Packing your motorcycle, Harley Davidson or other bike for a cross-country ride.
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I have a lot of experience packing my Harley Davidson and other motorcycles for cross-country riding.
This is the advice I posted to help people decide what to pack for a cross-country motorcycle ride. I usually include a box of extra "street clothes" non-bike clothing, to wear once we get to D.C but I didn't do that much this year, because I figured the casual bike clothes and the amount of make-up and toiletries were enough for the 5 weeks.
I used to pack my Harley Davidson with t-bag style luggage attached to the passenger back-rest. Now that I ride a Yamaha FJR1300 I have a trunk and hard bags for all my necessities. We've switched to Helen 2 Wheels luggage which is the best packing system we've found in 13 years of full-time travel.
Oops!! I've arrived and didn't pre-ship street clothing now I don't have nicer things to wear to dinner, etc. Plus my makeup is running low, guess I need a few shopping trips.
I think I know how to pack for 5 weeks away from home on a motorcycle. It's all in the gear!! I wear "all the gear - all the time." Meaning I ride with a helmet (flip-face) and mesh textile riding pants. I also wear a textile PINK DIVA motorcycle jacket by Joe Rocket. It has a snap/zip out liner that is waterproof. My rain suit is big enough to fit over all this in the spring rains.
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I just noticed a bag in the corner of the spare bedroom that hasn't been unpacked. It has items we took and seldom or never used. I should make a note of these items before unpacking for next year ... I should!
Contents at a Glance
- Packing your Harley Davidson for a cross...
- Harley Davidson packing tips all over th...
- First of all I pack gear in special bike...
- Open Road
- LEAVE SOME ROOM IN ONE OF YOUR BAGS or S...
- THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!!
- Some of our Frequently Asked Questions a...
- This is our ministry picture.
- Bikers like gifts
Packing your Harley Davidson for a cross-country motorcycle ride.
Here's the list:
WHAT I PACK
I have saddlebag liners for my Yamaha FJR 1300.
One side, back right, I keep all inclement weather items:
Extra fleece vest
"Frog Tog" rain suit,
"Under Armor" Long Sleeve Fleece,
Winter gauntlet gloves,
Gerbings cold weather liner and power cord
Cool vest (dry but in plastic bag for soaking in water before wearing)
Leave room for jacket liner that snaps into my mesh ride jacket
Light weight scarf for cool mornings
Wool scarf for cold mornings
Cool bandanna (in baggie to soak in cold water for neck on hot days)
Other side, my back left, saddlebag liner:
My overnight bag with 2 days change of clothes:
Kindle
Sandals,
Socks
Underwear
Jeans to wear off bike
Light colored long sleeve, and short sleeve shirts
Toiletries in plastic bags (itemized below)
Quart size baggie w/sample laundry soap & Clothes pins
Phone charger
Tank Bag:
MP3 player
Eye glass cleaner, case and lens rag for windshield, helmet shield and glasses
Sunglasses
Hairbands
Hat for off the bike
Small "Overland Bag" with:
Wallet, i.d. cash for fuel, lip balm, pen & paper
Sun block
Leaving room for gloves
Cover for CB radio
Tank bag has waterproof cover built in - open pouch/cover bag
Helen2Wheels Bag on Passenger Seat:
(This is a waterproof bag that rolls closed and straps on. I never completely fill this bag. It hauls everything else I need for the 5 weeks.)
Better walking shoes,
2 more long sleeve shirts
2 more short sleeve
Another pair of jeans
Any notebooks for meetings
Extra hairbands
Phone charger/Kindle charger (all the same)
My vest with pins and patches when not wearing it
A light jacket for evenings off the bike
Room for my padded riding pants and any purchases
Clothes line and clothes pins and sample laundry detergent for hand washing in motel
Toiletries/Travel size:
Lotion
Tinted moisturizer
Eye makeup (can't wear mascara while riding causes watery eyes)
Sunblock
Extra lip balm
Hair products
Small jewelry items
Hair gel
HUGE SECRET
Since we stay in the Washington D.C. longer than the holiday weekend, we send a package with clothing, shoes, toiletries and jackets, non-biker clothing, for taking the Metro into D.C. and showing ourselves around without the biker boots and jeans. This year we'll be there nearly 2 weeks, so it's a big box!
First of all I pack gear in special biker luggage that ties to the Harley.
Helen2wheels luggage, and Yamaha Saddlebag liners
I have luggage for packing gear on my motorcycle. Helen2wheels has an incredible system that straps to the bike and is waterproof. I trust it, I really do, but anything that I really don't want wet or damp at all, I place in my saddlebag liners. I'll be posting a list of everything that I take on my bike when I'm out 3 to 5 weeks at a time riding across this great Nation (US 
LEAVE SOME ROOM IN ONE OF YOUR BAGS or Ship things home UPS
You may want to buy a t-shirt or two, or some patches and stickers to give to the kids in Rainelle. Leave rooms in one of you bags.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!!
I got a trunk (case) for my bike.
This is a GIVI trunk. It attaches or detaches from the back of my bike - it's a beautiful thing. It matches the paint scheme of my bike, but more importantly, it changes the way I pack. MORE space, yeah!! Some of our Frequently Asked Questions about Riding this great Nation.
FAQ
I'll be posting FAQs we get as we travel this great nation:
Q. #1 What do you do when it rains (while you're riding)?
A. "We get wet." Seriously, no rain gear keeps you totally dry, but some keeps you relatively warm and sort of comfortable until you can find a place to pull off the road. We certainly change into rain gear if the weatherman has said rain is coming or if we read the skies appropriately.
Q. #2 What is your favorite bike?
A. I used to ride a Harley, but I traded it in for a Yamaha sport touring bike. We do so many miles long haul, and I needed comfort, reliability and something that would get a lot of miles. I put 80,000 miles on my Harley in 8 years 40,000 on my Yamaha in 3 years, the Harley was my first bike.
Q. #3 How many miles have you done in one day.
A. Well we average about 400-450 when we're getting from one location to another in a hurry, but the hubby has done over 800 in one day, and I've done 650 in one day (once, not planned, just got to close to home to overnight anywhere.
Q. #4 Don't you get stiff and sore from riding?
A. Not really, we stop and stretch and get more fuel about every 120 miles, depending on the speed limit, that can be under two hours between stops.
Q. #5 How much was fuel when you started riding?
A. The day I bought my first bike June 22, 1999, fuel was $1.09 in the Midwest. Last weekend in CA, we paid $4.47/gallon.
Q. #6 Is there anything you miss while on your trip?
A. I totally miss having a washer and dryer. The hubby misses having snacks handy.
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Tolovaj
Apr 18, 2012 @ 10:13 am | delete
- You tried Harley and Yamaha. What you recommend for beginners in the world of long trips?
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Tipi
Aug 15, 2011 @ 4:30 pm | delete
- Is there anything you miss while on the trip?
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bikerministry
Aug 15, 2011 @ 5:41 pm | delete
- I really miss my bed at home, and I totally miss my g-kids. I also miss using a nice bathroom, traveling we get every sort of bathroom arrangements. Most are OK, some are absolutely horrible.
Any thing I missed putting on my list? Yes, triple antibiotic for cuts and scrapes. Hey, riding is dangerous.
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This is our ministry picture.
I'm posting this picture because it shows my Harley.
I customized my Harley over the years that I owned it. Stock colors were blue and ice, but we removed the fenders, and all the chrome trim, removed the gas tank and had a great friend paint it olive drab. Then I added an airbrush Rosie the Riveter to the right front fender. Then I found some retro hard saddlebags to give it the look of a middle 80s bike, left all the chrome off the fenders and bought a nice Mustang brand solo seat. It had 80,000 miles on it (all mine) when I sold it.
Bikers like gifts
Don't ask me why.
Run For The Wall participates in Rolling Thunder Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend.
Run For The Wall
Get some Harley Davidson Luggage
Cold Weather Riding Gear for your cross country trip
Sugarbear (my 2010 teddy bear companion) planning for Run For The Wall
The web page shows the Routes.
There are two Routes on Run For The Wall. One goes across the USA on I-10 then up to D.C. and the other works it's way up from California onto I-70 down to I-64 and up to D.C.
23 years ago Run For The Wall was a small group of Vietnam Veterans who took the trek to pay respects at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
I've served on the Board for this organization for 2008. It's been an incredible honor.
Packing clothing into small spaces.
Sugarbear waiting to ride.
There are rider's meetings eveery morning.
Sugarbear (my 2010 mascot) awaits the first leg of the morning, hanging on my tank bag. This is a great photo of my luggage strapped to my passenger seat. Sugarbear last year's teddy bear stayed at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall after completeting well over 3500 miles across country.
My Run For The Wall Blog
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Sugarbear at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall
Each year I leave some treasure at the wall.
After riding across country, there is a sobering time to reflect, unwind and consider the journey. I've started collecting pins, and miniature gifts along the way, attaching them to a bear, and leaving the bear at the wall. I have a new teddy for this year to pin to my tank bag. This bear stayed at the wall in 2010. He has on a Run For The Wall pin, some beads a dog tag (i.d. tag with scripture on it) and a biker vest with Run For The Wall on it. My road name is Sugarbear. So a bear i suiting.
See the Run Arriving in this video
Limon Colorado parade through town 2010
REMINDERS to ME!!
- 1Pack for Run For The Wall
- 2Call all motel reservations and make sure they are all still valid.
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3Gather last minute items:
Straps for my motorcycle luggage
MP3 player
Phone charger
pen and tablet - 4Stop Mail
- 5Stop Newspaper
- 6Schedule house sitting.
- 7Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
Motorcycle Tours
Packing for a long or cross country motorcycle trip.
Most importantly you will want your bike to be safe going down the road. Everything packed away and secure. Easy access to the items you'll need immediately when stopped for fuel and meals, or when the weather changes, and everything else packed away securely.
We passed this man returning for Sturgis Bike Week in 2010. I took the picture as we were driving (a truck) so I missed the front of his bike, but you get the idea.
We are HonorBound Motorcycle Ministry and you can donate to this ministry here.
Great Stuff on Amazon
Be My Guest
Feel free to remind me what I'm fogetting to pack
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Placemats
Apr 19, 2012 @ 2:16 am | delete
- getting ready for a trip now, CA to Organ to AZ and Durango, Colorado. For starters. Thanks for sharing your lens.
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Tolovaj
Apr 18, 2012 @ 10:14 am | delete
- All purpose knife is always great thing to have. If you ave two, it is even better!
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io911c
Apr 18, 2012 @ 4:11 am | delete
- Nice lens. Great advices. Thanks a lot!
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ToTheBrimm
Sep 8, 2011 @ 7:21 am | delete
- I have a small fork bag that's overstuffed with zip ties, tape, a tire-patch kit, flash light, small socket set and who-knows-what else.
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bikerministry
Sep 8, 2011 @ 7:40 am | delete
- Ha! I would pack those little items (Did I mention my toolkit under the seat?). But my hubby rides too and he has all those little items. Maybe should pack them for myself in case we're separated. One time we needed a hose clamp for his fuel line, his new horn mount cut through his fuel line going down I-95 in Florida. A pickup truck stopped within minutes (a biker) he had just the clamp we needed to temporarily repair it. I used to keep my gloves and sunglasses (and charge card -shhhh) in my fork bag on my Harley. Now that I ride a sport touring bike I use my tank bag for those little items. THANKS for stopping by.
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Tipi
Aug 15, 2011 @ 4:32 pm | delete
- I can't imagine anything is forgotten on your list. Your idea of shipping a box to D.C. and shipping things home is very practical and makes such sense to plan for.
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by bikerministry
Riding my motorcycle across America with Godly purpose. Hope on wheels.
I design, knit then felt bags. My husband is a silversmith. We are grandpar...
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The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills, Knowledge, and Strategies for Riding Right (2nd Edition)
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 06/03/2012)
Read up - Brush up - practice, practice practice. One can never know enough about riding. My favorite riding tip - look as far ahead of you as possible, while using your peripheral vision for everything between the horizon and you, and quickly look in the rear-view mirrors constantly. ALWAYS ALERT!
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Pack that motorcycle and take a trip.
AMA Ride Guide to America: Favorite Motorcycle Tours in the USA (American Motorcyclist Association Ride Guide S.)
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AMA knows the road, AMA is a motorcycle foundation that has published articles through the years about motorcycling enthusiasts. But AMA is also a great lobbyist for motorcyclists. Get on board, buy your copy of the AMA Road Trip adivsor and you'll be prepared for your next trip no matter how involved it will be.
