TOURING ESSENTIALS
Are you getting ready to go touring in 2017? Are you, like us, allergic to panniers and tank bags? If you are, then good on ya! If you’re touring on a sportsbike, the truth is you can make do with just a decent rucksack and tailpack, Kriega being the obvious example but other brands are available. The lighter you are and the more you can move around your bike, the better (and easier) your journey will be. So, what do you really need to take with you? First off, a small tip – pack what you may need to access quickly by the roadside near the top of your bag every morning – it saves on mucho faffing.
Items one should carry start thusly: Assuming you’re going to Europe, your European Health Card is a must as is your passport, plus tissues, spare ear-plugs, puncture repair kit, basic tools, carrier bags, torch, sat nav (or map), phone, spare bulbs, battery booster, visor wipes, latex inner gloves and waterproofs. When you add in some clothes that’s your rucksack taken care of, but always remember socks and pants are as cheap abroad as in the UK! Oh, and a bit of hard cash never hurts, either.
Your tailpack, ideally, should contain some form of protection like a chain or at the very least a disc lock. It should also be where your shoes travel, too. Then fill the pockets with potentially helpful items such as cable-ties, and any other small tools which may be handy. And, really, that’s about it. Short of any special needs meaning you need lots of extra space to carry something and, therefore, a tank bag or (urgh, shudder…) panniers, are called for, this is all you really (should) need to take with you.