On tour, what to take

[old git]

OK, doing my 1st little tour next Friday, 5 days on my lonesome just with the bike.
So, what bits & pieces have you found make a usefull addition to the pack.
Staying at YHA's so no tent to worry about, all locations have good access to local flavoured water, so no probs there.
Anything I should pack that makes the trip easier/more enjoyable, Ta
Bike should be sorted, has new tyres, brakes etc.etc. so no obvious probs there, thinkin more pocket or pack bits.

[Aladinsaneuk]

single most important thing is RAC or equivalent (I use my tesco loyalty card to buy it each year....)

second, mobile phone with charger and credit

i carry a small first aid kit - i am lucky as i have access to things so make my own up

simple pain killers - IF you can take paracetemol, then get soluble ones - that way if you get tooth ache you can disperse in water, swoosh around the gum before swallowing - it will help

suncream and sunglasses

a cap - as in baseball cap - they can make life a lot easier while relaxing with brown water in the sun

moisturiser - wind burn is a bitch, swallow your pride and use it

roll of gaffer tape - that can fix many many things

bottle opener/corkscrew

a bottle of water - you will get dehydrated if touring - when you stop for petrol, drink bottle and refill from a tap

a five pound note hidden on the bike - just in case petrol money.....

[MartDude]

Immodium. Just in case. Prolonged cheek-clenching is very distracting, whilst emergency removal of gloves, leathers etc. can be a knife-edge experience. I'm not joking - personal experience!!

Food, e.g. cereal bars, in case you're stranded.

Spare pair of glasses.

Enough spare ear-plugs to see you through 4-5 nights of sharing YHAs with potential snorers - good nights' sleep is important.

Small talcum powder - if the weather's hot/sticky, can aid donning/removal of gloves/leathers, & ease chafing in personal places.

[BikerGran]

Immodium instants are the best! Never go anywhere without them.

Since this is England and the climate is not usually the way it's been lately, I always take a little flask of coffee (or whatever hot beverage suits) - when you get cold and damp it really helps to buck you up and improves concentration - also take something to eat for a quick boost.

Oh and cable ties as well as gaffa tape.

[FlyingKiwi]

[D-Rider]

Someone's been living in Wales too long ...... there again he is a Kiwi so maybe it's not just the current environment ....

[herbacious]

just got back froma big trip, essentials turned out to be:

1.Quality pen knife, pref lock knife with corkscrew and bottle opener as a min. Used multiple times per day, well handy

2. Flip flops for off the bike. Small easy comfy

3. Some oil for topping up. I didnt take any and couldnt find the correct grade anywhere so had to use something else, so a full oil change is now required

[FlyingKiwi]

Well I got back rom the Alps 2 weeks ago and the most used bit of kit was a damp cloth in a resealable plastic bag for cleaning my visor.
and a blow up sheep

[Falco9]

3. Some oil for topping up. I didnt take any and couldnt find the correct grade anywhere so had to use something else, so a full oil change is now required

Nope not at all, almost all oils can be mixed and as you've only topped up the level, there is no need to change the oil until its next due. At worse you've either lowered or raised the weight of the oil slightly but only by a very small amount and this will not harm your engine at all.

Personally I wouldn't worry about it, save your money for petrol and beer

F9

[Willopotomas]

3. Some oil for topping up. I didnt take any and couldnt find the correct grade anywhere so had to use something else, so a full oil change is now required

Nope not at all, almost all oils can be mixed and as you've only topped up the level, there is no need to change the oil until its next due. At worse you've either lowered or raised the weight of the oil slightly but only by a very small amount and this will not harm your engine at all.

Personally I wouldn't worry about it, save your money for petrol and beer

F9

+1. no need to change.

On the kit front.. A can of pop or beer.. depending on ye preference.. Reason is two fold. If you find yourself on boggy ground and need to dismount.. Drink said can, squash it flat and place under the stand. Refreshing and practical.

Tubeless puncture repair outfit.. or fill tyre's with Nooj's special juice before you go.

length of wire.. Something reasonably strong. Useful if ye chain breaks.. That one's got me out of the shyte a couple of times..

Small selection of tools. Universal tool's are ok.. Like screw drivers with 1000 bits stuffed in the handle and adjustable spanners.. Stuff you'd never dream of using in the workshop really.. But will be a life saver. Also pliers.

small can of chain lube if you haven't got a scottoiler. small can of WD-40.

foil blanket (about the size of a pack of cards.. get them from camping shops) and SOS whistle.

spare fuses.. cables and a few other bits that may fall off or break.. ye can't take it all, but can at least prepare. the last thing you want is to fill ye bike full of spares and tools. The kit i use fit's nicely in a tank bag.. Some of it goes under the seat, but not sure how much room you get under yours..

Above all.. have fun.. and don't forget ye camera!!

[herbacious]

ah sweet - glad about the oil thing..

not that long now till its due a change anyway - up to 12.5k on the clock now

ok so instead of oil - other dead useful thing was a square piece of plywood about the size of a small book and about 6mm thick to use as a puck for the side stand..

big enough to be totally sure its not going to sink in, small enough to keep in the tank bag and use as required.

got told elsewhere that mixing the oil could cause problems.

ended up topping with 500ml of 15 40 mineral oil - any idea what actual consequence it might have or is it basically none?

[Willopotomas]

got told elsewhere that mixing the oil could cause problems.

ended up topping with 500ml of 15 40 mineral oil - any idea what actual consequence it might have or is it basically none?

ah.. now then.. you may have problems here if you normally use a fully synthetic oil. Some part-synths too, but not sure about those. And was it a true mineral oil, or just a cheap multi-grade like GTX?

[Nooj]

What is the oil rule? You can mix semi synth with mineral, but not fully synth with anything?

[Willopotomas]

i know fully synth and mineral emulsify when mixed and get hot.. tried it.. turns to a paste.. not nice.. dunno about semi-synth.. didnt try it. but thats with true mineral oil.. like old mono-grade stuff and Castrol R/M etc..

[Samray]

Surely semi-synth is just a mix of (mainly) mineral and synth, so by adding mineral to synth or vice versa you would produce semi-synth?
It would undoubtedly change the qualities but will hardly curdle.