Long Ride Essentials - One Rider's List

Having just completed another multi-week ride, I've finally figured out what I think are my essential items to bring on cross-country rides for Spring through Fall. All items INCLUDE what I'm wearing. So here goes:
Clothing
- 2 Helmets: 1 full face, 1 half shell
- 1 Heavy Leather biker jacket
- 1 Boots (H-D ones that are very walkable and have vent zippers)
- 1 Leather chaps
- 1 Heavy Leather biker vest
- 1 "Hoodie"
- 4 Glove pairs: 1 Heavy Gauntlet, 1 deerskin, 1 rain, 1 half-finger
- 1 Rain suit (pants/jacket)
- 5 Shirts: 1 long sleeve, 2 short sleeve, 1 no sleeve, one collared dress shirt that can handle abuse.
- 2 pair Pants (1 heavy denim, one lighter fabric jeans)
- 4 pair socks: 1 Heavy weight, 3 medium
- 5 pair drawers: 1 long, 4 boxer/brief
- 1 Swim trunks (with pocket)
- 2 kerchiefs
- 1 head/neck wrap thing
- 1 Balaclava
- lower face wrap thing

Continuing with essential accessories:
- 1 towel
- 1 Emergency blanket
- 1 Emergency tube tent
- 1 hammer/axe tool
- 4 steel tent stakes
- 2 lighters
- 8 5-Hour Energy drinks
- 1 Sealable hot/cold drink container (12 ounce)
- 1 16-ounce water bottle (formerly a Gatorade bottle, but the kind that can be twisted open by mouth to drink while riding)
- 6 Cliff Bars
- 4-8 plastic bags (like stores use)
- 1 Full-size Leatherman multi-tool
- 1 Tire Gauge
- 1 Brake Lock
- 2 Reader glasses
- 1 Bike Cable & lock (to string through jacket sleeves and lock to bike if needed)
- Large gym-duffle bag (for unused helmet(s), etc)

And more:
- 1 small bottle Benedryl tablets (help with allergies, bug bites/stings, & as sleep aid)
- 2 anti-biotic ointment tubes, 1 pain-relief, 1 not
- 1 small toothpaste tube & toothbrush
- 12 assorted Band-aids
- 1 anti-perspirant stick
- 1 body spray (travel size)
- 1 small bottle aspirin
- 1 small bottle ibuprofen
- 1 small bottle acetaminophen
- 1 bar soap (travel size)
- 2 disposable razors
- 1 small bottle manual pump bug spray (40 DEET)
- 1 bottle Bullfrog Bug N' Sun spray
- 1 Chapstick lip balm
- 1 100 SPF sun block tube
- 1 can Anti-Monkeybutt Powder (or Gold Bond)

- H-D airshock pump (for my front fork shocks - rear are now Progressive 944's)
- Allen/star wrench multi-tool
- 8" Stanley Crescent wrench
- 50' Paracord
- Magnetic Compass
- Road Atlas
- Zip Ties *
- Duct Tape*
- Flashlight*
And now - drumroll please - 1 Android Smart Phone! (Even if I still haven't mastered it yet)

My last ride I carried more than this, but I didn't NEED more. I'll recheck to see if I forgot something in a bit...

Note that this is to load-out a HD Road King with 2 hard bags and the duffle that is strapped behind the rider.
So, any questions? Suggestions? Arguments? Let's here it......

Nope that should do it .don't forget your gun!

I ride in touring pants so only carry 1 pair of jeans along with tee shirts socks and underwear of course. I also carry fix o flat,tire plugs and small air pump that runs off the cigarette lighter. Also pack beef jerky to snack on between breakfast and supper during the day. Get cold drinks at stops because otherwise they get warm quick.

I'm not so sure of carrying a gun, different state laws could land a traffic stop into a jail stop. Especially in the Northeast. Red, you didn't mention birth control?!?!

I will neither confirm or deny the presence of weapons, but I do agree they can be too much trouble for non-criminal, legal U.S. residents in some states. As for the other, well, I actually love my wife of 30 years, so don't need it.

Especially if you're in the northeast. Mass-RI-NY-NJ and maybe even CT are unreasonable.

But here ther is the transfer firing arms law. As long as the weapon and the ammunition are in two seperate locked locations you are good.

I added the ties and tape....great suggestion, and I actually wanted to pack some (but forgot!). I used to carry Fix-o-flat and plugs, but after a can failed and semi-exploded (more oozed than popped) I quit and will just rely on cellphone/passer-by charity. A patched bike tire is, to me, an accident waiting to happen, so I stopped worrying about resolving flats that way. In a survival situation, I'd slow-ride on rims if needed. Feel free to disagree. Oh: my dual-sport Suzuki DR650SE does carry those things. Off-road is more likely beyond expedient help. That is a different list.

- More info: these lists are for staying at others' homes or motels - the camping stuff is for emergency use only. In the case that no motels are available, that is when I'd use it. No bag, just get enough sleep while wearing all I need to stay warm, then hit the road. Happened once, and it is better than a night in jail.

Good man! Me too! Just funnin'

Actually, unfortunately, I do - NEVER!

Happened to me once or twice, woke up damnit.

That is an extensive list Red!

Tried to be all-inclusive, but forgot FLASHLIGHT! Ooops, so here it goes on preceding list (* items were added after original list posted).

I know

Good.

Right on.. thanks for sharing.