Cross Country Trip : What should I bring?

[-Holiday]

I know there are web sites out there that deal with this, but I havent seen it covered here since the site crashed a year ago. Plus this will be fun.

Im leaving in 3 weeks for my cross country trip (Philadelphia to San Diego) on my 86 Yamaha FJ1200. What should I bring? Keep in mind im riding a twenty year old bike,and I can only bring what I can fit in two saddle bags, a tailbag, and a big tank bag. Also keep in mind i'm camping so I'll need room for my tent and sleeping bag and related stuff as well.

So what should I bring? An extra headlight? brake fluid? A spare bike?

I just recently purchased a Roadside Assistance Plan that will get me towed for free up to 300 miles, and will also cover the cost/installation of a new tires should I get a flat that cant be repaired.

more details are in my blog, but im riding out in July, then back home in september.

[Muse]

Off the top of my head, here's what I would bring:

1. CHAIN LUBE (or chain wax)
2. Plexus & cloth
3. WetNaps - these are good for "freshening up" at a gas station or something. You'd be amazed how much more alert you feel when you aren't hot and sweaty!
4. Extra key for bike

THere's lots of other stuff, but I'd imagine most of those things will be covered in your camping gear (for instance, granola bars for a quick snack).

Have an awesome trip!

[Big B]

two things i never leave without



and

[Meanie]

The roadside assistance, which you have and a cell phone. Oh yea, a magazine to read if you have to wait for roadside.

Ok, seriously....though a cell phone is a necessity, it will vary on rider and bike. Besides the obvious extra clothing, a tool kit and tire repair kit are good to have. When camping, think small. Smaller compact tent and sleeping bag. I use a two man tent and a small fleece bag which roll up very small. This is all I take, plus my Visa card and I don't have saddlebags or a tank bag. I eat and potty when I fuel up then buy snacks for the in between. The rest comes naturally as I listen to my headphones and enjoy the ride.

Be safe

[Muse]

Oh yeah, a Leatherman! Good idea! I actually had to use mine on my last long trip. The cable that provides information to the speedo and odometer (the one that goes into the instrument cluster from underneath) kept falling off. So, my bike has a few more km on it than the odometer actually says it does!

[Sev]

The bovious - water proofs and always make sure you have water and some food on your bike in case you need to stop. Don't try to make the extra 100 miles. You shouldn't need to many changes of clothes so long as you use a laundromat on occasion.

Cellphone seems like a must on a really long trip. Make sure you get a full service done before you leave. But put 100miles on it BEFORE you leave to make sure that everything works correctly. Nothing would be worse then getting 100miles down the road and finding out that your chain is to tight or something and you need to get it replaced.

Map out your trip, find out how close together gas stations are, and learn to love your trip meter. LoL.

[MotoF150]

bring a bottle of Windex and some paper towels to clean off ur face shield or glasses, or goggles, tire plugging kit or a can of Fix A Flat, 2 cell phones, flashlight, latex gloves and the phone numbers for every member of TMW Motorcycle Forum, you can call one of us if you break down or if you need a place to sleep at overnight.

[Big B]

especially moto's # so he can buy you gas

[DieMonkeys]

*Ahem* From The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcyles:
"Preparing Your Bike
Throughout this book, I've tried to stress the importance of properly maintinging your motorcycle. When traveling long distances on a bike, this is especially important. If your bike were to break down in an isolated mountain pass, you could freeze to death before someone found you. Making certain your bike is in good shape before you take a trip servers an econimic purpose as well. Having a breakdown far from home can be much more expensive than having your bike fall apart while commuting to worek. When you break down in an isolated area, you don't have the luxury of shopping around for the best prices. You also don't have the luxury of finding a mechanic you trust.

Your best bet is to get your bike in as good shape as possible before taking a trip. [...] Make certain that you perform all routine maintenance. Here's a checklist of procedures you should always perform before an extended trip:

* Change the oil
* Top off the electrolyte in the battery.
* Check your coolant.
* Tighten every bolt on your bike.
*Replace leaky fork seals, as well as worn bearings and bushings in the frame.
*Replace worn shocks and fork springs.
*Pay close attention to your tires. If there is the slightest possibily that your tires will wear out on your trip, replace them before you go."

[DieMonkeys]

"What to Bring?
No matter what I tell you, you will probably overestimate the amount of clothing and gear you'll need when you take your first motorcycle trip. But here are my suggestions for all you need for a safe, comfortable ride.

The Clothes Make the Motorcyclist
On my first extended trip, which I took about 15 years ago, I brought a couple of different jackets (for riding in a variety of weather conditions), along with five or six complete changes of clothing, including some dressy clothes in case I wanted to go out to eat or on a date.

Now I bring a couple of pairs of jeans, a couple of turtlenecks, a couple of sweatshirts, and a couple of T-shirts. I may bring three T-shirts if the weather is hot or if I plan to be gone a week or more. And I bring pretty much every pair of underweear and socks I own. If I go out for a nice dinner, I wear my cleanest pair of jeans and the turtleneck with the fewest holes in it.

Your best bet is to travel light on a bike. Bring only clothiong you'll wear. And you'll always seem to wear less than you bring. As you become a more experienced motorcyle travler, you'll find that you bring less clothing on each successive trip.

Tools You'll Use
Although I pack fewer clothes for each successive trip, I find that my list of mustbring gear grows each year. Every time I've needed an item I didn't have, I've included that item on foloowing trips.

I always bring a small selection of extra tools, even when I'm on a new bike. The toolkits that come with most bikes will do in a pinch, but I alwqays like to have an extra set of cominateion spanner wrenches, a couple of pliers (needle-nose pliers and channel-lock pliers), a ratchetm and a small slection of sockets. I also include a cigarette lighter, a small selection of nuts and bolts (including some for connecting my battery cables to my battery), some electrical connectors, a roll of wire, and a couple of rolls of tape (friction and duct tape).