Biking Essentials

[GuzziPaul]

Judging by the other thread many of us are more mature riders who over the years have gathered a bit of knowledge and I thought it might be useful for a list of "bikinf essentials" stuff thats nice to have to make your life easier. The things that you wish you had bought years ago. I'll start.

Paddock Stand(or similar) I have an Abba stand for the Tuono which I got in 2004, it makes changing the back wheel and oiling the chain so much easier. Last year I got the front wheel lift adapter. So much easier than trying to balance the front end on a couple of jacks when taking the front wheel out.

Hydraulic Bike Bench. So much easier working on the bike when it's higher up. Mines a short one to fit in the garage and can only use it with a bike with a centre stand ( Guzzi) or the Tuono when its on the Abba stand.

Interlocking Garage Flooring. Polystyrene or similar interlocking tiles at my bench and at the bike bench. Makes working on the bike in winter so much warmer and comfy.

Roll top bag and Roc Straps. I've got several different bags (and a top box I had when I went to ST Tropez on the first Guzzi), 3 lots of soft panniers, two different tank bags and tail packs. The best I have found is an Oxford Aqua bag. I have a 30lt and 40lt. Both free with a Bike mag subscription. Held on with a couple of ROC straps I've done thousands of miles with one and its never let water in and always secure.

Please feel free to add.

[Horse]

Enough gloves!

Summer unlined, winter insulated and waterproof- with a dry spare pair for the ride home.

[Yorick]

Looking back, the best thing I could have bought in my daft yoof, was proper warm gloves.

Second best would have been a spare second pair when they were wet.

I rode in Bradford till my first car at 30. My body was never cold, but my fingers made me scream.

[GuzziPaul]

To the gloves/heated grips I would also add:
A neck tube. For years I suffered with a draft down the back of my neck.

Waterproof trouses. My knees are pretty knackered, which in addition to falling off a few times I put down to the 20 mile round trip to college ridining through winter in just a pair of jeans. I used to get soaked and my knees frozen which I warmed up by rinning up the 11 flight of stairs (Hull FE College). I must have had about 10 different pairs of waterproofs before getting some waterproof Gortex walking trouses that fit over my leathers and thanks to the full length zips I don't have to take my boot off.

[Dutchman]

Cargo net!

[Horse]

Heated grips. Why did I suffer for 30 years before getting some?

Not absolutely essential, but a heated waistcoat. Bloomin' marvelous!

[G.P]

Ear plugs. I NEVER ride without them.

Unfortunately I didn't stat using them until around 2004 so now also carry a little box for my hearing aids...(probably too many loud gigs are to blame as well)

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

The only motorcycling essentials are the ability to enjoy yourself and a motorcycle, there are too many miserable gits in the world.

[Nidge]

A section cut from large plastic bucket. It's the perfect tool to act as a shoehorn for refitting carbs to 4 cyl bikes.

In the absence of a hydraulic bench, a mechanics seat from the Machine Mart catalogue is a godsend

Magnet on a stick, and flexible grabber to retrieve the pingfuckits

[Dodgy69]

I don't ride without a small tank bag these days. So useful for the bits n bob's. These days with those tank ring things, on and off in secs, it's no hindrance. Don't own a top box or panniers.

[Horse]

Magnet on a stick, and flexible grabber to retrieve the pingfuckits

Last time I wanted use mine, the magnet had lost its 'pull'

[Hot_Air]

BikeSafe, BMF Blue Riband and similar training: After DAS, then I found that a session or two with a professional advanced instructor was invaluable. Training boosted my skills, helped me avoid those new rider incidents and probably saved me from injury on several occasions.

Quality waterproof clothing with good ventillation: Laminated waterproof jackets have come down in price a lot, now that Gore-Tex isn’t the only laminated clothing. I’ve lost count of the number of times my gear has ‘wetted out’ in British weather, but never looked back since getting laminated waterproofs. Provided the openings have a waterproof seal for when you need it, then lots of vents turn a 3-season jacket into a 4-season option.

[weeksy]

hmmmmm

[Skub]

hmmmmm

Polishing gear?

Fog City or equivalent visor doofers.

[Dodgy69]

Luggage attachment test...

80L bag on pillion seat, rok strapped to grab rails. Works fine so no rack required. Very happy, don't know when I'll need it though. Bit bored.

[Supermofo]

Ear plugs
Pin-lock
2 visors or drop down visor.
latex gloves for working on the bike
Half decent tool kit like the Halfords ones
GT-85 for cleaning back wheel etc
Top box - looks rubbish but are awesome and can't see it when riding.

[Sadlonelygit]

A decent sized van.

[GuzziPaul]

Luggage attachment test...

80L bag on pillion seat, rok strapped to grab rails. Works fine so no rack required. Very happy, don't know when I'll need it though. Bit bored.

I do something similar on my Tuono except with a 30 or 40lt roll top. Always steady and secure over several thousands miles, trips and up to 130mph in Germany.

[weeksy]

Luggage attachment test...

80L bag on pillion seat, rok strapped to grab rails. Works fine so no rack required. Very happy, don't know when I'll need it though. Bit bored.

Emigrating?

[Gimlet]

Good bags those Givis. I have the KTM branded one but it's exactly the same and made by Givi, just badged KTM.
Amazing what you can stuff into them.

Got a smaller 21 L pair of Enduristan roll bags as well that I use as soft panniers with a Motonaut harness. Enduristan quality is superb. They're indestructible. If the KTM/Givi ever wears out/starts leaking that,s what I'l replace it with.