Large panniers can hold a lot, but when you live and work from the road for prolonged periods of time, they’re not enough. Rather than carrying additional items in a permanently mounted top case, I prefer to use a removable bag that I can carry as needed.
The large Wolfman Expedition Tank bag is designed for adventure and off-road motorcycle travel, but its features make it ideal for road riding, too, and can fit on the tanks of some cruisers for those riders who like to use tank bags. Durable, versatile, and waterproof, this bag stands up to the rigors of the road.
If any single article has revolutionized my camping experience, it’s Thermarest’s LuxuryLite UltraLite Cot. I could not have predicted what a difference it made in how soundly I slept, how well rested I felt, or how much easier it was to get up!
Having had my fill of setting up and packing bulky tents, and shivering through cold nights, I avoided camping with my motorcycle for many years. But motorcycle camping has come a long way thanks to all the new innovations in lightweight gear. Check out this review of Sierra Design’s Eleanor 19 sleeping bag, designed for women, and small and compact for motorcyclists.
This compact solar powered charger from SolarMonkey Adventurer enables you to have the best of it all—getting off the grid with the option of connecting back in. You can charge everything from cell phones, iPads, battery chargers and more all while on the road.
Touring across the continent through all kinds of weather and stretching the season to the extremes, I ask a lot from my riding gloves. As with all of my motorcycle riding gear choices, my goal is to get the most function from the fewest pieces. The ProSummer and ProWinter gloves from BMW meet my high standards.
I was introduced to the phenomenal properties of merino wool last summer when I bought a couple of Icebreaker brand T-shirts to take for a six-week summer road trip. I was so impressed, that in my quest to have the minimum gear with the maximum function, I had to try the base layer to wear under my motorcycle jacket and pants. I chose Icebreaker brand.
A pair of ProTouring 2 Ladies’ Boots completed my BMW touring suit ensemble that I reviewed earlier on WRN. As with any of my gear choices, I look for apparel that will protect me, be comfortable and take me through any weather I can withstand on my motorcycle.
I spend a lot of time touring on my motorcycle in all kinds of weather. I live in Canada, but love riding all over the United States. My gear has to be comfortable, and keep me safe, warm and dry. While fit and function are the most important criteria, I want to get them in the fewest number of layers and pieces.
It was a picture perfect summer day, ideal for a ride with friends. Careening off the driveway and down a mountainside slope on my motorcycle was not part of the plan, yet when fear takes over, plans change.