Hi folks I am planning on ridding my bike from the UK to Aus via Russia/Kaz/Mongolia/China/SEA. Im planning on taking aprox 9-12 months to get to Aus. I have been looking at what some others have pack and am Beginning to think I am underestimating what I need to take!

I was thinking about 60L's (for clothing, com's, cooking, hygiene, spares) plus my sleep set up and then selection of tools, couple 3L hydration bladders (one for daily use, both once camping in Kaz/Mongolia), some sort of storage for my DSLR camera.

Am I missing huge amounts of kit or just underestimated stuff??

I have done a fair amount walking in the UK from campsite to campsite since the age of about 12/13 carrying my own kit my motorbike holiday packing has always just been my walking setup chucked in to some panniers! Looking at the amount of storage others are taking Im feeling a bit worried now!

You should be fine, most people take too much. I carry about 55 L INCLUDING tent/pad/sleeping bag, but no cooking gear and tools. Though I had another 20 L for water, small random stuff, spare tube, etc.

I prefer traveling light myself as it makes unloading the bike easier at night and when off pavement I can enjoy it more instead of fighting the heavy load.

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Traveling The World Since: 2011
Blog: The Seductive Life (General Travel)

That is one of the 64 million dollar question's. Some can manage on a plastic card and a packet of fag's. Other's need the kitchen sink. There is no set amount. Tip take less than you need in clothes, and more in spare's. You can alway's get kit to wear. But a 10mm ring spanner or a bike chain, is going to be harder to find.
John933

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To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.

Personally, the only spares I carried were brake pads. Always found a solution. But then, I do ride a KLR so could probably fix it with duct tape and a rock if I had to.

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Traveling The World Since: 2011
Blog: The Seductive Life (General Travel)

Ya doing it wrong othalan.............it's supposed to be gas & a box of matches

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My memory is becoming that good, I should be able to organise my own surprise party soon

Here is what I took on a trip to Central Asia which would have been enough for me on your trip, the only thing I would do different is a warmer sleeping bag but was trying to get everything into the luggage shown underneath.

You know, you're right! Those big BMWs make good campfires while I loot their tools to make repairs.

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Traveling The World Since: 2011
Blog: The Seductive Life (General Travel)

There are very few things you need. Basically just the bike, passport and means of buying anything else. Then there is a declining series of items you want varying from items you pretty much know you'll use (toothbrush, camera etc.) to nice to have (tools, clean underwear, sun hat....) all the way down to the **** you will come to hate because it's only function is to make unloading into hotel rooms a three trip job and prevent the zips fully closing on your luggage.


The trouble is, my pointless over weight **** is the stuff that will keep you sane and vice versa.


What I think I can read from your post is that you have a good idea what your high priority items are. These you should take. What I can also make a pretty good guess at is the voices in your head currently screaming about how if you don't buy that shiny laser cut thingy that protects the spare whatsit and doubles up as an emergency BBQ and Heliograph you will die horribly and painfully two miles from home are wrong. Yes, if your crank bearings fail you will have a story to tell about how you got new ones, but this will be a better story than the one about how you carried an unused set for 3000 miles until the weight really hacked you off and you chucked a hundred quids worth of ballast in a roadside skip.


Go with what you are 95% certain to use and learn about the rest later.


Also, take a look for the "over weight is under prepared" thread. This is a chap who'll have you drilling holes to lighten your toothbrush, but a very useful counterview to the bikes you'll see carrying spare drive shafts and an extra camping chair in case the Queen comes to tea.


Andy

You're dead right looking back at your hiking list. Take what you would carry and add a few things for the bike. Multiple purpose stuff if possible. Jeans etc are a luxury. Depending on your trip, if it's in the backcountry of some far flung place you'll likely wear the same sweaty t-shirt for days, possibly dunk it in a river to get some cooling and wear your town shirt on your next town visit after a shower, whilst your riding shirt is drying from washing it in said shower. Packing light with that mindset is easy. But most people haven't done that type of travelling, or think a bike provides an opportunity to include luxury items and take too much stuff. Most end up ditching it or sending it back.

Better bring less and if you feel you need more buy it. Best souvenir!

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

I would take things that I can't buy on the way.
I would take spares like Brake pads, chain and sprockets, light bulbs, clutch cable, tools, inner tubes or spare tires, puncture kit, tyre levers, clutch and brake levers, fuses, etc
also take camping gear and some first aid kit.
clothing: two of each item
and most importantly (two credit cards, a debit card and some cash).

Good luck