds all your expectations..... .... Mike

[throttlemeister]

Don't know how long you plan to be gone, but just for reference I go on bike trips up to 4 weeks every year with my K1200S, which has the same expandable sidecases as the R1200S.

I pack all my clothes toiletries in one bag, and my shoes rain gear, chargers, different gloves and some small odds and ends in the other. I do not extend the bags. I then have a tank bag that is filled with my DSLR camera gear and multiple lenses.

And I still end up with stuff I didn't use after 4 weeks.

The 'secret'? I use a lot of clothing that's made of high-tech materials. The outdoor shops love me. Most of the clothes I take on a trip folds up small, easily washes in a sink and dries in a couple of hours. Do it right, you could technically suffice with 2 sets of clothing for any duration trip. One to wear and one to wash and dry. I carry more, cause I don't want to wash every day but you get the picture.

Tools, I don't bring. My bikes are in tip/top order and if they break it is highly unlikely I can do anything about it roadside anyway. I'll have a tire repair kit with me, but that's it. My phone has AAA number and my GPS the entire BMW dealer database loaded.

Don't over think these things. Trust me as someone who has done multi week trips every year for the last 25 years, if you think you have the bare minimum, reduce it to half of that and you are probably in the ballpark of what you actually need.

[1100s nut]

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

Money will buy anything you forget, that you may need. Better to pack light and enjoy the ride, rather than the distraction of fiddling with all the stuff you think you should bring.

I do try to keep some water, and a few granola bars with me in case I am stranded on the roadside for awhile.
a spare key is nice to have, ear plugs, sunglasses, and some lip balm also stay in my tank bag.

These ideas from Bill are very important. I do use nose coat, 50 spf rating on all long rides. I have a spare key on all my bikes. It happens. Also, never put anything...ie phone, wallet...anything on the tank bag or rear seat....put it on the main seat. I was at a loves travel plaza in Tecurumr? NM, put my phone on my tank bag and drove of...hear a pop...stoped...looked around...I spotted my phone about 2 seconds before a semi ran over it. The same could have happened wallet. Have a great trip.

[Chris Canning]

You can make the list as long or as short as you like,it's taken us close on 40 years to get it down to a fine art first 3 days socks/undies/tee shirts go in the bin and pack everything in vacuum bags(no you don't need a vacuum) they shrink everything down to zilch and keep it dry,the rest is trial error

[omg1010]

Originally Posted by kpolito99

I will be heading out this Wednesday for my trip to VA to final tune the R1216$ and was curious if any of you road warriors had a survival check list that you would not mind sharing.

Each other time I have been riding in the mountains I have towed my bike in the back of a truck or on a trailer. Now that I will be restricted to carrying only what fits in my expandable side bags I am getting a little concerned about forgetting something.

I plan to spend most of my time wearing my riding gear, kevlar jeans with a leather jacket, gloves, boots and helmet. Do you guys have any recommendations for tools, etc?

Here is my short list:

iphone for GPS (std charger and powerlet adapter)
GoPro for capturing a few memories
flat tire repair kit
second pair of jeans
second set of gloves
second set of footwear
rain gear/suit
bike cover?

couple pair of underwear, socks, tee-shirts
standard dop kit stuff {deoderant, tooth brush, band-aids, condoms }
ID, insurance card and credit cards/money

Thanks for suggestions in advance.

My min equipment list has always been:

- GPS tomtom rider (no i-phone as I hate that apple stuff)
- flat tire repair kit (although NEVER in my life needed)
-1 pair of jeans (depending on duration of my journey)
- 2 sets of underwear
- 2 t-shirts
- 2 sets of gloves (summer and goretex/waterproof)
- rain gear (as I prefer to wear my leather)
- pullover
- 1 pair of sneakers/boat shoes
- tools, zip ties, tape
- condoms (you never know what you come across)
- credit card
- travel detergent

Thats it ... You could off course enhance this list acording to your personal preference ... :-))

Brgds
Oliver

[kpolito99]

Thanks for all the great suggestions!

I think the total trip duration is only going to be about 1 week. I was already planning to use my quick drying athletic underwear because they wick moisture and dry ultra-fast.

I like the idea of 3 sets, one to wear, one to wash and an extra if I get lazy and do not feel like washing each night. I had not purchased a small bottle of travel detergent yet, good call!

Not sure how cool it may get in the mountains this time of year so I plan to take one thin fleece to wear under my leather jacket if necessary.

[chewie]

Sun burn cream, lip balm, h20, gastrolite, cable ties, 100mph tape, tyre repair in a can, pliers with a cutter, aspirin or panadol, bottle opener and stubby holder

[chewie]

ooh and a first aid kit and high vis vest for roadside breakdowns/stops, this isn't just for me but packed for any encounters with other poor motor sickle souls in trouble

[nathanmargolis]

Lots of good suggestions.

Zip ties and duct tape have come in use a few times for me and not on the bike but on gear that you are wearing.

Did anyone mention oil? Have two BMWs now and one prior and have always used about a pint of oil on trips. Also carried depending on areas travel- SeaFoam gas additive just in case you get some bad gas. That has occurred in Big Bend twice.

Safe travels.

[Deans BMW]

A good credit card.

[dee jones]

I have found that having a good map of the area traveling , could come in handy.

[bradzdotcom]

as a used-to-go-mountain climber, i'm one of those people that hacks the toothbrush down to 2 inches, removes non-essential shoelace material and rips the labels out of all clothing. if it doesn't do a job, i'm not taking it along for the ride.

the most important thing i carry is cash.

one dollar for every mile i plan to ride.

it folds up small, has probably already been laundered (i live in so-cal, so...) and is accepted almost anywhere there's an outstretched palm.

if you're talking about the toolkit, i'd check this thread out: I'll show you my tool if you let me see yours...

[nathanmargolis]

Two credit cards!!!!

Why two? Just in case you come accross a credit card scanner that decides not to have the ability of scanning that particular card and you don't want to walk into the station. Or if you lose one. Used to keep my credit card in a tank bag in the map section and it blew out going down an Interstate.

All kinds of things can happen on a bike trip but that is what makes them intriquing.

I used to take a list of nearest BMW shops too. With the BMW Nav GPS, they are listed as favorites. If you are a member of BMWMOA, they have a nice annual publication with member names and all these codes to what other owners can offer you in assistance- tools, trailer, garage, room, storage.... Have known people to use this source

[Milepost]

Originally Posted by chewie

Sun burn cream, lip balm, h20, gastrolite, cable ties, 100mph tape, tyre repair in a can, pliers with a cutter, aspirin or panadol, bottle opener and stubby holder

Nix that tyre repair in a can! That crap will destroy aluminum wheels from the inside out! Never go anywhere without a leatherman tool. BTW.... what the the hell is a "stubby holder" Condom, girlfriend/wife .... Geez, maybe I shouldn't have asked!

[SergioK]

Originally Posted by bradzdotcom

as a used-to-go-mountain climber, i'm one of those people that hacks the toothbrush down to 2 inches, removes non-essential shoelace material and rips the labels out of all clothing. if it doesn't do a job, i'm not taking it along for the ride.

the most important thing i carry is cash.

one dollar for every mile i plan to ride.

it folds up small, has probably already been laundered (i live in so-cal, so...) and is accepted almost anywhere there's an outstretched palm.

if you're talking about the toolkit, i'd check this thread out: I'll show you my tool if you let me see yours...

What a tease... you and your broken image links. Pfft!

[lkchris]

May need pliers for tire plug installation.

[bradzdotcom]

Originally Posted by SergioK

What a tease... you and your broken image links. Pfft!

dude, maybe you should consult an IT guy.
what image links are missing? where?
looks like i'm seeing them all....

are you sure you're not being restricted to not seeing photos due to....ahem...some inappropriate surfing?

[1100s nut]

Originally Posted by bradzdotcom

the most important thing i carry is cash.

one dollar for every mile i plan to ride.

l[/URL]

If this is the rule then people like Dee and Gary-ridemore need to be careful...because I might rob them...friendships only go so far. haha