Pack up the bike.. where goes what ?

[niquedouille]

Hi everyone,
1 month before departure (going on a RTW trip, France to Australia, through Iran, central asia, mongolia, south east asia..).. I'm very excited, and also frightened by the amount of things left on my to do list..
Well, the bike is nearly ready and I start to pack up all my stuff at the right place, but that's definetly not an easy thing..

I don't have much experience with motorcycle trip, so here I am, asking for advices..

I have 2 hard panniers (48L on the left, 40Lish on the right), 2 roll bags on the back seat (85L with light be sizeable stuff on the back, and a 60L bag in front of it, with heavier stuff). On the front, I have two 20L bags on the crashbars with two little 5L bags hung on them (for quick access).
I have no tank bag.. because I don't like them.

Left pannier :

Right pannier :

85L bag :

60L bag : tent, tarp, camping stuff

20L left front bag : 5L jerrican (water) + Food
5L left front bag : electronic device to be recharged (phone battery etc..) on car cigarette lighter located on the crashbar, of course

20L right front bag : 5L jerrican (water) + rain equipment (jacket, pant, gloves, boots) + medical supply. That's full !
5L right front bag :

With my set up, I can easily access to my hard panniers during the day, or to my front 20L bags. The two big bags are underneath the spare tires, so access is limited.


Here is what I was thinking :
tools for the bike in one pannier only. That's too heavy to be in a soft bag, I think. Better to fit the as low as possible.
Sleeping bag : very important for me, has to be dry ! I was thinking to keep it inside a dry bag in one pannier (can stand vertical on one side of the 40L pannier).
Stove and italian coffee maker on top of one pannier : easy access during the day for a quick meal or coffee
Cloth and motorcycle equipement in the 85L bag with only dry stuff.
The 60L bag contains the tent can potentially get a bit of humidity inside (I will probably pack the tent outside if wet, until it dries out, but still).

Well, that's pretty much all I could think about for now.. but I'm sure I am missing important points ! I hope you guys can help me out to pack my bike in a smart way



cheers all,
jean-baptiste

[Warin]

Think. Plan.

What places do you need the heavy uncomfortable stuff?

10l of water?
Spare tyres?
Food?

---------------------
You only need
10l of water where you are going to camp out overnight and there is no water there .. so only load that up just before you need it. Take the empty containers .. they'll be light.

Spare tyres if your going to ware out a new set before you can get replacements... usually only a rear is needed. Plan where you can get tyres .. Turkey for instance. Have space for them .. but only have them when you need them.

Food. you need to carry that where what you want is not there or expensive. You may not know that before you get there so some food is advisable. However you travel to experience things, including food, so eat what the local eat!

You'll find your trip much more enjoyable with less luggage.

[niquedouille]

Why do you think I have so much to carry ?
10L for water is the maximum capacity I can load in my luggage, not what I will carry all the time. I will need that much of water for part of my trip, yes.
I also need a second set of tires. Why would I buy tyres in turkey ?? It's a couple of days away from my home, and just the beginning of my trip.
I maybe could manage with one set of tire, but I could also get rid of my camping stuff, get a smaller bike, and go from a hotel room to an other, eat in restaurant 3 times a day. Oh yeah, I would travel lighter and that would be much easier. Next time.

I've made choices, according to previous riders experience on the same route, and what I like in travel. Let's focus on the best way to put all these useless things together
About food.. "eat what the locals eat". So.. if I buy any food.. I will have to eat everything before i go ?? Wouldn't be better to have some room in my luggage to carry some local food with me and have a bite on the road, don't you think ?
Of course I will not take any home food for a year or more of travel... what the hell ???
I could give you thousand examples of riders with extra heavy bike, really happy every morning to pack up all that ! And they keep riding with a big smile, despite all critisms..

[Fern]

packing- heaviest needs to be as low down as possible and as close to your footpegs- in the centre of the bike, away from the rear, all to aid your centre of gravity

I've found keeping a few tools that I use daily to hand helpful e.g in the tankbag, and the rest are packed down low.

Food and cooking equipment is usually in tank bag or topbox- easy to get to when you stop to refuel your belly, and good to have space in the topbox for when you pass a food shop, just chuck it in and go. Also, whatever is in the topbox and in your roll bag over the seat needs to be light, or else you may get a high speed wobble, or weaken your rear subframe.

I've usually had my clothes, bedding and washbag in the roll bag- easy just to take up into a guesthouse/couchsurfing house, and don't have to touch the spare parts, etc.

Tyres.. have you considered posting them forward to an address near where you might need them?

Also could you strap the front tyre to your crash bars at the front side of your bike?



To be fair, I've never seen a bike on the road with as many bags as you..

40+40+85+60+20+20,

Maybe you can list the things you are taking so we can help scrutinise as I'm sure there are plenty of things that are not necessary.

I took far to much, and ended up ditching a whole load of stuff in the desert in Iran..

How big is your tent?

[Warin]

Originally Posted by niquedouille

I've made choices, according to previous riders experience on the same route, and what I like in travel. Let's focus on the best way to put all these useless things together

If they are "useless things" you'll get rid of them yourself given time.

Like you say in your first post .. heavy things low and towards the bikes center.

Turkey to India .. say 14,000km (includes touring around about .. and all of India) ... a rear tyre .. yes. A front tyre? Depends on you , the bike and the load. I'd think you'd be able to get tyres in India .. Turkey to India .. probably 9,000 km (no touring in India, do that after the new tyres).. and then get tyres there? I've carted one tyre around .. a major pain. I'd do my best not to do that again. You'll get new tyres in Australia.

[niquedouille]

not going through India

here's what my itinerary should be, more or less : part 1 + part 2 in south east asia (and shipping from mongolia to thailand by air)

I could get new tyre in thailand, probably, but my road tyres will end there and I will get a new set in Australia
Anyway, after Mongolia, I should get lighter ! All my camping gear and other stuff will fly away with my sister (she will visit me in Mongolia).
Central asia is the hardest part, because of visas timing. When in south east asia, everything will just seems easy.. I will also get get rid of my motorcycle for a fews months and travel very light with my small backpack. My tyres won't bother me for a long time..

[niquedouille]

Originally Posted by Fern

To be fair, I've never seen a bike on the road with as many bags as you..

40+40+85+60+20+20,

thank you fern for your advices !
Well, here is a good example. Same route, 3 years ago :

2 hard panniers, 1 top case, 3 bags (40+40+60) on the back, 2 bags on the front (25+25), 2 tyres. He came back alive and would not change anything !

I've plenty more pictures of huge bikes







I have 75 kg of additionnal weight, including tyres, panniers, pannier's rack, crashbar.
My 85L is definitly not full !!! The 60L either ! I just thing it's easier to have 2 small bag than one big heavy bag. I tried to put every thing in a 120L bag (not full either.. plenty of room!), but that's a bit too heavy.
One 20L bag is full, the other one is not.

[lynch180]

Originally Posted by niquedouille

thank you fern for your advices !
Well, here is a good example. Same route, 3 years ago :

2 hard panniers, 1 top case, 3 bags (40+40+60) on the back, 2 bags on the front (25+25), 2 tyres. He came back alive and would not change anything !

I've plenty more pictures of huge bikes







I have 75 kg of additionnal weight, including tyres, panniers, pannier's rack, crashbar.
My 85L is definitly not full !!! The 60L either ! I just thing it's easier to have 2 small bag than one big heavy bag. I tried to put every thing in a 120L bag (not full either.. plenty of room!), but that's a bit too heavy.
One 20L bag is full, the other one is not.

What have they got that I did not need ?:confused1::confused1::confused1:

[mollydog]

Originally Posted by niquedouille

I've made choices, according to previous riders experience on the same route, and what I like in travel. Let's focus on the best way to put all these useless things together
About food.. "eat what the locals eat". So.. if I buy any food.. I will have to eat everything before i go ?? Wouldn't be better to have some room in my luggage to carry some local food with me and have a bite on the road, don't you think ?
Of course I will not take any home food for a year or more of travel... what the hell ???
I could give you thousand examples of riders with extra heavy bike, really happy every morning to pack up all that ! And they keep riding with a big smile, despite all critisms..

It sounds to me like you've got all the answers already ... have you done this before? Or maybe you have traveled with other riders on overloaded bikes? ... and were there in the morning when they took two hours to get on the road? I'm sure they were happy every morning!

If you've been on the road with the set up you have .... and know all the answers because you've "read" about other travelers who have done the same, then I don't think anyone here can really be of use to you.

Best to just get out there and find out what works for you. Give away things you don't need or use, or send it home. Add things you do need along the way. If you're lucky ... you'll find ALL the answers ... and then WE can ask YOU how it's done so perfectly.

The FACT is ... it's never perfect and packing and re-packing are ... and should be ... an evolving enterprise. It's never set in stone. We learn every day.

It takes me two weeks just to remember where I've packed things. And then, I'm always changing things up, eliminating and adding items to suit. Ends up being very personal ... and quite subjective.

You're set up looks NEAT and TIDY ... and to me, when traveling on a bike, neatness counts. But others seem to make do carry a messy shedload full of crap ... and who's to say they are not happy? Just because it takes them two hours to set up camp in the evening and two hours to break camp in the morning ... hey! What's the hurry? All these riders were happy and thought they had the "Perfect" set up! ... and for them ..
they did!

Question ... Can you pick up your bike solo without unloading all your luggage?


Tires? I don need no stinkin tires!


Weight "low and forward"? But why? Even "experts" started somewhere ...

[twowheels03]

First thing - don't believe anybody who says they are an expert. An Ex is a has been and a spurt is a drip under pressure !!

You don't HAVE to be light, If you plan loads of mud and long hardcore off road stuff then it would help to be lighter. If you are stuck with no spares, water and camping gear in the back country but a nice light bike - you still can't push it. Happy medium is always good for mixed roads, take what makes you happy and don't worry about anybody else.

No one will tell you how crap they load up !!

Heavy stuff low.

Stuff you need quick on top or just easy to get.

Stuff you don't want smashed or pinched in the hard bags.

Don't stress about it much, It will sort it's self out after a few weeks.

We camped 120 nights on our last trip, and got breakfast, packing up camp and moving on down to an hour - what is the rush ?

Hope you have a great trip, we might see you - we are heading to the UK from OZ.

Paul

[niquedouille]

Originally Posted by mollydog

If you've been on the road with the set up you have .... and know all the answers because you've "read" about other travelers who have done the same, then I don't think anyone here can really be of use to you.

No, no, no !! Sorry, I didn't made myself clear, I think
I don't have all answers of course, but
- I've been thinking about it as much as I can for the past 12 months
- I've asked many questions already, made my choices about what to take with me or not, helped by many more experienced travellers (than me). What I'm saying, is all that is well though (of course I know I can be wrong!!! but I will see that after I experience it )
- Now, the chips are down.. it's just not time anymore to change my mind and say "oh, yeah, I should get a light bike, and start all over again..". Let's see how I can manage with all that
- I'm not a "know it all", sorry if I seemed like that. But maybe I misunderstood what you said. My english is definitly not perfect, sorry

Originally Posted by mollydog

Ends up being very personal ... and quite subjective.

You're very right ! But I would love to hear how everyone of you prefers to set up his bike, what are youre priorities etc..
Then I could pick up what I think can suit me as well.. and pack accordingly. But like you all said, I will probably unpack and repack a dozen of times before finding what suits best for me !


Hi Paul ! I'm leaving first week end of May, how about you ?
What will be your route ?

PS : mollydog/ I don't know if I can pick up the bike solo, yet. I will try, but I'm pretty sure it's too heavy.

[maria41]

Make sure your medical kit is easy to access... for obvious reasons!

We will be off in 3 weeks, from London... so probably see you on the road, as from Uzbekistan, our route seems to be fairly similar all the way to UB....

Cheers,

[mollydog]

Originally Posted by niquedouille

But maybe I misunderstood what you said. My english is definitly not perfect, sorry

Your English is just fine (way better than my French! )
You've made your choices ... that is good! Bon voyage!

Originally Posted by niquedouille

PS : mollydog/ I don't know if I can pick up the bike solo, yet. I will try, but I'm pretty sure it's too heavy.

Be careful of your back ... use proper lifting technique. (back into the bike, use your legs) Lots of videos on this, won't work in mud.

"Trends" in ADV travel show the bikes travelers use and the shifts in the way they travel are slowly changing. Over past 10 years we see a sharp turn away from big & heavy bikes, more interest in smaller bikes.

No one is saying sell off your Africa Twin (fantastic bike!) and buy a 250 Honda .. but "trends" show more riders are going smaller and lighter. Many former R1200GS, KTM 990, Vstrom, Africa Twin riders have traded in their big bikes for a smaller, lighter option.

Packing
Packing light is sort of an art form. IMO, requires several long trips for new travelers to learn this ... and learn what's truly needed (for them) and what can be left behind.

If you take a close look at what backpackers and bicyclists pack, you can get a few tips on light weight packing. Sure, motorbikes have more room and can easily carry the weight, but in rough conditions weight and bulk can create challenges.

The other thing no one has mentioned is that in some places you will not be able to camp ... or if you do Wild Camp, it may not be safe or may be crowded with people. This is true now for much of the world. When camped solo, you sort of become a prisoner of your camp. You can't leave it.

But soon all these realities will face you ... I hope you wake up happy everyday! (some days it is a challenge to smile!) Bon chance!

[TM1-SS]

Hello Jean-Baptiste, sounds like a grand trip!
When packing for my trips. Heaviest stuff (pots, pans, kettle, tools, boots (if necessary) in a 49L dry-bag right behind me on the seat; I figure it's the same as having a small passenger.
Right hand, smaller, pannier for thermos of coffee, photographic equipment that is not in a tank bag, Katadyn Vario water purifier, dehydrated and freeze-dried food.
Left hand, larger pannier for medical kit and a small cooler-bag that holds six 20oz bottles of ice (I like COLD water). With the Katadyn filter I can get water from any source anywhere. I will also load up the rest of the left pannier with more food and munchies, almond M&Ms, chips, crackers, Clif Bars, Kates Bars, Quaker Oatmeal To Go squares (apple cinnamon is delicious!) I travel with a LOT of snacks.
Two 35L dry-bags packed with clothes, toilet kit, sleeping bag, pad, tent, tarp and generally everything else not previously mentioned, one on top of each pannier using ROK straps.
As for tires, when necessary to take them, which is fairly often, I strap them to the front upper crashbars using ROK straps.
I don't know if my input helps any, but it's a setup that really works well for me. I wish you exciting and safe travel!!
Vaya con Dios,
J.T.

[Warin]

Originally Posted by niquedouille

What I'm saying, is all that is well though (of course I know I can be wrong!!! but I will see that after I experience it )

PS : mollydog/ I don't know if I can pick up the bike solo, yet. I will try, but I'm pretty sure it's too heavy.

The photos of the 'heavy bikes' .. I wonder how many of them were taken at the end of their trips? Think they would be lighter by then. And that is when you should take your examples from, the near end of trip photos, with the travel dirt and experience.

You will be unpacking those tyres each day ... think you will soon tire of that (pun). As you say, you will experience it and learn what suits you as you go. Most of us have posted stuff home that we did not need a month or two into the trip, so we all learn best on the road.

Picking the bike up? Once you have tripped your bike over on your front lawn .. then is the time to try taking stuff off .. any ropes that fasten on the bottom may be hard to get to. You should remove stuff that is on the 'top' of the bike - tank bag, tyres, top box/bags. However you manage it remember that this is a good surface, different in sand, mud and having the bike face down hill in a ditch! I've resorted to getting a small dead tree and using that as a leaver.

Good luck.

PS .. You'll learn that language is not something to worry over .. as long as you get your meaning across eventually it doesn't matter. And some of the misunderstanding is good fun.