beatnikbiker.com

I came across this list on the The Sportster and Buell Motorcycle forum. It was included in a post by Headshot (Matt) and can be found here.

According to Headshot, it was originally complied by a friend of his (Rob) from Chicago. Rob is a tax attorney and is very meticulous in his planning.

ROB’S FAVORITE LONG DISTANCE RIDING TRICKS

1. Airhawk Seat Cushion. NOTHING makes the trip more comfortable than this cushion. I’d never do even an overnight trip without it.

2. Coolmax underwear and socks. Unlike Cotton, these will take the moisture away from your skin. “Saddle-Sore” is caused by two things. The first is pressure points and the Airhawk eliminates that problem. The other is damp cotton underwear sticking to your skin and chaffing it. The coolmax eliminates that problem. Plus, with coolmax underwear you can pack very light. I wash mine out in the shower at the end of the day, wring them out and they’re dry and ready the next morning.

3. Water Bottle. Dehydration causes more fatigue on a long ride than anything else. Drinking only at gas stops isn’t enough. Bring a water bottle and drink throughout the ride and it makes all the difference in the world.

4. Bicycle Shorts. If you don’t do the airhawk, this is a big help

5. Earplugs. You’ll be amazed at how less fatigued you are at the end of the day when you wear earplugs. I always bring three pairs. I bring two pairs of etymotic earplugs to wear when riding, and one pair of soft ones for sleeping in case my roommate snores.
6. Panoptix glasses. Expensive, but worth it. Harley makes some very similar type glasses, that seal around the eyes with foam padding.

7. Nikwax. A waterproofing for boots and leather that is amazing. Dab this on your boots and most times you won’t need anything more in the rain.

8. Fog Tech wipes. Great for your glasses when it rains.

9. Micro Fiber towel and washer squirt bottle for glasses and windshield. If you use the dirty squeegee and blue stuff at the gas stations, your windshield will be so scratched up that you’ll need a new windshield by the end of the ride.

10. Reflective Tape. Strategically placed on your bike, it makes you really stand out when the sun starts to go down.

11. Handwarmer Packs. You never know when it’s going to be unexpectedly cold. These take up no packing space and really make a difference.

12. Fleece Pants or long underwear. Murphy’s law. You’ll only need them if you don’t pack them.

13. Sealskinz socks. Neoprene socks with fleece lining. If your boots do get soaked, these will keep your tootsies dry and warm.

14. Rainboot covers. These are great if you know it’s going to be a long day in the rain. The ones in the Aerostich catalog are excellent and pack really small.

15. Glove rain covers. Good elk or deerskin gloves aren’t bothered by the rain and will dry out nicely, but who wants to ride all day with wet cold hands?

16. Cooling System. Either evaporative clothing or a cool mate mister. When it’s really hot, this stuff brings down the core temp very nicely and helps ward off fatigue

17. Draggin’ Jeans. Kevlar lined in the seat and knee areas. If you’re going to wear jeans, these are the ones to wear for a little peace of mind.

18. Cable and Lock. Nothing makes you more tired than worrying about your ride at night. A couple of good cables and locks in a group can lock everyone together and make it too difficult for thieves to bother.

19. Throttle Rocker. This little device wraps around the end of the grip and keeps your right hand from cramping up on a long ride.

20. Extra Bungee nets. They take up almost no space and come in very handy.

21. Advanced First Aid Kit. I never ride without it.

22. Flashlight. Even a small one is good

23. Ziplock Storage Bags. You can pack clothes in these and compress them down by removing the air from the bag. Makes packing easier and keeps clothes and documents dry in the rain.

24. Tool Kit. I’m no mechanic, but you’d be amazed at how “handy” you can be when you’re bike breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Just bring the essentials.

25. Vee Wipe Squeegee. From Aerostich. Fits around your left thumb and helps keep glasses or faceshields clear of water beads when riding in the rain.

Although a great list, I believe you could easily pare it down based upon your travel itinerary and the time of year you are traveling. That is especially important to me since I travel on a Sportster and do not have the luxury of the greater amount of space provided by a bigger touring bike or bagger.

In any event, take this list, make it your own and add it to your planning for your next long trip. You will most certainly be glad that your did.

Enjoy!

A list of essentials for long rides from a seasoned pro [Headshot via XLForum]

Technorati Tags: motorcycle

This entry was posted on Monday, May 28th, 2007 at 6:40 am and is filed under Accessories, Clothing, Gadgets, Other, Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.