ten essentials to pack for a motorcycle trip

I am preparing for a trip through Africa. On my blog I have posted 10 essentials to carry along.

Go To :

http://teawithafrica.blogspot.com/2011/05/ten-items-long-distance-motorcyclists.html

I would appreciate it if you can add to the list.

Welcome to Advrider. Perhaps post your list here as well?

My ten essentials boil down to three things

1) Ride a well maintained bike
2) Know how to ride the conditions you will encounter, be flexible with your schedule, and be able to fix your bike when necessary
3) Wear proper riding gear and carry only what you need to be self sufficient/prepared...less really is more when it comes to motorcycle travel (took me a while to figure that out!).

Happy trails!

Umm...
Not to be all anal retentive, but isn't that really three items rolled into one making your total number of items... 5?

Eh. My list would be as follows.

1. Standard toolkit and whatever else you need.
2. Tire repair kit. Inclusive of patches, tool, pump.
3. Expendables. Spark plugs and light bulbs for me.
4. Utility knife. Knife and saws will be very useful.
5. Pocket flashlight. The L shaped variety that the army uses. Spare batteries for this fellow as well. It has colored filters, which can be useful when you are trying to get attention.
6. Basic medical supplies. Antiseptic cream, bandages, water tablets, plenty of your own medication if you have a prescription.
7. Communications device. A satellite phone if you are rich, a cheap cellphone with the locally available prepaid cards if not. I prefer the latter, you have a nice collection of international cards when you get back home. Turning on your providers' roaming option is expensive.
8. Writing material. For writing your memoirs.
9. An english to whatever language translation dictionary. A good one can also serve as a weapon.
10. A battery charging system. Ciggy lighter socket and a good usb adapter, hooked up to a battery charger. Dont count on having running electricity. You can even use it to charge your phone, with the proper wires. Dont lose the batteries! Dont even lend them to anyone!

Well i think that should cover the basics.

My favorite is the slingshot. I forgot the sandals when I wet on my dirt bike trip, I can promise those will never be forgotten again.

I'll add:

• TP, because I don't like to go third-world style.
• Stack of $1 USD, because it's the perfect universal social lubricant and can help get the little things or a bit of extra help anywhere.
• Water purification tablets, because otherwise you might need lots of the first item.
• Quick weld putty, I don't leave home without it.
• Space blanket, because it sucks to be broken down and cold.

+1 on these:

1. TP-Nature makes the rules we just try and be comfortable
2. Cash, cash and more cash. $500 minimum.
3. Credit Card, when cash won't do.
4. One Liter of Water
5. JB Weld and the putty=life saver, bike saver or trip saver
6. Space Blanket=Ground cloth, rain tarp, warmness, bike cover, tent
7. tape (Duct, electrical, silicon)
8. Medical Gear
9. Cell phone with charger
10. Stainless steel wire, strong, light, fixes a lot of stuff

Leave the slingshot at home.

Don't forget the toilet paper guys.

Oh, cool. Love lists like that charlw
When do you leave on your trip?

I did a similar list on my blog for the "extras" beyond the essentials - though there's certainly some crossover:
http://motojournalism.blogspot.com/2011/01/motorcycle-travel-equipment-odds-n-ends.html

To the essentials I'd consider earplugs, stainless wire, a hacksaw blade and vice grips

What is that old saying? The only thing vice grips are good for are for rounding off bolts! If you have a proper toolkit for your bike then you shouldn't need such barbaric tools!
To me, epoxy putty (quicksteel or whatever) is much more versatile for roadside repairs than JB weld or other 2-part liquid epoxys. Putty ones can seal up a shattered engine case.
Gaffer tape and Zip ties should be right up there on the top of any repair kit list. Tools are a lot more bike specific.

Ah, good call on the putty

But the Vice Grips are never used used on bolts, that's like using a hammer on a screw.
The vice grips are to be used really like a portable vice - to keep something you are filing/sawing from moving. Or when you need an extra "handle" on something.
Also great when you need to grip something lightly at a set pressure, but no more.
And if you ever snap off a lever, clutch, brake, shifter. A small pair of vice grips can really save your ass!
Clamp the Vice Grips to what ever nub is left and limp home!

If you wear glasses, best to have a spare set, maybe even a copy of your prescription. I guess the same would apply for those with contacts.

A hat to protect the noggin from harsh sun and heat when not riding.

I always carry something to read, paperback book usually.

Many good ideas here and thanks to those providing them.

Subscribed. Im leaving soon too so will share my new list of things.

viajero have you thought about a kindle or smth similar ? I can't go anywhere without reading material and they way i read through those, it would get heavy real quick

10 essentials for whom? Me or you?

this is a loaded question

one man's survival kit is another man's unnecessary weight.

One forty-five caliber automatic; two boxes of ammunition; four days’ concentrated emergency rations; one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair of nylon stockings.

Where you getting the morphine ?

1-Gerber Multi tool with scissors, the small kind to cut dead skin off.
2-gold American dollar coins, easier to palm and GOLD!! but they are worth more than a dollar
3-some small paring knives-knives will get you a lot of goodwill in Africa.
4-drive on rags , big bandanas
5-leopard repellant OC 10 or Sig .357. save one for yourself
6-fancy fast dry underwear and socks
7-back up pair(s) of sunglasses-leave extras when you depart. Sunglasses=stature in Africa.
8-false bank statements looking like you are either broke or filthy rich. Produce either as needed when kidnapped.
9-150 feet of 50lb fishing line for perimeter alert. See#5
10-tubes of ChapStick SPF50 not just for your lips.

Assumes you have a tool roll and medical emergency items.

I tend to keep to a minimum gadgets which require batteries (except for cell phone and flashlight and headlamp) or charging. Anyway, I'm a Luddite and don't even have a digital camera or gps. Portable computer? Nope.

I do like beer, however.

Paperback books are easy to exchange, with other travelers, at used bookstores, even motels and libraries. Many grocery stores and pharmacies have books for sale, and I can always give away those I've read.

If I don't have something to read when camping, I write in my log book.

log book, notebook, notepad, construction paper,

have something you can write notes on, draw a map on, write down directions, some way to give people your contact info, do math for budget or gas mileage etc etc

Sure, Toilet Paper can be written on, but its not really durable. Duct tape could also substitue as something to write on, but paper is cheaper than duct tape

Don't forget something to write with, in fact take several, and several varieties. A big Sharpie is handy for writing on absolutely anything, a big carpenter pencil is pretty durable and easy to sharpen with almost any knife, regular pens are good except they're not going to work right away when you need them.