A road trip on your bike can be truly exhilarating. However, you need to make sure you carry everything you require, to ensure that it is hassle free. The challenge, however, is the lack of space, unlike in a car where you can dump a lot of things in the boot. There are ways to get through this hurdle. I use a combination of saddle bags, a tank bag and a custom made luggage carrier to take care of my luggage on my KTM Duke 200.
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| Custom-made luggage carrier on KTM Duke 200 |
This article focusses mainly on things that you need to carry to make the road trip on your bike hassle free. I've also taken the liberty to give you the approximate cost as well as the links to buy the products, in case you wish to. (These are links I used when I bought these items and don't earn a commission if you buy)
Chain Lube (INR 450)
In the newer performance bikes, open chains are the norm. This leads to the chain requiring lubrication quite often (between 600-800 km). I personally use the 3M Chain Lube which does the work well. You could also consider the Motul Chain Lube depending on your budget.
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| 3M Chain Lube |
Chain Cleaner (INR 400)
Before lubricating the chain, it is better to clean the chain to ensure that dust/sand particles present are washed off, as they have a tendency to stick to the chain lube and cause friction while the chain is rotating, which may lead to faster wearing out of the chain and sprocket.
You may either buy a Chain Cleaner here or you could use diesel/petrol which is a cheaper yet effective alternative. At home, I prefer to use diesel but when I'm travelling, I usually carry a bottle of Chain Cleaner as it is much more convenient.
Face Mask (INR 250)
When on the highways, the dust factor is always high. In a country like India where dust occupies more space in our lives than our girlfriends/boyfriends, a face mask is a life saver. I use a Le Gear Pro Face Mask. It costs about INR 250 and does the job well. If you are riding in a colder environment, consider something a little thicker to protect you from the cold as well.
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| Le Gear Pro Face Mask |
You can buy it here
High Strength Tape (INR 250)
This is to be used only in case of emergencies to temporarily put together plastic/metal parts which are broken (let's say you have a minor fall on your bike). Be careful while using this as it is extremely strong and does its job as advertised.
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| 3M High Strength Bonding Tape |
You can buy it here
Insulation Tape
Insulation tape is used to insulate/ tape electrical wires. Although it is not as strong as the High Strength Tape, it has its own use which makes it a useful emergency tool.
Tyre Inflator
Most bikes/cars nowadays come with tubeless tyres which ensure that the tire loses air slowly. So in case you have a puncture or the air in the tyre is very low, you can use this to top it up. But just go a little easy and give a 5-10 minute gap between tyres, as it can get heated up real quick, especially if the tyre is flat.
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| ResQTech Tyre Inflator |
You can buy it here
Puncture repair kit (INR 300)
In case any of your tyres suffers a puncture, don't waste time finding a puncture shop. It takes 5 minutes to do it on your own. Just observe someone repairing punctures or look for some videos online and you should be good to go. Once you fix the puncture, you could use the Tyre Inflator above to top up air. It also comes with a plier and scissors which can be used for other purposes as well.
Zip Ties (100 No's INR 100- INR 250)
An invaluable asset to tie loose wires and also keep a couple of parts together in case of breakage/damage. Very light both in terms of weigh and on your wallet.
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| Zip Ties |
Spanner set (INR 450)
It's not just in a workshop that you need these tools. While you are on the road, some nuts/screws may need tightening or you may have to change the engine oil on your bike or adjust the chain slack. So keep them handy.
Just ensure that you do a quick check on your bike for the sizes of the spanners required before buying them. For instance, on the KTM, sizes 12, 14 and 22 are required for adjusting chain slack. You may not need to carry the entire set, just the sizes which are required for your bike.
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| Stanley 12-Piece Combination Spanner Set |
You can buy it here
Allen Keys (INR 150)
Some smaller screw heads need to be adjusted with Allen Keys. Just take a look at your bike, especially smaller screws on the number plate/ visor/ front chain sprocket and you will notice the need for these keys. They have the same purpose as the spanner set above. On most modern bikes, you would need to carry both the spanner set and the Allen Keys, each having its own utility.
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| Taparia Allen Key Set |
You can buy it here
Apart from the above, depending on your bike, you should carry the following. Just make sure you check with the Bike Manual/ Service Center to get the specifications right. You could even buy it from them, like I did.
1. Engine Oil
2. Coolant (if your bike uses it)
3. Air Filter
4. Oil Filter and O-Ring
5. Spark Plug
6. Clutch and Accelerator Cable
7. Clutch and Brake Levers
8. Clutch and Gear Pedals
9. Brake Pads
10. Brake Fluid
If you have any questions, do let me know in the comments below.
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