Sport Touring 101

[bush]

Sport touring? It's a loose interpretation of riding somewhere, preferably distant. For some of us it's a way to see the countryside, to others it's just a means to get away from home for a while. To reduce frustration for riders who think they may have been bitten by the touring bug, here's my take on it.

Trip Planning

Proper planning prevents piss-poor performance. Taking some time to plan your trip can be the difference between a great ride and an increase in blood pressure. This doesn't mean you need a down-to-the-minute itinerary of your trip, but some planning is essential.

Have lists of campsites or hotels along your route. You can't be completely sure how many miles you will cover by nightfall, so having a list of places to end your day will come in handy. It will also give you an idea of how much farther you have to go before setting up camp or checking into your motel room. Plan to have camp set up by dark - assembling a tent by light of a motorcycle headlamp is, and always will be, a pain in the ass.

Know how far you'll be from help at any given time. It is a good idea to have either AAA membership or roadside assistance on your insurance.

Research gas availability. Know how far you can go on a tank. If you can go 250 miles on a full tank, and you have a choice between stopping for gas at 125 miles or waiting until you hit 240 miles, do it at 125! Unexpected road closures, traffic, and route changes can can put you over your limit, and running out of gas is both embarassing and frustrating. Get gas when you can, instead of when you need it - it's also a welcome chance to stretch the legs and get travel info from locals.

If possible, plan your trip in stages. One thing I like to do is plan my route to the nearest interstate highway when I know I might fall behind schedule. Slab is a good way to make up time, and I have used the interstate as an out to do so. Basically, have a backup plan.

Maintenance

Do not plan on doing maintenance on the road unless it's unavoidable. For example, if you have 2000 miles left on a rear tire and you expect your trip to be 4000 miles, change the tire before you leave. You want your bike to behave as predictably as possible, and knowing that you have 6000 miles worth of tread on a tire vs. 2000 definitely helps alleviate the chance of a problem. The same goes for all other regular maintenance items. Perform your maintenance, have time to test the bike before departure, and ride knowing that all your maintenance intervals have been reset for the time being.

Packing

You cannot pack everything. Space on a bike is limited, and it is very possible - nay, likely - that you will pack too much.

Start with the essentials - food, water, and shelter. Carry healthy snacks. Mixed nuts, whole grain, protein bars, crackers. Don't waste your time with sugary food, it's not great for you and the resulting crash can cause problems on a long ride. Steer clear of fast food, or any food that will cause... irregularities... and require extended and unplanned stops. Sandwiches pack well, as long as they don't have to be refrigerated. Peanut butter comes to mind.

If you're staying in a hotel, shelter does not need to be packed. If you are camping, you want to find a tent and sleeping bag that packs small and light. Tent should at least have a rainfly for inclement weather, and sleeping bag should be suited for the climate you'll be traveling in. Remember that weather conditions in high elevations are a lot different than that at sea level! And I can't stress the rainfly enough - you'll be miserable if everything gets wet while you sleep.

Carry enough water to stay hyrdated, more if you want to clean up, cook, or do dishes. A half-gallon should be enough for a single day. A small camp stove is not a necessity, but it is nice. Single-burner models are available that pack small.

Regardless of capacity, pack saddlebags/panniers uniformly. Try to keep the center of gravity low and in the center of the bike. This means putting heavier items at the bottom of your bags, and keeping lighter and softer items (clothes, sleeping bag) at the top of the pile. More weight will change the handling characteristics of your bike! Your braking distance will increase, your acceleration will decrease, and you may have to wrestle with the bike when you get hamfisted in the turns.

When you get back from your trip, make a list of everything you packed that you didn't need. Remove these items from your luggage if they are non-emergency items. I carried two pens, two pencils, and a pocket knife in my tank bag for the longest time, until somebody asked, "Why do you have pencils AND pens?" Now I just use my knife to sharpen my pencil. I also carried two lighters and a pack of matches. Why? I don't know. There is no benefit to the matches, so even though they didn't take up much space, I eliminated them.

Sometimes obvious things like this don't seem so obvious at first. Lay everything out on a table before packing, try to spot redundancy and eliminate anything non-essential.

Know your limits

Rest when you get tired. This cannot be said too many times. You will know when you are tired. When it becomes difficult to maintain a line in turns, when you find yourself drifting in and out of the moment, and you start arguing whether or not to stop or keep going, you are ready for a break.

Do not rely on caffeine or energy drinks to keep you going long past your capabilities. The burst you get is not beneficial, and the effects of stimulants only masks the underlying fatigue. If you are tired, you are making mistakes, and one of those mistakes could lead to an accident.

If you have never done a 400 mile ride in one day, do not plan a string of 500 mile days. Most experienced riders who ride long distances will start out strong, but their daily mileage will drop to about 65% by the end of the first week. If you're not experienced, you'll probably hit that on day 2 or 3.

Emergency Preparedness

Emergencies are emergencies because they throw unpredictability into the mix and test you under pressure. If you get a nail in your tire, are you prepared and knowledgeable enough to fix it? Can the bike handle a lowside without serious damage? What are you carrying in case of medical emergency?

I once got a flat tire 100 miles from home. I had no experience plugging a tire, and I was not carrying a repair kit. Luckily, the tire went flat less than a mile from a gas station with tire repair kits in stock, and I was with an experienced rider. Since then, I never ride without a tire repair kit and compressor. It has saved me and salvaged an entire trip.

Honestly, there is no reason not to carry a tire repair kit. I consider it one of the most important emergency items, simply because on a modern motorcycle, tires seem to be the least predictable item due to just being in contact with the road.

Know how to use any medical supplies you carry. If you carry something that you don't know how to use properly, it just takes up space. Aspirin, emergency water, antibacterial ointment, and alcohol prep pads are all useful, basic, compact items that should have a permanent spot in your luggage.

Non-Comprehensive List of Supplies

This is certainly not an authoritative list. I know I probably missed something, and I'll never make a list like this that doesn't have something missing.

Tubless tire repair kit with the following:
- Rasp
- Split-eye insert
- 6 plugs
- Rubber cement

Tire-inflation device (compressor, co2, Slime cans, whichever works for your particular situation - compressor is recommended if you have a power outlet)
Flashlight
LED Headlamp - For hands-free operation
Replacment fuses - Packs small, vital spare part. Carry only those needed by the bike! No need for extra fuses you can't use!
Spare earplugs - Packs small, big improvement in comfort if an earplug is lost
Extra-strength Tylenol - For aches, pains, headaches
Compact first aid kit - Make sure you can use everything!
2 Lighters - One "hot spare" for starting campfires, lighting stove
1 liter of emergency water - MINIMUM. This is not your drinking water, this is for emergencies only! Pack at the bottom of luggage so you don't drink it.
Pencil and small notepad - For taking notes
Zip-ties - Variety of applications
Small roll of duct tape - Large roll is too big - variety of applications
Bandana - Sweat rag, tourniquet, tissue, possibilities are endless
Kickstand plate - For soft ground/hot asphalt
Air pressure gauge - Necessity
Multi-tool - Swiss army knife is also acceptable.
Toolkit - Know how to use it.
Rain-fly - For soft bags
Rain gear - Check the weather forecast - if little chance, this can be foregone at your own risk
Poncho - Worst-case scenario, also good for use as a rain-fly
Sunscreen - For use on face when riding into the sun. Small tube is all that's needed.
Map - Even if you carry a GPS, a map of the area you're in is a necessity. State map will be adequate.
Electrical tape - Small roll for wiring.
Towel - Always carry a towel!
Spare key - For the bike, of course. Put it somewhere accessible for safe keeping.
Registration, insurance, license - Make a copy of all these. Put in a ziplock bag and store it somewhere accessible. You don't want to tear apart your luggage trying to find it when a state trooper is breathing down your neck.
Toilet Paper - Pack half a roll, flattened, in a ziplock freezer bag so it's waterproof.

[acalliste]

Grab your towel and DON'T PANIC!

Great write-up! Thanks for posting this.

[tiretread]

Very nice write up. The flat-tire repair kit is worth it's weight in gold. Zip ties are your friend!!!

[Jarod725]

+1 This is a great write-up and starting point for my own list! My wife and I are going on our first long trip that won't have us staying with or near family/friends each night. We want to take extra care to be prepared since help from family or friends will likely be several hours away! The list I'd started in my head had some of these items, but other hadn't even crossed my mind. I know you don't claim this is a comprehensive list, but one thing I like to carry with me (even on shorter trips) that didn't make your list is chain lube (or general purpose lube if you'd prefer). I'd certainly recommend a small can of chain lube or general purpose silicon lube for anyone planning a trip longer than 400-500 miles ... and especially if you're likely to encounter rain! Great for chain maintenance (duh), stubborn fasteners, or sticky cables.

Thanks again for the excellent suggestions!

[LaurenOE]

Awesome write up.
Just what I needed to read while stuck in bed.
L

[acalliste]

Hope you feel better soon, Lauren!

[bumblebee]

Good article. After a couple of trips of forgetting what you need, packing gets much easier