If you are ready to take a motorcycle weekend trip, there are some things you will need to plan before you go. A buddy of mine who loves his Harley Road King has a wife who does not like it, so one thing we do is have what we like to call our pace car-with my the wife of my buddy driving it! Because we usually have lots of things to take with us, it is really great to have that pace car jammed full of things that we need at our destination, but not necessarily the things we need along the way. This pace car hauls items such as sleeping bags, extra food, a larger tool kit, blankets, and of course our tents. In addition, we usually have his wife on the other end of a walkie-talkie just in case she has stopped at a shopping mall on the way and we need an item from that car. We also ensure that she carries plenty of beer to sip in the evenings when we are not riding out on the open road.

When planning for a motorcycle weekend trip, you should track out a good map for your destination, the number of miles you will be traveling, and what options are available on your route for gasoline or hotels if you are not camping out. You can easily map out your destination with one of the numerous mapping options available on the Internet or if you are good, do it manually using that old atlas.

In addition to the pace car that my buddys wife is driving, we have to ensure that we bring along all the other necessary items. For instance, plenty of water and thirst quencher drinks are good for motorcycle trips to keep you hydrated-it can be very hot out there on the highway, mountain, and rural roads. Smart and healthy snacks are good to take along such as granola bars and other small snacks that fit easily into your backpack or motorcycle compartments.

You should also bring an easily stored tool kit that has things in it you might need for emergency repairs. The basics such as screwdrivers, spare nuts and bolts, plastic ties, extra bungee cords, and other small tools you might need are all good things to have. If you can, and have the room, extra oil and braking fluid are good to bring as well as flashlights and matches. Keep your matches in a plastic bag so they stay dry if you hit rain.

Speaking of rain, when we can not find the pace car and take refuge in the SUV, we all take rainwear to protect us in rainfall whether it is light or strong. There are all kinds of rain weather gear available on the market today as well as gloves and jackets that are heated for cooler mountain or elevated areas. Some other clothing and wearable gear that you will need is a proper DOT certified helmet, riding glasses, scarves for face protection, and a robust pair of chaps to keep your legs warm and protected.

Personal items to take in a plastic protected bag might be your toothbrush and toothpaste or other grooming needs you can not live without. You should also keep your wallet, credit cards, and money inside a plastic bag to protect them from harm-after all, they will definitely be needed when you get to your destination and also during your trip, particularly if the pace car is far ahead of you, or in the case of my buddy, far behind him.

Everyone on the trip should carry some towels to dry off your bike and windshield if you pass through rain. If you can, utilize a good GPS system on your motorcycle that will ensure you are on the right track and are not lost, even though you may have thoroughly planned your trip. Just remember that sometimes road maps are incorrect. Bringing along some extra clothing is a great idea should you become too wet or too cold. You will also want to include an additional pair of gloves or a warm hat that can be worn under your helmet.

When planning a weekend motorcycle trip, be sure to go with friends, as it can be challenging to go it out there alone. Plus, it is more fun to take friends along for laughing and seeing the open road together. It is a good idea to also ensure that some friends or relatives at home know the route that you will be riding just in case they need to get a hold of you or God forbid, something should happen to you. Weekend biking trips can be extremely fun, exciting, and relaxing-particularly when you have a great pace car with all the things you want to have along but can not carry.

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