In the fall, a lot of riders head out for a New England tour or cruise to the California coast. If you live in Garland, Plano, McKinney or anywhere else in the DFW area, you might be hitting the road because you're sick of all the rain. Use this checklist to make sure you have what you need without wasting space on items you don't.
DOCUMENTATION
Pack your driver's license and proof of insurance. Carry an electronic version of everything else. Take photos of documents you think you might want and back them up so even if something happens to your phone it's accessible.
MOTORCYCLE ROAD TRIP CLOTHING
Pick a few sets of your most comfortable riding clothes and rotate them out. The people you pass on the road won't know you only packed three shirts, and the ones riding with you either did the same thing or they wish they hadn't over packed. Choose one pair of shoes that works with everything and wear them out. Here's a list of the basics:
- Shirts -- short sleeved and long
- A few pair of riding pants
- Plenty of underwear and socks -- if you can't do laundry, a fresh pair will get you to the next stop
- Rain gear
- Heated or insulated gear if you're going somewhere cold
- A head wrap or ponytail for long hair
Depending on where you're headed, you might also need a swimsuit and flip flops. Motorcycle leather doesn't feel so great on Florida beaches.
FOR YOUR BIKE
Pack the following in case you need them along the way:
- Tire repair kit and tire pressure gauge
- Basic tool kit
- Bungee cords
- Flashlight
OTHER MOTORCYCLE ROAD TRIP MUST-HAVES
- First aid kit
- Medications you take regularly plus painkillers and decongestants just in case
- Sunscreen
- Chap stick (also containing sunscreen)
- Trash bags for waterproofing items you didn't realize you'd need to
- Ziplocs in multiple sizes for organization and waterproofing
- Handi-wipes for just about everything
SPACE SAVING TIPS
If you're staying at hotels, use their shampoo, soap and hair dryer. It may not be your favorite brand, but your hair is going to be in the wind all day anyway.
The cases your sunglasses, rain goggles and yellow lens night glasses came in are bulky. Stow those in a sock instead.
When you pack clothing, don't just shove it in. Lay it flat on a table or bed and roll it as tightly as possible. You'll be amazed how much smaller it gets, plus it wrinkles less.
BEST BIKES FOR MOTORCYCLE ROAD TRIP
Harley-Davidson® Street, Sportster and Softail are powerful and agile for the Dallas streets and back roads around DFW. However, other models are more suited to long road trips. Dallas Harley-Davidson® has a large selection of the following:
- Harley® Touring bikes like Road King, Street Glide, Road Glide or Ultra Limited
- Harley-Davidson® Trikes like Tri Glide Ultra or Freewheeler
- H-D® CVO™ Street Glide™, CVO Road Glide™ or CVO™ Limited
Many of them come from the factory with BOOM!™ Box GTS infotainment, wireless interface and premium sound systems. That way you can keep your music playing and your GPS handy mile after rugged mile. Check out our online inventory or get in touch to find the bike that will turn your next motorcycle road trip into an epic adventure.