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Out of all the various crap that I have in my bags at any given time the one thing that has proven useful the most often when out on the road is a bundle of zip ties.
I have given them out to other riders for a wide variety of quick fixes from a hanging oil filter to a ECM box dangling precariously above a drive chain to a loose license plate.
I have other stuff like rain gear, kickstand plate, spare glasses, sunscreen, a small adjustable wrench, multi-tip screwdriver. But it's always the zip ties to the rescue.
Spare kickstand spring. I have an old one that's kinda stretched out, so it's easy to install but will hold the stand up well enough to ride. Bungees, zip ties, tire kit, small tool bag with torx and allen and other basic tools. Just got a small tire pump.
I don't have a "road-trip" list verses the everyday list of tools to carry.
In addition to the tools, I too carry a kick-stand spring. And following a lesson-learned on my most recent road-trip, I now also carry a CR2032 key-fob battery.
Just remember you can always buy what you need while on the road, that way you're not carrying 20lbs of "Just in Case"
Very, very true!
If you think about, what's the worst thing (except your mind) that you'd miss most on a trip id it was lost, broken or stolen???
Your wallet, your bike key(s) and prescription(s) or prescription glasses are the things that first come to my mind.
Back in '89 on a trip to Sturgis (when I was still wearing prescription glasses) I kept either my daytime or sunglasses (when not in use) i a small leather pouch on my fuel tank console.
Nearing sunset (as we were traveling down the highway) I removed my daytime prescription glasses from the pouch and placed my prescription sunglasses back in the pouch and proceeded to put on my daytime prescription glasses.
Very blurred vision and I at first thought that I had managed to put my fingers on the lenses of my glasses but I quickly discovered that one of the lenses was missing (along with the tiny little screw)!
Fortunately for me, my wife was flying out to meet me on the following Friday evening and she successfully managed to convince the folks at the eyeglass store to make me replacement lens and they even supplied a couple of frame screws.
However, for three long days (and four evenings and nights) I either had to wear my sunglasses, wear my one lens glasses or walk around partially blind!
I no longer wear prescription glasses but I do have prescriptions that I carry in a plastic case ad that is kept in a plastic Zip-Lock bag inside my luggage.
As for my wallet, it's kept on a chain to my belt and my keys (and FOB) is kept on a metal belt clip.
I carry the tool kit that came stock with my 2005 Road Glide. Added zip ties, electrical tape and a flashlight. When doing a long trip I supplement with some other tools like dykes, ratchet with proper allen/torx bits etc. Still only a tool roll. Yes you can get most anything on the road, but sometimes you really are in the middle of nowhere and getting her up and running by yourself can save a bunch of time and make you feel like a master mechanic.
Most recent was fixing a busted shifter rod on my buddies Electra Glide with a hair tie from one of the ladies. Good luck.
Plastic amt metal zip ties. Bailing wire. Duct tape (usually wrapped around the adjustable wrench handle. Stop and Go tire plug kit and a mini compressor. I also have the ability to r/r the rims from the bike, but have not had to do so with tubeless tires.
In addition to the items above, I keep an emergency roll of toilet paper and eye drops for any riding that I do.
Even with a full face helmet, your eyes can get dry and will fatigue you on longer rides.
The toilet paper has come in handy a time or two when you cannot find a gas station or place with a toilet quickly............three rows in at a corn field is all you really need.
Do you have the original shifter ball joint on your bike? I've had these thing blow apart on quite a few bikes during a trip for some reason, especially the rear one. 1st time was able to zip tie it together. Then I replaced to a real heim joint and keep my take offs in my tool bag...have helped a few people on the road this way.
Currently carrying HF mini ratchet set, wera multi head screwdriver set, two small crescent wrenches or ever better a pair of knipex pliers wrench, 10mm 12point + 1/4 12point (brake / caliper tools), and one long allen (forget size) to adjust clutch. Agreed with the noco battery jump pack...
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