HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR FIRST MOTORCYCLE TRIP
AUG 14, 2024
So you're inspired. You caught the travel bug and want to go on an adventure! You'd like to do more than your typical commute going to and from work or getting coffee on the weekend with your riding buddies. It could be just a weekend trip or a week long trip. Here are some of my recommendations based on my own experience to help you on your first motorcycle trip.
The Bike
Get a bike, any bike. If you don't have one, rent one. Literally any bike will do as long as it runs. I am a huge advocate of just getting out there with whatever you have. You don't need the shiniest, newest bike or gear. I got into touring with my Ninja 300. Some people say you can't tour on a sportbike. Well, surprise, you can.
I recommend making note of your bike's gas/ petrol mileage and how long you can ride on reserve before you leave. This will help prevent you from running out of gas and being stranded.
I also like to install a USB charger on my bike to keep my phone charged for navigation.
Paperwork
As motorcyclists, we are well aware we take a major risk with this hobby and lifestyle. Proper insurance for the bike and health insurance for yourself give us peace of mind if something were to happen. Make sure you're up to date with your driver's license, registration, inspections, stickers and any other requirements your country has and carry these documents with you. I always take a photo of all these documents and have them electronically available in case I lose the physical version.
I also recommend ensuring your bike policy has towing included and knowing what the details are. Breakdowns happen and it's good to know when you're out adventuring, your bike insurance company can just come with a tow truck with a phone call. I learned this the hard way when I had a break down in Spain and when I called my insurer, they would only send a tow if I got in an accident. I'm lucky I wasn't in an accident, but also unlucky because since I wasn't in one, I had to resort to pushing my bike in 100F/ 38C on the side of the freeway where there was a shoulder just barely wide enough for my bike.
Maintenance
I like to do all my maintenance before a trip so I don't need to worry about it during. For your first motorcycle trip, time may be limited and you don't want to be fiddling around with maintenance or wrenching when you want to see the world! Here are some of the things I do:
Change oil and filter
Clean the air filter
Check/ adjust the chain slack
Clean and oil the chain
Check tire lifespan and tire pressure
Ensure all lights and turn signals work
Ensure all bolts, screws and zip ties are tight
You may need to do some light maintenance on the road, such as oiling the chain. I always bring my toolkit, chain lube, tire puncture repair kit on the road.
Riding Gear
You're not just riding down the block to the corner store to pick up some gum, you're going far. By going further, you are more exposed and increasing yourself to more risks. Wearing the proper riding gear including a helmet, jacket, pants, gloves and shoes will help protect your most valuable asset, you, for more adventures. I have personal experience with this. I've had my bike fall on me a few times on tour and if I didn't have proper riding boots, the weight of my bike would have broken my ankle. Because of my boots, I didn't even have a bruise.
Another essential part of my riding gear that protects me is ear plugs. My earbuds are noise cancelling, but if I don't feel like wearing them, then I wear ear plugs to protect my hearing. Over time, many motorcyclists may develop Tinnitus due to long term exposure from the wind noise destroying our hearing. I would like to avoid this and I highly suggest you wear ear plugs to avoid it as well.
Check the Weather
As bikers, we feel temperature changes right as they occur because we are exposed to the elements. Checking the weather before you head out each day allows you to dress appropriately to have the best time and feel more comfortable. Checking the weather ahead of time also determines what kind of clothing and accessories you will pack. I also base my route on the weather because sometimes you may need to do a detour to avoid a rain storm.
Accommodations
Decide if this is going to be a camping trip or a hotel/ hostel trip. It can be a mix of both! Either one of these will determine what things you will pack.
For a camping trip, there are many options to wild camp on BLM land if you're in the US. For in and out of the US, I like to use the apps Park4Night or iOverlander to look for camping spots. You can also camp at RV parks if you'd like to be around people.
For a hotel trip, I don't recommend booking ahead of time because you never know what will happen on the road. You may face bike problems, exhaustion and not be able ride as far as the hotel you booked. Maybe you meet a new moto buddy who invites you to stay over or you spend a little longer at that waterfall and now it's getting dark. Because of all this, I don't book until an hour before I know I will actually arrive to the accommodation or when I am actually at the front door. It's very rare places are fully booked. I use Booking.com because you get rewards and discounts with the more nights you stay over time.
The Route
I'm a major fan of just wandering, but for shorter trips, it's good to have places you want to see to make the most efficient use of time. I recommend pinning all the places you want to see and making a route based on those places. I use Google Maps for this. Take my Iceland trip for example. I did research prior and pinned all the places I wanted to see and made a route based on all those pins.
Navigation
There are so many options to get you where you want to go! Some people like a separate navigation device, some people use a physical map, I like to use my phone. I like to keep things simple for myself and have as many uses for one device or object as I can.
Safety
Always tell family or friends where you are going. I share my location with either a GPS tracker or an app on my phone with someone just in case something happens.
Packing
I recommend testing your pack and doing a test ride with your gear loaded on your bike before taking off on your trip. This is good to work out the kinks, figuring out how to balance the weight, having a comfortable seating position, feeling the heavier weight and wind resistance. The worst thing is when you're excited to take off, but the bike is wobbling and now you need to spend another two hours repacking. This will save you from the stress and pressure of being delayed by preparing ahead of time.
I didn't do a practice test and learned this the hard way. When I rode across the US from California to Chicago, IL, the weight of my tent made my bike wobble no matter how I packed it, so I just left it at home and grabbed a mosquito net instead. Because of this silly decision, I was absolutely freezing at night in the winter.
Breaks for Food, Water and Gas
Taking breaks is important when you are sitting in the same position for hours. As humans, we need to eat and our bikes need fuel, so these are great times to stretch, rehydrate and do something other than stare at the road to give our brains another source of stimuli. There are typically grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations available if staying within proximity to major cities, but it's good to always carry emergency snacks and water for refueling breaks. If going further out, make sure you can make it to the next gas station.
On the road, it's important to eat meals and not to skip them. It takes a lot of energy and focus to ride long distance and this is draining over consecutive days, so it's important to nourish your body with healthy food. My secret weapon is drinking electrolytes when on the road to help keep myself alert, rehydrate my body and to replenish lost vitamins.
Just Get Out There!
You don't need to be 100% prepared and know everything. I made a lot of mistakes my first trip and am still making new ones. These learning lessons are called life experience and will improve your next trip. Hiccups are stories that are part of the adventure. Just keep a positive attitude and laugh at yourself. Take lots of photos and just get out there! If I can do it, so can you.
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