Craving an Escape?

Back

We all entered 2021 with high expectations. Tragedy, illness, isolation (and so much more) are all to blame for this lingering feeling of having been ripped off by the entire last year. Now, we’re halfway through winter and the worst of that hasn’t even hit. Are you craving an escape?

My antidote of choice: dreaming up ways to spend the summer, when it rolls around again. If you ask me, the best way to squeeze every last drop out of a riding season is to master the art of motorcycle camping. If you’re not a happy camper, don’t let that deter you from taking a trip on two wheels – lots of hotels/motels/Airbnb properties are motorcycle-friendly. Either way, setting off on a multi-day journey on your bike is as satisfying as it gets, and with the right preparation there's no limit to how far you can go.

Here are 5 helpful tips for planning and prepping for your first motorcycle road trip:

#1: Pick your route

Call me a dinosaur, but I don’t think there’s any better tool for planning a road trip than an old school paper map. First of all, nothing beats the feeling of unfolding a new map, smoothing out its creases, and pinning it on your wall à la ‘Long Way Round’, to then step back and visualize your route. Of course, you don’t have to rely on the hard copy during the actual riding part if you prefer GPS navigation, but it is possible. I like to fold my map up and keep it in the clear plastic section on top of my tank bag for quick reference.

Fun fact: if you’re a CAA member, you can walk into any of their physical locations and request hard copies of maps for almost anywhere, and they’ll give them to you for free!

#2: Set yourself a timeline

Are you looking for a quick weekend getaway or the adventure of a lifetime? Is this trip about time spent in the saddle, or more about getting to the destination? Once you have your destination, key stops and route chosen, decide how much of your trip you want to be riding and how much time you want to relax/swim/hike/explore/etc. Then, divide the total distance of your route into achievable, day-sized chunks - factoring in time for food breaks, fuel stops, sightseeing, visiting pals, setting up camp before dark, and repacking the bike in the morning.

A nice, easy target is 200-300 kms per day. That might sound short if you’re used to road tripping on four wheels, but consider that most riders will choose slower, twisty back roads over straight stretches of highway if time permits, and the planning stage is when you’ll want to make that choice. If you stretch your days too thin, it’s very likely you’ll end up cutting out something you wanted to see in order to cover more ground on the faster route.

Key Tip: Stack your itinerary with extra buffer time at each stop.

Especially if you’re a new rider. It’s way more fun to ride when you’re fully rested and nourished (and certain your gear is secure) than to skip meals/breaks, rush through packing and risk a luggage malfunction down the road. Having a whole extra day cleared at the end of your trip with no obligations is even better, if you can swing it. That way, getting a little lost or delayed along the way won’t be a big deal. If all goes to plan, then you have extra time to unpack and relax. Win/win.

#3: Do your research

Before you go filling a shopping cart with gizmos and gadgets, do some digging so you’ll know what to look for when you get to the next step. For example, depending on the season and local climate, you may need to consider how you’ll stay warm or cool on the road. If you’ll be riding through really remote or sparsely populated areas, you might want to invest in more serious navigation or survival gear than if you’ll be close to civilization the whole time. If security could be a concern, perhaps a good disc lock with an alarm could be worth the investment. You get the idea – tailor shopping and packing lists to your trip.

A little recon can also help you avoid missing out on local favourites – like restaurants, bakeries, craft breweries or art galleries. More importantly, though; if you’ll be passing through an area with nowhere to stop for fuel or supplies, you’ll want to be aware and stock up ahead of time.

#4: Choose your gear

If you’ve made it this far, there’s a good chance you’ve already thought up a wish list, read a few gear reviews, and left a trail of abandoned online shopping carts in your wake. In fact, this might be the moment you’ve been waiting for. Having all the right gear for a road trip suddenly seems infinitely more important than it does for just riding around town (for some reason).

Here’s the deal -you don’t need all the best, most expensive stuff to have an incredible adventure- but you will be safer, happier and more comfortable if you can fit a few key pieces into your budget:

Leather or textile jacket with shoulder, elbow and back protection (personally, I like D3O® armor best)
ECE rated full-face helmet (DOT is the minimum standard here; ECE is the higher, European standard – either way, full-face with a good seal around the shield to keep wind out is ideal on long rides)
Properly fitting gloves with good protection in the palms and knuckles
Comfortable boots, designed for motorcycling
Pants or jeans made with abrasion-resistant fabric such as Kevlar® or Cordura®
Rain suit, designed for motorcycling (one- or two-piece, with heat protection inside the leg to keep it from melting onto your exhaust)

FAQ: “Will I really need rain gear?”

Yes. 100%. No one likes being cold and soaked, and if you’re riding a motorcycle anywhere in Atlantic Canada without rain gear, it’s only a matter of time before you’re just that. Yes, even if you checked the forecast. Yes, even if you’re not riding very far. Yes, even if you think you’re tough, rain can still completely ruin an otherwise incredible day on the road if you're not ready for it.

When I’m shopping for riding gear, I always keep two questions in mind:

If I go with the cheaper version now, am I likely to end up replacing or upgrading it next year (which will cost more in the long run)?
Can I handle the thought of sliding on pavement with the level of protection this garment will offer?

Now, obviously no one wants to think about sliding on pavement, ever. But, at risk of sounding morbid, I bring it up because it’s a real possibility. And because more than ever, the selection of gear available to motorcyclists is stylish, comfortable, protective, and reasonably priced. Did you know: in some cases, you can finance riding apparel and accessories as part of the deal when making a new bike purchase.

If you plan on camping, you’ll want to source the lightest and smallest tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad possible. Luckily, there are lots of options out there geared toward backpackers. If you’re tempted to skip the sleeping pad to save on space, just remember that you’ll be bouncing around all day on a steel frame wrapped in a few inches of foam. If you can squeeze in even a thin inflatable mattress, it’ll be totally worth it to get better quality sleep.

#5: Pack your bags

Almost guaranteed, you’ll bring more than you need the first few times you do this. Getting your packing game dialed in takes time and practice.

To start, make a list of everything you think you’ll need for the trip, and then whittle it down to the bare minimum, considering how much space you’ll have to work with. Grab some travel-sized toiletries from a pharmacy. Plan to wear the same clothes more than once (maybe even the exact same outfit every day, with fresh socks and undies). Get yourself a tool kit designed for motorcycling or, at the very least throw some common tools, strong tape, and assorted zip ties into your bag.

If your trip is going to cover thousands of kilometers, or you’ll be riding off road for any portion of it, it’s a good idea to include a few spare parts, in case you need them and can’t get to a place that sells them. What you bring will depend on the terrain, the type of bike, and how much luggage space you’re willing to sacrifice. My spares bag contains fuses, a headlight bulb, a clutch lever, a small jug of oil, and a handful of nuts and bolts in common sizes. You may choose to bring a more extensive kit, or skip this part altogether if you’re not going far.

To secure everything on your trusty steed, you have a range of options. Panniers, tail bags, hard cases, soft bags, tank bags… the list goes on. I’ve even seen people opt for a simple roll-top dry bag and get crafty with bungees or small ratchet straps to secure it on the bike. It might take some experimenting in the driveway to find a system that works. If you’re totally lost, ask for help choosing the right solution or check out the tools on Kappa Moto’s website that help with accessory selection.

Lastly, think about what items you will need access to more often than others, and pack accordingly. For example, most of your clothes can probably go in the bottom of a larger bag on the back of the bike, but if you think you’ll want to go for a dip along the way, put your swimsuit on top. If there’s a chance of showers in the forecast, pop your rain gear on the outside of your luggage, secured with a bungee for speedy roadside layering. Your wallet, water bottle, sunscreen, extra pair of gloves, sunglasses, etc. could go in a tank bag or backpack for easy access. Et voila, happy travels!

Author: Kira M.

---

Shop riding apparel, luggage and more on our Web Store . Can't find what you're looking for? Browse full catalogs here.

Have a question about this? Shoot us a message at info@procycleonline.com.

#MotorcycleCamping #AdventureMotorcycling #TravelOnTwoWheels