What tools would you bring on a 5 day trip?

[Norcon]

What items/tools would you pack on a 3 day trip?

Packing light is a concern, I want to start thinking about doing a short trip over a long weekend.

Not sure about anything really, just wondering what you guys brought when you did trips longer than 1 day.

I'm thinking about bringing a tent and camping out, would be preferable to hotel/motel.

[lilwoody]

If you're not carrying a passanger you should be fine with a extra 100 plus pounds of gear if you want just pack it evenly and secure it very well.  I was thinking about this tent http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___28224?cm_cat=TRAILMAIL&cm_ite=TrailMail-March302010&cm_pla=6200&cm_ven=EMAIL for the wifie and I this summer. We are going on a 15 day, 1000 plus mile trip around the Blue ridge and Applilation Mountains. I always carry a tool bag of 8,10,12,14 and 17mm sockets, 8,10,12,14 boxed an opened wrenches, 8" crescent wrench, set of metric allens, multi bit screw driver and a tire plug kit plus CO2 inflater. All this fits in a canvas bag under the seat. In one of the saddle bags there's the mils gortex rain gear. The other bag carries 2 changes of cloths each and a pack on the back rack carries the rest.
I don't think the GS will safely carry the kind of weight we will need for comfortable camping. The most weigh I that we can safely carry on the rack with both of us on the bike is 10 to 15 pounds. Tent 2 sleeping bags are 10 pounds by themselves.

[johnny ro]

- checklist, already filled out, of all the things you did to get the bike up to 100% before the trip.
- empty credit card
- map with resources pinpointed along the way- suzuki and other dealers, family and friends.

Tool wise, I'm thinking airman sparrow, tire patch kit, tire irons and enough wrenches to remove/reinstall. And god forbid, a chain master link. Clutch cable. I used to carry that inside headlamp.  Fuel line/ filter? after that its not so easy roadside.

[mister]

First Aid kit - in luggage or under the seat

Baby wipes or KFC moist towelettes to clean dead bugs off of your visor. I keep a half dozen KFC things in my tank bag. And whenever I work on a construction site that has Uvex Wipes I grab a handful for the same reason.

Handheld UHF radio in case you need to call for help. Cell phone too and charger. But if you're out of coverage there is always a trucker somewhere who can hear you. Make sure the batteries are charged!

With the Resources Map, make sure you have the relevant phone numbers and have called before hand to ask about possible open times. Nothing worse than getting to a gas station on a Sunday only to find it closed three hours earlier.

Small torch. I carry a 3 AAA type.

Tire puncture kit. Either a plug type or the old can of foam that inflates. While riding the other weekend, one of our group got a flat. His bike is a Shadow so had spoke tires -that means tube so plug would have been useless. Good thing for the can of foam so he could ride home.

Sidestand puck. You never know where you'll need to pull up.

Some bottled water. Some food - nothing elaborate but you could get hungry broken down on the side of the road.

Zip ties.

Steelfixers wire. Only a small amount folded and tucked in somewhere.

Clip lock baggie. Nothing worse than a wet cell phone.

Someone you can call each Designated Time to let them know how you're progressing and when the next call is estimated to be. mainly for isolated roads. Guy I work with crash his bike into some bushes on the way home. Busted up. Couldn't move. Was around 4pm in the afternoon and noone saw it. He lay there all night. Pissed himself. Figured he had better drag himself onto the roadside so he could be seen. Wife just thought he was working a double shift as that is the nature of our work and she thought nothing of it.

Michael

[Norcon]

Good info, thanks guys, I knew this forum would have good ideas.

Yeah the bottle of sealant sounds like a great idea, I always wondered what I would do if I got a flat. Probably push the bike to the side, phone a friend and have a beer/ take a nap to wait while help comes.

No passenger, I'll have to look into getting saddle bags. Just picked up a Joe Rocket Manta tank bag to hold the EzPass transponder for commuting to work.

Rode in today, 35 miles at a brisk 45 degrees. This is going to be a fun summer!

[lilwoody]

The wallly world has a plug kit complete with CO2 inflaters for 20 bucks. Tourmaster makes some nice saddle bags too for a little over a C note. I never thought of the little CB radio thing, that sounds like a pretty good idea. Their small and quite light and I have 4 of them for hunting. On flat fround they will get out a realistic 10 miles, they were advertised to get out 25 and will if your on top of a mountian and the other is in the valley below or on the facing slope of the next mountian over. Their pretty much line of sight.

[JAY W]

Hi,bottle of green gunk in your tyres before the journey,I used the inflatable seatlent once worked fine at first but soon turned to liquid and leaked out of my tubed tyre.Two adjustable spanners one big one small,a flathead and a crosshead+alan keys.If you don`t have a chain oiler,can of chain wax/grease.Have faith,and a mobile.

[Suzuki Stevo]

Pocket Tire Plugger plus CO2 Inflation

http://www.stopngo.com/motorcycle.asp

[johnny ro]

For anyone not familiar, the airman sparrow is a micro electric air pump. Its made specifically for what you are asking. Google it before you go CO2 or slime route. I think I paid 35 shipped to go with my SVs a few years back. CO2 seems OK though if you don't run out.

I wont let slime or anything like that anywhere near any of my vehicles.

Sounds like a fun project, cheers.

[Suzuki Stevo]

I move this bag from bike to bike....



Pocket Tire Plugger w/C22 (invaluable on group rides)
Bicycle Tire Pump w/hose (the hose is a must have for MC use)
LED Work light
Multi Hex Tool (Park Tool bicycle stuff)
Multi Tip Screwdriver
Waterless Hand Cleaner
Paper Towels/Grease Rag
MC Jumper Cables (invaluable on group rides)
A few feet/meters Tygon Tubing for fuel transfer (invaluable on group rides)

I bring this crap and I always end up using it on somebody's bike other than my own!  

[Norcon]

For anyone not familiar, the airman sparrow is a micro electric air pump. Its made specifically for what you are asking. Google it before you go CO2 or slime route. I think I paid 35 shipped to go with my SVs a few years back. CO2 seems OK though if you don't run out.

I wont let slime or anything like that anywhere near any of my vehicles.

Sounds like a fun project, cheers.

Does the airman Sparrow get hot during inflation?

[dohabee]

As opposed to a bottle of hand cleaner I like to keep 3 or 4 pairs of latex gloves. It will keep your hands clean and takes up less space too.

[Suzuki Stevo]

As opposed to a bottle of hand cleaner I like to keep 3 or 4 pairs of latex gloves. It will keep your hands clean and takes up less space too.

I don't sweat storage space