Totally agree with all of the above,and my only advice to add is the time spent on the bike,should also be rewarded with time spent off the bike...... Yes it's a bike trip,but if you are 5 days in,and still chasing the miles,it will feel more of a chore,than the biking holiday you have always dreamed of.......
As an avid solo tourer, I wish I knew of this thread sooner! Here is the base advice I give to anyone going solo touring You don't need to push your self further than you're comfortable Only book accommodation if you are expected at a location I have never had a problem with finding somewhere to stay on the fly and often will look on the day of whilst having lunch. This gives me a clear indication of how much longer I want to ride that day and more often than not, it's a little cheaper Only book locations with secure, off street parking if in a city Travel light If you're packing something because you 'might need it', you're over packing. It's the 21st century, you're likely a fart zone away from a shop that has what you need Cities are hell There is no plan... More often than not, I see people faff for days and weeks leading up to a tour, ensuring all their routes are correct, everything is booked and set etc. Set a direction, ride the bike. If you set your self a strict schedule, when will you get the time to enjoy it? Get comfortable This is more a prepping advice and generally a good point. Fit the bike to you, if you get a numb bum after 2h or riding, your bike is not setup or suitable for a days riding, let alone weeks. If you take a power ranger suit on a multi-country tour and complain when it rains, you're to blame. Buy the proper gear. Compression socks Up to the knee, it's a god send after a long day not having swollen feet. Mid-point break I always book a 'midway' point for a couple of days off the bike if I'm doing more than a week. Being on the bike 8+ hours a day for 5+ days will quickly and unexpectedly wear you out. You may not feel it, but you will need a day or two off the bike and it makes a huge difference. Service and maintain your motorcycle! Check and maintain your chain daily Check tyre tread depth (carry one of these to measure you wear rate to catch out if you need a tyre swap before the return home) Check and top up oil If you top up with a different oil, it's not the end of the world, just flush and change when you get home Spent 5-10 minutes walking around your bike You'd be shocked at what a days riding can undo on the bike Torque markings before setting off Simple one really, if you've done a bunch of work prior to setting off, ensure you've got some marker on the bolt heads. I got caught out once adjusting my chain and didn't have a reference mark for the pinch bolts which threw me off. It also adds to the quick walk around to indicate if anything is coming loose. Again, not uncommon if you're riding all day, every day. Insurance, breakdown, safety Plenty of online options to get temporary cover for the EU, don't cheap out on this... Save the numbers in your phone!!! Don't get caught out in the middle of nowhere with no reception Setup your emergency contact in your phone (ICE) You can add medical info to your own contact entry in Android and Apple phones such as blood type and allergies. Emergency services are trained to look for it and it could be a critical piece of information to save you from a REALLY bad day First aid kits - Just don't fuck with this, get a good one and keep it stocked Pack a high vis vest Water, food and snacks Probably the most important point. Don't begin your days riding without a bottle or two of water stashed somewhere. Pack several energy/nutrition bars Hydration sachets, easily one of the most underrated items on this list. They take up no space or weight, yet in a pinch can really help out on those hot days Bring a book... It gets lonely some evenings Carry local currency, around 100 quid is normally what I carry. You never know... SUN PROTECTION!!! Too many times have I gotten to the hotel with a redneck An additional note and probably more me just being grumpy, but if you're a youtuber or vlogger (what ever it's called now), be mindful of what you're doing. Ride the bike, don't chase the viewer count. I've seen riders setting up multiple cameras, talking to them, messing around and all I can think is... 'Isn't this meant to be for you?'.
To add to Freshage's comments on the subject of servicing. Please don't do what I've experienced quite a lot of riders do. Having spent the previous 6 months planning a European trip, a week before they're due to set off in early July, they try to book their bike in for the service that it's due. When the service dept says, " Yes, we can book you in in 4 weeks time" please don't chuck your toys out of the pram shouting "I'm a customer here, you've ruined my holiday plans!!!!!" When the service dept replies saying " I see that we sent you a service reminder in January offering you a reduced rate service so that your bike is ready for the year " then please don't just stand there and stare blankly at the service rep as if they can simply magic up a service slot out of their hat.....
Great list! I'd only add a multi-tool/pliers thing and the relevant allen keys to get your fairings off..I also carry a bulb and a small length of cable to allow for tracing of electrical issues if they arise... all my bikes are over 20 years old!
Tools are somewhat of an odd subject, personally, I carry the same kind of stuff, small tools that will get the majority of small jobs done. I also added another bullet point which I feel a lot of people also overlook... Torque marks.
When travelling to hot climes, take a cotton bandana or neck tube - it stops getting your neck burnt and provides great relief from the heat if soaked and allowed to wick down inside your jacket. It will dry fairly quickly, ready for the next stop and another soaking
I used to carry a torque wrench and a special spanner so that I could adjust the chain on the multi. Plus a tin of chain lube. Fixed that, bought a GS. Being serious though, usually just carry various cable ties and a roll of insulation tape. Make sure the bike is recently serviced, new tyres AND ride it a few weeks before to make sure everything is right. Preparation etc. As an aside, be wary of new kit. What feels like a great fit in the shop may be bloody uncomfortable after a few hours and worse after a few days. Specifically gloves and helmets. Seen it, done it.
Similarly don't buy a sat nav, or change to a new system/app, and expect to set off a few days or a couple of weeks later and there not to be issues. You need to get used to their foibles and how your route planning methods work with them in the real world. Try a few day long rides using them first. Alternatively take a map...
Additional to @freshage , filming your ride to post on the internet is actually illegal in some European countries. Check the rules where you are going.
Hours, HOURS, I've spent in hotel rooms because of this... Know how to manage routes via the chosen device before setting off, great suggestion!
Your neck might get sore, which discourages you from looking around properly, which is dangerous. Neck tube reduces this risk.
+Puncture repair kit +Clear visor The first days, before sorting a routine and where everything goes - can be a bit vulnerable. It takes (me) a little time to remember where everything should go and where everything is packed. My golden rule - always attach keys and wallet to something, using such as a lanyard. In the hotel they get attached to my lid, my bag or me. Added my watch to this list recently, after leaving a Seiko behind in the hotel (they found it but managed to loose it somehow !).
When riding with mates, we all took a spare set of keys which we swapped over, just in case one of us lost their keys. We used them once in Portugal, although Phil later found his originals down the leg of his textiles after found that he'd worn a hole in his pocket! Still got him out of a slightly sticky situation though.....
With the guys I ride with,we do exactly the same thing with swapping spare keys,but also we take it one step further....... As we also swap next of kin phone numbers with each other,just in case of any mishaps...
An obvious one, but I find having your own 'Travel Packing Checklist' essential. A comprehensive checklist of EVERYTHING you need to take on the trip. If I didn’t have the checklist, I'd have sleepless nights before the trip, thinking about little things like forgetting to pack chain lube or a phone charger cable or whatever... After the trip, update your list to account for any items that you needed and didn't have or taken and not required.
