Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: flipbandit on May 04, 2006, 01:06:59 PM
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What are your touring must haves?
Favorite size wrench?
Food?
Tire fix?
Map?
Mp3 player?
Basically anything in your luggage?
Including skid marked undies,
Hahaha
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CO2 tire repair kit
Coleman six can cooler
Jerky
Diet soda
ball peen hammer
ballbearings
Ruger New Model Blackhawk
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For a day tour, a map if I'm not very familiar with where I going, spare faceshield, tire pressure gauge, multi-tool, wet weather gear if there's ANY chance of rain, a bottle of water or sports drink. Usually have the digital camera & cell phone.
For a multi-day tour, all of the above, plus extra clothes and a pair of sandals or atheletic shoes for end of the day lounging in. Map(s) certainly, and rain gear is along, too because around here you can't trust tomorrow's forecast... even today's can be iffy at times. After my experience on my '04 summer trip, I carry a quality 10mm wrench - the one in the kit sucks. I'll also bring along a 3/8 drive ratchet, allen drives for popular bolts and my adjustable box wrench in case I need to do a chain adjustment or have some other large nut/bolt that needs wrenchin' that the tool kit might have trouble with.
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Patch kit, mp3 player, throttle lock, proper clothing, basic tools, water.
I didn't have the player and throttle lock on my last trip and regretted it big time. On the way back, my wrist was getting quite sore.
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Here are some of mine!!!!
1.) tire repair kit (CO2)
2.) tool kit (with the popular size wrenches & allens)
3.) Maps
4.) a bottle of water (just in case)
5.) extra gloves (in case in gets warmer/hotter)
6.) extra jacket (same reason as above)
7.) clear face shield (for night riding)
8.) XM radio (for when the ride is slow and boring)
9.) and... last but not least; personal protection
Banditone1250s...
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where do y'all tote all this stuff?
I put on my helmet and my gloves and take off! :motorsmile:
I need to get me a riding jacket...but I'll be honest- lately it has been shorts and a t-shirt some of the time. I am new to this- and I ride back roads- carefully- I still know I need to gear up. I normally wear my dickie work jeans. but even then I know if I ever dump it- it is gonna be bad. Hoping to buy some riding pants and jacket within the new few weeks.
Anyhow back on topic- My trips are usually an hour or less so I don't tote anything but my Cell Phone and wallet, as well as the tool kit that came with the bike. i would like to carry a little more- but if it don't fit under the seat- it can't go.
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Well, leedogg, this IS a touring thread. :wink:
:stickpoke: So I guess people are assuming you're going for a long ride, likely measured in days, not minutes.
This also assumes you're packing some stuff in some form of luggage.
OTOH, you can put a few more tools and a tire plug kit under the seat of most Bandits. Underseat room may be at more of a premium with the waterpumper Bandits of all varieties.
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:lol: Yeah I figured that- but I was truly interested in the type of Luggage used...and if the was everyday riding extra's that people were listing.
I am considering riding my bike to Louisianna next week for a class I have to take....just not sure if I can handle 9 hours of riding in 2 days. But 40+ mpg, on 87octane, sounds alot better than 16 mpg, on 93 octane, that my TA gets.
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Favorite size wrench? (Insert typical male genitalia reference here.)
All I need to grab-n-go is my CAMERA!
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:lol: Yeah I figured that- but I was truly interested in the type of Luggage used...and if the was everyday riding extra's that people were listing.
I am considering riding my bike to Louisianna next week for a class I have to take....just not sure if I can handle 9 hours of riding in 2 days. But 40+ mpg, on 87octane, sounds alot better than 16 mpg, on 93 octane, that my TA gets.
16mpg is pretty good for 400+ RWHP! That's about what my little pickup gets with its 195 Crank HP.
Luggage choices run the full spectrum here, depending on how much you wanna bring along, where you wanna put it and how much you want to spend. Tank bags, tail bags, saddle bags (hard or soft), top boxes and pack rack systems. All come in varying sizes to suit various wants. So far, haven't seen anyone here post up a milk crate bolted to a luggage rack, but that's been done before to other bikes, so I'm sure there's someone out there that's done it to a Bandit, too.
I've got a 10L or so tank bag, a 10L tail bag and a 45L pack rack system that I use in various configs depending on where I'm going and for how long - or if I want to take the bike to pick up more stuff than what'll fit under a bungee net.
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16mpg is pretty good for 400+ RWHP! That's about what my little pickup gets with its 195 Crank HP.
A 6 speed hot rod is awesome...I am running 3.90 gears and still run 80 at ~2200 rpm. It has gotten 18 mpg on the highway before in it's current configuration. Not bad for what it is. I have a Cavalier that gets 30...but it has no A/C....I'd rather spend the extra and drive the 'fun' car.:)
Anyway- Thanks for the info on your setup- I have seen the pics elsewhere of it with the back rack thing. I want some hard bags when they come available- Hopefully they'll hold a change of clothes and a shower bag. Been eyeing a low profile tank bag...but man I just hate the looks, but they do look handy.
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I use a Cortech sport tailbag:
http://tinyurl.com/29ahsg
And in it I put:
a Sears toolkit
my GSF400 service manual
a Tourmaster rainsuit
whatever thermal protection and extra gloves I feel I may need for time riding
Dupont Teflon chain lube
two hand and one head-mounted flashlights
crushed can for the kickstand in dirt (try and find a can to crush when you're out somewhere where you actually need one!)
sunglasses
extra ear plugs
paper napkins
digital pocket camera
a netted bungee strap to put any additional crap ON TOP of the sportbag :grin:
and I'm sure I left some things out here. This tailbag rides with me for anything over a one hour ride. For overnight trips, I'll a pair of Cortech sport saddlebags for clothing and additional footwear:
http://tinyurl.com/36xf6k
I also ride with ATGATT.
I was planning to get some hard saddlebags for my next bike, but talking to a diehard tourer, he mentioned that the moment you drop your bike (and you WILL drop your bike), you'll have a busted case. Better to use soft bags, at least on the sides (he did have a Givi hard tail case). Made perfect sense to me. I'm going to go this route when I finally get my next bike.
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crushed can for the kickstand in dirt (try and find a can to crush when you're out somewhere where you actually need one!)
And if you DO find one, it'll be a situation where you can't park the bike on the sidestand to go pick it up and bring it back before the bike falls over. :lol:
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A couple of small things I always bring, (and used this last trip.)
Zip ties - useful for so many interim repairs
Safety Wire -
Tow Rope - 10' or so
Duct or Elect tape
It is amazing what you can put together on the side of the road with tape, safety wire and zip ties :grin:
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I managed to find a 333 mL water bottle that fits under my seat, which took some doing. Got a granola bar there too. That's just for emergencies though, since I'd rather stop and get a drink.
I've added some electrical tape and a bicycling wrench to my tool kit (the wrench is good for all the small bolts), and I need to add a tire patch kit under there as well.
Oh, I just added a thin pack of Wet Ones (always got 'em around for the Hordling's diapers).
My tail bag always has the small can of lube (the big one stays home) latex gloves, chewing gum, eyedrops, earplugs, pen and paper, swiss army knife, flashlight.
My pressure gauge is in my pocket.
Rain gear is weather-dependent, but it goes in the tail bag (on in the teeny Joe Rocket backpack).
And since I usually commute to work, the tail bag gets dress pants, shoes, and my lunch :motorsmile:
:peeks at other lists:
You're not allowed to wear earphones in Quebec, so I never have my ipod with me.
And the sunglasses are given. They're prescription and I can't see without 'em!
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I also ride with ATGATT.
... but talking to a diehard tourer, he mentioned that the moment you drop your bike (and you WILL drop your bike), you'll have a busted case. Better to use soft bags, at least on the sides (he did have a Givi hard tail case). Made perfect sense to me. I'm going to go this route when I finally get my next bike.
I can vouch for the effectiveness of a Givi 52 litre topcase as a frame slider ;) Other than some scratches it's still fully functional.
I suppose a side case wouldn't have survived as well, but then again, it's replaceable, and would also have protected the bike (which costs a lot more than the case!)
'course it was the one time I was riding w/o "all the gear" (Doh!) so now it's ATGATT!
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When I travel I have a tank bag, a tail bank, and a set of soft saddle bags that are expandable. I can put a lot more than I listed there. I can put enough clothes in there for a week as long as I can find a laundry mat... I have every thing that I need handy in easily accessible pockets like my wallet, extra gloves, and any other little thing that I might need handy on the road...Banditone1250s... :burnout:
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My tank bag is practically my "man-purse". I carry a liter of water, cell phone, sunglasses case, insurance card and gloves in there. Toll road speed pass goes in the map pocket (as well as any maps needed). Its got enough room that even with all that stuff I can expand the bag to get in a large to-go Styrofoam box.
I've got the cortech sport bag as mentioned before. I got almost 30 bucks worth of groceries in that. I'm doing my first long trip next weekend (hopefully) from Houston to the dallas area. I'm loading up the tank bag and sport bag and probably the cortech saddle bags as well. I need to find a rainsuit that isn't going to kill me in the Texas heat. (It doesn't cool down when it rains in Houston...it just gets MORE humid).
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daytrip stuff up to 400 miles goes under the seat and in the tank bag.
Tank bag gets:
Small hand towel and visor cleaner
earplugs
chapstick of some sort
the ipod with Boostaroo and earbuds
eyeglass case with sunglasses
extra backup batteries for the GPS if taken off the hardwire.
on long trips I might throw the XM radio in there
cooler weather gets a Balaclava if not on my head.
Under seat gets:
Registration and insurance card in a plastic bag
First Aid kit
Small tool kit
tire gauge
zip ties
spare fuses
Pockets get the phone and wallet.
On a long trip I add spare gloves (weather dependent) to the luggage.
I might also add liners for my gear when cooler temps are a possibility.
I also add a small air pump for tires.
I need to add a tire repair kit to the tool kit.
I also need to find some rain gear for wearing over my leathers on "aggressive" tour rides when I am not in the water proof textile gear.
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All good items people have mentioned so far. Here is one I don't think anyone mentioned yet.
Extra clutch lever and extra brake lever.
It cheap to get aftermarket levers on ebay or online. In the event you have an accidental tip over or low side it is very easy to break one It only take five minutes to replace a lever IF you have one with you. If not and it happens on a Sunday miles away from a dealer it can really ruin your day. These items are a must if you are going far from home.
David
I will also add electrical tape and a small tube of gasket sealer to the tool kit list. This can help immensely if you somehow manage to get a small hole in your fuel line.
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Extra clutch lever and extra brake lever.
I get around this by stress drilling my levers to copy the race levers made by some of the high dollar vendors.
After breaking one off in a low side I saw the advantage to creating a weak point further out on the lever. Now if I have a tip over and it gets the levers I may have a shorter lever but I still have enough lever to ride the bike home.
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I JUST ORDERED A SMALL TANK BAG, THAT I AM GOING TO USE AS A TAIL BAG ON MY HOLESHOT BACK REST/LUGGAGE RACK SET UP.....
I WANTED A SMALL BAG FOR THE REAR AND COULD NOT FIND ONE THAT SUITED ME.....SO I HAD TO IMPROVISE.....
I USUALLY CARRY A PAIR OF WORK GLOVES UNDER MY SEAT ALONG WITH THE TOOL KIT, BUNGEE NET, A CABLE LOCK (FOR MY JACKET), A COUPLE OF EXTRA FUSES, A SMALL HAND TOWEL, AND A BASEBALL CAP TO KEEP THE SUN OFF ON MY HEAD WHEN I AM HANGING OUT AT AN EVENT.....I WILL BE MOVING THE BUNGEE NET AND THE CABLE LOCK TO THE TAIL BAG AND PLACING SOME EXTRA TOOLS UNDER MY SEAT.....
I SEE SOME VERY GOOD IDEAS FOR WHAT TO CARRY IN THE BAG.....NOT JUST FOR LONG TRIPS, BUT FOR EVERYDAY USES.....THANKS FOR THE IDEAS.....
B-T-W.....DOES ANYONE HERE PATCH OR PLUG THEIR TIRES AND RIDE ON THEM LONG TERM?....IF SO, DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE REPAIRED TIRES AT HIGH (HIGHWAY) SPEEDS?....
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In summer I use a 'camel back' - 2 bladders one of which I freeze for use late in the day.
In winter, a flask of coffee and just one bladder of water.
I always carry wet weather pants and usually have a spare pair of gloves in the gear sack. The usual tools, and clothes if its an overnighter. Mobile phone and a digital cameral (if I remember to pack it).
Oh and the most important thing a credit card.