I’ve devised a great way to wash clothes while traveling. It works especially well if I’m doing “rough” roads. I have a 10L heavy duty dry bag that I put my dirty clothes in (works best with just a few articles at a time ), put a bit of water in there and bio friendly soap, roll it up with some air in it and tie it down on the bike while I’m riding. When I get to my evening destination, it’s gone through a natural tumble wash. I rinse and hang dry and have clean and dry clothes in the morning. :)
If you have wet or freshly washed clothes that didn't 100% dry, you can put them in mesh sided helmet bag ( one that comes with a new helmet) and tie the bag to your luggage so the wind will blow through it while you are riding.
I've been doing this since I was a army combat life saver. Build two first aid kits. One is the biggie with gauze, para cord, ace bandage, a roll up splint and tourniquet. Make a second in an Altoids tin. Just Band-Aids, antiseptic ointment, and safety pins. Then wrap electrical tape around the tin to seal it from water. Now you don't have to dig for the little stuff and have to repack the big stuff for every little cut. And when you get a cut somewhere a bandaid won't hold you have electrical tape to hold it in place till you can take a break. Also the tape has been useful in many other applications.
Great advice. I'll definitely be adopting several of these. Another folding hack that I recently came across, which you can probably find a video on, is to lay out a shirt, then lay out your underwear on that shirt, fold the shirt as if you are about to roll it, then put a pair of tube socks on the folded shirt with the ends sticking off in opposite directions about 4-6 inches. Then roll up the shirt and use the ends of the socks to invert fold up around the ends of the rolled shirt. Now you will have a nice, neat "pod" where each day you reach into your pack, grab one, and you've got your shirt, underwear, and socks for the day.
I’m with you pigtail. I really wanna like this moto camping thing. And I’ve purchased all the gear. And it all sits brand new in my garage for 3+ years now. I’m just the end the day at a hotel guy with shower & bed.
If you have a bike with a clutch cable, buy another cable and route the cable next to the original cable and tuck the ends out the way ... If the cable snaps, just disconnect it from each end and connect the new one .... it takes no time to connect it and no space to carry it ...
Job weld. My buddy broke his engine side case on the way to Cabo and we used jb weld and he made it down and back home with no oil leaks! That cover was in a lot of pieces but luckily they were all pretty large except for the impact point piece but it held ans didn’t leak or ruin the trip! I keep wire,tire irons,patch kit,plug kit,co2 tire fillers and a shorty bicycle hand pump for back up,homemade jumpers,assorted tools and wrenches,survival knife,plastic tarp,Mylar emergency blankets and replacement bulbs and fuses. Being a long Time mechanic, I carry a small shop and it all fits under the seat in my tailpiece on my dl1000. I have other stuff like bungees and bungee net and stuff I can’t remember right now but I bring whatever I can without having to put anything motorcycle related into my travel bag. My bag holds my sleeping bag,air mattress,pillow,five days of clothes,( can always stop at laundromat if needed,) iPad and two man tent and I still have my passenger seat clear! I also bring a spare helmet as you never know who you may meet on the road! ( hot hitchhiking chicks!) rubber side down,shiny side up! That’s from a four decade rider that rode for a living and put well over a million miles down before the nineties ended! After that and quitting my job, I stopped keeping track but I intend on riding until I physically can’t! Even then I will put a powerful two stroke race engine in my rascal scooter! Lol
I find myself almost obsessed about watching, researching, dreaming about my next ride. That said, I have come to really appreciate your mannerisms when it comes to conveying what you've learned etc. As far as i can tell your suggestions "hacks" just seem low key and take-it or leave-it kinds of lessons- learned. Thanks for all of it. I'm a packing-cube/glasses case fan. Also, every recruit in the Army is exposed to the amazing space saving feature of rolled garments. T-shirts, rolled 6" (that's the length of a dollar bill! :) ), underwear, rolled 4" and so on. it also helps keep them somewhat less wrinkled if you roll tightly. Ok, enough of my rambling, thanks for the channel.
All good stuff, especially the duct tape which I used to question taking along until I needed to patch my nose fairing together after an unfortunate mishap earlier this year (silver tape on a silver bike helped disguise my embarrassment). My hacks include taking a plastic carrier bag to help put waterproofs on over my boots, taking a net bag so I can dry wet clothing tied to the bike when on the move providing weather permits, taking a short strap to lock out my handbrake when on ferries, take a spare stake and guyline to secure your bike from tipping over if parked on a campsite where there are kids around and taking a spring clip to fix to the fairing screen any toll or ferry tickets you need. Take a hat, preferably waterproof if you're camping as it's no fun putting a tent up in the rain, especially if wearing a crash helmet. Finally, it's best to avoid taking a top box by using a rolltop waterproof bag instead, but if you do have a top box, keep it empty if possible and use it as a larder for food supplies bought along the way, in which case, also buy a bag of ice to keep your purchases cool.
I don't do adventure traveling off road like you but I just bought a KTM 890R duke the street version and i always travel alone your ideas are well thought out and videos well done good job from a grouchy old 59 year old:)
I'm an audio/video guy. For any electronics cables, I still always wrap over/under, use velcro cable wraps, and put those into a flat pouch. It's just like on a job and I think it amounts to slightly less bulk.
For long trips some not often needed clothing items can be put in vacuum freezer bags and then vacuumed flat. Saves space, keeps items clean and dry until needed.
Another great video, Tim! I use an old glasses case for a first aid kit. Even better, there's a place in my NC-X's frunk where it fits like factory. Also, I learned to roll my clean & dirty clothes (one set per gal "zip-lock") in the military. Combining a shirt, underware and socks in one roll gives you a complete change in one package. Clean has shirt rolled on the outside, dirty has socks rolled on the outside. Even in the dark it's easy to tell which is which.
If going to an unfamiliar area. I make a road and distance chart up and keep it in the clear map portion of my tank bag. Just re-set your trip odometer at each junction. Works like a charm and you never have to stop to look at a map. I have never got lost using this method. Google maps is great for making up your chart.
Paracord hitching around the crash bars. Saves your paint in the case of a drop and also gives you a lot of extra cordage for camping. The stuff I use has strands for firestarter and fishing line.
You are a wealth of knowledge. That offline map hack is so valuable. The more I watch you the more confidence I will have on my ride to Colorado. THANK YOU SIR and safe travels to you👍
I know this is late to the game. I discovered the trick of using electrical tape on my visor about a year ago. Should have watched this sooner. I've been using the small toothpaste idea for years as a backwoods backpacker. Why pack the big heavy tube when you only need a little bit for a week; less weight more room could mean smaller panniers. Many more tricks like this on lightweight backing channels.
My number one hack - have a credit card with sufficient room to deal with any emergency, from renting a car to a week's stay in a hotel. I've found that most folks pack way too much stuff for eventualities that never happen. Also pack stuff that serves double duty, swimsuit=shorts (no speedos please). One thing I got that is really cool is I got a hammer about 7" long from a surgery that my mother had. The hospital was going to throw it away, but that' was fairly serendipitous. The point being look for things in unusual places that may be handy. Also don't overdo your tools, you can buy a whole tool kit a Walmart or Harbor freight for less than $50. They aren't great tools but they work. However,if you need any special tools for routine maintenance I would bring them.
Great tips! I agree, most people try to plan for every possible scenario, I know I did on my first trip and brought way too much stuff. Great tip on the swim shorts used as shorts, I am always looking for double uses for items. Thanks for the comment!
Good tips. My hack was a 5 gallon bucket strapped on the back seat of my dresser. May seem hillbilly, but got a lot of uses. Example: Kept stuff dry. Water bucket for fire. Stool. Ice/beer bucket. Nightstand next to cot. Table. And if ya have to go... Put a liner in it. Never needed it for that though. Also used hand warmers stuffed into my clothes when caught without cold weather gear.
Gerald Smith LOL...I have a hillbilly bucket mounted on the rack of my little Yamaha TW200 to carry stuff but I never even thought of all the other uses. Those are great hacks!
You probably already do this, but hand warmers (the sticky toe-kind) stuck to your base layer shirt on your chest is the way to go for keeping the whole body warm (circulating blood near the chest blah blah blah). I love the bucket hack! There are so many uses!! honestly, you didn't need to go any farther than ice/beer bucket! :)
My hack: In the bottom of my tankbag is a 1l camelbag. This way I don't need to carry a backpack + I can drink at a redlight instead of pulling over to drink from a bottle wich takes up way more space and time. extra tip: put the camelbag in the raincover of your tankbag. This way you always have the raincover with you if nececairy, it protects the camelbag from any unwanted punctures and if you have a leak the raincover will do the same job it provides for the tankbag when its raining of keeping everything dry in your tankbag.
Thanks for the vid. The electrical tape on the visor works a treat - my tip is to use blue tape rather than black. With the sun in your face it does just as good a job as the black tape, but the blue tape blends in with the sky and it doesn't feel like your view port is being restricted.
I’ve used reflective tape on the top of my visor for years and years. We never use that part of the visor and having more reflectivity is always a good thing.
I built mine from a pile of boxes and buckets full of parts and applied generous amounts of Loctite in the process so it's not TOO bad, but I have lost an exhaust bolt on more than one occasion and especially after a high speed run I definitely give it a once over with a wrench, LOL. Pulled the primary cover once to fix an oil leak (imagine that) and found my engine compensator sprocket nut about to fall off. That one brought to mind images of all kinds of horrible things that could've happened had it decided to turn loose in the middle of nowhere. It now has red Loctite instead of the blue I used the first time I put it together. I've since given up trying to stay ahead of oil leaks and convinced myself that they're good rust preventative and boot waterproofing. It actually stays together pretty well if I ride it like a crusty old Harley probably should be ridden. Crank up the wick for awhile though and it will find the weak links.
i tend to use liquid white out marked from bolt/nut to frame as a visual indicator after i tighten a fastener. That way at each fuel stop I can quickly check the important bolts to see if there's been any torque loss. My KLR likes to vibrate at the perfect frequency to loosen important bolts.
That's a good idea, I like that. Would've came in really handy when I first built my bike, I pretty much know who the major culprits are now and what to watch for. I had an old KLR 600 years ago, great bikes, I loved mine even without electric start. The newer KLR 650s are a bit less dirt bike and a little more ADV and I REALLY like them. The right deal came along and I'd add one to my stable in a heartbeat. My 600 was a lot of fun but too heavy to be a really good dirt bike, and not quite long enough legs for long highway runs although it would do it if asked to. Was really a blast on gravel roads, tough to beat it.
i always used drybags to do laundry while out in the woods, recently found this thing called a "scrubba" its a dry bag that has a drain plug, and a semi-rigid rubber washboard on the inside of it, and its been super good for laundry ever since.
Tim great video, I am fixing the duct tape roll now. I have solved all of the map issues it is called a map, no phone, no service, a map it always works.
Another "riding into the sun - shade hack" - If you have a modular "flip up / open chin" helmet, just flip it up to help block sun & create "shade" for your eyes. Easy !
These are all solid MC travel tips, Tim. I like the duct tape and electrical tape on visor ones especially. Although I would probably stay away from the toothpaste /visor anti-fogging hack. Most, if not all toothpaste has tiny abrasives meant for cleaning hard tooth enamel. I believe most snorkel masks are glass and can handle light abrasives. Plastic and toothpaste definitely do not get along. Stick with the shaving cream.
I know this is a couple of years old but since I just found it, I wanna give it two thumbs up. A number of these travel hacks are what I use ALL the time, even when not on a bike. (Rolling clothes, offline maps, packing cubes are the top ones). These are things I stick to religiously because they're easy to remember and make your traveling so much less chaotic.
I have been using a camelpac resivoir in the spine pad pocket of my riding jacket. I route the tube through the hang loop in the back of the jacket and clip to my helmet strap. ice for long hot rides.
I learned about rolling clothes in the Navy. We had very little room for our gear so we were taught to roll our clothes. I do when ever I pack, suit cases as well.
I just got back from a week of travel and I used your electrical tape hack. Worked like a charm on the two parts of the trip where I am always heading into the sun at the start or end of the day. Can't believe I did not know that hack. You can teach old dogs new tricks.
Good tips, seriously thinking of selling everything and getting a bigger or a adventure bike and hitting the road. Life is a adventure, and I'm bored at home most of the time.
Hey Tim great advice and hacks.Just finished my first solo motorcycle camping trip from New Brunswick to Alberta and home thru the States around 11400 kms on my 2003 Honda st 1300. A few idea's I used was took a six pack of Ensure or Boost to have each morning with a granola bar,a few zip ties are good as well. I also opted for a cot as opposed to using an air mattress which worked well, looking forward to more video's good luck to all those traveling Cheers Mac
Loads of great tips especially that last one, that's awesome, I honestly didn't know you could do that. Thanks a lot. One other thing is little bungee ties / chords. Very helpful. One thing they're great for is if you drop your bike, even on a flat then use a bungee around the front brake so you don't have to hold it as you're lifting the bike. Some bikes are very heavy even using good techniques to lift them😜 Ride safe
I use ZipLock bags for my 'packing cubes' I can see whats inside, everything is watertight, and every grocery store has a full supply. As to 'rolled' cloths....yep,.....the only way to go!
I have done a lot of business travel by air and when you get on a plane, they give you a little ditty bag with toothpaste etc. The stuff in the bag isn’t that great - but the bag itself is super for chargers, toiletries, bungees, electronics like my GPS, etc because they are sturdy and have a good solid zipper.
Just getting back in the wind and love the refresher as its been to long. Just pick up a 07 sportster with trike kit. Already set up with a lot of new parts. Ok I was looking for a small set of saddlebags as not much room. So was moving some of me horse tack out of a extra horse trailer I am selling. I found a what I call a day saddlebags as they are small. They fix my bike perfectly. So if you need small bags look in horse tack.
Glad you liked that tip Stanley Potter! Thanks for the comment!
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Hope you are well. Did the tape trick years ago, but put the tape at the bottom of the visor. Then its adjustable and better still, big sky country is now in CINEMASCOPE. Particuraly nice in John Ford country vistas. Again, hope you are well. You help inspire me to stay sober during hard times.
I always keep a bundle of black zipties ziptied to the front downtube of my Harleys frame. Obviously make sure all the eyelets are facing up or else they will fall off while riding.
Adding to duct tape: put some good quality GAFFER tape on that pen too. It sticks almost as well as duct tape and it leaves NO residue. Comes off clean. I’ve used it as a sun visor on my face shield, to block cold air coming through my hand guards, to secure straps from flapping in the wind, etc. and it’s black so it’s aesthetically superior to duct tape. Edit: LOL! I paused before the sun visor tip. GAFFER tape for that! NO RESIDUE. It’s even reusable. Leave the electrical tape for electrical.
I put two of your hacks to use- duct tape and offline maps - on a ride on my Road King last weekend to Bryce Canyon in Utah, and wound up using them both! On the ride back, my shift lever fell off (I hear Harleys vibrate). I doubled back and found it on the road. The Allen screw to tighten it down was missing, so I used my duct tape to secure it in place and made it the rest of the way home. I lost time doing the repair, so I decided to map out a more direct route home. Problem was, I was out in the middle of nowhere with no cell coverage for Google maps. Before the trip, I downloaded Genius Maps with an offline map, so I opened it, changed the route and used it as my GPS to get home. Your tips saved the day!
Thanks for the comment, I am so happy to hear you were able to put some of my tips to use! I have also heard that about Harleys! LOL. I've had a few shifter bolts come loose on a few different brands and styles of bikes, seems to be a thing for me. Excellent use of duct tape!! For innovative 👍 I really appreciate the comment, ride safe my friend!!
All great tips Tim... I'm going to put to use... The visor idea will really help out.. Thanks again,, look forward to the next video.. Memorial Day weekend , don't forget to do some riding..
I've tried all the things you mention to keep my visor from fogging. It has to be applied nearly every ride to work. The best thing I did was buy a helmet with a pinlock visor. And I've been doing the electrical tape hack for a while, and yeah that little strip at the top makes a huge difference.
If you don't have packing cubes, 1 and 2 gallon ziplock freezer or storage bags will do in a pinch. I'll roll my stuff, stick it in the bag, close it almost all the way leaving a small hole, and sit on it to squeeze out the air. Over the long term, air will seep back in but for a weekend trip it works quite well to save space and keep things organized and dry.
S100 spray wax has worked for me. It also takes bugs off the shield and windshield quick. Never scratches and have kept shields for the life of the helmet YRMV
Using the many websites for camping I find campgrounds in the areas that I'll be near for the evening. I then go to google maps and pin/mark their location and make it a starred place.This makes them easier to find on my offline map while I'm travelling.
Great video, how did that Poison Oak you were sitting next to and brushing up against treat you? Also how do you get poison oak off your clothes and helmet if you do get it on you?
been using the dish soap and shaving cream trick for years ,I dive and never heard of tooth paste trick..I use perforated vinyl on the bottom of my shield..I learned the rolling trick in the 90s best way to make more room when going on vacation.
I use Sygic instead of Google Maps. It was pretty cheap, turn by turn directions and does not use data. Plus you dont have to download it ahead of time. Love the stuff in the sunglasses case! Brilliant...
You can download offline maps from Google on an Android phone too for use without cell phone service (saves on data costs). Sometimes Google Maps fails so I use HereWeGo app too for added service. For Android phones, you can choose where to store the maps: i.e. on micro SD card. Saves your phone memory storage. (Stand alone GPS device works best though if you keep it updated.) I put the electrical tape on the INSIDE of the visor. Lasts longer and doesn't get blown off by the wind. Rolling up clothes works even better if you roll everything in one roll instead of separate rolls for each item. I like to use clear sandwich bags or freezer storage bags for cables, toiletries, etc. No need to guess what's inside and they fold flatter. Thanks for your tips!
All good advice. Check out ‘ Eagle Creek’ brand packing cubes ,they are superb. They do one with a divider in so you put clean T shirts ( or underpants and socks ) in one side and as you where them you put dirty ones in other side. No cross contamination of odour etc. I have the eagle creek wash bag also. It has a hanging hook, unbreakable mirror and a waterproof compartment for things like a flannel or soap. Top kit and just right size for bike panniers.
Weather you're wearing boots or shoes. I wear boots with normal tall socks. I tie a tiny knot at the end of each lace on both boots. Then when I'm done tying my shoes I pull the ear of the lace till the knot at the end of the lace bottoms out on the knot of the boot. Step two is folding the access sock down over your boot and boom your lace never come untied and even if they do they won't hang down. Personally never had a lace come undone and they're not knotted at the end of the day.
alternative to rolling your clothes is to fold flat and sized to fit in a 5 gallon plastic close-able bag (Ziploc). Usually 1 pair of jeans or 2 T-shirts to a bag. Then squish as much air out of the bag as possible. This will usually cut the size of your clothes pile in half and also keeps them dry if you get into some rain.
i have used the tape method - but i put the tape on the inside of the visor so it cant be seen. Also i put the tape on the inside of the drop down sun shield:)
50/50 mix of water and baby shampoo works best for anti fogging. Keep in a small 1ounce spray bottle. Good for bug removal on outside of shield as well.
Yup, I use packing cubes also. I have 3 sizes, but also some other small bags similar to cubes. I also have different size vacuum bags :) Cant wait to do my next road trip. Summer is almost here.
When it comes to cords, I am doing what I can do have everything be USB-C. The only thing I have left that is USB 2.0 is my head phones, which I will keep using until next year when the new bluetooth spec hits new products, and a tiny power bank I have, which is useful for one time charges and fits anywhere. Even newer small laptops can be charged by USB-C if you want to carry one. Tablets, etc... So I have a 12v charger, wall charger, 2 USB-C cables and 1 USB-A cable and power bank. Next year I will have 1 cable less. I fit it all in my small gaming box, which fits into my small light back pack :) I carry the 12v because my motorcycle has 1, and the wall plug in case I am in a hotel or restaurant for fast charging of whatever. It all still fits into the space of a glass case, but it is just convenient in my Switch case.
Better, updated version of this video here: th-cam.com/video/8tac6T43rEQ/w-d-xo.html
I’ve devised a great way to wash clothes while traveling. It works especially well if I’m doing “rough” roads. I have a 10L heavy duty dry bag that I put my dirty clothes in (works best with just a few articles at a time ), put a bit of water in there and bio friendly soap, roll it up with some air in it and tie it down on the bike while I’m riding. When I get to my evening destination, it’s gone through a natural tumble wash. I rinse and hang dry and have clean and dry clothes in the morning. :)
This. ♤♤
Epic!!
Claude Hache brilliant thanks mate
🤯👍🏻
If you have wet or freshly washed clothes that didn't 100% dry, you can put them in mesh sided helmet bag ( one that comes with a new helmet) and tie the bag to your luggage so the wind will blow through it while you are riding.
I've been doing this since I was a army combat life saver. Build two first aid kits. One is the biggie with gauze, para cord, ace bandage, a roll up splint and tourniquet. Make a second in an Altoids tin. Just Band-Aids, antiseptic ointment, and safety pins. Then wrap electrical tape around the tin to seal it from water. Now you don't have to dig for the little stuff and have to repack the big stuff for every little cut. And when you get a cut somewhere a bandaid won't hold you have electrical tape to hold it in place till you can take a break. Also the tape has been useful in many other applications.
Great advice. I'll definitely be adopting several of these.
Another folding hack that I recently came across, which you can probably find a video on, is to lay out a shirt, then lay out your underwear on that shirt, fold the shirt as if you are about to roll it, then put a pair of tube socks on the folded shirt with the ends sticking off in opposite directions about 4-6 inches. Then roll up the shirt and use the ends of the socks to invert fold up around the ends of the rolled shirt. Now you will have a nice, neat "pod" where each day you reach into your pack, grab one, and you've got your shirt, underwear, and socks for the day.
Thanks Andy! I think I have seen that technique, it is a neat trick. I think MCRider did a video about that actually. Anyways thanks for the comment!
Mega idea !,
Done this on the bike and also packing for 12 days in Canada in a small carry-on.
good hack. thats called a "chevy" and only certain guys know where that term came from
Underwear? What's that? lol
Visa card is my favorite riding hack. It allows me to sleep on a nice bed with a hot shower. I also get good hot food. I like your video
🤣
I’m with you pigtail. I really wanna like this moto camping thing. And I’ve purchased all the gear. And it all sits brand new in my garage for 3+ years now. I’m just the end the day at a hotel guy with shower & bed.
If you have a bike with a clutch cable, buy another cable and route the cable next to the original cable and tuck the ends out the way ... If the cable snaps, just disconnect it from each end and connect the new one .... it takes no time to connect it and no space to carry it ...
legend!
Thank you Graham for your comment and great idea. Safe travels!
This is brilliant!
great hack
G TUSON Back in the old days of my Triumph BSA days in UK, We always routed a throttle and clutch cable, Incase a nipple came lose.
Job weld. My buddy broke his engine side case on the way to Cabo and we used jb weld and he made it down and back home with no oil leaks! That cover was in a lot of pieces but luckily they were all pretty large except for the impact point piece but it held ans didn’t leak or ruin the trip! I keep wire,tire irons,patch kit,plug kit,co2 tire fillers and a shorty bicycle hand pump for back up,homemade jumpers,assorted tools and wrenches,survival knife,plastic tarp,Mylar emergency blankets and replacement bulbs and fuses. Being a long Time mechanic, I carry a small shop and it all fits under the seat in my tailpiece on my dl1000. I have other stuff like bungees and bungee net and stuff I can’t remember right now but I bring whatever I can without having to put anything motorcycle related into my travel bag. My bag holds my sleeping bag,air mattress,pillow,five days of clothes,( can always stop at laundromat if needed,) iPad and two man tent and I still have my passenger seat clear! I also bring a spare helmet as you never know who you may meet on the road! ( hot hitchhiking chicks!) rubber side down,shiny side up! That’s from a four decade rider that rode for a living and put well over a million miles down before the nineties ended! After that and quitting my job, I stopped keeping track but I intend on riding until I physically can’t! Even then I will put a powerful two stroke race engine in my rascal scooter! Lol
I find myself almost obsessed about watching, researching, dreaming about my next ride. That said, I have come to really appreciate your mannerisms when it comes to conveying what you've learned etc. As far as i can tell your suggestions "hacks" just seem low key and take-it or leave-it kinds of lessons- learned. Thanks for all of it. I'm a packing-cube/glasses case fan. Also, every recruit in the Army is exposed to the amazing space saving feature of rolled garments. T-shirts, rolled 6" (that's the length of a dollar bill! :) ), underwear, rolled 4" and so on. it also helps keep them somewhat less wrinkled if you roll tightly. Ok, enough of my rambling, thanks for the channel.
All good stuff, especially the duct tape which I used to question taking along until I needed to patch my nose fairing together after an unfortunate mishap earlier this year (silver tape on a silver bike helped disguise my embarrassment). My hacks include taking a plastic carrier bag to help put waterproofs on over my boots, taking a net bag so I can dry wet clothing tied to the bike when on the move providing weather permits, taking a short strap to lock out my handbrake when on ferries, take a spare stake and guyline to secure your bike from tipping over if parked on a campsite where there are kids around and taking a spring clip to fix to the fairing screen any toll or ferry tickets you need. Take a hat, preferably waterproof if you're camping as it's no fun putting a tent up in the rain, especially if wearing a crash helmet. Finally, it's best to avoid taking a top box by using a rolltop waterproof bag instead, but if you do have a top box, keep it empty if possible and use it as a larder for food supplies bought along the way, in which case, also buy a bag of ice to keep your purchases cool.
I don't do adventure traveling off road like you but I just bought a KTM 890R duke the street version and i always travel alone your ideas are well thought out and videos well done good job from a grouchy old 59 year old:)
I'm an audio/video guy. For any electronics cables, I still always wrap over/under, use velcro cable wraps, and put those into a flat pouch. It's just like on a job and I think it amounts to slightly less bulk.
That is a great tip, I will try that next time. Thank you!
Flat pouch guy here too...bought some in Vientiane, Laos, for 10,000 kip each..
Electrical tape on the visor: I put it on the inside, lasts longer, wind doesn't peel it off.
Less noticeable to any police who may have an issue with it as well
For long trips some not often needed clothing items can be put in vacuum freezer bags and then vacuumed flat. Saves space, keeps items clean and dry until needed.
I like how you brought a bunch of cables in the woods just to make a visual point. Really useful video, thank you, sir.
Another great video, Tim! I use an old glasses case for a first aid kit. Even better, there's a place in my NC-X's frunk where it fits like factory. Also, I learned to roll my clean & dirty clothes (one set per gal "zip-lock") in the military. Combining a shirt, underware and socks in one roll gives you a complete change in one package. Clean has shirt rolled on the outside, dirty has socks rolled on the outside. Even in the dark it's easy to tell which is which.
If going to an unfamiliar area. I make a road and distance chart up and keep it in the clear map portion of my tank bag. Just re-set your trip odometer at each junction. Works like a charm and you never have to stop to look at a map. I have never got lost using this method. Google maps is great for making up your chart.
Thank you for your comment and great suggestion. Safe Travels!
used that electrical tape sunshade for my adventures in Paraguay. Works really well. I also did both top and bottom but was using a 3/4 helmet.
Paracord hitching around the crash bars. Saves your paint in the case of a drop and also gives you a lot of extra cordage for camping. The stuff I use has strands for firestarter and fishing line.
You are a wealth of knowledge. That offline map hack is so valuable. The more I watch you the more confidence I will have on my ride to Colorado. THANK YOU SIR and safe travels to you👍
Thank you Thomas for your comment, Colorado is a magnificent state enjoy the ride and safe travels!
I know this is late to the game. I discovered the trick of using electrical tape on my visor about a year ago. Should have watched this sooner. I've been using the small toothpaste idea for years as a backwoods backpacker. Why pack the big heavy tube when you only need a little bit for a week; less weight more room could mean smaller panniers. Many more tricks like this on lightweight backing channels.
The duct tape & pen one is seriously cool .
My number one hack - have a credit card with sufficient room to deal with any emergency, from renting a car to a week's stay in a hotel. I've found that most folks pack way too much stuff for eventualities that never happen. Also pack stuff that serves double duty, swimsuit=shorts (no speedos please). One thing I got that is really cool is I got a hammer about 7" long from a surgery that my mother had. The hospital was going to throw it away, but that' was fairly serendipitous. The point being look for things in unusual places that may be handy. Also don't overdo your tools, you can buy a whole tool kit a Walmart or Harbor freight for less than $50. They aren't great tools but they work. However,if you need any special tools for routine maintenance I would bring them.
Great tips! I agree, most people try to plan for every possible scenario, I know I did on my first trip and brought way too much stuff. Great tip on the swim shorts used as shorts, I am always looking for double uses for items. Thanks for the comment!
Harbor Freight has short claw hammers for a few $
Good tips. My hack was a 5 gallon bucket strapped on the back seat of my dresser. May seem hillbilly, but got a lot of uses. Example: Kept stuff dry. Water bucket for fire. Stool. Ice/beer bucket. Nightstand next to cot. Table. And if ya have to go... Put a liner in it. Never needed it for that though. Also used hand warmers stuffed into my clothes when caught without cold weather gear.
Gerald Smith LOL...I have a hillbilly bucket mounted on the rack of my little Yamaha TW200 to carry stuff but I never even thought of all the other uses. Those are great hacks!
You probably already do this, but hand warmers (the sticky toe-kind) stuck to your base layer shirt on your chest is the way to go for keeping the whole body warm (circulating blood near the chest blah blah blah). I love the bucket hack! There are so many uses!! honestly, you didn't need to go any farther than ice/beer bucket! :)
Cool idea, I tried it and it's great, thanks to your comment.
Ha, I got a milk crate on my cruiser
My hack:
In the bottom of my tankbag is a 1l camelbag. This way I don't need to carry a backpack + I can drink at a redlight instead of pulling over to drink from a bottle wich takes up way more space and time.
extra tip: put the camelbag in the raincover of your tankbag. This way you always have the raincover with you if nececairy, it protects the camelbag from any unwanted punctures and if you have a leak the raincover will do the same job it provides for the tankbag when its raining of keeping everything dry in your tankbag.
Awesome idea!
My current favorite moto travel hack is making sure to watch your videos. Thanks for all the practical info!
Thank you Michael for your comment I really appreciate it!
Thanks for the vid. The electrical tape on the visor works a treat - my tip is to use blue tape rather than black. With the sun in your face it does just as good a job as the black tape, but the blue tape blends in with the sky and it doesn't feel like your view port is being restricted.
Thank you Ian for your comment appreciate it and sounds like a good idea. Thanks again and safe travels!
You can probably put the tape on the inside of your visor to keep it dry.
I’ve used reflective tape on the top of my visor for years and years. We never use that part of the visor and having more reflectivity is always a good thing.
Learned that rolling clothes trick while in the army. The amount of space saved is insane . Great tip
Thanks Mason!
Excellent video!
Thank you very much!
Zip ties, never leave home without them. Then again I ride an old Harley that has been known on rare occasion to vibrate itself to pieces, LOL.
not so rare friend, the reason i have saddle bags is because of all the parts that fall off !!
I built mine from a pile of boxes and buckets full of parts and applied generous amounts of Loctite in the process so it's not TOO bad, but I have lost an exhaust bolt on more than one occasion and especially after a high speed run I definitely give it a once over with a wrench, LOL. Pulled the primary cover once to fix an oil leak (imagine that) and found my engine compensator sprocket nut about to fall off. That one brought to mind images of all kinds of horrible things that could've happened had it decided to turn loose in the middle of nowhere. It now has red Loctite instead of the blue I used the first time I put it together. I've since given up trying to stay ahead of oil leaks and convinced myself that they're good rust preventative and boot waterproofing. It actually stays together pretty well if I ride it like a crusty old Harley probably should be ridden. Crank up the wick for awhile though and it will find the weak links.
i tend to use liquid white out marked from bolt/nut to frame as a visual indicator after i tighten a fastener. That way at each fuel stop I can quickly check the important bolts to see if there's been any torque loss. My KLR likes to vibrate at the perfect frequency to loosen important bolts.
That's a good idea, I like that. Would've came in really handy when I first built my bike, I pretty much know who the major culprits are now and what to watch for. I had an old KLR 600 years ago, great bikes, I loved mine even without electric start. The newer KLR 650s are a bit less dirt bike and a little more ADV and I REALLY like them. The right deal came along and I'd add one to my stable in a heartbeat. My 600 was a lot of fun but too heavy to be a really good dirt bike, and not quite long enough legs for long highway runs although it would do it if asked to. Was really a blast on gravel roads, tough to beat it.
Crown Royal bags too
i always used drybags to do laundry while out in the woods, recently found this thing called a "scrubba"
its a dry bag that has a drain plug, and a semi-rigid rubber washboard on the inside of it, and its been super good for laundry ever since.
Great advice. Thanks for sharing. I carry a head torch in case I break down in the dark 👍🇬🇧
I used to ducktape the front of my shoes (where the laces are)in order to stop the rain until getting home! It worked quite well!
Thank you Alexandre for your comment and suggestion I appreciate it and thank you for watching.
yes and the new gorilla tape brand is best, but may not come off too well
Tim great video, I am fixing the duct tape roll now. I have solved all of the map issues it is called a map, no phone, no service, a map it always works.
Thank you James for you comment it is much appreciated.
and no battery to run down. The paper map is the ol standby.
Need a compass (and knowledge on how to use it) with that map so you know which way is up.
A map, what's that? Never heard of it.. where do you get them from lol.
Another "riding into the sun - shade hack" -
If you have a modular "flip up / open chin" helmet, just flip it up to help block sun & create "shade" for your eyes.
Easy !
These are all solid MC travel tips, Tim. I like the duct tape and electrical tape on visor ones especially. Although I would probably stay away from the toothpaste /visor anti-fogging hack. Most, if not all toothpaste has tiny abrasives meant for cleaning hard tooth enamel. I believe most snorkel masks are glass and can handle light abrasives. Plastic and toothpaste definitely do not get along. Stick with the shaving cream.
Baby shampoo does the trick - use it on our fire fighting breathing apparatus'
Tim, thanks a lot!! The offline map trick is going to be a game changer. You have some great tips!! Suscribed!!
I know this is a couple of years old but since I just found it, I wanna give it two thumbs up. A number of these travel hacks are what I use ALL the time, even when not on a bike. (Rolling clothes, offline maps, packing cubes are the top ones). These are things I stick to religiously because they're easy to remember and make your traveling so much less chaotic.
I have been using a camelpac resivoir in the spine pad pocket of my riding jacket. I route the tube through the hang loop in the back of the jacket and clip to my helmet strap. ice for long hot rides.
Great tip Liz Haas! Definitely helps on hot days to have some ice cold water. Ride safe!
I learned about rolling clothes in the Navy. We had very little room for our gear so we were taught to roll our clothes. I do when ever I pack, suit cases as well.
This video is fantastic!! Can't wait to use these. Thank you!!!! 😀👍🏼👍🏼
Thank you Bridgette for your comment and for watching I really appreciate it.
I just got back from a week of travel and I used your electrical tape hack. Worked like a charm on the two parts of the trip where I am always heading into the sun at the start or end of the day. Can't believe I did not know that hack. You can teach old dogs new tricks.
So glad to hear you were able to put one of my hacks to use! Thanks for the comment!
Good tips, seriously thinking of selling everything and getting a bigger or a adventure bike and hitting the road. Life is a adventure, and I'm bored at home most of the time.
Hey Tim great advice and hacks.Just finished my first solo motorcycle camping trip from New Brunswick to Alberta and home thru the States around 11400 kms on my 2003 Honda st 1300. A few idea's I used was took a six pack of Ensure or Boost to have each morning with a granola bar,a few zip ties are good as well. I also opted for a cot as opposed to using an air mattress which worked well, looking forward to more video's good luck to all those traveling Cheers Mac
Thanks, glad you enjoyed this video. All great tips. thanks! Ride safe
This video has got the real and genuinely useful hacks. Thanks boss.
That electric tape tip is GOLD. Just used it today. Thank you.
Glad you liked that one!
Loads of great tips especially that last one, that's awesome, I honestly didn't know you could do that. Thanks a lot.
One other thing is little bungee ties / chords. Very helpful. One thing they're great for is if you drop your bike, even on a flat then use a bungee around the front brake so you don't have to hold it as you're lifting the bike. Some bikes are very heavy even using good techniques to lift them😜
Ride safe
No need. Just make sure your bike is in gear.
We did that with the clothes in the Army, a little different, but we called it a Ranger roll. Saves much space.
Thanks for the tips MacGyver!
Hi, here from South Africa.
I really enjoy your vids and tips. really great advice.
Regards, Ferdie Barnard.
Thank you Ferdie! I appreciate that. Ride safe!
I use ZipLock bags for my 'packing cubes' I can see whats inside, everything is watertight, and every grocery store has a full supply. As to 'rolled' cloths....yep,.....the only way to go!
Great tips, thanks for all your hard work.
I have done a lot of business travel by air and when you get on a plane, they give you a little ditty bag with toothpaste etc. The stuff in the bag isn’t that great - but the bag itself is super for chargers, toiletries, bungees, electronics like my GPS, etc because they are sturdy and have a good solid zipper.
Great tips especially the sun glare one. I keep latex gloves on me at all times to put over my normal gloves in case it starts raining.
Thank you for your comment and idea I really appreciate it and thank you for watching. Safe Travels!
also good to keep hands clean when doing repairs/maintenance etc. Saves depositing dirt/oil/grease in your gloves when you put them back on
I tried the google offline download map feature what a life saver. Thanks.
Just getting back in the wind and love the refresher as its been to long. Just pick up a 07 sportster with trike kit. Already set up with a lot of new parts. Ok I was looking for a small set of saddlebags as not much room. So was moving some of me horse tack out of a extra horse trailer I am selling. I found a what I call a day saddlebags as they are small. They fix my bike perfectly. So if you need small bags look in horse tack.
Thanks all good tips as I’m planning a solo MABDR ride soon
oohhh my god lol im so glad i waited until the end! that google maps hack is great. i use it all the time and never knew about that
Dude! Thank you for the tape on the visor tip. I ride with my visor up all the time. That helped SO much!
Glad you liked that tip Stanley Potter! Thanks for the comment!
Hope you are well.
Did the tape trick years ago, but put the tape at the bottom of the visor. Then its adjustable and better still, big sky country is now in CINEMASCOPE. Particuraly nice in John Ford country vistas.
Again, hope you are well. You help inspire me to stay sober during hard times.
I always keep a bundle of black zipties ziptied to the front downtube of my Harleys frame. Obviously make sure all the eyelets are facing up or else they will fall off while riding.
Thanks Mate, that was very informative
I use a thin piece of wood to put under kick sand when needed. A string is attached so I can lower and retrieve . I stow in a tank bag
Thanks Skip, that is a great hack!
Adding to duct tape: put some good quality GAFFER tape on that pen too. It sticks almost as well as duct tape and it leaves NO residue. Comes off clean. I’ve used it as a sun visor on my face shield, to block cold air coming through my hand guards, to secure straps from flapping in the wind, etc. and it’s black so it’s aesthetically superior to duct tape. Edit: LOL! I paused before the sun visor tip. GAFFER tape for that! NO RESIDUE. It’s even reusable. Leave the electrical tape for electrical.
I like your gaffer tape idea for your visor!
Where to purchase? Guitar Center? Sam Ash? American Music Supply???
Great advise... I'll add this, gaf can be purchased from most pro photo shops online or brick & morter.
RoadRunner I own a production studio and use gaffers tape for everything... best thing is it does not leave a sticky residue if you take it off. 👍🏼
you mean camera tape? duct tape and gaff are almost the same
Great video and simply amazing content! Keep up the good work!
I put two of your hacks to use- duct tape and offline maps - on a ride on my Road King last weekend to Bryce Canyon in Utah, and wound up using them both! On the ride back, my shift lever fell off (I hear Harleys vibrate). I doubled back and found it on the road. The Allen screw to tighten it down was missing, so I used my duct tape to secure it in place and made it the rest of the way home. I lost time doing the repair, so I decided to map out a more direct route home. Problem was, I was out in the middle of nowhere with no cell coverage for Google maps. Before the trip, I downloaded Genius Maps with an offline map, so I opened it, changed the route and used it as my GPS to get home. Your tips saved the day!
Thanks for the comment, I am so happy to hear you were able to put some of my tips to use! I have also heard that about Harleys! LOL. I've had a few shifter bolts come loose on a few different brands and styles of bikes, seems to be a thing for me. Excellent use of duct tape!! For innovative 👍 I really appreciate the comment, ride safe my friend!!
Great video. Plenty of good tips.
All great tips Tim... I'm going to put to use... The visor idea will really help out.. Thanks again,, look forward to the next video.. Memorial Day weekend , don't forget to do some riding..
Thank you Bob for watching and for your comment . Safe Travels!
I've tried all the things you mention to keep my visor from fogging. It has to be applied nearly every ride to work. The best thing I did was buy a helmet with a pinlock visor. And I've been doing the electrical tape hack for a while, and yeah that little strip at the top makes a huge difference.
Thanks for the comment James! Great tip on the pinlock visor. Ride safe!
Haha yep good old ducktape! Another one is bungy straps...those suckers definitely have helped.
Awesome video, thanks for the tips.
Old helmet bags I find useful for putting my smoked/clear visor in when not in use, saves it from scratches.
Excellent tip, thank you for that!
If you don't have packing cubes, 1 and 2 gallon ziplock freezer or storage bags will do in a pinch. I'll roll my stuff, stick it in the bag, close it almost all the way leaving a small hole, and sit on it to squeeze out the air. Over the long term, air will seep back in but for a weekend trip it works quite well to save space and keep things organized and dry.
That is a great tip! Thank you!
Carolan Ivey, I have used a straw to suck the air out of ziplocks.
S100 spray wax has worked for me. It also takes bugs off the shield and windshield quick. Never scratches and have kept shields for the life of the helmet YRMV
Thank you I appreciate the comment and thank you for watching. Safe Travels!
Using the many websites for camping I find campgrounds in the areas that I'll be near for the evening. I then go to google maps and pin/mark their location and make it a starred place.This makes them easier to find on my offline map while I'm travelling.
Thank you Douglas for your comment and suggestion it sounds like a great idea and thank you for sharing it. Safe Travels!
For the fog you can use spit...yeah i know but it is the one thing you always have with you. As i kid i used it all summer diving and it never fail.
Great video, how did that Poison Oak you were sitting next to and brushing up against treat you? Also how do you get poison oak off your clothes and helmet if you do get it on you?
Thanks fir the map tip at the end.
been using the dish soap and shaving cream trick for years ,I dive and never heard of tooth paste trick..I use perforated vinyl on the bottom of my shield..I learned the rolling trick in the 90s best way to make more room when going on vacation.
Where did you get the packing cubes from? They are a great idea.
I have some packing cubes on this page here: amzn.to/2LfwuWV (it's my list of what I use for moto travel/ camping)
Ride safe!
I always put a bit of amber welding welding curtain on my helmet visor. No sticky mess to clean off.
Great tip, I will give that a try. Thanks,.
Good information thanks for sharing.
I use Sygic instead of Google Maps. It was pretty cheap, turn by turn directions and does not use data. Plus you dont have to download it ahead of time. Love the stuff in the sunglasses case! Brilliant...
Thank you Mike for your comment and suggestion it is much appreciated. Safe Travels!
Good tips. Great channel..
You can download offline maps from Google on an Android phone too for use without cell phone service (saves on data costs). Sometimes Google Maps fails so I use HereWeGo app too for added service. For Android phones, you can choose where to store the maps: i.e. on micro SD card. Saves your phone memory storage. (Stand alone GPS device works best though if you keep it updated.)
I put the electrical tape on the INSIDE of the visor. Lasts longer and doesn't get blown off by the wind.
Rolling up clothes works even better if you roll everything in one roll instead of separate rolls for each item.
I like to use clear sandwich bags or freezer storage bags for cables, toiletries, etc. No need to guess what's inside and they fold flatter.
Thanks for your tips!
Excellent tips! Great idea to put the tape on the inside, thanks for that one! Thanks for all the great additions to the topic, I appreciate it!
Thanks, i enjoyed that and will certainly take some of your ideas on board.
Thanks for the comment Tom, I appreciate that. Ride safe!
All good advice. Check out ‘ Eagle Creek’ brand packing cubes ,they are superb. They do one with a divider in so you put clean T shirts ( or underpants and socks ) in one side and as you where them you put dirty ones in other side. No cross contamination of odour etc. I have the eagle creek wash bag also. It has a hanging hook, unbreakable mirror and a waterproof compartment for things like a flannel or soap. Top kit and just right size for bike panniers.
Thanks! I will check them out. Good information, thanks for sharing! Those packing cubes sound great.
Love it dude. u r valuable to a lot of us !
I appreciate that!
Weather you're wearing boots or shoes. I wear boots with normal tall socks. I tie a tiny knot at the end of each lace on both boots. Then when I'm done tying my shoes I pull the ear of the lace till the knot at the end of the lace bottoms out on the knot of the boot. Step two is folding the access sock down over your boot and boom your lace never come untied and even if they do they won't hang down. Personally never had a lace come undone and they're not knotted at the end of the day.
Totally awesome Old Tree as a background. Good Choice! like the camera/editing work.
Thank you! Glad you liked this video! I appreciate the compliment!!
alternative to rolling your clothes is to fold flat and sized to fit in a 5 gallon plastic close-able bag (Ziploc). Usually 1 pair of jeans or 2 T-shirts to a bag. Then squish as much air out of the bag as possible. This will usually cut the size of your clothes pile in half and also keeps them dry if you get into some rain.
i have used the tape method - but i put the tape on the inside of the visor so it cant be seen. Also i put the tape on the inside of the drop down sun shield:)
I roll duct tape to a pencil, then add electrical tape, and a lenght of small diameter ss wire. I add a few rubbersbands as well.
Thank you for your comment and great suggestion I appreciate it. Safe Travels!
Great traveling ideas. Really appreciate the help.
Thanks Steve!
50/50 mix of water and baby shampoo works best for anti fogging. Keep in a small 1ounce spray bottle. Good for bug removal on outside of shield as well.
absolutely clever and useful hacks....
Thanks Bruno S. I appreciate that.
Yup, I use packing cubes also. I have 3 sizes, but also some other small bags similar to cubes. I also have different size vacuum bags :) Cant wait to do my next road trip. Summer is almost here.
When it comes to cords, I am doing what I can do have everything be USB-C. The only thing I have left that is USB 2.0 is my head phones, which I will keep using until next year when the new bluetooth spec hits new products, and a tiny power bank I have, which is useful for one time charges and fits anywhere.
Even newer small laptops can be charged by USB-C if you want to carry one. Tablets, etc...
So I have a 12v charger, wall charger, 2 USB-C cables and 1 USB-A cable and power bank. Next year I will have 1 cable less.
I fit it all in my small gaming box, which fits into my small light back pack :)
I carry the 12v because my motorcycle has 1, and the wall plug in case I am in a hotel or restaurant for fast charging of whatever. It all still fits into the space of a glass case, but it is just convenient in my Switch case.
I do the tape thing with painter's top it comes off without the sticky stuff
Sorry painters tape like frog tape
Nice vid man! very handy! thanks!
Thank Alexandre for your comment I really appreciate it.
Duct tape on pen is saving me significant space. Great idea + appreciate your content!
Amazing Hacks man ....... keep gouing
Thank you for your comment and for watching it is very much appreciated! Safe Travels and enjoy the ride!