Everyone likes to go on long-distance trips on their motorbike, as it is quite interesting. It will be like getting a sense of freedom from daily work or other pressures in life. A long-distance bike ride will help you get a lot of enjoyment, especially if you are planning a trip with your friends. It will surely create a memorable event that you will never forget. You will have to take care of many things while planning for such a ride, especially your motorbike.
While planning for such a trip, you must ensure that your motorbike is in good condition. Then comes the checklist of all items you must carry for your trip. An adventurous trip will only be great if you have all the necessary items. Above all, you must remember that you can carry only a few items for a motorcycle tour. Some important information regarding the motorbike checklist for distance touring is provided here.
The motorcycle maintenance checklist is the primary thing to consider for a motorcycle tour
A motorcycle maintenance checklist is a document (a logbook or a checklist) used by technicians to document equipment maintenance inspections. It includes many processes like checking, repairing, and servicing the bike so it can operate perfectly. Before you plan your drive, always give the bike a proper once-over. If you have followed the service manual – maintenance checklist perfectly, your bike is ready for the trip. But for other cases, you will have to take your bike for a thorough check-up.
Take a walk-around
Just check your bike completely to find out if it has any issues. You can check those parts where you find something unusual. A walk-around will help you notice oil leaks, failed fork seals, coolant problems, etc. Test the lights, clean grease squeezes, check the battery, etc.
Check the motorcycle’s battery and change it if necessary
Try to charge the battery fully to know if it is still in good condition. There are different types of appliances to check the battery condition, so try using them. You can also visit a garage to know whether the battery is in good condition. Change the batteries if you have been pushing them for more than five years.
Change the tires and wheels
Before planning a long drive, ensure that your tires are in perfect condition. It will not be wise to change the tires in between the trip. Nowadays, you can easily check the tire’s condition from your bike’s wear indicators. You should also check the condition of the rear wheels and whether it is rolling smoothly and freely.
Check if the brakes are working perfectly
You can check whether your brakes are working perfectly by yourself. If you find any troubles or issues, visit a garage to solve them.
Other motorcycle maintenance checklist:
- Changing the oil
- Replacing the air filters
- Changing the coolant
- Checking the pressure
- Cleaning the chain and adjusting it perfectly
Essential items for your motorbike touring checklist
While planning a long tour, you might need to take many things. But the motorcycle tour only allows you to take a limited number of items. Thus, make sure to create a checklist with only the required items.
Essential things to carry for a distant tour
- Driving license
- Money
- Insurance
- Helmet
- Bags and small luggage
- Mobile with charger
- Camera and charger (if you are interested in photography)
- Sunglasses
- Gloves
- Riding cloth and shoe
- Vehicle registration documents
- Passports (if necessary)
Toiletries
- Oral care: toothbrush, paste, etc.
- Skincare: shampoos, soap, etc
- Detergents
Clothing
While planning for a trip by motorbike, remember that you have limited space. So, take only the necessary clothes like pants, shirts, jackets, etc.
- Repair tools
Sometimes you might face a motorcycle breakdown during your trip. So make sure to carry a toolkit for roadside repairs for certain emergency cases.
- A small first-aid kit
- Extra plastic bags to cover your belongings as well as put wet clothes.
- Tent if planning for camping
Conclusion
If you have done all the maintenance in your motorcycle maintenance checklist, your bike is ready for a long trip. So make sure to leave your vehicle in a garage for good service. Apart from the essential items mentioned above for a motorcycle checklist, you can also include many others. Consider taking a jacket, trousers, shorts, t-shirts, and underwear, for clothing so that you use them again on your trip by washing them.
Apart from this checklist, is it also recommended to know an attorney for your safety. For instance, if you are on a long drive in California, it’s better to know a California motorcycle accident attorney in case you met any accidents.