It's important to do some planning for  your road trip, because motorcycles are limited in their storage options. Packing is such a personal thing.  Some people go "bare bones" with only one extra change of clothes. Others take 3-4 changes of clothes. Here are some things to think about: 

• How long do you intend on being on the road?  Long weekend, one week, two weeks, longer?
• Are you traveling solo or are you taking a rider along?
• Will you be traveling through extreme temperature changes? From the hot and humid south to the cooler mountain regions?
• Are you going to stay in campgrounds, motels, or both?

Obviously what and how you pack is going to depend on the answers to these questions.  Traveling for a week or longer is usually going to require taking more stuff along, then just going for a long weekend. When you are on the road for a longer time, it's more likely that you will be traveling through more temperature changes. Take this into consideration when deciding on the clothing you will be taking along. It's helpful to monitor the weather conditions, along the route you will be taking and in the area you are heading to, for at least a week before you leave on your trip.

Having a rider along means you have to share the limited space. We usually pack 3 changes of clothes each.  We have found space bags to be helpful with this. They are great at compacting your clothes down flat, so you can fit more in your saddlebag or tour pack. We also pack a roll of quarters so we can take advantage of a laundry mat every 2-3 days. Remember to leave a bit of empty space for purchases you make along the way. We always come home with way more than we left with. Sending extra items home is always an option too.  We have sent home our heavy, cold weather gear, after completing the mountain part of our trip. Knowing we would not need it in the warmer southern states, it gave us a lot more extra space for the rest of our trip. Be sure to contact a neighbor or friend to pick up your box if you think it will beat you home.

Traveling through temperature changes is best dealt with by layering. When you stop for gas or a break you can easily take off or add another layer of clothing. Just be sure you plan ahead in the morning and keep your layers easily accessible. It's not fun having to unpack, your tour pack , along side  the road, to get to the jacket on the bottom. We recommend using bungie cargo nets to hold down jackets, raingear, sweatshirts, etc. on the outside of your tour rack. This makes it very easy to pull of the road and add or remove a layer.  If you are going to be spending a considerable amount of time in an extremely warm climate, you may want to consider a cooling vest.  If you will be in the cold consider heated riding gear.  No matter where you plan on going, always take along rain gear.  Being wet and uncomfortable can certainly make your trip less enjoyable.

Camping or motels. Camping is cheaper, but requires you to take more gear along. Motels can be expensive. Your choice will depend on your comfort with sleeping outside and the space available on your bike for camping gear. Or your bank account for the cost of motels.  We usually do a combination of both. We try to camp every other day, to save money, unless we are traveling with another rider, then we share a room and split the cost. Either way it's a good idea to have a small tent along.  When you are broke down in the middle of nowhere and the tow truck is two hours away, the tent can provide shelter from the sun or rain, to keep you more comfortable while you wait. If you have the extra room, take it. You also need to pack a safety/repair - emergency kit. This would include some tools to make a repair, extra fuses, lubes, tire repair kit, duct tape and a rag. Your mechanic can help you with suggestions of what to take for your particular bike.  Make sure to pack a flashlight and extra batteries for it, and a small first-aid kit.

We like to keep a small kit accessible for rest stops or gas stops.  This kit contains sunscreen, lip balm, wet wipes, a soft cloth for cleaning our glasses and windex wipes to clean the windshield. A little freshening up can be very energizing at the end of a long stretch of road.

I hope this article was helpful to you, in thinking about how and what you want to pack. A little planning will ensure a more comfortable and enjoyable trip.  

Leah Lind