A clean, well-maintained motorcycle is the basis for a successful and enjoyable tour. Be sure your services are up-to-date and take advantage of a safety check to inspect condition of tires, cables, lights and brakes. The following is a list of personal gear that has proven useful to us over the years, and may form the basis for your own list of favorite items to take with you when riding.
Recommended hardware & tools for the well-equipped touring rider:
Basic toolkit
- BMW or aftermarket toolkit
- Tire gauge (use daily to detect punctures)
- Tubeless flat-repair kit with extra C02 inflators
- If wheels are tube-type as on F 650 et al. pack a spare rear tube (17" or 18")
- Pump and small tire irons to remove and install tire & tube
- A testlight or volt/ ohm meter if you know how to use it.
- Flashlight.
Useful additions to the basic toolkit:
- Vise-grip pliers
- Duct tape & electrical tape
- Silicone seal or 5-minute epoxy
- Assorted nuts, bolts & hose clamps. (mix of 5mm, 6mm, 8mm & 10mm sizes)
- A bundle of cable ties
- A bulb kit, or at least a spare headlight, taillight and brake light
- Spare sparkplugs, fuses and fuel filter
- Section of fuel line for siphoning fuel
- Shop rag, handcleaner
- Cargo straps & extra bungees
Riding gear:
- Helmet that fits perfectly
- Heavy, warm and lighter warm weather gloves (one pair should be waterproof)
- Boots, waterproof if possible
- Gore-tex glove & boot liners (if gloves and boots not waterproof)
- Riding suit (jacket & pants), either “Gore-Tex” type with waterproof liner, or
- Leathers together with light rainsuit.
- Electric vest (not necessary but nice!)
- Scarf, "neck-up" or other neck insulation for warmth and neck protection
- Layer up on shirts, longjohns, etc. for a wide range of temps.
Miscellaneous handy & fun stuff to have along at your discretion:
- Cell phone
- Garmin GPS if you tend to get lost a lot
- A transparent mapcase for maps if the Garmin poops out
- Padded bicycle shorts (very comfortable under riding pants in hot weather)
- Light running shoes
- Tinted visor or dark visor strips for helmet
- Business cards and address organizer
- Camera or digital camera, sketchbook or journal
- BMW Motorcycle Owners of America guide & list of motorcycle rallies
- A back-road atlas, the more complete the better, can be used alone or with your GPS
- Long cable lock for locking jacket and helmet to bike during short scenic hikes
- Bungee anchors for tops of saddlebags
- Extra earplugs (a “must” for long rides)
- Accessory socket on motorcycle for electric vest
- Lightweight MX gloves for really hot weather
- Small binoculars or scope (fun for the wide openspaces)
Additional basic personal items (if you end up staying over night):
- Cash, credit cards, auto club &/or BMW roadside assistance cards
- Water bottle w/fresh water
- Small bottle of Clorox to mix with water for emergency antiseptic wash
- First aid kit w/extra ace bandages, sterile pads and bandaids
- Swiss Army knife
- Sunglasses, extra helmet visor & visor cleaner, visor screws and fasteners.
- Sunscreen (for face and neck especially)
- Aspirin/Ibuprofen, vitamins, eyewash, antihistamines, insect repellent
- Swimsuit & towel
- Toiletries kit:tissues, toothbrush, soap, toothpaste, shampoo, extra toilet paper
- Light shoes or slippers to wear when boots are off.
- Spare pair socks, underwear, undershirt. turtleneck shirt, thermals for warmth
- Sweater (or electric vest)
- Small stuffsacks for organizing your gear and clothing
- Light reading, tour guides & trip reports (print them out before you leave)
This list is eclectic, and does not include a section on camping necessities (a whole topic in itself), but I might have left out your favorites, so pick and choose the things you'd like to have with you, collect your chosen essentials in a gear bag, and keep it ready at hand whenever you go for a ride. Toss that gearbag in a saddlebag even if you are only out for the day, and you may save yourself or someone else on the road a lot of trouble and worry. I always carry a "basics gearbag", even on local rides, and it is surprising how useful it has proven itself.
"Bring only what you really need, take nothing you don't, and be sure you grab your kit every single time you ride...." K. Caselli
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