The first bit of advice is that you don't really need any. Just pick up your documents and credit card, get on your motorbike and go and have an adventure.

A purer philosophy of motorcycle touring perhaps, but hey, the preparation can be fun too, so here's five pages on our take on the subject:

Part 1. What to Wear (below)
Part 2. What to Take
Part 3. Preparing the Bike
Part 4. How and Where
Part 5. Checklist

Part 1. What to Wear

In a nutshell, protection and comfort should be the motorbike tourer's main aims. Always be prepared for conditions ranging from 0°C to 35°C.

In cold conditions (even in the summer it can sometimes get very cold in the Alps/Pyrenees - or even in the UK at 1am on the way home) take full windchill protection. Motorcycling outer rain jackets and trousers (with a high neck and sufficiently long in the arms and legs) are very effective against windchill, pack up very small and are cheap. XL heavy duty black rubber gloves (of the type that you can get in supermarkets) usually fit over summer motorcycling gloves, and also pack up really small and are very cheap (an old despatch riding trick). You now also have good wet weather protection (and it WILL rain - it always does at some point!). Heat loss from the neck is a significant factor in motorcycling so take one of those specialist neck warmers or at least a large cotton bandana.

Our final recommendation is a heated waistcoat. Expect to pay around £180 for the best (we recommend EX02), so they're not cheap, but they do have alot of advantages. Firstly, they are very flexible and allow you to ride through a huge variety of conditions and times of the day, without having to stop to add or take off clothing. They also pack up small and mean you don't have to take traditional cold weather bulky clothing, and it also means you might be able to wear a closer fitting jacket which is safer. You just need a long sleeved cotton t-shirt, the waistcoat and your riding jacket. Crucially, it keeps up your core temperature in the colder conditions maintaining your concentration levels and conserving your energy. You'll also find that they greatly extend your "pleasure" riding season back home. The one down side in touring though, is that it might fail; which could restrict your movements a bit.

In hot conditions, there's really no excuse not to wear your full accident protection, as there are ways to manage the heat effectively. If you have vents in your clothing, make sure that they're open. Tuck your gloves inside your jackets sleeves and undo the sleeve fastener and zip enough to allow airflow through the jacket (yes, this does slightly compromise safety, but we think that this is the one and only compromise worth making). Soak that cotton long sleeved t-shirt in water and, as long as the airflow in the jacket isn't excessive, that should keep you cool until the next fuel stop when you can soak it again. Soak that cotton bandana too and wear around your neck. If this sounds too unattractive, consider shirts made with modern wicking materials like these.

Take advantage of the shade. Use the shadiest fuel pump, use the shade from buildings when in slow moving town traffic, or better, stay away from towns.

Keep hydrated by having a bottle of water easily accessible, so you can take a drink every time you stop. A little often. You can maintain the right levels of hydration in unfamiliar conditions by taking on enough liquids to ensure that you take a piss the same number of times per day as you do normally at home. Dehydration can cause lethargy, concentration loss and other dangerously motorcycling hostile symptoms.

Most modern full face helmets have built in vents, remind yourself how to open and close the various vents whilst on the move.

Polarising sunglasses are useful in the right conditions, but generally can be a bit of nuisance when taking your helmet off frequently, and the frames can cause injuries to the face in an accident. Dark visors can be a pain in the mountains because of the tunnels and carrying a clear spare can be a nuisance because of the arkward shape. One of the most practical solutions is those helmets with a secondary internal dark visor, but these can have poor optics. Or, you can take nothing....the choice is yours.

Most quality motorcycle touring boots will include a breathable, waterproof liner which should be able to keep your feet dry for at least a couple of hours, if not indefinitely. Follow the makers instructions for keeping the leather outer in the best possible condition, especially when it comes to waterproofing. Dry feet are important for keeping warm and levels of morale and concentration high. If you're planning on doing alot of walking, consider walking boots that have been adapted for motorcycling, such as those made by Alt-Berg.

If you suffer from a sore bum try cycling shorts with gel inserts.

Take a good supply of disposable earplugs, at least one pair per day, and make sure you insert them properly. They work at their best when new and you want to avoid an ear infection (and possible balance issues!) when you're away, by reusing them too often. They only cost about 20p per pair if you buy them in quantity. Noise is fatiguing, and it's obviously necessary to take every precaution to maintain concentration.

Page last updated: 14/12/07

Next: Part 2. What to Take

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