Packing For A Road Trip

Crisp air, vibrant colors, and tempting roadways. The fall season is a beautiful time of year to hop on your motorcycle for one last road trip. There are just a few things to consider before heading out on the end of season trip. That way, you'll be ready to do at a moment's notice and travel wherever the road takes you.

Complete the T-CLOCS Inspection Checklist

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation developed the easy to use T-CLOCS Inspection Checklist to help you make sure your bike is ready to hit the road. Each letter describes a different area on your bike to be inspected before you depart:

T – Tires & Wheels (Tires, wheels and brakes)

C – Controls (Levers, pedal, cables, hoses, throttle)

L – Lights (Battery, headlamp, tail lamp/brake lamp, turn signals, mirrors, lenses, reflectors, wiring)

O – Oil

C - Chassis (Frame, suspension, chain or belt, and fasteners)S – Stands (Center and side)

Print out a copy of the checklist before heading to the garage so you know exactly what you should be looking for in each area.

Make sure your motorcycle insurance is up to date

It's always a good idea to review your insurance policy before taking a long trip so that you know exactly what coverage you have. Be sure keep a copy of your insurance card on you and on the bike. If you ever have any questions about your policy or coverage, always contact your insurance agent. A short, three minute phone call could save you a lot of money in the long run.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Travelling

Now that your motorcycle is ready to hit the road, you'll want to ask yourself a couple of questions:

• How long you plan on being gone?
• Where do you want to go?
• What do you have in mind for lodging?

These questions will help you determine how to pack your motorcycle appropriately.

Create a Packing List

Separate the list into three different categories: Necessities, clothes, and toiletries. Click on each of the categories to view a sample checklist of items you may want to consider including.

• Necessities: A flat kit, map/GPS, food and water are some items you should seriously consider carrying on your bike in addition to the first aid kit, flash light and insurance information that you usually carry on your bike for short trips.
• Clothes: Fold your clothes and neatly place them inside several large ziplock bags. Zip the bag three quarters of the way shut and sit on top of each bag so that all of the air is let out. Stand up and quickly zip the zipper completely shut. Not only will this help compress what you're packing, but you'll still be able to see everything too!
• Toiletries: Storing aspirin, deodorant, eye drops, Neosporin, shampoo and other toiletry items in another zip lock bag will help keep everything organized and easy to access.

Packing your motorcycle

When deciding where to store each item, make sure the weight is evenly distributed on the motorcycle. Will you store items in the saddle bags, on top of the bike or in your jacket? It's best to put heavier or more stable items on the bottom and sides of your saddlebags so they are closer to the bike. Place lighter items on top of the heavier items. If you don't have saddlebags, you can use bungee nets. Here, you will also want to place heavier or more stable items at the bottom and lighter items on top.  Make sure that that all items are snug and will not get loosened by winds or bumps in the road.. Make sure your rain gear is on top and easy to reach. That way, if it starts to rain, you won't have to unpack everything to pull it out.

And last but not least - have a great trip!