What do you carry?

[JRE]

What items do you keep on the bike for emergencies etc for normal riding (commuting, etc) and what more do you carry on long trips (included OEM tools not withstanding). So far, I've stashed away zip ties, electrical tape, multi-tool, pen, paper, and a flashlight. I will also be including a 4GB USB flash drive with all the documentation for my farkles and maybe images from my service manual. It's tiny so I figured why not. I have room for other stuff so interested in hearing what others carry.

 

[TXTenere]

What items do you keep on the bike for emergencies etc for normal riding (commuting, etc) and what more do you carry on long trips (included OEM tools not withstanding). So far, I've stashed away zip ties, electrical tape, multi-tool, pen, paper, and a flashlight. I will also be including a 4GB USB flash drive with all the documentation for my farkles and maybe images from my service manual. It's tiny so I figured why not. I have room for other stuff so interested in hearing what others carry.

I carry a tire repair kit and absolutely nothing else.

 

[Vanderwho]

Always:
1. Tire repair kit.
2. Small compressor.
3. LED flashlight.
4. Multitool.
5. Rain booties (in case I'm not wearing my touring boots on a shorter ride and get caught in it).
6. Electronic flares.
7. Tire pressure gauge.
8. Paper maps.
9. First-aid kit.
10. Rags and wet-wipes.
11. Lip balm.
12. SPOT tracker.
13. Cell phone.

For longer trips (in addition to extra clothing, toiletries, GPS, tankbag, etc.):
1. Oil.
2. Coolant.
3. Windshield cleaning supplies.

 

[2112]

AA card (breakdown cover, not alcoholics anonymous...).

 

[Buelligan]

Beer

 

[TheHelios]

Currently:
Rain-Gear
2 water bottles
Ear Plugs

Need to add:
Tire Repair Kit

 

[Dogdaze]

Phone, credit card, cash and breakdown recovery card. And a disc lock if all else fails.............

 

[barkingllizard]

everything, all the time... IMO there is no difference between 'normal riding' and 'long trips'...
it often it takes numerous hours just to run out for some groceries.....

 

[djm_ct]

I will also be including a 4GB USB flash drive with all the documentation for my farkles and maybe images from my service manual. It's tiny so I figured why not. I have room for other stuff so interested in hearing what others carry.

Just curious. If you carry this doesn't it necessitate the need to carry a laptop or tablet to read it with? By itself it's kind of useless on the side of the road.

 

[JRE]

Soem good stuff here. I also have some cash stashed as well.

Just curious. If you carry this doesn't it necessitate the need to carry a laptop or tablet to read it with? By itself it's kind of useless on the side of the road.

Yep, multiple reasons for this. You never know who may show up to help and what they may have. Also, when I'm commuting, I have my laptop. It's so damn small that there's no reason not to carry it. Also, I've been places where I wished I had a thumb drive with me to get pictures, etc from friends to take home and I always forget to take one with me even when I know there's a chance I'd want it. I carry one in my car as well. I very much dislike having a bunch of crap on my keychain.

 

[snakebitten]

It varies.
If I have the panniers attached, no telling what all kinds of crazy stuff I have in them.
If I don't have them attached, I invariably have a Nelson Riggs Backpack strapped on the tail rack. That is the minimum I will leave with.

But short-medium-long jaunts ALL require the Cell Phone (Lumia 1520) and at least one of the two tablets (Lumia 2520 and\or Surface 2 Pro)

If I have those pieces of technology with me, I don't have to come back home until I want to. I can work, play, GPS, communicate, listen to music, call an ambulance, ..........

Oh, one more thing, I NEVER leave home without. (I'm a bit scary looking without it)

 

[Ramseybella]

Cell phone, good boots to walk out with, change for pay phone, tire repair kit, water.
And>>>

;D

 

[Dogdaze]

Oh, one more thing, I NEVER leave home without. (I'm a bit scary looking without it)

Doesn't it fly off when you're riding? ::025::

 

[klunsford]

Tire repair kit
rain gear
And a Glock

 

[TheHelios]

Soem good stuff here. I also have some cash stashed as well.Yep, multiple reasons for this. You never know who may show up to help and what they may have. Also, when I'm commuting, I have my laptop. It's so damn small that there's no reason not to carry it. Also, I've been places where I wished I had a thumb drive with me to get pictures, etc from friends to take home and I always forget to take one with me even when I know there's a chance I'd want it. I carry one in my car as well. I very much dislike having a bunch of crap on my keychain.

If you have a modern Android phone, then you can easily access the contents of a flash drive with one of these things:
http://www.adafruit.com/products/1099?gclid=CjwKEAiAlvilBRC5ueCzkpXb4kgSJADxop1BFQ-obvj6X36hrmgIIzUtrWU_zm9yM3PZRnFE_jsFzhoCnInw_wcB

Have one myself "just-in-casies".

 

[Mark R.]

I'm with Vanderwho, except for the rain booties. I travel off road, solo, all the time. Gots to have that stuff.

I will also have extra water and some bars - like Kind Bars or something like that.

 

[Madhatter]

glock

 

[gaps]

DEET....the strongest I can find.

 

[inglysh]

Tire repair kit, multimeter, selection of tools, collapsible container, gps, headlight bulbs, rain gear, tie downs, battery, phone, jumper cables, air compressor, Sig 938 or Sig p226mk25 depending on the destination, collapsible fishing pole, tackle, identification, paper money, flashlight/headlamp, knife (benchmade 1000001),... that's most of it.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I carry too much all the time.
More sockets than I have have bolts to fit.
More allen bits than I have screws /bolts to fit
Assorted rolls of tape (double side, gorilla, electrical...)
Small breaker bar, diagonal cutters, pliers, screwdrivers, air pump, tire repair, 2 different warmer shirts, long john pants, benadryl, camera tripod, rain gloves, tie down cords, more gloves. I usually carry a bit more on multi-day long trips.

Even with all that, I was still cursing myself for not bringing a small allen wrench to fix my wife's helmet as we sat in a parking lot in the Adirondacks this past summer.