Tips for Choosing the Best Motorcycle Luggage

Posted by in Motorcycles on April 4, 2012

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Motorcycle luggage items normally include sissy bar bags, tank bags, saddlebags, panniers, tool bags, windshield bags, tail bags and backpacks. After going through that list, you must be wondering which of these will be great for you. However, before you make up your mind, read the following tips to make the right choice.

- In order to ensure that you are buying the best quality luggage for your bike, you first need to make a list of accessories that you may need to tag along. Normally, what you will need is your toiletries, water bottle, medicines, tool kit, cell phone, weather gear, tire gauge, gloves and flash lights. However, this list can vary from person to person and trip to trip.

- Having made a list of your accessories, you now need to check the luggage and bags that best suit your needs. If your list of items is short, you should go for tank bags as they are perfect for small sized accessories. Saddlebags, on the other hand, are one of the most commonly purchased and recommended luggage items for super bikes and cruisers. Since they come in different sizes and styles, they suit any style and model of motorbikes.

- A classic variety in saddlebags is panniers, which is often recommended to many bikers. Made of stainless steel or metal, it is one of the most durable types of bike luggage ever designed. Such a bag is almost impossible to be stolen or broken because of its hard shell. Also it is the perfect protection for delicate items in case of accidents.

- Another option is sissy bar bags, which is motorcycle luggage for serious bikers. Tied to the sissy bar of your bike, they serve as a comfortable cushion as well. They are spacious enough to house plenty of accessories.

- Another smart add-on for sport bikes is tail bags, which are somewhat similar to tank bags but are more comfortable to handle and can be strapped onto the bike’s tail.

Finally, while checking out the motorcycle luggage in physical and virtual stores, you must make sure of two things: your requirements and quality of the luggage. Once you know your requirements, make sure that the luggage you are buying is secure and sturdy. Do check that it has enough space and that it comes with a sturdy lock. Also check and compare prices via the internet before you head for the market. This way you will not only be sure of the bags you want and their rates, but you will learn a thing or two about these bags’ quality.

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Napoleon Bonaparte’s Contribution to Motorcycle Touring Preparation

Posted by in Motorcycles on April 3, 2012

By Keith T Jones

“Most Battles Are Won or Lost Long Before The First Shot Is Fired” – Napoleon Bonaparte

Planning and Preparation. Two words that define how much we are going to enjoy the unique experiences that come with motorcycle touring. It’s not a matter of ‘if’, but just ‘when’ a poorly planned motorcycle tour will cause issues; some of which may have dire consequences. This article focuses more on motorcycle touring preparation that involves crossing borders between countries, although it will help you plan shorter trips as well.

Visas and Passports

The first thing to do is to start working out a detailed itinerary of where the tour will actually take you and what has to happen in terms of visas, permits and paperwork to enable you to get there and back. In other words, where in the Hell are you are actually going.

Depending on your country of origin, there will no doubt be a country along the way that requires a visa for entry. The best site to get initial information as to whether a visa is required is Project Visa (projectvisa.com). This will give you an idea as to whether you can purchase a visa at the border, or it needs to be obtained prior to arrival. Getting a visa can take months for smaller developing countries, so don’t leave it until you’re about to board the plane.

Take special note of currency requirements as well. I know from first hand experience that the border crossing into Zambia requires US$50 to pay for the visitor’s visa. It had to be in US Dollars. No amount of begging, pleading or arguing will make them change that requirement. I remember queuing up for what seemed like hours to get to the window and present my paperwork. Would he take Rands? Nope. Our fixer found a currency changer who just happened to be close by so I exchanged Rands for US Dollars. Did I get a good deal? You can guess the answer to that one. Back to the end of the line and start again. I make it a habit to always carry about US$200 in small denomination notes no matter where I’m heading.

You will need a current passport. Make sure there is plenty of time to expiry on your passport. I think to do anything these days there is a requirement for a minimum of six months on a passport. Not good to have your passport expire in the middle of the Congo.

Passport for Your Motorcycle

What? I hear you say. There is still a requirement in a number of countries to have a carnet for your bike, or Carnet de Passage en Douane to give its full title. This is effectively a document allowing you to temporarily ‘import’ your bike into a country without having to pay import duties and taxes. The document is stamped on the way in, and on the way out. Do not overlook this vital aspect, as some countries will sting you for up to 400% of the value of the bike if you don’t have one. Wikipedia has a good description on what a carnet is.

Where to Start with the Preparation

Planning and preparation start with knowledge building. Since in any new venture, we don’t know what we don’t know so you need a seed to start the learning process. A great resource to start the planning process is the Lonely Planet books. They are primarily targeted at people who want use the road less traveled by, and new editions with updated information are published regularly. There is also a very active forum (called the Thorn Tree) on this site with travelers regularly seeking and exchanging information on anything imaginable.

Another site that is similar to the Lonely Planet forum, but targeted specifically for international motorcycle touring is Horizons Unlimited (horizonsunlimited.com). This is run by Grant and Susan Johnson, and is the best resource you will find on this planet for comprehensive information on everything to do with planning a motorcycle tour.

Preparation is when you start to get your teeth into the detail. Horizons Unlimited also have a five-DVD set called “The Achievable Dream” which covers every conceivable thing you need to know about setting up for that trip of a lifetime. Last time I checked it was worth $139.00. You can purchase them individually, if some topics aren’t on your needs list. Well worth the money fellow travelers! I bought the original single DVD edition before my first tour of Morocco; and it was extremely helpful. Here are the titles of each DVD.

Get Ready – This DVD aims to inspire you to get off your butt, stop talking and start to prepare for the trip. This includes material from Grant and Susan Johnson’s own ‘How to ride around the world on a motorcycle’ presentation. Lots of video clips and interviews with seasoned travelers and presentations by experts.

Gear Up – they talk about which bike best suits, preparing the bike, what to take and how to pack it for those weeks on the road. Important stuff.

On the Road – What is it like to spend weeks, months or years out there on the road? In this 2-DVD set veteran travelers share their tips (and great stories) for staying healthy, happy and secure on your motorcycle adventure. You’ll get the advice you need to help you cross borders, break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike across oceans or war zones, and deal with the ‘stuff’ that happens such as breakdowns and emergencies. Demos include building a shipping crate and first aid for bikers.

Ladies on the Loose – globetrotting ladies share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure – choose and maintain a bike, decide what to take and tackle rough terrain. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with some amazing tales from the road.

Tire Changing – You can do it the hard way or you can do it the Grant Johnson way. Out there, at the most inconvenient time and place (is there really a convenient time to have a flat tire?) you’ll get a puncture. Can’t always pick up the cell phone and call the local automobile association, so it’s get over it and get on with it.

I would strongly recommend you consider this DVD collection if you are setting off on a long tour. It contains so much good information on what you need to know all in one convenient place.

Vaccinations and Gut Packs

If you’re traveling to remote parts of the planet, then you will need to consult a specialist travel medical center. Don’t wander off to your local family doctor, there is a fair bet he/she won’t know the latest. Travel medical centers will know what vaccinations you will require and over what time frame booster injections will be required. Common ones you may need would be Yellow Fever, Rabies, Typhoid, Hepatitis (A/B), Tetanus as well medication for Malaria.

Your travel medical center will also put together a ‘Gut Pack’ for you. This contains a variety of targeted antibiotics in case you come down with a dose of food/water related gut problems. I always carry one of these; and it saved me from a bad outcome in Morocco when somewhere along the road I had come into contact with food possibly contaminated with human feces. Yes, it does happen despite being careful.

Serious Illness or Injury

If you do fall ill or suffer a serious injury out on the road in a foreign country, what do you do? A lot of developing countries don’t have extensive hospital facilities, trained medical staff or access to pharmaceuticals. An emergency evacuation by air can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. There is one option that is well worth considering, and that’s MedJetAssist. MedjetAssist is an air-medical evacuation and repatriation membership program for travelers who reside in North America. If a Medjet member is hospitalized more than 150 miles from home-virtually anywhere in the world – Medjet will arrange medical transport to the hospital of their choice at no additional cost. They offer a wide range of memberships including short-term and annual options. It is available to residents of other countries but you have to contact them directly to check terms, conditions and eligibility.

 

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Finding and Joining the Right Motorcycle Club for You

Posted by in Motorcycles on April 2, 2012

By Kurt Laschuk

Motorcycle clubs offer riders a sense of belonging and friendship that they might not otherwise find in their every day lives. While we may be friends with our coworkers and our family, sometimes it is nice to have a group of friends that feel like our second family with the same passions as we have. With motorcycle clubs, many riders like the idea of belonging to a group of individuals that have a love for motorcycling.

Motorcycle clubs are offered all over the world. Some motorcycle clubs are religion based, others are created for military members, and some are just created to offer a sense of brotherhood among the members. While some clubs may actually have a bad rap for their activities (such as drugs and prostitution), others may have a bigger purpose. There are even motorcycle clubs for individuals who have struggled with alcoholism or a past of drug use, and these riding friendships can offer guidance and a sense of being for those who may feel lost in the world. Most motorcycle clubs, regardless of affiliation or ideology, also offer fun group riding events as well as charity rides and social events.

It is relatively easy to find a motorcycle organization or club to join. There are several websites that have forums and directories of motorcycle clubs listings, and sort them out by location, bike type, and purpose. From law enforcement clubs to women-only clubs, there are all sorts of groups that you may find a connection to in one way or another.

Once you have found one, you will typically link up to a website that offers further information about the club. You can learn about their philosophies, their purpose, and their mission, and will likely learn about some of their local events. As a rider looking to join the club, you will want to do your research and possibly attend some of their public events. This would give you the perfect opportunity to meet with some of the members and find out if you click. Many websites will also have contact information such as emails in order to get in contact with chapter leader and learn more about becoming a part of the group. However, be aware that some groups are invite only, but by being a part of the local motorcycle community, you may strike an invite if you hit it off with a member or two of your dream club.

Being part of a motorcycle club may be just what you need to give purpose and meaning back to your weekends, and give you a sense of brotherhood with other members that share the same passions as you.

 

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