red1100cc
Registered
more of a rant than any kind of trip advice. 
the thread always begins "i am planning a trip, what should i pack?"
the replys usually say something like this
Motorcycle Camping Trip Motorcycle Travel Motorcycle Touring
well after riding over 250,000mi + i have to disagree with almost everything Ol Gary has to say.
forgit packing a bunch of junk you will never use, as well as the stuff you can get along the way.
that means ditch the soap, shampoo, almost all your toiletries save deodorant and a toothbrush. all that stuff will be provided for you along the way.
how you may ask? Motels! as much as you might want to camp, after a hard day in the saddle, nothing is better than a good warm room with a nice soft bed. Go get a room! then just call the front desk. they will hook you up with almost everything you need.
everything else can be acquired at the gas station.
you've worked all year to take this trip.
your a big boy with a credit card. Use it!
you will not need cooking supplies! i don't know how many miles i carried a coffie pot and mess kit sometimes 1/2 the kitchen with enough food for a month, and never used them, ever.
your not going to camp anyway..remember.
you have just ridden 300-1000mi. you probably haven't eaten well all day. treat yourself to a good meal at a nice Mom & Pop restaurant.
you will need a very small tool kit. a tire kit and some zip ties and jb weld. if anything is really broken, even a full snap-on tool kit wont fix it w/o new parts.
keep it small, especially if you have no idea how to work on your bike in the 1st place.
you might need a small bedroll, and tiny tent. i prefer a jungle hammock. you will probably never use it. but it is nice to know you can camp by your bike if you need/want to.
for extended trips you will need clothes. pack disposable clothing. old t-shirts, tube socks, and good but not pricey underwear, as you will be throwing these away as they become smelly. comfortable jeans; these you will keep so you might need a few pair, but never more than 4.
your outer gear will be all anyone sees for days anyway.
and that's where you need to concentrate. your riding gear. what you will be wearing 16hrs a day, every day.
now days 1/2 my kit is layers of riding gear.
cold weather coveralls
rain gear
warm weather riding gear.
dress in layers and get the best, most comfortable stuff you can find. leather, leather, leather, Kevlar, carbon fiber.
don't skimp here. you have a $10,000.00 bike. dump a few grand into gear.
to keep your bike safe at night, just roll it into the room.
:thumbs:
with this advice a person can travel the country with not much more than a backpack strapped on the back of the bike.
less time worrying about stuff, the more time enjoying life.
i just thought Gary's article was a silly cookie cutter example of a "motorcycle touring article".
that, and the next time some asks this question, i can refer them to this thread. :semi:
here's a few pics :thumbs:
the thread always begins "i am planning a trip, what should i pack?"
the replys usually say something like this
Motorcycle Camping Trip Motorcycle Travel Motorcycle Touring
well after riding over 250,000mi + i have to disagree with almost everything Ol Gary has to say.
forgit packing a bunch of junk you will never use, as well as the stuff you can get along the way.
that means ditch the soap, shampoo, almost all your toiletries save deodorant and a toothbrush. all that stuff will be provided for you along the way.
how you may ask? Motels! as much as you might want to camp, after a hard day in the saddle, nothing is better than a good warm room with a nice soft bed. Go get a room! then just call the front desk. they will hook you up with almost everything you need.
everything else can be acquired at the gas station.
you've worked all year to take this trip.
your a big boy with a credit card. Use it!
you will not need cooking supplies! i don't know how many miles i carried a coffie pot and mess kit sometimes 1/2 the kitchen with enough food for a month, and never used them, ever.
your not going to camp anyway..remember.
you have just ridden 300-1000mi. you probably haven't eaten well all day. treat yourself to a good meal at a nice Mom & Pop restaurant.
you will need a very small tool kit. a tire kit and some zip ties and jb weld. if anything is really broken, even a full snap-on tool kit wont fix it w/o new parts.
keep it small, especially if you have no idea how to work on your bike in the 1st place.
you might need a small bedroll, and tiny tent. i prefer a jungle hammock. you will probably never use it. but it is nice to know you can camp by your bike if you need/want to.
for extended trips you will need clothes. pack disposable clothing. old t-shirts, tube socks, and good but not pricey underwear, as you will be throwing these away as they become smelly. comfortable jeans; these you will keep so you might need a few pair, but never more than 4.
your outer gear will be all anyone sees for days anyway.
and that's where you need to concentrate. your riding gear. what you will be wearing 16hrs a day, every day.
now days 1/2 my kit is layers of riding gear.
cold weather coveralls
rain gear
warm weather riding gear.
dress in layers and get the best, most comfortable stuff you can find. leather, leather, leather, Kevlar, carbon fiber.
don't skimp here. you have a $10,000.00 bike. dump a few grand into gear.
to keep your bike safe at night, just roll it into the room.
:thumbs:
with this advice a person can travel the country with not much more than a backpack strapped on the back of the bike.
less time worrying about stuff, the more time enjoying life.
i just thought Gary's article was a silly cookie cutter example of a "motorcycle touring article".
that, and the next time some asks this question, i can refer them to this thread. :semi:
here's a few pics :thumbs:
i caught up. 
socks make my helmet smell funny. 
