How to Pack a Motorcycle Like a Pro

Planning to go on a motorcycle trip? The best skill you need to learn is how to pack a motorcycle effectively. This is something that must be done skillfully, or you could spoil your whole trip.

There are many different options you can opt to pack your stuff on a motorcycle. If you love to go on long motorcycle rides, you must be interested in cruisers, bikes, or adventure tourers. These bikes are capable of carrying stuff on them for even a two-week motorcycle trip.

The multiple luggage carrying options include saddlebags, sissy bar bags, tank bags, motorcycle trunk bags, hard side cases for ADV bikes, and much more.

This article lists several tips for packing stuff for a motorcycle trip. Continue reading this article to learn how to pack a motorcycle like a pro.

Before you create a checklist to pack for a motorcycle trip, we would like to discuss a few factors. Two motorcyclists going on the same trip may have unique personal checklists for packing a motorcycle. Let’s discuss these factors first.

You may have a personal list of what you want to carry on your motorcycle tour and have different preferences and requirements.

Also, it depends on the duration of the motorcycle trip. If you are going on a two-week motorcycle trip, you will require more stuff and belongings than a motorcycle trip for a week.

Another factor that can result in different stuff requirements and packing for a motorcycle trip is your gender. If you are a girl or a woman, you will have a completely different checklist to pack stuff for a motorcycle trip.

It also depends on whether you are going on a motorcycle camping or road trip. The packing requirements will be different for both of these trips.

Creating a personal checklist to pack for the motorcycle trip is part of the trip planning. This way, you will never forget any essentials, and it will save you a lot of time as well.

Create a list of items you are supposed to carry on your motorcycle for the trip, and as you keep packing them in your luggage, start ticking those items.

It will let you know the availability of a certain item you want to pack for the trip.

Dividing the stuff you will need to carry on your bike will make it easier for you to organize. You can also tell by looking at the list whether something is necessary or not to carry. You can also tell what is least important and can be dropped to make more space for something essential.

A general and basic list of categories of stuff to carry on a motorcycle trip will look like this:

• Motorcycle Riding Gear.

• Clothes (Including Inner Layers)

• Equipment and Accessories

• Tools

• Camping Essentials

• Hygiene Products

• Personal Care

Most first-timers who go on a motorcycle trip are completely unsure what to pack. However, there is no room for mistakes.

You must do the research. You can ask a motorcyclist friend who has been on motorcycle trips, or learn online from Moto vloggers.

You can get into serious trouble if you forget something very essential that was required on the motorcycle trip.

Unlike cars, motorcycles have limited storage space and the capability to carry stuff over long distances. Though certain modern motorcycles are quite torquey, powerful, and big enough to easily carry luggage for a motorcycle tour, they still have certain limitations.

A motorcycle can become extraordinarily heavier for a rider if it is packed heavily. Therefore, you have to make smart decisions and pack lightly.

If you pack too much stuff on a motorcycle, it can be unbalanced while riding. Turning corners can also become an issue if your bike is loaded with heavy stuff.

There are lighter items that can be more beneficial to carry. You will also need to manage your stuff and how you will use it.

Be smart and learn to do more with less!

Always pack the heavier items first and try to keep them lower to the ground as much as possible. Also, if possible, pack such items closer to the rider as much as possible to avoid instability.

Also, while packing for your motorcycle trip, ensure you maintain a balance and distribute weight evenly. Loading the bike with uneven weight distribution can cause handling and maneuverability issues.

Remember, safety is the priority. You must ensure that nothing compromises the ride's stability and handling. To continue your motorcycle journey, you must be fit, safe, and sound.

Motorcycle saddlebags are among the most popular motorcycle luggage options as they also improve the motorcycle’s look. They are available in a wide variety, including:

• Soft saddlebags

• Hard saddlebags

• Leather saddlebags

Hard saddlebags are ideal because they ensure more protection and security. Unlike soft and leather saddlebags, hard saddlebags don’t deform.

Saddlebags are the most common luggage item on cruisers and touring bikes. They can prove to be very useful in carrying motorcycle riding gear for long-distance trips. You can easily and safely carry clothes, documents, and tools.

Most saddlebags also offer protection from harsh weather conditions.

Motorcycle backpacks are not just one of the highly functional motorcycle luggage options; they are common bags worn by many for everyday use. The biggest advantage of carrying a backpack for a motorcycle trip is that you can also wear it at all times, making it easily accessible even when you are not riding.

Backpacks are good for carrying lighter items. They can safely hold personal items, such as a laptop, a pair of clothes, and other small accessories and equipment.

A motorcycle sissy bar bag is a perfect alternative to a backpack. If you don’t want to carry a backpack on your shoulders, you can mount a sissy bar bag on the sissy bar. Due to being mounted to the sissy bar, it is termed as the sissy bar bag.

They can also be attached to your motorcycle backrest, and riding gear and other heavy items can be easily stored. It is a great addition to your bike if you are planning to go on a multi-day trip or moto camping.

They can easily carry bigger items that don’t fit in saddlebags or backpacks due to being flexible and having a better storage space. A sissy bar bag is also good for carrying camping equipment and tent.

Motorcycle trunk bags are the most spacious luggage items. They are usually installed on big touring bikes. They are perfect for packing a motorcycle for a week and two-week motorcycle trips.

Trunk bags can also accommodate a helmet or two, a jacket, and other larger items.

Motorcycle tank bags are the most easily approachable luggage item. You can even access your stuff during the ride. They are used to carry lighter items that you require and use frequently.

The tank bag can hold mobile phones, chargers, hands-free devices, sunscreen, and other frequently used items.

Motorcycle fork/tool bags are among the most widely used luggage options for storing motorcycle tools. This is why they are also known as tool bags.

It is important to carry motorcycle tools, particularly if you are going on a motorcycle trip. You will most likely need them in emergencies, as your motorcycle may break down or show some issues.

Motorcycle luggage racks are also very useful attachments that improve a bike's luggage-mounting capacity. They are commonly installed on touring bikes, cruisers, and adventure tourers.

To increase your motorcycle's storage capacity, you can use luggage straps to mount luggage bags tightly on it. However, make sure to use solid and reliable straps.

It is advisable to use waterproof motorcycle luggage bags for long-distance motorcycle trips. This is especially important because you will be unsure about the weather. You will not know when the rain starts, and if your luggage bags are not waterproof, they can spoil your whole journey.

Most motorcycle travelers also carry certain electrical accessories and equipment that will not survive in water. Therefore, waterproof luggage bags are important for packing your stuff safely.

If the clothes in your luggage bags get wet due to rain, you have no choice but to freeze in the cold.

Packing cubes are very useful luggage storage organizers. They can help you stay organized during your motorcycle trip by keeping things easily accessible and separate.

If you don’t want to create a mess inside your motorcycle luggage bag and want to keep things organized and separate, you can either use Ziploc bags or packing cubes.

Packing cubes are comparatively larger in size than ziploc bags. However, it is recommended that both be carried on a motorcycle trip. You can also keep your dirty laundry and unused clothes separate.

With packing cubes and ziploc bags, riders don’t have to keep digging inside the luggage bag to find a certain item. It saves time and effort to have your stuff organized.

If you are a moto vlogger, you love to take pictures and make memories of your motorcycle journey, and you will love to carry a professional camera on the journey. However, whether it is a camera or a laptop, these devices are very sensitive to any shocks, compressions, and vibrations.

It is preferred to keep such sensitive devices in a secure place. The storage must be tightly mounted to the bike, and the padding must be rigid enough to keep them in place.

First, you must keep these devices in their standard packing as they are designed to hold them in place securely. These standard packings also help avoid damage from mild compression and shocks.

For laptops, use a laptop bag that has strong inner liners to keep the device safe. After keeping these devices in their standard bags, they are put in motorcycle luggage bags.

The best luggage bags for keeping such sensitive devices secure on a motorcycle trip are ADV hard side cases, top cases, backpacks, or tank bags. However, you must still ensure they are firmly placed inside the bag.

Another important tip for packing your motorcycle for a long trip is to store sensitive items away from excessive heat. This could include the area closer to the exhaust pipes or directly under the sunlight.

The laptop, cameras, and batteries aren’t the only heat-sensitive items. If you carry a perfume or anything containing aerosol compounds, keep it away from the heat.

You can decide better what you need on a motorcycle trip as everybody has unique personal choices and preferences. However, there are a few essential things that you should carry that can come in handy on the trip. These include:

• Drinking Water.

• First-Aid Kit.

• Medicines.

• Motorcycle Tool Kit.

• Tire Puncture Kit.

• Rainsuit.

• Dark and Clear Helmet Visors.

• Sunblock.

• Snacks and Dry Eatables.

We have already discussed packing light for a motorcycle trip. However, it is also recommended that you leave some space in your luggage bags for items you will buy or collect during the trip.

You may want to buy yourself a gift or a souvenir to remind you of the motorcycle trip.

Until now, we have focused on packing a motorcycle for a road trip. However, many motorcyclists want to go on a motorcycle camping trip.

Motorcycle camping is a very different and unique experience of living and surviving in the wilderness. Well, most of the luggage you carry for moto camping is the same as the road trip, but you will require a few additional essential items. These include:

• Motorcycle tent.

• Lightweight and easy-to-carry portable gas container and stove.

• Utensils.

• Preserved food items.

If you want to learn everything about motorcycle camping and enjoy your trip to the fullest, click on the below link to find the detailed articles on different camping topics:

Packing for a long-distance motorcycle trip is an art. You have to be smart and experienced enough to pack the right things based on how long it will take you on the motorcycle trip.

The motorcycle packing tips mentioned above in this article can save you a lot of time, effort, and trouble. It is always good to be prepared for any unexpected situation that may arise on a motorcycle trip.

If you are planning for a motorcycle trip, whether camping or road travel, make a checklist first. Learn from your past experiences if you have ever been on a motorcycle trip. Otherwise, you can ask your motorcycle buddies or learn from moto vloggers about what to carry on the motorcycle trip.