The Million Dollar Question? Isn't It...
We all have travelled in some part of our lives and some lucky few bastards amongst us are already at it while reading this and probably a few chosen one's are 24x7 are on it as a job and ironically these one's hate it... Well, you might be wondering why? what's to hate in travelling right...? That's the million dollar question to it and the majority of them I have met and asked the same question, lets say 60% female's and 40% male's say it the 'packing and unpacking part'.
Now its all bit of 'Easy-Peasy-Japanesey' when you are either travelling alone or you are travelling by air (leaving the airport's layover's aside, of course!) but its get much harder when you are travelling on a motorcycle, yeah! You have not too much room to play around with and its gets harder if you have a plus one riding bitch with you. All of this needs a major few consideration and tiny bit of management which we will talk in a much simpler and camp fire cozy way ahead as you read.
The Most Important thing - Weight:
THE one biggest friend and enemy of yours while travelling on a motorcycle no matter what engine capacity you are roaring on, is the weight. The weight of the motorcycle, the weight of your luggage, the weight of fuel, extra jerry cans and not to forget the weight of yourself, as it is all that is going to get loaded up on that chassis which is sitting on two wheel's and hoping on a really good suspension setting and if not, you might have already or you will be experiencing life most hardest spanking that your ancestor's will feel through out the spinal cord.
Pack light: The most common mistake I have seen newbies and even experience rider's is they pack a punch along with their heavy ass motorcycle's and rolling down the highway looking all badass but deep within that tinted visor down helmet they are crying their heart out as they are continuously struggling with the weight they and the bike constantly need to manage. Pack only what is dead ass necessary and pack a little bit more there after which has the essential things that might keep you alive in the wilderness or somewhere you went too adventurous and now can't get back to civilization, that extra packing will definitely get you back alive not soon but soon enough if you are in such a situation.
Even if the trip stretches out from the weekend usual or a long haul of your choice, pack accordingly but still leave some space that you can fit in more along the way and leaving a bit of wiggle room just for the sake of it. Many of us out there pack too much then required, its like hogging down a shopping aisle with everything at 90% discount! No! No! No! a Big ass no, pack things you can carry along easily on the bike and off the bike, no need to pack a fashion fiesta for the trip as its a luxury which will be for sure spoiled with a bad, very bad, helmet hair after you get off to relax your saddle soar.
Weight Management: Such as yourself, your motorcycle can and will carry so much they are intended too, read the manual if you are not sure of how much each segment of your bike chassis can stress out too. Weight is something that has a lot to do with inertia, more the weight - more the inertia will act on it & there is no stopping it, its nature - you wont be able to do shit once its in action, so, there are are typically 7 points where you can saddle up your luggage on your motorcycle and these apply even to chopper's and bobbers and cruiser and other likes of us out there:
1) The extreme front of the bike.
2) The Tank of the bike.
3) The front sides of the bike. (specially adv's)
4) The Rear sides of the bike. (RL & RR Panniers)
5)The Tail Bag / Tail Top Box.
(Depends if you have a passenger or not, this could be added +1 space or -1 Space on Tail bag respectively.)
So, this is a basic setup which I personally use too. You have this 5 main lock up points and total of 7 points individually where you can saddle your luggage. I will tell you how I do it so you can continue to inspire yourself the way you want to do it either way it will fall on this 5 major points on the bike.
I Personally load my spare mechanical sets and extra fuses and a small med kit on point (1), which typically sit's right below the main headlight and just above the front wheel fender, reason, its best accessible in time of need and I picked up this habit up from other chopper rider's out there.
I load my documental essential such as paper works and mobile phone, charging dock, power banks and wires, few loose cash, credit card, insurance and other stuff which might need a frequent usage along the journey and feed it to a magnetic tank bag which is easily detachable on Point (2), The items in the bag should be figured out depending upon the type of journey you are embarking upon, some journey's do require passports, identity proofs which could be very handy in this part of the bike load area.
Now Point (3), could be only for adv(adventure) bikes and riders out there and cannot typically imply on cruiser's and chopper's until a ugly retro fit as this particular part would shift to sissy bars on cruiser's and chopper's, which we will talk ahead, but is essentially a factory fitted or factory available mod for adv riders where they can either retro fit jerry can's, water jugs, survival or med pouches and etc, again depending upon the nature of the journey and rider needs this load area of the bike is different for all forms of rider's and their needs.
Point (4), This particular part is my least favorite, specially PANNIER'S, OOOOOOOHHH! everyone does give you looks with this installed on your bike, big daddy vibes, professional cross country rider image but it has it own drawbacks and list is long on it, wont alienate you on same but as we discussed earlier - WEIGHT! The pannier's setup, no matter what earthly metal's its made from, either aluminum, steel, hardend plastic's, metal, sheet metal, all of these kind's add lot of weight to your bike rear end without the actual load filled in it and once loaded up from 20, 25,35litres its pure dead weight twerking behind your bike along the whole journey and end up stressing out your rear suspensions, tires, sprockets, chassis weld's and eventually the rims of the tires. Now this is a debatable point amongst all biker's such as all of us but a respectable one, its my personal choice and logic that it doesn't fit to my riding but I suggest until and unless you are not traveling long long long long trip or you have not sold all what you own and set out to explore the world until then you don't need the hard box panniers, plus it cost a shit ton of money, even if you have that kind of money, try opting out of it and instead go in for all weather saddle bags, there are plug and play or strap and stay method fitters, they are light on bike and on your pockets and they are flexible enough to jiggle few of your top secret goodies you want to carry around and plus you can improvise with straps and zips across the whole setup to even carry a whole tent system or other luggage such as a duffle bag or even a camel water pouch. Chose wisely and will make a point on this in whole other blog for you guys!
Last but not the least Point (5), Tail bags or top box, now its the go to go setup from choppers, cruisers and tourers where you can simply slap a tail bag or a golf bag on a long sissy bar on the rear seat and it shall cover 80% of your luggage need if you are riding alone or if you are having someone with you on the journey then install a Rear Top Box to easily fit in the extra luggage of your plus one or share the same space of 15 to 30litres or install it for days you don't want to carry your helmet around on your shoulders or in hand and stay free on the arrived destination.
All these points can be adjusted according to your need but always keep in mind to keep equal weights across the motorcycle, specially on the rear side and either sides of the motorcycles, keep this thumb rule in mind:
"Too much weight on back = Loose front end = Loss of stopping power = Less Grip,
Too much weight on either side of bike = Unequal weight distribution = longer corners = bike will pull on more weighted side"
this shall help you ease on your packing of the bike overall. but be mindful.
That's all there is to keep in mind while riding, a billion dollar question with not much of rocket science to apply, its all balancing the weights out and counter balancing the ones that are off and your bike's physics will do the rest.
What are you waiting for, get packing for that weekend camping ride or the long haul you have been planning since ages! Its the best weather to be there...
While you are saddling up, will leave you to it till I meet you all again in the next one.
Ride safe! Ride hard! God Speed!
