Planning for a Motorcycle Trip - What to take

Motorcycle Travel Road Trip

Riding or driving to Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia on the Pan American Highway and Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the Trans Canada to Happy Valley Goose Bay Newfoundland Labrador, Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Parkway, Tail of the Dragon, Key West, Florida or Just Around the Country

 Motorcycle Equipment 

Before you load anything onto your moto the following items are number 1 on the list.

Maintenance Book, quality tools (wrenches and sockets) likely to be needed including a feeler gauge and a small torque wrench, spare tire/tube/patch kit, air pump, oil filters/O-ring (enough for the destination and return, one complete change of oil including one extra container of oil (engine, transmission, final drive), lube for cables, one set of cables (throttle, break, clutch), one set of light bulbs, one set of fuses (at least), a spare fluid drain plug (engine, transmission, final drive), fuel line, 2 fuel filters, ignition set (plugs, wires, ignition control i.e. points, control box etc.) 

Clothing

Riding Gear:  I won’t be able to suggest a brand name for these items but suggest that you spend time looking over the product especially where it is sewn together

Full Piece (Jump) Suit vs. 2 Piece Suit (Pants and Jacket)

What I’ve found is that a 2 piece riding suit is better overall.  The most important factor is that the jacket portion lays farther down upon my lap creating an apron effect.  If the jacket bunches up in the lap area, the waist of my riding pants are higher upon my body seated in the saddle.  This means that it is more difficult for water to find its way into the clothing beneath.

A jumpsuit tends to bunch up over my lap when seated thereby providing a reservoir for water to collect.  Eventually the water leaks through the most determined zippers.

Furthermore the single piece jumpsuit style is difficult to get in and out of especially when you stop for a restaurant break.  I’ve noticed that the only thing my riding partners have to do during breaks is simply remove the jacket to remain comfortable.

Gloves

I use standard water resistant gloves but you may have noticed I use Hippo Hands or ATV handle bar covers in order to keep my hands warm.  This has worked out pretty well because I can also stow items inside the covers while I’m riding such as snacks and small photo equipment.  I even keep a hand held infra-red heat sensor within for easy access.

          Boots

I carry two sets of boots, one pair of leather boots and one pair of water resistant.

Helmet

Because I am riding a motorcycle with a sidecar I prefer a helmet without a chin guard.  Helmets with chin guards provide the greatest protection but they can be hot in the summer months.

Normal Clothing

Because space is a problem I do not change clothing everyday.  It all depends upon how dirty I am.

Pants/Shirts/Underwear/T-shirts/ (3) Pair: I wear the same pair for up to 4 days.  I’m not really doing that much socializing on the road.  If I smell…well, I’ll probably never see the same people again so it doesn’t matter.  Of the 3 pair of each I carry one clean pair is left for laundry day or unforeseen experiences.  Socks are another issue.  I change them everyday and they don’t take up very much space.  Of course this all depends upon the climate you’ll be riding through.

When traveling will take me through diverse climates, this means carrying 2 long and 2 short-sleeve shirts.

         Laundry

In Latin America my experience was to just take my dirty clothing to a laundry cleaning service and not try to find a coin operated self laundry service.  They seemed to be few and far between.  Plus this gave me a chance to see the town I was in.

In the USA and Canada coin operated laundries are easy to come by and most private campgrounds have facilities.

Camping Equipment 

Sleeping Bag: Light-weight.  If it gets cold I’ll supplement my warmth by sleeping in my riding gear.

Sleeping Pad: Thin self inflating type

Tent 

I prefer a two man tent that erects by use of a clip for the poles instead of trying to slide the poles through a sheath.  It goes up a lot faster.  Also I don’t worry about getting the tent dry or clean each morning.  It’s either going to dry out when you set it back up or not, depending upon the weather. I don’t carry a tarp to up under the tent, but I do carry a light weight tarp for unknown circumstances.

The two man tent allows me to store gear out of the rain.

When I set up the tent I always place it on the round with a slight incline to allow the rain water to run down hill from the tent.  I sleep it my head on the highest portion of the incline

Camp Stove

Forget the fancy light-weight stuff.  Just get a Coleman style single gas burner with the steel fuel reservoir.  There will be no need to carry extra fuel, just drain some out of the pit-cock on the moto when it needs replenishing.  Even the older Coleman type single burners work fine with automotive fuel.

It can be time consuming looking for butane tanks or other fuels.  Don’t waist your time.  If you carry matches put them in a plastic zip-lock bag

Mess Kit

1 inexpensive metal mess kit but, get a small plastic cup.  Use your riding gloves for a mitten to hold the metal.

Food

Breakfast; I start the day with a cup of coffee and don’t carry any creamer, I use only instant coffee stored in small container.  In addition I try to buy a cup of yogurt before retiring in the evening so I’ll at least have something to eat the next morning incase I don’t find a restaurant later down the road after departing.

Supper; One can of some kind of meal incase I don’t find a restaurant in the evening.

All food is kept in a plastic zip-lock type bag.  In bear country all my food, toiletries and tobacco is moved far away from camp.

Toiletries

Rechargeable Electric Razor, soap, shampoo, towel, toothbrush, and any medication needed including an emergency kit.

          Tarp

I carry a light weight tarp for unknown circumstances such as working on the moto in the rain.

         Securing the load

I use the ratchet type binding straps.

         Bears

We shipped a GREAT BIG Handgun up to Tok, AK because of course you can't have one in Canada.  Plus I slept with a hand held air-horn.  Pepper Spray...well I thought that would just add some spices to the bears meal.  We were never bothered by bears.

How I Drive a Ural

How I drive it;  When shifting from 3rd to 4th gear I always run up to 50 MPH before shifting into 4th gear.  On the down shift I always shift to 3rd gear at or around 48 MPH and there after do not run 3rd gear above 45 MPH until ready to shift to 4th gear after accelerating to 50MPH.  I never go beyond 3/4 throttle.

On inclines I may roll on just a fraction of my available throttle to see if the engine will accelerate.  If it does I don't roll on anymore throttle.  If the engine does not accelerate I hold my level cruise setting and let the speed bleed off.  In this way I help to prevent the possibility of detonation.  Detonation is extremely hard to hear with ear plugs in. (I pulled my left head and Cylinder at 15,000 KM and the valves looked great after using this procedure however there were a few minor scores on one side wall of the piston just above the top ring.)

Temporary Import Permit Information for Latin America

Model Vehiculo                      (Vehicle information)

Marca                                      (Make)                                    

Modelo                                    (Year of manufacture)

Ano                                          (Year of manufacture)

Tipo                                         (Type of vehicle) a motorcycle is called “Moto”

Placa No./Pais                          (License plate number followed by Estados Unidos de Norte America plus state in which vehicle is licensed)

Fecha Permiso              ( Todays date)

No. Motor                               (Engine serial number)

No. Chasis                               (Frame serial number)

No. Puertas/Color                    (Color of the vehicle)

Datos del Conductor              (Driver information)

Nombre                                   (Name…last name first followed by first and middle initial)

Nacionalidad                            (Nationality…ie Estados Unidos de Norte America)

Pasaporte/Cedula                     (Passport number)

Datos del Propietario             (Owner information)

Nombre / Empresa                   (Name…last name first followed by first and middle initial)

Nacionalidad                            (Nationality…ie Estados Unidos de Norte America)

Datos del Viaje                      (Travel information)

Fecha Entrada                          (Date of entry)

Fecha Estimada Salida  (Estimated departure from country date)

Aduana Entrada                        (Customs border crossing name where entered)

Aduana Esti. Salida                   (Estimated Customs border crossing name where you will exit)

Photocopies You Will Need

Four copies per country

Copy as much as you can onto one piece of paper…front and if possible.

Title, International Drivers License (page with your picture on it and page with official

stamp and number), State Drivers License, Passport (page with your picture and opposite

page).  Also put your vehicle frame & motor serial number plus license plate number on

it.

Insurance

Mexican insurance can be purchased before you leave by joining Vagabundos del Mar

(707) 374-5511.

Insurance through Central & South America can be purchased at the borders.

Health/Medicines

“International Certificates of Vaccination”

This form is provided by Travel Clinics where

shots for Hepatitis A and Tetanus are received.

Malaria:  I use Doxycycline because it also

provides an antibiotic element.  Other Malaria

medications such as Larium (Mefloquine) can

have serious side-effects.

Diarrhea: Pepto-Bismol tablets, Imodium

Headaches / pain: Ibuprofen/Aspirin/Tylenol

Prescribed medications: In the original container.

Anti Itch cream

Anti fungal cream

Mosquito Repellant

Antibiotic ointment for cuts: Neosporin

First-Aid kit (some countries require)

Food / Water

Fried foods are generally safe.  Fresh vegetable

should be rinsed with purified water prior to

cutting through the skin.  Purified water available

throughout Latin America.  Gator-Aide

Tooth brush should only be rinsed in purified

water.  Never rinse your mouth with local water

even in the shower.

Other Items

Sleeping Sheet (sewn around the edges like a

sleeping bag, it keeps bugs off/light weight)

Gas stove (Coleman type will burn gasoline)

Toilet paper

Dirty clothes bag

Flashlight

Bungee cords

Maintenance

Oil, filters (oil/gas), Electrical: Fuses, Multi-Meter

bulbs, complete ignition set.  Tools:  Every kind

you will need to do almost everything including a

torque wrench.  Tire repair kit/tools.  Triangle

reflectors & fire extinguisher (some countries

require them in Central America), plastic ties, duct

tape, light tarp, shop towels.

Finding a Hotel

If two or more are traveling together and someone is

tired…just let one of you look for a place to stay

while the other(s) rest in the shady location enjoying

a beverage.

Bank Card Information

Acct #

Phone number to call if it is lost or stolen.

Bank telephone password.