Touring tips and tricks

**Grant`** · 5th April 2009, 20:45

I didn't actually find anything when searching, maybe i just fail, if there is a thread though can someone point it out to me please

But people that are experienced in Touring are there any tricks or ideas that you have found useful after doing a few trips ?

Things that might make the life of someone who is new to the whole idea of touring just that little bit easier.

Either in planning or actually out on the road?

**Hitcher** · 5th April 2009, 21:04

Get to learn how to travel light. If you're going away for a while, make sure you're near a washing machine or laundrette about every third day. You don't need any more clothes than that.

Make sure your luggage is waterproof. As a last resort, use ziplock bags.

Buy a New Zealand Motorcycle Atlas. If you can afford it, buy a Garmin zumo 550 GPS (or its latest iteration).

Become a Top 10 Motorcamps discount card holder.

Stop and drink the coffee. Talk with the locals. They will all have motorcycle stories and great ideas about places to go, things to see and accommodation solutions.

Enjoy!

**awayatc** · 5th April 2009, 21:31

Firmly believe that what can go wrong will go wrong...(one day)
So never assume it stays nice/dry/fine etc.
Also think about what to do/carry when you have small "mishaps"...tools, puncture repair, spare phone battery, first aid kit, flashlight etc.
Don't over plan....enjoy.

**EJK** · 5th April 2009, 21:36

I got a question too.

Any advice on touring on a broken old 125cc two stroke? I shouldn't have watched that Topgear Vietman special...

**Ixion** · 5th April 2009, 21:55

Always, but ALWAYS carry a means to make fire. In a PROVEN waterproof container. Fire will save your life. If benighted in the wild, any shelter is better than none, share the pigpen with the pig if you must, though those little sheds they used to use for milk churns are better

Watch your diet, it's easy to slip into "pie and beer every night" routine.

Pull most of the foam out of your seat replace with clothes.

Travel light.

Carry "minor crash" spares . Never know when a gravel road will catch you out. Spare brake lever, spare clutch lever , decent toolkit.

In wet or cold stop every chance you can at a "warm up place". Pub is good, anywhere with a fire to warm up and dry out. Avoid riding in wet clothes , hypothermia is sneaky and deadly

Carry a flashlight. Carry emergency rations. Choc bars ,peanuts. And water. Carry Moar Water. And chewing gum. And Kneadit. Especially if you must use a water cooled machine (don't if you can help it)

Don't plan journies beyond a general "thataway" direction.

Prospect bad sections or deep fords on foot. Better safe than sorry. If locals warn about rivers or passes LISTEN TO THEM.

A 125 two stroke is just fine for touring. Quite good in fact you see more. Just takes longer. Exactly the same as a bigger bike, just less distance per day. Be sure to carry plenty of two stroke oil , its not always obtainable, though ordinary 30/40 will do at a pinch. And a good supply of spare spark plugs.

Don't overestimate your endurance. Allow for journey distances tapering off as the days go by, and you get more tired. Schedule a "rest and do nothing" day every N days, to do just that.

Don't rely on petrol stations still being there, or being open, or actually having petrol.

Have fun!

**banditrider** · 6th April 2009, 18:40

Something I've been working on for a while: http://knol.google.com/k/andrew-thom...uc8mjxx9lte/2#

Still some work to do...

**Grant`** · 6th April 2009, 18:58

Originally Posted by banditrider

Something I've been working on for a while: http://knol.google.com/k/andrew-thom...uc8mjxx9lte/2#

Still some work to do...

That looks really good bud!

**smoky** · 6th April 2009, 19:00

don't fall off

**BM-GS** · 6th April 2009, 20:05

All good advice so far...

Absolute necessities are very few, but the difference between enjoying if or not can be down to very simple things.

Earplugs: So you don't go deaf (but as you're not in a rush, take your lid off and earplugs out when you fill the bike up so you don't shout!).

Heated grips: Indispensible when it's cold or wet or both. Warm hands tend to keep the rest of you warm too. Oxford ones are good and worth every cent.

Basic waterproof gear: Without it you'll be toast. I'm not too fussed about gloves (see heated grips) but a 2-layer (lined, as opposed to unlined) nylon oversuit which is big enough to not stress the seams is a minimum. Great for keeping out the cold, too. Waterproof boots a great addition.

A bike you like to ride, and with which you're familiar. I used to have a BMW GS (funny that). An unlikely-looking thing, but fun every ride, everywhere. Not stupid horsepower, but enough to boogie and handling which was predictable, if not razor-sharp. Very forgiving and ABS as insurance. And panniers, but these were handy, not essential. I toured a big lump of Europe on a ZZR-600 back when they were considered racy and I still had fun. Not tried the Z750 for any distance yet, cos I can't get the kids into the luggage. Still fun for here, though not recommended for ultra-high-speed trips due to lack of fairing/screen.

A friend to share it with. Good things are better when shared with a friend. Sounds like the crap I tell my kids, but it's true. And they can carry half the luggage/tools/cameras/tent, buy the occasional ice-cream & take the odd photo. Some may prefer their own company, but I think this works better with friends. Having said that, limit any group to a max of 4, or it'll get messy.

A map. Take a look at it and make sure you can get to somewhere by about 3pm if you're camping, to get set up before dark. This saves the need to carry spare bulbs...

If you have a bike which you ride every day, most of this is probably not really news. Hope it helps.