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What to carry on a solo trip...
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:24 pm
by Lion_Lady
Besides the multi-colored plastic cards. Already have a decent (and fairly well stocked) tool roll by Roadgear. It beats Helen2Wheels' tool roll, hands DOWN. LOVE IT!
I figure I need some sort of air compressor (don't completely trust those cartridge thingies), just in case. Riderswearhouse has 2 available. One with a cigarette lighter connector and a bit bigger.
9" x 3" x 2.5", 23 oz. $40.
The other isn't so forthcoming on the details of power, but is smaller.
5.5"H x 4.5"L x 2.5"W. $25. Has anyone used one of these and can recommend one over the other?
I'm working on making use of the odd space in the cut-out part of my RIGHT sidecase for this.
P
(edited for dyslexia)
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:37 pm
by bikerdudeQC
Hello Lion Lady,
Funny, I started the same conversation over on another board.
I just bot the blue one you show. Haven't tried it yet but if you cut away the bottom part, which is where the bundled wire is stowed I'm almost certain it will even fit in the gap under the tank just ahead of the saddle. Actually just got back from the garage checking on this.
I'm going to go back to the store and look at the black one. Looks like with the same type of modification it would end up a smaller packadge making it easier to bundle the wire around it and still stow it in the same space.
Another tip I have seen in the past is ugrading the plugs that come with the bike, but I don't remember the details.
Happy travels,
Justin
AKA MilesAway
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:39 pm
by bikerdudeQC
What are the multi-coloured cards?
Do you know me ?
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:04 pm
by TonyT607
Hint:
I only carry one.
And I never leave home without it.
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:21 pm
by bikerdudeQC
thanks Tony, feel like a twit now!

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:40 am
by mvscorpio
Well howdy, LionLady!
I bought the blue one as well - works great, and I put in in my tool bag in the right case.
I also keep a phone card stashed in there, just in case.
Cheaper
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 3:56 pm
by pjbmw
Why not buy a cheapo compressor at Wal-Mart and bust it out of its plastic casing? That, a little electrical tape, and a baggy to put it in and it fits in the little area between the seat and tank. If you don't have ABS, you could hard mount it in the space in front of the battery.

Re: Cheaper
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 4:51 pm
by R4R&R
pjbmw wrote:Why not buy a cheapo compressor at Wal-Mart and bust it out of its plastic casing? That, a little electrical tape, and a baggy to put it in and it fits in the little area between the seat and tank. If you don't have ABS, you could hard mount it in the space in front of the battery.

That's what I did - I think I spent a whole $12 on the compressor and it fits very neatly on top of the airbox.
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:52 pm
by Lion_Lady
Okay, I've got a Rockster... Gonna have to investigate this mysterious space between the seat and tank.
(As for buying Walmart's version, I've got a $50 gift certificate from Aerostitch/Riderwearhouse).
Anything ELSE I really need to carry that ya'll can think of?
P
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:26 am
by CycleRob
Depends on how long the trip is. I'd carry a half frozen or fully frozen filled quart sized bicycle water bottle wrapped in a foam sheet (the ice amount depends on outside ambient temp). Some Hershey bars for energy, maybe a well packed banana or 2. It's the nearly perfect food and goes well with chocolate. If you pass a Wendy's and have the time, the large chocolate shake you eat with a spoon can be a meal all by itself. A digital camera just to capture scenes you'll want to remember. A cell phone. Your BMW RoadSide Assistance card. RainGear and/or heated vest. Extra sweatshirt in case the weather changes unexpectedly or your trip goes later than planned. Extra jeans in case you get them wet (also protects the bananas and camera). Phone numbers of people you can depend on -or- those that owe you BigTime. Maps or GPS unit. Check & set the tire pressures.
Start out with a centerstand fuel fill-up to the metal plate then reset the tripmeter so you can figure fuel mileage.
When out on the ride, stop at least every hour and take a short walk while snacking or drinking (water/juice/coffee). Stay hydrated. If you get thirsty, it's already too late. Don't go any faster than the fastest 18 wheeler and enjoy the ride.
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:18 am
by Boxerboy
8-9 replies so far and no-one has mentioned a firearm!
I've read these sort of questions in other forums and the usual response goes...
credit card, cell, baretta...or something like that!
It's a concept us here in Oz find weird.
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 7:12 am
by Boxer
Don't forget to carry a firearm. Two would be better. One in the tank bag. The other in a shoulder holster......No, make that three. One in the thank bag. One in the shoulder holster and one in an ankle holster.
Also a sawed-off shotgun attached to the charcoal canister for easy removal. This would be for rodents and little noisy birds while camping.
A couple of knives wouldn't hurt either....Oh, and a bow with steel-tipped arrows for sneaking up on those ruthless, hornee, mountain men.
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:13 pm
by jb44
Here's a trip checklist:
http://www.micapeak.com/info/mclist.html
As for the air compressor, I have the one in your second picture...only used it a couple of times...it worked.
jb
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:22 pm
by houndog
JB,
That is way cool. I am planning a trip now and I didn't even think about some of that stuff.
Thanks,
Tommy
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:29 pm
by jb44
Here's the Credit Card camping checklist:
(link didn't work for me on other page)
http://www.micapeak.com/info/ccard.html
jb
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 2:39 pm
by tor1150r
The micapeak site is an excellent resource. Look at the checklist page carefully - you can add your own items and determine the sorting order.
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 6:06 pm
by wncbmw
Cyclerob said
If you pass a Wendy's and have the time, the large chocolate shake you eat with a spoon can be a meal all by itself.
Spoken by a skinny guy with a high metabolism!
no-one has mentioned a firearm!
No more ardent defender of the 2nd amendment than me, but I don't carry on the bike. On-body carry could hurt in a fall! On bike carry is not secure and worthless if you need it in a hurry. Not to mention passing through multiple states with differing laws. My arsenal stays home when I travel on the bike.
Lots of good suggestions otherwise. One day I am going to take me one of those credit card trips!

Hmmmm...
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 7:23 pm
by MikeCam
Visit a few sites and check out the search features...look to find the kind of things that go wrong. Decide which you can handle as a roadside repair, then printout the short 'How-To's' that are available for those things. Match your skills to those repairs and the tools you have.
Off the top of my head: tire repair; loss of oil- usually re-tighten sump bolt or filter or filler thingee; faulty fuel filter- involved roadside repair; by-pass sidestand switch- simple short circuit jumper; bulbs and fuses troubleshooting-which is where, etc; faulty rear brake switch - usually bulb or crud related; some more...
Best of Luck.
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 9:49 pm
by vinman
You don't need no stinkin' compressor! I bought this and have used it on my road trip: [/url]
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/pro ... ry_ID=4361
Worked great, less space than a compressor, and more reliable.
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 9:51 pm
by vinman