The Stuff

This post will be about all the stuff going with me... and it sure seems like a lot of stuff.

Does everyone remember the George Carlin bit about "A Place for your Stuff"? If you have never seen it, or need a refresher, go ahead and CLICK HERE, I'll wait.

I need to sort through all my shit to narrow down what stuff will go with me.

As I had said in previous posts, the longest motorcycle trip I had been on was 6 days. I fared pretty well on that one, I don't really remember forgetting anything that I really needed, but there were some things that would have been nice to have along. For this trip, I figured 3 days worth of clothes would work well, I didn't want to have to do laundry every evening. On a trip like this though, 3 days worth of clothes really means 3 days worth of socks and underwear.

Planning what to take for clothes didn't take nearly as much thought as what else would be going along. I had to decide what kind of things were "must haves" what were "nice to haves" and what was "if I have room". Lots of the "if I have room" things were tossed out pretty quickly. I wasn't really going to have a surplus of room. I spent a lot of time reading blogs of people who had done similar trips and found a bunch of good information about things that I may not have thought about. I also had the luxury of being able to have things brought to me in South Dakota when Kate visits, I could ship a box to Seattle to have waiting for me when I arrive there, and I could use the US Post Office general delivery to have a box waiting for me when I get to Taos.

After lots of reading, some actual shakedown rides where I packed everything up for overnight trips, and talking to friends who had done similar trips, my list of stuff ended up looking like this:

Electronics and similar

• 4/3 Camera and flash - Pictures, pictures, pictures! I have always loved taking photos while traveling
• Booster battery - In case I need to charge phone, GoPro, Bluetooth headset, etc on the road
• Portable hard drive - to store photos and backup the laptop on the road
• GoPro - I'll use this both on and off the bike.
• Apple Lightning cable - don't leave home without it!
• Micro USB cable - data transfer to GPS and satellite tracker
• Standard USB cable - to charge the GoPro
• P/S Camera - for quick shots where I don't want to dig the bigger camera out
• Ear buds - still on the fence about these. I have speakers in the helmet for music on the road. May not need these
• Laptop charger - self explanatory
• Small tripod - for non-selfie photos and I will hopefully get some sunset shots on the west coast
• Selfie stick - for the GoPro and P/S camera
• Chesty GoPro Mount - Mounting the GoPro directly to the bike makes for shaky shots. I have found that the chesty mount has a good perspective and is relatively stable.
• Laptop & case - for blogging, GPS mapping software, photo editing, etc
• Charging kit (USB dock, Camera charger, micro USB cable, apple cable, microSD card reader)
• GPS - Must have
• Headset remote - allows me to change music, operate intercom, etc.
• SPOT Satellite tracker + extra batteries - For emergencies this device can send a SOS and get emergency crews in route to where you are based on location. In areas where I have no cell signal this device will also allow me check in with Kate so she knows I'm OK. If you ride, camp or hike, look into one.
• Cell phone - self explanatory

Keys/Security/etc.

• Extra keys (bike, Shad, disc lock, cover lock) - Lost keys with no spares would suck
• Cable lock (combination retractable) - this will allow me to lock my  helmet and gear to the bike if I want to take a hike along the way or be away from the bike for a bit.
• Small Coiled cable - works in conjunction with above
• Alarm remote - the bike has an anti-theft alarm
• Bike cover & lock - lots of the blogs on motorcycle travel say that this is a pretty good deterrent for people messing with your motorcycle in hotel parking lots. the lock will keep in on the bike in wind.
• Disc lock pin & Key - a lock that goes through the front brake disk immobilizing the bike

Tools and similar

• Kickstand plate - just a flat 4" square piece of metal to keep the kickstand from sinking on soft surfaces
• Head lamp w/ extra batteries - I LOVE my headlamp! Light wherever you are looking when needed.
• Multi-tool - bottle opener, screwdriver, pliers.... the usual
• Tire pressure gauge - low pressure in tires = bad things
• 60mm socket - not something every motorcycle shop may have. Needed to remove the rear tire on this bike. Better to have it and not need it than to not have it.
• Flat kit - I have had to use this twice now. I won't ride further than 50 miles without it.
• Vac sealed rags - never know when you'l need a rag
• Monks brand hand wipes - cleans grease off your hands really well.
• ROK straps - just in case I need to strap something down - these are fancy bungees.
• Extra velcro straps - same as above
• Tool kit - just in case
• Chain lube - have to keep the chain going! No chain, no go.

Hygiene and similar

• Laundry pods - these things are great for travel - super portable
• Dryer sheets - I hate static
• Toilet paper - for roadside emergencies
• First Aid Kit - also for roadside emergencies - non traumatic, of course.
• Shave kit – the usual stuff

Most of the rest of the stuff is self explanatory, so I won't state the obvious.

Gear

• Klim Suit
• Regular gloves
• Waterproof gloves
• Helmet
• Visor cleaner
• Balaclava
• Earplugs + extra set - I cannot ride without earplugs - they cut the wind noise and really help fight fatigue
• Dog tags & Med info card - when riding alone I always wear a set of dog tags that has medical info and emergency contact information
• Boots - please do not ride without good boots!

Miscellaneous

• Pencil/pen
• Travel pack - stamps, cash, hotel info
• Small notebook
• Water bottle
• Sunglasses
• Regular glasses
• Regular readers - presbyopia rules!!!!
• Folding readers - in the jacket pocket - see above.
• Maps - yes, I mean old-fashioned, paper, fold back and forth and back and forth maps. Just in case of detours.
• Portable backpack - for days off when I may be carrying around a camera, laptop, sunglasses, etc
• Credit cards, National Parks Pass, Drivers license, Fed ID, Insurance cards

Clothes

• Sneakers
• Riding shorts – 3
• Riding Socks – 3
• Underwear – 3
• Regular socks - 2
• Footie socks – 3
• Jeans – 1
• Regular t-shirt – 3
• Dri-fit t-shirt – 3
• Shorts - 2
• Long sleeve t-shirt – 1
• Windbreaker
• Ball cap/hat
• Down coat - This and the item below I'll have Kate bring to me in South Dakota before I ride through the Rockies - mid September can be pretty cold at 11,000 feet.
• Smartwool bottom & top

When I laid everything out (except what I would be wearing), this is what it looked like:

It looked like a lot of stuff, but then again, it really didn’t. I grabbed the case liners and my tank bag and started dividing everything up. The plan was to have the things I would use multiple times a day in the tank bag for easy access, the stuff I would use every night in the top case and the rest of the stuff divided between the two panniers. I also had to keep weight in mind - I needed to have the heavier things in the panniers and the light things in the top case to not throw the balance of the bike off.

EVERYTHING FITS!!!! Well, except the cat. He’ll have to stay behind.

3 days to launch.

The Shakedowns

As I had mentioned in previous posts, my plan was to put enough miles on the bike to have the first major service done prior to leaving for the trip. As the KTM has a 9300 mile service interval, I could theoretically get through the entire trip without needing service (other than tires).

I had 68 "available ride days" (weekends and days off work) before I left for the trip, so if I rode every one of those days, each ride would need to be just over 138 miles. There was no way I'd be able to ride every one of those days, so the rides would have to be longer. We were having a relatively mild winter, so these rides were not as miserable as they could have been. I knew that my average day on the trip would be around 350 miles, so I tried to make these mileage-gathering rides around that distance.

I could have just gone out and ridden on the interstate for 175 miles, then turn around and come home, but for me, there isn't really much enjoyable about riding on the interstate. I also wanted these rides to somewhat similar to the days on the trip. I dug some old ride routes out of my archive and started planning some new ones. Thankfully, Durham, NC is a great place to live for riding motorcycles. There are many options to ride either to the mountains or the beach depending on what you feel like seeing that day. North Carolina also does an above average job of keeping our roads in good shape for riding.

In addition to getting miles on the bike and getting myself used to riding those distances, I also needed to figure out what I was going to take with me and how I was going to pack it. The stock panniers would hold 30 liters each, and I had a Kriega 30 liter dry bag I planned on strapping to the passenger's seat. I also planned on using a tank bag that could be expanded to 15 liters. 105 liters to hold everything I would need on the trip that I wasn't wearing. Clothes for 3 days, laptop, off-motorcycle shoes, tool kit, hygiene items, camera(s), etc. I may do another post detailing everything that I'm taking on the trip. Comment if you'd like to see that.

The first trip I took was an overnight to the mountains in February. I didn’t have a tank bag yet, nor did I have the liners for the panniers yet, but I worked with what I had. There were no real surprises on that trip and everything worked well, but this trip highlighted how important it was to have easily accessible storage for the things I would be using frequently. Cameras, water bottles, snacks and such need to be stored securely but where I could just grab them as needed. A good tank bag would be required for the trip.

My next overnight trip to the mountains was about a month later. I had the tank bag by that time, but this trip would test a skill that I had not used in quite some time. The outbound trip was uneventful (very cold, but uneventful), but about 30 miles from home on the return, the bike started flashing this at me:

I knew the bike had a TPMS, but I did not know that it would differentiate between the tire pressure being low and the pressure going down quickly. I was able to get off the road into a gas station parking lot and find where the puncture was. Whatever caused the flat, was no longer in the tire, but the damage had been done. Luckily, I had my flat repair kit with me. I had not used it in a few years, so I was very glad that I had left the instruction manual with it! The plug kit that I have is the type with the small air pump that you plug into the battery lead once the plug has been installed. The pump takes a while, but works well. I think it was about 45 minutes from start to finish.

There are 2 schools of thought about plugged tires - one is “keep riding until you wear out the tire” and one is “replace it as soon as possible”. I am in the “replace it” group - even though this tire only had 1889 miles on it. Changing this tire presented me with another dilemma. I don’t have the tools (yet) to do complete tire changes myself - I remove the wheel from the bike, then take it to my local shop to do the tire change and balancing. To remove the rear tire on this bike, you need a 60mm socket. Who has a 60mm socket sitting around their garage?!? I certainly didn’t - Amazon to the rescue!

This got me wondering how many non-KTM dealer shops would have a socket of this size if I needed a tire change along the way? Should I take this socket with me? That’s a big hunk of weight to haul along for a “just in case”.

There were several more overnight rides and long-day rides over the next few months. While none had any major problems, I learned something on each trip. The biggest change in my plans was for the luggage. The Kriega tail pack worked pretty well, but the way that it was secured to the bike was less than ideal for how I would be using it. I would have to completely undo the straps that attached it to the bike each night and re-attach them every morning. There was also not a real way for me to secure this pack to the bike if I was going to be away from the bike during the day for sightseeing, meals, etc. I decided that a hard-sided top case would work much better and be much easier to secure.

I ordered a 45 liter top case and the mounting brackets that I would need to secure it to the bike. The top case arrived within a few days, but the mounting brackets were backordered from the manufacturer (I knew this when I ordered them) with an estimated arrival date of August 3rd. (It was now July 6). This still gave me a month once the brackets arrived to get everything ready to go. August 3rd arrived - the backorder was updated to August 10… then August 19… I was starting to get worried.

The mounting plate and adapter finally arrived on August 24th - just over a week to spare. It only took about 20 minutes to get everything installed and secure. Everything fit perfectly and seemed that it would work well.

I was hoping to be able to completely load the bike for how I was going to take it on the trip and get out for another overnight shakedown ride; the delays on getting the mounting brackets negated that. Heading out with this for the first time on the first day of the trip, isn’t what I had planned on but there wasn’t much I could do about it now.

I now had everything I needed for the trip. Now it was time to figure out where everything was going to go. I needed to gather everything I was planning on taking on the trip, lay it out in one place, then decide on where in the luggage it would go. I needed to keep the heavier things in the panniers to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. I hope everything fits!!!!

6 days to launch.

The Gear

Choosing the gear I would take on this trip probably took the most time of any of the planning that I did, probably because of the number of choices that are available. I am definitely one of the ATGATT (All The Gear, All The Time) people. I won’t get on my soapbox about it here, but it is a no-brainer for me. Full face helmet, armored jacket, armored pants, riding boots and riding gloves. The way I look at it is that your gear is the only thing between you and the outside world. On a good day of riding, that could be just sun, wind and rain. On a bad day of riding it could be the pavement, dirt, trees, other vehicles, and a myriad of other things.

I was all set with a helmet, gloves and boots. I have been riding long enough that I have favorites of each of those. When one wears out, I just get the exact same thing to replace it. Body covering was what I needed.

I already had a whole closet full of jackets and pants, but nothing that would be ideal for being on the bike day in and day out for 33 days in all kinds of weather. At this time of year, I will probably hit temperatures from 90-100 degrees F (32 - 37C) across the South and Southwest and possibly down to 30 degrees F (-1 C) across the mountain ranges in the West. Late summer thunderstorms and Pacific Northwest rain would be an issue as well.

I did not want to have to take rain gear in addition to the regular gear, so I needed to find something that would work across a wide range of temperatures as well as be waterproof. I did a lot of reading and talked to a lot of people who used a lot of different kinds of gear. I started looking very closely at the 1-piece suits made by Aerostich. They are made with Gore-Tex and very thick Cordura  as well as ballistic reinforcement in the knees, elbows, shoulder, etc. They are constructed such that they have a full length zipper from the neck to the left ankle, and are relatively easy to get in and out of, and are completely waterproof.

Ordering an Aerostich is a long process. You first call them and give them your height, weight, coat size and the standard measurements - waist, inseam, etc. They then send you an off-the-shelf suit that would be the closest fit for you. Once you get it, you try it on, and note what alterations need to be made - sleeves and legs shortened/lengthened, gussets added, etc.  You then pack up the suit, send it back to them and they custom-cut and make your suit.

My suit arrived about mid June of 2016 - it arrived pretty close to my birthday so Kate referred to it as my “Birthday Suit”

I sent it back with the custom cut requests, and got the final suit back around the beginning of September. Quite a wait, but they had told me when I ordered it that they were running about 3-4 months out. I received it right when they said I would. First impressions after actually riding with it: wow - this thing is STIFF! I had expected it would be, but it was a bit stiffer than I had expected. Everything I had read and everyone had talked to assured me that it took several thousand miles to break in properly - considering I had several thousand miles to ride before the first major service on the bike, all was good.

I took several day rides and overnight trips to the mountains, putting about 5,000 miles in the Aerostich, but never really fell in love with the suit. I wasn’t sure it would be the ideal gear for the trip. It was bulky, very stiff, and it didn’t move much air. This was fine during the winter, but as it got warmer, it got uncomfortable on 300 plus mile rides. I also didn’t like that I couldn’t just take off my jacket at stops like I was used to doing. While the Aerostich would be great for commuting, I wouldn’t be happy with it on the trip. I’ll hang on to it for winter riding, but after mid-spring, It’ll get hung up for the season. Don’t get me wrong, it is a great piece of gear, but it wasn’t ideal for what I needed. Time to look at 2-piece options.

The major problem with this is there aren’t too many places that you can actually go try on a bunch of different kinds of gear. More reading, more talking to people, more video reviews, ordering, trying on, returning, sizing charts, and finally!  Gear that fits, is pretty comfortable, waterproof, and….. HIGH VIZ!!!!!

When this gear arrived, Kate said that it looked like it fit better, so it must be my Leisure Suit.

11 days to Launch.