|
|
22 Jun 2010
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Dreaming of travelling and riding bikes in general..
Posts: 445
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris of Motocross Africa
I've said this before, but my best space saving tip is buy your luggage first! That way, you know (as you buy more stuff) how much room your kit takes up and how little space you have left. Focuses your mind on both size and weight for what you're gonna take on your trip.
Before my trip I regularly slung my panniers over a chair and eye'd up what I was planning on taking! Gross luggage weight was c30kgs in the end (suprisingly light compared to most!).
|
30kg of Tshirts?
|
29 Jun 2010
|
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by edteamslr
30kg of Tshirts?
|
Thongs !
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
|
1 Jul 2010
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 4
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*
Thongs !
|
Thongs as in what my SO wears under her skirt or the type that go on your feet at the beach?
Note: Do not confuse the two. You will get no foot protection and she will most definitely walk awkwardly.
Nigel.
|
12 Jul 2010
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: England
Posts: 437
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Prosmart
Thongs as in what my SO wears under her skirt or the type that go on your feet at the beach?
Note: Do not confuse the two. You will get no foot protection and she will most definitely walk awkwardly.
Nigel.
|
As he is English would of thought under skirt so no VPL, (visible pantie line), for the concerning lady rider lol
Thong in oz is Flip flops in UK
__________________
We are the Pilgrims, Master, we shall go Always a little further: it may be beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow, Across that angry or that glimmering sea.
|
20 Jul 2010
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Earth
Posts: 4
|
|
Great tips and tricks. Thanks for the shares..
The ones I was going to submit have already been added.
Thanks for sharing.
|
17 Aug 2010
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 9
|
|
fantastic advice chug
|
18 Aug 2010
|
|
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Denmark
Posts: 33
|
|
Freezing bags.
Kepp things dry no matter what bag you pack it in and a roll of that doesn't take much space.
Can keep a camera safe at a river crossing failure.
And you can get them all over the world.
Niklas
|
20 Aug 2010
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Boulder, CO, USA
Posts: 182
|
|
From many years of backpacking I learned that 90% of what you think you need is in fact mostly useless. Once on the road pay close attention to what you actually use every day. Anything you don't touch for a week is a prime candidate to be dropped unless it is part of (a) a first aid kit, (b) a survival kit, or (c) bike repair kit.
Also pay attention to luxuries which you don't actually need. Take a few of these, but be ruthless and limit the number to only your top favorites. For example I want a DSLR camera, but decided I would rather not worry about the size, weight, and fragility so I use a high-end compact camera instead.
Two-week shakedown trips are a great way to find out what these items are. Anything you didn't use needs to be reviewed. Any luxury item needs to be balanced against how much it improved the quality of your trip compared to the extra weight and space it takes up.
|
23 Aug 2010
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 303
|
|
We use a trick on our trips to limit ourselves to what we consider the bare essentials: a packing list of trips past that we adjust after every trip. Everything we didn't need or use (unless it belonged to othalan's (a), (b), or (c) list) goes home during the trip. Once back we open the package and cross out everything from our list that was in there, plus the stuff that we didn't send back because we still thought we might need it.
The packing list for my wife and me is now one sheet of paper that contains everything we really need, from underwear to tripod, from sleeping bag to cable ties. We still look ridiculously overloaded two-up on that bike but we're getting more efficient every time we travel. The only tricky bit that cannot be covered by a single list is clothing - you obviously need different clothes for Africa then for Norway.
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!"
|
23 Aug 2010
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 376
|
|
Try to make everything have two jobs:
If you take a pen, then wrap your electrical tape round it and ditch the original roll holder.
Do you really need shampoo, clothes liquid and something for the pots & pans?
Use trousers with zip off shorts, and roll your clothes rather than folding them.
Use merino wool underclothes as they resist stinking for a long time, so need less washing.
Take the phone numbers for the British embassies in the countries you're visiting (or those of your country obviously).
Take several extra plastic bags. Good for smelly clothes, keeping feet dry, carrying water...
Use a travel towel - and get the biggest you can. Nothing worse than not being able to dry yourself when it's cold out.
Use down sleeping bags, they roll up much smaller for the same warmth as synthetic bags.
Don't skimp on your own protection, your bike's tyres & brakes or your first aid kit!
|
23 Aug 2010
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 318
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dave ett
Do you really need shampoo, clothes liquid and something for the pots & pans?
|
Check out Dr Bronners!
|
25 Aug 2010
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 303
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dave ett
Do you really need shampoo, clothes liquid and something for the pots & pans?
|
All we take are two bars of soap. One for my wife because she claims to have very sensitive skin and thus needs something special (aka more expensive) and one really cheap bar for me and the dishes. Thus, in terms of equipment I am but a fork
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!"
|
31 Aug 2010
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Wirral
Posts: 15
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*
In that order ?????????
I've just noticed you're on the Wirral ???? Small world.
|
I've only JUST noticed this reply (not on here very often). Small world, indeed! chug.gif" border="0" alt="" title=" chug" smilieid="249" class="inlineimg" />
I too love the gluestick idea, and have just added one to my toolroll.
__________________
Does my bum look big on this bike?
|
21 Oct 2010
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Aussie expat in Switzerland half way RTW
Posts: 611
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dave ett
Try to make everything have two jobs:
|
This is some very good advice, in fact I would go as far as saying if something doesn't have at least two uses then is it really necessary? Even with your tools, there are tools that are more useful and thus more space saving then others.
Take my tyre lever (I have three as two is not enough) as an example. I have two the same and 1 extra long, smooth but with a 22mm ring spanner at the other end, I use the BMW 22mm hex adaptor (for the front axle) wedged into the ring spanner so I have now three tools in one.
1 x long tyre lever
1 x 22mm front axle wrench
1 x hammer (due to the weight of the 22mm hex adaptor, it also serves well as a hammer.
Now if only all my tools were so versatile.
Oh and the funny thing was that I didn't intend to make this tool, somehow the 22mm ring spanner was just a bit too tight and I couldn't get the hex adaptor out once hammered in, now I wouldn't leave home without it!!
|
21 Oct 2010
|
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Posts: 201
|
|
Compression sacks
Not sure why no-one else has mentioned them. They halve the size of your clothes. I've got one for my clothes and one for my fleece. You want the smallest size you can fit your stuff in. The smaller it is the closer the compression straps can go. Yes, it makes it a pain to get something out quickly, but how often do you say "oh damn! I need a different t-shirt right now!" No, you say "I wish the food would stay in my mouth." and continue eating, or whatever. And if you're getting sweaty or dirty, you leave the sweaty or dirty stuff on until you've stopped getting them gross.
I'm thinking that an electric liner / vest in a compression sack would not be good for the wires.
Stuff sacks, stuff sacks, and more little stuff sacks. Everything compartmentalized. Bring a couple extras too. We don't bother with things like freezer bags because the plastic tends to wear quickly. Instead, most of our stuff sacks are also dry sacks. You can get a 3 pack on amazon for $12US ( Amazon.com: Outdoor Products 3-Pack Ultimate Dry Sack: Sports & Outdoors )
Plastic grocery bags. Hang onto the spares for trash.
We're also bringing Sugru on the next trip. The sachets are very small and i have a feeling that it might turn out to be damn useful. Then again, it may just be a waste of space, but if so, it will be very little space. Note that it has a shelf life of about 6 months.
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
|
|
|