Really useful buys

[pwntifex]

What's the most useful buy you've ever made as regards touring?
Probably the best buy I have ever made are these little things:

https://www.mujionline.co.uk/images/products/m/4547315656011.jpg

They look fairly innocuous at about 3" cubed, but actually they are shrink-wrapped t-shirts that save absolutely loads of room for other stuff in your luggage!

You can buy them here.

Probably not the most useful thing ever, but I have a thing about not having enough clothes to last and I love crazy shit like that.

What about everyone else?
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the warped one: This is a follow up from the thread 'my willy hurts'

[stinkwheel]

Nah, I just wear the same one for ages and stink. I usually go camping anyway so the woodsmoke hides the smell.

Most useful touring gadget (which I haven't had to use on one of my bikes yet) is a Hein Gericke 'nippelpannenset' for repairing control cables. Comes in a small tin like an airgun pellet tin. If your clutch or throttle cable snaps when you're away touring, you can fix it at the side of the road. Fits in a pocket of your leathers.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[PsychoHippy]

[wikiwiki]

[Nath]

They're sold by Hein Gerricke, and are listed in their catalogue. No doubt other companies make/sell them though.

The most useful thing for touring has got to be a chain oiler - Can't imagine how much of a ball ache it would be manually oiling your chain twice a day. You also need something to secure a map infront of you, though most people tend to use tankbags which have their own mapreader bit, and these days these GPS mathingies seem to be replacing maps as well.


Agree with stinkwheel on the washing part. If you're in a hot climate you only need two teeshirts, one to wear and one to have tied to the bike drying whilst you ride. In cold climates you need to wear all the clothes you have so can't wash them, though you'll be wearing so many layers of clothing no-one will ever notice how much you stink.
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[natv4]

For me the most useful touring item is a new visor and pin lock. I know it sounds sad but bad weather and good weather riding is so much better when you can see. Not having to faff around with the visor makes long journey's so much better. Old visors end up scratched; which collects dirt and means that in bright sun, or dark night, you cannot see much.

Other than that my ultimate touring accessory is a jerry can full of petrol. You no longer have to worry about how much further to ride before filling up. No where in Europe seems to be further than 1 jerry can from a petrol station. In fact, since I've carried one I have never needed it, but the peace of mind means you try things (like riding for miles off-road) that could cause problems if you ran out of fuel.

My bike doesn't have a cable clutch, so that is probably a more useful thing for those that do. I like the idea though (having seen a couple of people snap their clutch cable over the years).
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Travelling around the world...a bit at a time. Where am I now? / Visit my BLOG
Bike: Blue Honda VFR800fi (*NEW*) Mileage: 22k Countries visited: GB/F/D/CZ/PL/E/I/B/A/HR/H/Rus/E/MA
West Europe...2004, East Europe...2005, Russia/France...2006, Morocco...2007

[EuropeanNC30R...]

I think it's true most take far too many clothes to start with, wash as you go .

Are those shrinked t-shirts able to be packed down small again? Not sure how useful they would be on a moderately long tour if your luggage is expanding as you go.

My favourite gadget is the petrol stove and siphon, limit-less fuel and with a bag of pasta, a little box containing some herbs and sauces you can fill your stomach anywhere.

[Itchy]

Surely cooking with petrol is bad for you ?, contains a ton of benzine ,

maybe you should just cook off the residual heat from the downpipes or the zorst as some BCFers have done recently?. since your food doesn't come in such direct contact with petrol?.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[EuropeanNC30R...]

If it was such a health risk I doubt major companies would be allowed to sell them. Plus Stinkwheel's been using them for years

[quik_d]

based on finding from my current trip the most useful thing i have taken with me is a head torch, its really bright and when sorting out stuff in my tent at night it means i have both hands free. best 20 quid i didn´t spend (it was a present)

that and the orikaso fold flat dinner set i bought. Its uses have been varied and it saves a lot of space. google it if you haven´t heard of it, 10 quid for a solo set of plate mug and bowl. top dog


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LOOK AT DAT M8 WELL LUSH A PARROT INT IT

[paulodd]

This is my most useful 'gadget' atm.....

https://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a268/paulodd/R6view4-1.jpg




Without it i wouldn't be able to tour



In seriousness i'm after a Sat Nav, as think they are pretty handy. Also this clutch cable kit stinkwheel talks of sounds worth a pick up!
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Paul
1999 Yamaha R6
www.coventrybikers.co.uk / www.norfolkriders.co.uk

[Dave_ZedDragen]

[Walloper]

Cargo Net.
Slime in Tyres.
Camping stove.
Two Man tent. (Leave room for the gear too remember.)
Wine/Beer Bottle Opener.
Folding chair.
Sleeping bag.
Lighter (for stove)
Mosquito Stick Autan (works and not to smelly)
Tin of fly killer to kill the wee bastarts that get into the tent before you do.
1ltr Fuel Can.
Maglite Torch.
Throw-away BBQ. (And a rake of prepacked BBQ meals from the Co.)
Flatted Baked Bean/Soup can to sit under side stand on grass. Or buy a posh plastic one.

etc.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[Paivi]

Clothes line!

https://www.completeoutdoors.co.uk/images/products/1623/main/lifeventure_laundry_line.jpg
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My other bike's a Monster...

[Dave_ZedDragen]

[Nath]

Clothes line? I just park my bike alongside the tent then run one or two of the guy-lines to the bike and tie it around somewhere e.g. handlebars. If you're planning on riding your bike whilst letting your clothes dry, then pitch your tent near a tree or something.
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[Walloper]

[Finglonga]

[Tattoo Artist]

wud that work???

[Keef]

£5 99 lakeland plastic's
15hrs battery life . then just put another watch battery in
tis very bright

https://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb310/keithv_photo/lantern.jpg

[phil2alp]

Ear plugs to wear during the night if you stay in hostels so that you get some sleep.

[Kris]

[divuk83]

https://www.lifeventure.co.uk/htm/washgear/towels.htm

Another useful bit of kit for saving space on the bike, plus they work really well.

Dave

[colin1]

here is a working link to the t shirts that started this thread

https://www.muji.eu/pages/online.asp?V=1&Sec=6&Sub=30&PID=886
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Walloper]