Motorcycle Travel Packing Guide

• Smartphone
• Tablet/Laptop
• eReader | For us, the Kindle Paperwhite* is the perfect travel alternative to a traditional book - and having something good to read simply has to be part of our luggage! With the Kindle Unlimited subscription*, we never run out of reading material.
• Chargers
• eSIM Card | If you are travelling outside your home country (or, in Europe, outside the EU)  and you don’t have free data roaming, an eSIM is a really smart solution that we use ourselves on our travels. Within just a few minutes, you can choose your destination and travel period online - and get unlimited data with fast internet directly on your phone. For us, it makes travelling much easier and takes away a lot of the hassle.

  And the best part: With our code TIMETORIDE, you get 5% off your Holafly eSIM!

  >> Get your Holafly eSIM here*

• Camera | Our current favourite for both filming and photography is the outstanding Nikon Z8*
• Interchangeable lenses | You can find a detailed overview of our complete camera setup in the Photography Gear section
• Remote shutter release | We use the affordable and reliable remote shutter release from Pixel*
• Filters & filter holder | We use a filter holder from Haida*, along with several of their filters. Stored in a matching filter pouch*, we carry a polarising filter*, a soft GND 0.9*, an ND 1.8* and an ND 3.0*
• Action camera | Since our Australia adventure, we've been using the DJI Osmo Action 4* and absolutely love it. The newer Osmo Action 6* is now available, but honestly, we still see no reason to upgrade.
• Tripod | We actually carry three different tripods: the versatile GorillaPod*, the compact and affordable Rollei C5i* for our motorcycle travels, and the ultra-sturdy Rollei Rock Solid Beta Mark 2* for landscape photography
• Spare batteries | We use the Nikon EN-EL15B* battery
• Spare memory cards | Perfectly suited to the high demands of modern camera systems - SanDisk Extreme PRO*
• Chargers
• External hard drives for backups | Even after years of travelling around the world, the shock-resistant Transcend hard drives* have proven to be reliable companions

• GPS tracker with SOS function | When travelling to remote areas, we carry a Garmin inReach Mini 2* with us. Luckily, we have never needed it so far, but it gives us peace of mind knowing we have it in case of an emergency.
• Brake disc lock | For years, we have been using the ABUS Detecto 7000 RS1* with built-in alarm function
• Cable lock (to secure equipment to the motorcycle) | Extremely compact and with a 120 cm cable length, our favourite is the Abus Combiflex 120*
• Defence spray | Luckily, we have never needed it, but we always carry it with us – Abus defence spray*

Helpful Items:

• Cable ties
• Duct tape
• Electrical tape
• WD-40 or similar
• Metal epoxy putty
• Super glue
• Silicone sealant
• Assorted screws & nuts
• Fuel hose (50 cm)
• Chain lubricant
• Puncture repair kit for inner tubes or tyres
• Additional straps and luggage net | Our favourite: the original Rok Straps* Also practical: a motorcycle luggage net*

Spare Parts:

• Fuses/bulbs | You can find a detailed overview of the spare parts we carry in the Tools & Spare Parts section
• Spare inner tubes (for tube-type tyres) | For safety reasons, we trust the heavy-duty inner tubes from Heidenau*
• Spare spokes
• Spare chain master link
• Throttle/clutch cable
• Brake/clutch levers
• For longer trips, consider also carrying motorcycle-specific spare parts such as spark plugs, oil/fuel filters, brake pads, etc.

Tools:

• Motorcycle-specific repair manual (preferably as a PDF) | You can find a detailed overview of the tools we carry in the Tools & Spare Parts section
• Multitool | Essential for Helmut and a trusted travel companion – Leatherman Charge*
• Phillips and flathead screwdriver
• Various pliers
• Various wrenches (Allen keys, Torx, combination wrenches)
• Socket wrench set
• Small hacksaw
• Hammer
• Spark plug wrench
• Tyre levers | Lightweight and the best helpers when dealing with a puncture – Motion Pro aluminium tyre levers*
• Mini compressor | For our Australia adventure, we switched to the compact battery-powered INNOV P1* compressor – and what can we say? This thing is brilliant!
• Tyre pressure gauge | We recommend a compact tyre pressure gauge with LCD display*
• Power bank with jump starter function and warning light | We use the powerful Noco Boost GB50 jump starter & power bank*

• Tarp | During our world trip, we used an ultralight Nordisk tarp* as additional sun and rain protection while camping. With our voucher code "Time to ride", you save a full 20% on all Nordisk tarps!
• Folding shovel | We never travel without one, as it is incredibly versatile – compact folding shovel*
• Axe | Lightweight, compact and essential for the evening campfire – the Fiskars mini axe*
• Small hiking backpack | Minimal packing size and extremely practical – the ultralight backpack from Sea to Summit*
• Thermos flask | Especially on trips through Northern Europe and the winter Outback, a small thermos flask* is a really nice thing to have

• Spare motorcycle key
• High-visibility vest | In some countries, carrying an approved high-visibility vest* is mandatory!
• Sunglasses
• Spare glasses (for those who wear glasses)

So you don’t have to copy all the items by hand, we have put together the complete packing list as a clearly structured PDF with easy-to-follow checkboxes. The checklist also gives you enough space for your own notes and to add your personal gear.

We hope our motorcycle travel packing checklist helps you pack faster and with less stress – and that you’ll never again have to wonder if you’ve forgotten something important!

Over 300,000 km of motorcycle travel taught us a few things about packing. These four lessons have helped us make our adventures simpler, lighter and more enjoyable.

TIP 1:

(Almost) everything can be bought locally, whether it’s common medication, clothing or electronics. That means packing things “just in case” or stocking up on supplies before you leave is usually unnecessary, takes up valuable space and only adds extra weight.

At the beginning of our motorcycle world trip, we felt exactly like many of you probably do. We weren’t sure if we would find a pharmacy in places like Mongolia, Cambodia or Ecuador. So we carried a ridiculously huge first-aid kit and travel pharmacy with us – and luckily, we ended up using less than one third of it. Even the things we actually needed (aspirin, painkillers, something for travel sickness or a cold) could have easily been bought locally.

The same applied to clothing. We packed three extra pairs of thick socks “just in case” it got cold somewhere, instead of simply waiting and buying what we needed along the way.

And if there really was something we couldn’t buy immediately, we just had to wait until the next bigger town with proper infrastructure or until our next package from home arrived. But honestly, those situations were extremely rare and never a real problem.

TIP 2:

Anything you don’t actually use (regularly) is something you probably don’t need to carry. Sure, there might be one or two moments when you wish you had that one specific item with you right now… but in the end, you can always manage without it.

And looking at the bigger picture, travelling with less and lighter luggage is much more enjoyable and liberating than carrying the perfect piece of gear for every possible situation – especially if that gear only gets used once in a blue moon.

TIP 3:

Adapt your gear depending on the region and season, and send unused items back home or give them away. This tip is especially relevant for all of you doing long-term travel. At first, it might sound like a waste of money to have gear sent from home several times during a long journey, or to buy things locally and send items you no longer need back home or give them away.

We are not talking about expensive, high-quality motorcycle or outdoor equipment here! But carrying everyday items like a wool hat, sunscreen or mosquito spray around for months, even though you are now travelling in a completely different region or season, is simply unnecessary luggage in our opinion. It makes much more sense to get these things when you need them and pass them on again when they are no longer useful.

TIP 4:

Every packing list is as individual as the destination, the type of journey and the person going on the adventure. And that’s why here is our final – and maybe most important – tip for you:

If there is something you absolutely want to take on your journey, no matter how unusual it might seem – a broom, a guitar, a skateboard or a stuffed animal – and you believe that you won’t just carry it around, but will actually use it regularly, that it brings you joy and adds something special to your adventure, then take it with you. No matter how crazy it might seem to others. Because in the end, it’s your journey, your packing list, your adventure and your life!

We hope you find this packing list helpful for your own adventures. Creating it took a lot of time, but we truly enjoyed putting together everything we’ve learned from 15 years and 300,000 km of motorcycle travel around the world – including the things that worked, the things that didn’t and the lessons we learned the hard way.

We wish you amazing journeys, safe travels and many unforgettable moments on the road. Enjoy the adventure!