So what is your touring "core" of essentials?

[Fawbish]

Right then, would be interesting and informative to know from all you experienced buggers out there.


What is the "core" of your touring essentials?


I'll be doing france and italy mid-June time with a few mates. Just looking at an idea of what I "should" take as my main lot, and then decide what extras can be afforded.

Im looking for details tbh, quite obviously "tent" is a main one but what tent? How much? etc. Apply this to your lists and answer if possible please


Cheers m'dears
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[dodger]

Everyone always takes too much stuff. Taking a tent isn't always essential as Itchy and I both found out when we lost ours...

My list would be:

1)Bike [obviously]
2)Tent/ sleeping bag/ roll mat/ travel towel.
3)Documents
4)Money
5)3 days worth of clothes [wear/clean/needs washing]
6)Phone and charger
7)Camera [for the essential BCF writeup]
8)Puncture repair/slime

And that's about it really, everything can be bought if/when needed. Next time I go touring I'm only taking a tailpack and a very small tankbag [for wallet and camera] so purposely limiting my storage space so I can't take too much.
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My Bikes: Piaggio NRG| Aprilia RS 125| Suzuki GSX-R 600|Yamaha Fazer Ducati 848
Europe 2008

[tatters]

Thick but light cable lock, cant tour without a bike
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[Phoenix]

I'd just echo dodger's list and add a few more items:

Cable repair kit incase one snaps.

Also add any country requirements such as bulbs and first aid kit, both of which I now have permanently stored in my bike.

A basic toolkit and a spanner/ratchet appropriate for chain adjustment and lots of cable ties which can quite possibly fix anything.

Camping stove, I would always camp so would need this, good to keep going for warmth while sitting outside at night too as it's petrol so fuel isn't an issue.

And a lock is important too as Tatters mentioned, people seem to think bikes don't get stolen abroad, I take a heafty one as I've got room under the seat.

[tatters]

With regards to bike security, if you have a alarm system with a immobilizer installed on the bike its worth finding a way to disable the immobilizer from immobilizing the bike or link out the immobilizer circuits (normally for HT coil supply and stater motor) so you can ride the bike if the alarm breaks, l have this on my R100GSPD set of bullet connectors on each circuit hidden bound into the loom that l can unwrap and use to bypass my datatool system 3.
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[c-m]

Tent - auto inflating mat, sleeping bag suitable for the climate, self inlfating pillow.
Hi vis jacket
A couple of basic sockets and a multipurpose screwdiver
ADAC membership card
Documents
Map
Phone (mine is also a sat nav)
A spare pair of gloves (your 1st pair will get wet and cold)

[warped one]

- Tent
- 3 pair of cloths as said but extra pairs of socks for wet weather.
- Route and distance palnner to see if you are on time of where you should be.
- Extra £400 stashed permamently on you, i.e padding on jacket ect, for all eventualities.
- Spare plugs.
- usual camping crap.

Cheers

Warped
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amnesia - Never in the history of usernames has one been more accurate. Warped indeed. You sir are a fecking oddball.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Leatherman or Gerber pricey, abit posey some say, but its got me out of a few situations in 10yrs if use.

Pat
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Toukakoukan]

When I went from the UK to India I set off with about 180litres of luggage. After 8 months I had less than 100.

Here's what I had at the end.
1 x copy of 1984 (I could read that book a hundreds times).
1 x toolkit (for tyre change/tube-patch/removal of pannier rack)
1 x tent (barely used it but didn't feel right ditching it
1 x sleeping bag (came in handy in Kashmir, brrr!
1 x exped mattress (*sigh* so much space, so little use)
3 days worth of clothes
1 x medikit
1 x camera
1 x folder full of documents, V5, insurance papers, carnet etc
innumerable maps
1 x spares kit, plugs, patches, vulcaniser, wire, assorted nuts and bolts, loctite, WD40 etc...


Out of all the those things, I'd say the most useful were the tools and the clothes, but the most important were the camera and the documents!
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RTW Motorcycle Blog

[theopj]

what sort of stuff did you get rid of/lose/drop on the road along the way?
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Suzuki Bandit SA 1250 & Honda CB750F2T

[Leejf]

me and the hubby are touring virgins, there is some good advice here thanks!!!

can anyone recommend a decent but not too expensive intercom for bike to bike???
have had a look at range are the voice activated ones any good?
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Lee
'heated grips are a god send!!'

[Scotsman37]

I would include the following;


1 litre bottle of engine oil - for top ups to prevent a potential engine disaster!

Spare set of levers - in case the bike tips over on soft ground.

A set of warm inner gloves for your summer gloves - when it gets colder at high altitude, either that carry your all-weather-gloves as backup.

Puncture repair kit - obvious!

Hi Vis jacket - as some European countrys require it if you break down and it stops idiot drivers saying "I didn't see you".

Proof of ownership - Definitely needed if stopped by Police!

Full Comp Insurance for Europe - plus return to home and some Ins companies you can add western europe for a temporary period during your travel.

Get private medical insurance - For example if you have an accident in say Switzerland because E111 coverage (bare minimum) doesn't cover for ambulance costs plus other things and so you can easily get hit with a BIG ass bill when you get home!

Translation book(s) - Learn how to order you drinks, rent a bedroom for the night and say "Hello", "Goodbye", Thank you!" and "Where is?" the toilet/petrol station/place to eat/name of the town in their language.

Wet weather coverings - If you are planning to ride through potential down pours!

A summer bike jacket (teabag looking thing!) I used to ride a Hornet 900 in Southern California and on average it can easily reach the 90s nearly every day and I've travelled from LA to San Jose and back, but mostly around LA and Malibu. Trust me you'll sweat like shit in hot weather if you eventually get stuck in traffic!

A flip-up helmet with an inner tinted visor- It will keep you dry in wet weather, and in hot weather you can open it up to let in cooling air!

[Itchy]

[stinkwheel]

Nobody packed waterproofs then?
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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.

[Itchy]

[Phoenix]

[Tonka]

[Fawbish]

[Peirre oBollox]

[Fawbish]

I havent considered anything like that, but thanks very much for the information, definitely looks worth a punt!
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[Toukakoukan]

By the way, I'd highly recommend straps over bungees, far more secure
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RTW Motorcycle Blog

[Fawbish]

Yep, got both

Ta
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."