Toiletries are overrated, and chairs are for old people! The beauty of adventure riding is that we all have our own definition of it, and no two journeys are the same. It’s what keeps us on our toes, and what keeps us coming back for more.
But, there are some things you should bring along to every ride.
My essential adventure gear
After spending a few nights sleeping in the rain, and breaking my leg last year, I know a thing or two about the importance of getting prepared.
And you know what they say, if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready. Here are my top recommendations for what you should bring to every ride:
1. First Aid Kit
I broke my leg twice now, on two different motorcycle trips. On the first one, I wasn’t prepared at all, which resulted in a makeshift splint and relying on a kind goat herder passing the trail I was lying on. I don’t like to think about what would have happened if it would have been an open bone fracture. Luckily it wasn’t.
From that moment on, it’s been safety first for me, always. No adventure trip begins without a well-stocked first aid kit. There are plenty of first aid kits available online – so have a quick search and you’ll be sure to find one.
On my last few trips, I used the SURVIVAL Motorcycle First Aid bundle. SURVIVAL First Aid has a range of first aid kits, specialized for different kinds of activities. Since then, I’ve contacted SURVIVAL and arranged a 20% discount for all Scenic Premium members. We don’t get any commission on it. I just think it’s important that everyone is prepared.
Of course, you also need to know how to use a first aid kit, so I definitely recommend taking a basic first aid training course, and keeping your knowledge fresh and up to date. No… that first aid training you did 10 years ago won’t cut it!
2. Water and snacks
You don’t always know/feel when you’re getting dehydrated. Especially when we’re on our motorcycles, with the riding wind rushing around our bodies, our sweat evaporates much faster than normal.
Staying hydrated, particularly on long, hot rides is crucial for maintaining focus and staying energized. Make sure you pack plenty of water, and optionally some electrolyte powder, tablets or fluid. I don’t care how you take your water. A bottle in your tank bag, a hydration backpack, a water container in your side bags… whatever works best for you. I personally have been wearing a cheap hydration backpack I got from Amazon, and I find that I drink a lot more with that, because I don’t have to stop, take off my helmet, take a bottle from my tank bag, etc. It’s just easier and works better for me.
For emergency snacks, I typically take some energy bars (without chocolate as that melts). Most of my rides I don’t use them, so I just leave them in my tank bag for the next ride. But I have been in unanticipated situations (took a wrong turn on the trail, or had to fix something on my bike) where my planned lunch stop was pushed back, and I was happy I had an energy bar to boost my mind and spirit.
3. Basic tools & tire repair kit
My riding buddies call me “Papa Guido”, because (1) I have 3 little girls, and (2) I’m always very well prepared. I’m sure my riding buddies would call it “over-prepared” 🙂.
Have you ever had a tire puncture, a clutch cable breaking or a brake lever breaking? I have.
If there’s one thing that’s for certain, it’s that plans never go to plan. Especially with adventure riding, where you go across multiple different surfaces, sometimes far away from civilization, you never know what is going to happen.
Obviously, not all of us are mechanics. So keep some basic repair tools on your bike, and spend some time getting to know the different parts of your bike before you set out. A good way to get to know your bike is doing some basic maintenance yourself. Oil changes, air filter change, chain tension, etc. YouTube will help you!
Having said that… YouTube Academy is great, but it’s not a replacement for actual hands-on experience. On my last trip our group had to change tubes 3 times in 4 days. By the 3rd time I really had it down. Had I done it before, in the comfort of my driveway, the 1st time would have gone a lot faster. Now we were fighting daylight, and didn’t make it to our intended camp spot because it took us nearly 2 hours.
Sometimes, even a small screw or nail can ruin your ride. Luckily, tire repair kits – also known as plug kits – are super simple. They can temporarily fill any punctures in the tread of your tire, letting you get back on the road. But if you’re going heavy offroad, even with tubeless tires, I recommend taking a tube that fits your wheels, tire levers and wrenches to take off your wheels. Bigger holes, tears and dents in your rim can’t be fixed with a plug kit. In those cases, you can put in a tube and be on your way.
As for other tools… as absolute basics, I recommend taking a leatherman, some zip-ties and some duct tape. You’d be surprised what kind of trail repairs are done with just these basic things.
If you want to go a bit more advanced, buy a tool roll and stuff it with the tools you think you might need. If you’re unsure and have a bit of money to spend, you can also buy ready-made kits specific to your bike brand. Touratech sells kits. Cruztools is another one, and I’m sure you can find many more at your local motorcycle shop or by simply Googling “Motorcycle Tool Kit”.
4. Bring the right gear
This is an obvious one, but it’s important you wear the right motorcycle gear to protect you on the road. Depending on where and what time of year you ride, you might come across several “climates” during your trip. For those rides I prefer the “layering” approach. Here’s a blog article I wrote a while back on adventure vs dual sport gear that you might find useful.
When it comes to safety ratings, the Bennetts High Performance Awards are always a great resource.
For riding in summer, where it can get very hot very fast, you might need to do things a little differently to keep yourself (and your bike) cool. Luckily, we have a guide already prepared for you.
5. Toiletries
Toiletries are overrated. Who needs a comb, hair gel or hand lotion on a motorcycle trip? Deodorant is optional too. If you stay at hotels… they’ll have soap. If you camp, nobody will notice you’re not smelling like a bunch of roses. It’s all part of the adventure 🙂. The only thing I bring nowadays is a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Other things I bring, which are not toiletries really, are sunblock, paracetamol/ibuprofen, toilet paper and baby wipes. Baby wipes are great for many things. To clean your hands before eating, or after changing a tire, to clean pots and pans, and even for that quick morning “dry shower” at the campsite.
6. Charging your electronics
Using Scenic, or any navigation device, requires battery. I recommended installing a charging port on your bike (if it doesn’t come with one). For multi-day camping trips, I also bring a battery bank which I use to charge my phone, helmet com set, Insta360 and headlamp overnight.
I put the battery bank in my tank bag, connected to the charge port of my bike, and then connect my phone to the battery bank. This way, my phone keeps charged, and my battery bank charges while riding, ready to be used again the next night.
As for mounting your phone and an aftermarket charge port… I’ve always used Quad Lock. Their super strong phone cases are designed for motorcyclists, and they also have a charge port and a wireless charger. Scenic Premium members get a 20% discount at the Quad Lock store.
HINT: if you ride in hot climates, using a wireless charger might not be the best choice. Wireless chargers generate heat, and that, combined with full sun and little ventilation behind a windscreen, can cause your phone to go into overheat protection where the brightness is turned very low or even shuts down. So keep an eye on that. Over the last years, some Scenic users invested in an aftermarket CarPlay unit for their bike (yes, Scenic supports CarPlay). Here’s a post on the Scenic forum discussing some of these CarPlay units.
What do you bring on every ride?
These are just a few of my thoughts. Everyone is different. And I have spent most of my riding career in Europe and Mexico. Different conditions call for different gear, so I’m interested to hear what you think.
Share your thoughts with our community below, or head to the Scenic Forum.
Hi Guido,
This is a great insight for adventure lovers. A tourniquet is a must on an adventurous trip which people usually ignore to carry. Also, I think having a water-resistant power bank would be a great option because most of the time you are uncertain about the weather. I believe that power banks with high battery backups are life savers.”