Equipment Outfitters

Preparation

Whether the distance you intend to travel is a few hundred or several thousand miles it is essential that you are fully prepared before you leave. Service the motorcycle from the front to the back, carry enough tools (adjustables take up less room than several kinds), carry a few essential spares, and most important: make sure you have enough warm and dry clothing. Don’t be uncomfortable on a long journey, you’ll regret it.

Plan your trip in advance by checking your route on a map. Tot up the mileages and work out, at an average speed of about 40mph (unless it is all motorway), how long it’s going to take, add on meal stops. Leave at your planned time — if you leave late you may try to make up for lost time, and your professionalism may suffer.

Write out your basic route, keeping it very simple, towns and road numbers, and tape it, in a plastic bag, on to your tank or tank bag.

With today’s modern road sign system the art of reading a map is slowly dying, but it is important to buy the best map you can afford. Buy one that gives the maximum information in the clearest style. If you are not sure what the various symbols and road colourings mean check the key on the map. You may need your map to help with any necessary deviations from your planned route, so don’t leave it at home.

Luggage

Regular and serious touring riders will probably have panniers and a top box fitted to their bike, and the only extra may be a tank bag. Riders that like naked bikes most of the time will turn to the soft luggage, bags that can be strapped to the bike.

Don’t be tempted to carry a bag, light or heavy, on your back; it will soon cause discomfort and distract your concentration.

Cameras

The best place to carry a camera, unless it is a pocket type, is in a tank top bag, and on a layer of soft clothing. Don’t put it anywhere it can be affected by vibration.

Pillion Passengers

Many accidents have been caused by pillion passengers not acting correctly. They move about and cause the motorcycle to wobble, and don’t always lean the right way in bends.

Instruct your passenger to lean slightly forward towards you at all times, and lean exactly with you, no more and no less, when you take bends. And never take a new passenger on a long journey without first having been for a few practice rides.

Continental Touring

The main obvious difference in riding on the Continent is the fact that you ride on the right, not the left. This is not very difficult to adapt to, and is certainly easier on a bike than it is in a car. The secret is to take it slow at first and adapt to the environment; the problem is re-adapting to riding on the left on your return home.

Your preparations before you go should be even better than^- touring at home, and should include contacting either the embassy of the country you are visiting, or a travel agent. They will supply you with all the information you require, including traffic laws and signs, currency value and exchange, local customs, etc. Be prepared before you go and you will have more time to yourself when you get there.

Ferries

There is little to explain about cross-channel ferries because the details are all sent with your booking, the main point of this section is to warn you of the entrance and exit ramps to and from the ferry. The wet metal is very slippery and highly dangerous. Take your time and don’t try to rush things.

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