What is the best gear to carry on my motorcycle?

Deciding what gear to carry on a motorcycle for a long trip can be difficult, as there’s only so much that a saddle bag can carry. Unlike cars, motorcycles do not have trunks or compartments to store items. Although some motorcycles have compact compartments that are primarily only for storing important documents such as registration papers, they do not have enough space for larger items.

This is exactly why it is difficult for riders to decide what gear they should carry in their saddle bags, as you never know what you might need on the road. For short distances, this might not be a huge issue as saddle bags normally have enough space to store the essentials. However, for long runs, there are so many items that the rider might need which makes this dilemma so difficult.

However, we have solved this dilemma by carefully evaluating the different motorcycle gear available and choosing those which will keep the rider prepared in any given circumstance.

The Six Essentials That Every Motorcycle Rider Should Carry

The most important gear that every rider should be equipped with are given below:

1)     Inflation pump:  There are few things worse than a flat or deflating tire on a long journey. One of them is not having an inflation pump. These days there are many innovative pumps out there that are compact and do not take much space. These pumps are easily available at most hardware or convenience stores.

2)     Tubes: Besides an inflation pump, every biker should also have at least two spare tubes in the saddle bag. If the tire is flat then having an inflation pump will not help at all, on the other hand having a tube will ensure that this is not a problem.

3)     Tire levers: This little item is often overlooked by most bikers; but it is one of the most important tools when changing a tire as it helps inserting a tube with ease. Replacing a tube is not an easy task, especially in the blistering heat or cold weather. However, with a tiny tire level, changing tubes can become a piece of cake.  

4)     Multi tool kit: This is probably the most important gear that should be in everyone’s saddle bag no matter how long the journey is. These days, there are many compact tool kits out there that that provide a variety of tools.  

5)     Flashlight: Another important essential gear is a quality flashlight. Imagine trying to change tubes in the middle of the night on a dark road? This is exactly why every saddle bag should have a flashlight or other source of portable light in to provide a source of light.

6)     Spare gloves: Having a spare set of gloves on you while you are riding can be a blessing as there’s nothing worse than driving around with wet or damp gloves. Also having spare gloves can help if you lose the primary pair.

These are the most important items or equipment that should be present in every rider’s saddle bag to ensure that they are prepared for any given circumstance.