This can be the bane of men, as the pillion is often the wife (who must be obeyed at all times) and the guy wants to travel light, while the wife wants to take the proverbial kitchen sink.

I know, I know, I shouldn’t stereotype people and we are all different. I have seen guys, without their wives, turn up at rallies with saddlebags, Ventura bags, chairs, tables and tent all tied to the rear of the bike. God knows how the bike handles it all.

So is it best to pack for any eventuality or do you just grab a credit card, a toothbrush and leave home heading for your destination?

A packing guideline.
For an overnight trip or weekend I usually pack the following and carry it in a tank bag. If wearing leathers, a one or two piece rain suit is a must. They are quite compact these days and roll up very small. They do not have to be the best on the market as I find many riders do not travel too far if the weather is rough. Also in the tank bag goes a small road map, note book, pen, Swiss army knife or my trusty Leatherman Multi-tool. A small plastic case with razor, soap, toothbrush, etc. Some wet wipes or similar, these are good for cleaning visors and wiping your hands or your bum if you get caught short as you sometimes can.

A small note book and pen is a good item to pack as it is surprising how many times you want to write something down and end up using a receipt etc to write on and then loose it in the bottom of your pockets.

If you wear glasses a soft cleaning cloth is a must as vision is an important part of riding, I wear transition lenses that darken in sunlight so don’t need to wear sunglasses, but if you don’t, you will need to pack a pair of sunglasses. A small torch and a clear visor, for night riding, if I am riding with a tinted one fitted. By now the tank bag will be looking full but you might still have room for a camera. Digital cameras are getting smaller and are very easy to use, they can be handy to collect evidence if you crash, or to capture some great moments on your ride.

If I’m not travelling with a group I also include a radar detector in the top of the tank bag as it saves having to remove and remount it when stopping at a café, comfort stop etc. The smaller things are often enclosed in a ziplock bag, handy things to keep stuff dry.

I often ride with the mobile phone in the chest pocket of my BMW Street guard suit, it is waterproof and the phone is close at hand. I do not answer the phone on the bike, there comes a time when I require peace and quiet and that is when I am riding bikes. I attend to my missed calls when stopping for fuel etc. The most important item in emergencies is your mobile phone but they don’t work all the time everywhere in New Zealand and be aware of where you are if you call 111. They need directions as they are unable to trace the call number to a district as they can with a land line. I carry as little as possible in my riding suit pockets so that in the event of a crash I don’t have pens and the like being rammed through my body.

On the subject of ear plugs we at BRM use the Alpine plugs supplied by Challenger Motors, as per their advert in BRM. They are comfortable, you can wear them for extended periods and they come in a small carry case that fits easily into a side or breast pocket. They price is $49.00 which may seem costly but I have had a set for four years and they are as good as new. I have found that I need to wear them with all brands of helmet, as none are quiet enough, and they prevent long term damage to your hearing. What’s that I hear from the back of the room, another deaf biker!!

If it is a weekend trip and I will be off the bike for sometime I include a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. We are reviewing the Icebreaker brand of  Merino clothing and this could work out very good for motorcycling as it packs small, is very warm and looks good at all times. All this gear will fit in a medium sized tank bag or a small seat bag. When travelling as a couple you will have twice the gear so a full sized system is possibly one of the better options, Ventura, Givi, or Willie & Max spring to mind. For the sportbikes there are shaped saddle bags and moulded seat bags, or you could use a frame mounted Ventura system. Either way you will be fitting a frame or rack to your bike to hold the bags in place. Hard luggage is another option but it can alter the aerodynamics of the bike so be careful when fitting it. Givi make a range to suit most brands and models. For cruisers the W&M brand have many different options to suit your bike and pocket.

I have a fellow riding buddy who devised a system of packing that required careful note taking when packing and then when using what you packed. If you didn’t use it on at least two trips you stopped packing it. It does get rid of unnecessary gear, but you have to be very organised to complete the lists, and I couldn’t be bothered.

The clear top on tank bags is a good place to carry your map but I have seen couples using a system where the map is carried in a clear, waterproof pouch hung round the riders neck to the rear so the pillion can read it and give instructions. This is a good option but can cause arguments so consider how willing you are to take directions. Some people like to be in charge all the time!!

Small bikes can carry considerable loads if packed correctly, here a Ventura pack system is combined with saddlebags. Gear for two weeks, a tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bags and a folding chair....too much?

If we are travelling further from home as a couple Bev and I like to carry a little more gear, New Zealand does have changeable weather and you can often get caught short in cold weather or the opposite with very hot spells.

Extra gear goes like this;  Jeans (Draggin’ are a good choice as you can ride your bike and still feel safe) or similar, a pair of sports shoes or sandals, Jandals are good if camping, as you can wear them to and from the showers etc., two tee-shirts, underwear, two pair of socks, a light weight fleece, a lightweight water proof jacket (I often use my waterproof over jacket), a pair of shorts suitable for swimming, a towel (large and small) and my favourite baseball cap.

Most of these are packed in plastic bags and Bev tosses in a small bag of washing powder so we can wash them when we are stopped for a couple of days. The plastic bags come in handy separating dirty clothing from clean.

Adding to what went into the tank bag originally we add, small first aid kit (normally under the seat), some pain killers in tablet form, nail clippers, toiletries, matches or a lighter, air gauge, a tyre repair outfit (usually under the seat of the bike), chain lube (aerosol), small collection of tools packed in zippered bag, including a collection of inexpensive zip-ties, and a flattened roll of duct tape. The tape and zip-ties will enable you to keep most bikes going after a minor tumble or off.

If you are a drinker you might like to pack your hip-flash, purely for medicinal purposes. I have  known guys to carry coffee making gear and stop on the roadside to brew-up but with many servos selling good coffee there seems little need when travelling on Kiwi roads.

If intending to camp you had better become very good at packing, as the list gets longer very quickly and the gear bulkier. Modern tents pack up very small and weight little, but sleeping bags do take up room, the more expensive ones pack up smaller. You will need a sleeping mat (Therm-a-rest) or air mattress (some of these can be cheap but heavy), cooking gear, eating gear. Now the arguments start, what to take, what to leave behind, so Bev and I opt to stay in cabins or cheaper motels, that way I don’t have to pack too much gear.

Have fun.