The Right Packing List For A Motorcycle Trip

motorcyclepackinglistLong 4th of July weekend or preparing for a cross-country ride to the Sturgis Rally, traveling solo or duo, packing what you need and only what you need is an exercise where a lot of you are failing. So I thought you would be interested by this website offering to generate a perfect packing list depending of how long you travel, temperatures, accommodations, activities, etc  you intend to have during your trip. I played with different parameters, generating several packing lists, and found the recommendations quite smart. Results can be sent to your email for printing. Try it by going to The Universal Packing List.

11 Responses to “The Right Packing List For A Motorcycle Trip”


  1. 1 WT Jul 2nd, 2009 at 7:57 am

    Although interesting, this doesn’t really accommodate a biker using the bike as transportation.

  2. 2 Peter Solek Jul 2nd, 2009 at 8:25 am

    Instructive. It helps, especially my wife who is always overpacking the wrong stuff.

  3. 3 Jeff Nicklus Jul 2nd, 2009 at 2:10 pm

    Lets see here ….. Keys, Wallet, Money, Extra T-Shirt (If you plan on being gone more that 5 days only) get a tooth brush when you get where you are going, sunglasses, clear night glasses …..DONE! What is so difficult about that?

    If it doesn’t fit in your pocket you have over packed!

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  4. 4 nicker Jul 2nd, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    Jeff,

    Years ago, in the middle of Nowhere, NV i stopped to talk to a older retired guy. Said he was touring, just like me.

    In full road-race leathers, on a Ducati. No bundles. No saddle bags. Just a small backpack.
    Looked at my camping gear and said he was too old to sleep on the ground so he stayed in motels.

    I asked him what he did for clothes & stuff.

    He said he’d buy every thing he needed, when he needed it. When he was done with it he’d either mailed it home or throw it away.

    The older ya get the smarter ya are……….. 🙂

    -nicker-

  5. 5 Jeff Nicklus Jul 2nd, 2009 at 3:55 pm

    Nicker,

    LOL……..

    A brief true story: When I started Desperado Motorcycles and designed the first prototype bike my criteria for handlebar width was very simple ….. they had to fit through a motel doorway. No tents and ground sleeping for me ….. I had all of that in the military I cared for and I was in the Air Force!
    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  6. 6 Biker Lady Jul 2nd, 2009 at 5:02 pm

    I map out my approximate route then I mail clean clothes to a hotel about half way. When I arrive I pick up the clean clothes and mail the dirty ones home.

    Box of dirty clothes are pretty ripe by the time I arrive back home but, hey, the plan works well for me.

  7. 7 nicker Jul 2nd, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    Jeff,

    Good call!
    I was never that smart.
    As a youngster, a that was needed was a bottle of Southern Comfort, which would eventually drop me in my tracks.
    No room. No camping. No fuss. No bother.
    What to ware was about the last thing on my mind the next mourning.
    But then………
    i was much, MUCH younger…………. 🙂

    Biker Lady

    VERY creative!…… i like it!

    -nicker-

  8. 8 Mike Kiwi Tomas, Kiwi Indian Motorcycles Jul 3rd, 2009 at 6:40 am

    Any trip over 4 days requires new undies. Day 2 turn them front to back.3rd day turn them inside out.4th day front to back I like biker ladys method. I did the same thing as Jeff with my handlebars (and saddlebags) when I was developing my Kiwi Flathead engines and riding all over this beautiful country.

  9. 9 Rodent Jul 3rd, 2009 at 8:44 am

    Take your oldest, wornout clothes and as you dirty them toss them, new new clothes allways a Goodwill or Salvation Army for repenishments.

  10. 10 Biker Lady Jul 3rd, 2009 at 9:26 am

    This method came from experience after I tried a long trip, climbing moutain roads, with so many heavy bags you could hardly see me on my 650 Savage. I wasn’t far into the trip before I realized how dumb (and dangerous) this was and stopped to mail some stuff home. Now I have a bigger bike (Harley) and fewer bags!

  11. 11 Midknight Jun 21st, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    For out of state trips I always pack camping gear. If possible I just roll out a sleeping bag and air mattress and sleep better than I do at home. Cool to chilly nights is the closest thing to heaven for me. Other than that I pack pretty light. Just what I think I have to have.Bike tent[ spring,summer and early fall snakes do really enjoy sleeping bags].tools and small misc. items. For years I made the mistake of trying to budget motels into the equation,The result was the trip never happened.If I have to sleep in a tent or similar humble abode to make a long distance trip happen then I will sleep in a tent or similar humble abode to make a long distance trip happen……”and the road has always led west”

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Cyril Huze