Motorcycle Road Trip Essentials – Don’t Leave Home Without Them

Motorcycle road trip essentials

Are you planning a motorcycle road trip? Then you’ll want to spend time gathering all of the gear, tools, and equipment you may need for your journey. 

Having all the necessary gear on hand can help you get out of a bind on your trip without becoming stranded. However, you’ll also want to consider the equipment, clothing, and supplies that could make your trip more relaxing and enjoyable all around. 

Read on to learn the motorcycle road trip essentials you need for your next long-distance motorcycle ride. 

Riding Gear

Your first step in preparing for your motorcycle road trip is considering what gear to wear during your journey. First, think about what the weather could be like. Will you be traveling through cold areas, or will your trip mostly be in hot, humid locations? 

Either way, as you probably know, the weather can feel a lot chillier when you’re traveling at 60 miles per hour on a bike. As a result, you’ll want to wear plenty of layers to stay warm and comfortable. You’ll also want to wear the proper gear to protect you if an accident occurs. 

At a minimum, you should wear the following safety gear every time you ride your bike:

  • A DOT-approved helmet
  • Protective eyewear, if your helmet does not have a shield
  • Long sleeves and pants
  • Boots
  • Gloves

Be sure that all of the gear you wear for your road trip is comfortable for long-term wear. If it’s not, you may be tempted to take it off halfway through your journey, risking your safety. 

Navigation Equipment

You should also bring any navigation equipment you may need to get to your final destination. Many motorcyclists attach GPS navigators near the handlebars, giving them easy access to navigation directions while riding. However, if you’re a bit more old-fashioned, you may prefer paper maps instead. 

Maintenance Tools

You never know what maintenance issues you may encounter with your bike on your road trip. Having adequate maintenance equipment on hand can help you fix minor problems and save you money at the mechanic’s shop. 

We recommend packing the following maintenance tools into your bike’s storage compartment:

  • A portable tire compressor and tire gauge
  • Wrenches and screwdrivers
  • A multimeter
  • Electrical tape
  • A tire repair kit
  • Zip ties

These tools can allow you to perform basic roadside maintenance without spending money on a tow. 

Emergency Equipment

You should also pack equipment that can help you in an emergency. For example, you can bring a first aid kid with:

  • Bandages
  • Gauze pads
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Pain relievers such as aspirin and other over-the-counter medication
  • Instant heat and cold packs
  • Tweezers

You may also want to pack a few other emergency supplies, such as a:

  • Portable phone charger
  • Flashlight
  • List of your emergency contacts and their phone numbers
  • Hand-crank radio

The supplies you need may vary depending on the details of your road trip. For example, if you’re planning to camp out along the way, you’ll want to bring a few more survival tools. However, if you’re going to be staying in hotels and sticking to main roads, the above equipment should suffice. 

Security Tools

If you’re planning to park your bike in public lots or garages during your road trip, we recommend taking a few security tools to deter thieves. For example, you can bring a disc lock alarm to attach to your bike while you’re away from it. This device can sound an alarm if someone tries to move your motorcycle. 

Luggage, Toiletries, and Food

Of course, you’ll also want to pack any extra clothes, toiletry items, and food you may need during your trip. We recommend packing a few versatile clothing items, such as lightweight long sleeve shirts and cargo pants, to save room in your storage area. 

Check out our Law Tigers blog for more information and to sign up for your free riders benefit package. If you’re on a road trip and are involved in an accident, give Law Tigers a call at 1-888-863-7216, we are America’s motorcycle attorney’s and can put you in touch with an experienced motorcycle attorney.