Packing advice
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 250
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Packing advice
The wife and I will be going on our first extended ride in mid July. We are trying to prepare well in advance for the week long trip. We will lay out the items for the trip and determine what we do not need. We figure if we forget something, we can pick it up as needed. My question is how many use a stuff-sack that allows you to remove the air to make the sack smaller? Having spent 20+yrs in military, we know how to roll stuff and pack tight but we are concerned about keeping the weight down for the ride.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22,998
Likes: 11,439
No madder how you crunch it down it still has weight. Try some dry runs pack up and ride. You only need one cell phone one charger. If you leave with to much gear easy to stop at the post office mail it home.
Same with anything you buy on the trip. After a few trips you learn to get a lot on that Harley.
Things like rain gear may not need to stay in a ball they can lay flat.l
We use the HD bag liners as suitcases
Same with anything you buy on the trip. After a few trips you learn to get a lot on that Harley.
Things like rain gear may not need to stay in a ball they can lay flat.l
We use the HD bag liners as suitcases
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,975
Likes: 5,214
From: Michigan
The main thing is to pack as little gear as you can get by with.
Two pair of jeans and four T-shirts, with socks and undies, and a pair of swimming trunks will run almost a week.
We dunk our T-shirts in the sink and hang them in the shower as soon as we get into our motel each day.
For a full load, we put our swim trunks (or regular shorts on) and either use a motel guest laundry of laundromat as needed.
Two-up riding can be difficult, especially if you're traveling in different climates (mountains and flatlands), or in the spring or fall months.
With two sets of raingear and leathers, there's little room left for clothing and other necessities.
When we rode two-up, I pulled a trailer and it made the packing problem disappear.
Minus a trailer, the simplest and easiest packing system is an extra bag that can be attached to either a passenger backrest, or on top of a tour-pak if you have one.
I use "garbage bags" as liners for extra bags.
If the weather allows, wearing leathers saves on storage space and they can be switched with rain gear (when needed) or, as we do, wear the raingear over our leathers.
Either way, raingear, and or leathers should be the last thing packed on a bike as to allow quick, easy access.
Tell your wife that y'all aren't going to a fashion show.
It's a bike trip and those that you meet will usually look as rumpled, wrinkled, and road weary as y'all do (if not more).
Two pair of jeans and four T-shirts, with socks and undies, and a pair of swimming trunks will run almost a week.
We dunk our T-shirts in the sink and hang them in the shower as soon as we get into our motel each day.
For a full load, we put our swim trunks (or regular shorts on) and either use a motel guest laundry of laundromat as needed.
Two-up riding can be difficult, especially if you're traveling in different climates (mountains and flatlands), or in the spring or fall months.
With two sets of raingear and leathers, there's little room left for clothing and other necessities.
When we rode two-up, I pulled a trailer and it made the packing problem disappear.
Minus a trailer, the simplest and easiest packing system is an extra bag that can be attached to either a passenger backrest, or on top of a tour-pak if you have one.
I use "garbage bags" as liners for extra bags.
If the weather allows, wearing leathers saves on storage space and they can be switched with rain gear (when needed) or, as we do, wear the raingear over our leathers.
Either way, raingear, and or leathers should be the last thing packed on a bike as to allow quick, easy access.
Tell your wife that y'all aren't going to a fashion show.
It's a bike trip and those that you meet will usually look as rumpled, wrinkled, and road weary as y'all do (if not more).
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: North Dakota
My Wife and I pack for a week in a tee-bag attached to our sissy bar. Unless you run into rain and soak your cloths every day, you can get by with a lot less than you think. We travel a lot up north so we layer up in the morning so we remove layers as it warms up. I use a net over my tee-bag for the stuff that comes off so as to not have to open the bag. I keep the rain gear and a small hand towel, this can be used to wrap around your neck in driving rain to keep water from running down inside the rain suite, in the saddle on the right side of my bike so I don't have to be getting it out next to traffic if needed. The tool bag goes in same saddle bag. Most likely we all pack twice as much as we need. I think on a bike trip, grunge is ok. Enjoy your trip.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
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Thanks all. I understand all of the things you have pointed out. My question is what do you pack clothes into? We attended a Touring Clinic at local HD dealer. During the Clinic, they showed us a stuff sack that allowed you to squeeze all the air out so that it took up less room. Anyone use anything like that?
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 661
Likes: 2
Thanks all. I understand all of the things you have pointed out. My question is what do you pack clothes into? We attended a Touring Clinic at local HD dealer. During the Clinic, they showed us a stuff sack that allowed you to squeeze all the air out so that it took up less room. Anyone use anything like that?
Yes, properly-sized/waterproof stuff-sacks are the way to pack... FIRST, determine the size stuff-sack(s) needed... I get mine at REI-type outlets... You can learn a lot about gear/packing-technology from serious hikers and adventure motorcyclists (http://www.advrider.com)... FYI, my ENTIRE touring weight is 60# including tent/sleeping bag/laptop/clothes/etc...
One stuff-sack contains 1-man tent/sleeping bag/ground cover/pad (but I usually stay in motels)...
I also bring a small/compact back-pack for my necessary over-night items (1 change of clothes, razor/tooth brush, chargers, etc.)... I can grab it, check-in, clean-up, eat, get some shut-eye, without un/packing-re/loading everything...
Use clothes/materials that are durable/light-weight, have multi-purposes, wash/wear well...
Happy trails...
BTW, where are you from/going...
Last edited by user_1534GD; Apr 19, 2013 at 01:52 AM.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
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GliderDude,
Yeah the wife found those on-line, just have to go look at them. We are headed out of Boise ID, through Montana to Calgary and back down through Idaho. We are not camping but staying in hotels. Wife has route planned out with an extra day thrown in. Should be a good ride.
Yeah the wife found those on-line, just have to go look at them. We are headed out of Boise ID, through Montana to Calgary and back down through Idaho. We are not camping but staying in hotels. Wife has route planned out with an extra day thrown in. Should be a good ride.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,653
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From: Snow Hill, NC
You should be fine...do you have a tour pak rack? can't tell in the picture.get saddle bag liners or a tour pak liner bag...pack the rain stuff close by...leave room for snacks, bottled water, sunscreen somewhere...I have a trailer hitch with a kuryakyn rack...i use a flat cooler for water, fruit & snack...
A roll bag on the tour pak is nice also...
A roll bag on the tour pak is nice also...
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 250
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Notgrownup,
No rack on the tour pack but it is on my list to get and install before the trip. Bike came with the liners. We did one weekend trip last year with them but we did over pack. Learned some lessons on that trip. Trailer hitch is on the wish list for holding cooler, pulling a trailer and when needed holding flags for parades. For now we use a little $7 crushable cooler from Wal-Mart. We buy the small bottles of water and re-fill at night. Thanks for the advice.
No rack on the tour pack but it is on my list to get and install before the trip. Bike came with the liners. We did one weekend trip last year with them but we did over pack. Learned some lessons on that trip. Trailer hitch is on the wish list for holding cooler, pulling a trailer and when needed holding flags for parades. For now we use a little $7 crushable cooler from Wal-Mart. We buy the small bottles of water and re-fill at night. Thanks for the advice.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 89
Likes: 14
From: Northern Il
In my limited touring experience I have used the stuff packs like you are talking about. I have only three of the overpriced Harley version, and I supplement with gallon size ziplock bags. I usually try to put a t shirt underwear and socks into each bag and wear my jeans until they stand up on their own. I use the saddlebag inserts as well, that makes it easy to just pull em out and head into motel.
Have a great trip.
Have a great trip.