It’s hard to beat the feeling of the open road with the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. Making the most of any motorcycle trip requires that you bring a few things along with you.
Whether you’re traveling across the country, or just going out for an afternoon joyride, here are nine items you absolutely can’t forget to pack.
1. Helmet
We all know it —driving a motorcycle is a dangerous game already, so what’s the point of wearing a helmet?
That’s the wrong mentality to have when it comes to motorcycle safety. In fact, in states where wearing a motorcycle helmet is required by law, the number of fatalities in motorcycle accidents is ten times less.
If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident and need legal advice, check out this article on JT Legal group.
2. Sunglasses
Windshields are practically useless at keeping the wind out of your eyes while driving a motorcycle, and if you don’t have a visor on your helmet, you might just be in for a squinty ride.
Avoid the strain on your eyelids (and the need for eye drops) by making sure to pack a pair of your favorite sunglasses —aviators if you’re going old-school.
3. Tools and tire repair kit
Like any other machine, motorcycles can break down. Not having a toolkit or a tire repair kit handy can leave you stranded on the side of the road waiting for help, so make sure you don’t forget to pack these essentials.
If you don’t have a toolkit or tire repair kit yet, make sure you shop around to find a deal on a set that’s well organized and easy to store.
4. A GPS
Getting around new places on road trips would be impossible for most people these days without the help of GPS.
If you prefer to track your routes in an atlas the old-school way, at least make sure you have a GPS stored for backup in case your map gets ruined in bad weather.
5. Other protective padding
On top of wearing a helmet, be sure to wear extra protective padding on your elbows, forearms, knees, and shins in case of an accident. Road rash hurts, so make sure to protect against it.
You might also want to wear extra padding to protect your clothes and skin against the extreme heat your motor produces. If your skin is unprotected and you’re not careful, you can easily scorch yourself on an exhaust pipe.
6. Windshield cleaner
Whether you’re driving across the country or just to the other side of town, there’s a good chance you might run into some bugs along the way.
Make sure you keep some quality windshield cleaner handy so you can give your windshield a good cleaning whenever you stop in between legs of your trip.
7. Boots and gloves
We mentioned this already, but motorcycles get really hot and your feet and ankles are vulnerable to getting burned, so make sure you also wear a pair of quality boots.
Gloves are also an essential item to wear, as they help your hands grip the handlebars better when you’re riding for extended periods. For added protection in the case of an accident, you can opt to wear gloves that shield your knuckles.
8. Base layer and rain jacket
You can never truly tell what the weather is going to be like on the road until you’re out riding on it. Cold weather can quickly turn a joy-ride into an uncomfortably torcherous trip, so make sure you wear a good base layer of moisture-wicking material.
Riding through the rain is no fun either, so make sure you pack a rain suit or rain jacket to keep the good times rolling.
9. Bandana
Bandanas aren’t just for motorcycle gangs. While it might look cool and intimidating to some, bandanas actually serve a useful purpose.
They help keep bugs out of your mouth, hair out of your eyes, and the sun off your neck —all while making you look like a person to be feared.
Conclusion
There are plenty of things that can go wrong on a motorcycle trip, but if you pack these nine essentials, you’ll be prepared to handle plenty of them!
