Motorcycle Travel Packing Guide

The Gear We Trust After 300,000 km Around The World

After 15 years and 300,000 km of motorcycle travel across the world, we learned one simple lesson: the best gear is not the gear with the most features. It is the gear that still works when you are thousands of kilometres from home.

The following list includes all the gear, tools and equipment we carry on our motorcycle adventures – everything that has earned a permanent place on our bikes because it has proven itself time and time again on the road. For almost every item, we've added a link where you can learn more about it or get one for your own adventures if you'd like to.

At the bottom of this page, you can also download our free Motorcycle Travel Packing Checklist (PDF). Print it out, tick things off as you pack and enjoy the ride knowing you haven't forgotten anything important.

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!

Within the European Union:

• Passport / ID card (check expiry date!)
• Driving licence
• Vehicle registration
• Green Card insurance certificate (check country coverage!)
• Health insurance card
• Travel health insurance document
• Debit card
• Credit card

Additional Documents for International Travel:

• Passport (check expiry date!)
• Travel health insurance
• International driving permit
• International vehicle registration document
• Carnet de Passage (where required)

Men:

• 3 pairs of underwear
• 3 pairs of socks
• 1 pair of swim shorts | For Helmut, of course, the proper choice is the traditional Lederhosen version*
• 1 pair of shorts
• 4 T-shirts | Did you know we created our own TimetoRide motorcycle shirts? Perfect for anyone who loves two wheels and adventure.
• 1 pair of long trekking pants | Helmut’s favourite: the durable, comfortable and stylish RevolutionRace RVRC GP Pro Pants*
• 1 warm fleece jacket (can also be worn underneath your motorcycle gear when needed)
• 1 softshell jacket
• 1 warm beanie
• 1 quick-dry travel towel | Small pack size, lightweight and dries super fast - microfiber towel*
• 1 pair of flip-flops | Helmut’s favourite: Birkenstock-style sandals* - high quality, but made from plastic, perfect for camping & shower
• 1 pair of sturdy shoes

Women:

• 3 pairs of underwear
• 3 pairs of socks
• 1 sports bra
• 1 regular bra
• 1 bikini/swimsuit
• 1 pair of shorts
• 4 T-shirts | Did you know we created our own TimetoRide motorcycle shirts? Perfect for anyone who loves two wheels and adventure.
• 1 pair of long trekking pants | Bea’s go-to choice: the RevolutionRace women’s RVRC GP Pants*
• 1 warm fleece jacket (can also be worn underneath your motorcycle gear when needed)
• 1 softshell jacket
• 1 warm beanie
• 1 quick-dry travel towel | Small pack size, lightweight and dries super fast - microfiber towel*
• 1 pair of flip-flops | Bea’s favourite: Birkenstock-style sandals* - high quality, but made from plastic, perfect for camping & shower
• 1 pair of sturdy shoes

Men:

• Toiletry bag | In use for more than 15 years and still our first choice – the compact Deuter Wash Center 1*
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Shower gel | If you spend a lot of nights camping in nature, we recommend using a fully biodegradable travel shower gel*
• Hair shampoo
• Deodorant
• Tweezers
• Nail scissors

Women:

• Toiletry bag | In use for more than 15 years and still our first choice – the larger Deuter Wash Center version II*
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Shower gel | If you spend a lot of nights camping in nature, we recommend using a fully biodegradable travel shower gel*
• Hair shampoo
• Hair conditioner
• Face cream
• Hairbrush | With her long, curly hair, Bea swears by the compact Tangle Teezer Compact Styler*
• Hair ties
• Hair clip (for showering)
• Hairband/headband (for washing your face)
• Deodorant
• Tweezers
• Nail scissors
• Nail file

General / Optional:

• Sunscreen
• Mosquito repellent
• Toilet paper
• Wet wipes | For us, the ultimate all-rounder - not only for those “big business” moments, but also for quickly cleaning your hands or even your camping dishes when there’s no water tap nearby.
• Contact lenses
• Contact lens solution
• Contact lens case

First aid supplies:

• Motorcycle first aid kit (mandatory in many countries!) | This motorcycle-specific first aid kit* is specially designed for riders
• Disinfectant spray

Medication:

• Painkillers (also fever-reducing if needed)
• Wound healing ointment

Optional:

• Anti-diarrhoea medication / activated charcoal tablets
• Medication for nausea and vomiting
• Electrolyte powder | Small single-serving sachets* are perfect for replacing electrolytes after heavy sweating while riding
• Magnesium and multivitamin effervescent tablets (also great for adding some flavour to drinking water)
• Antihistamines

Other:

• Thermometer
• Tick remover / tweezers
• Any personal medication you may need

For a detailed overview of the Gore-Tex motorcycle touring gear, ADV helmet and boots we use when travelling on our Honda Transalps, have a look here.

And if you’re interested in our retro look - a style that not only looks great but also comes with clever features - when travelling on our classic Kreidler Floretts, we’ve put together all the gear we use  here.

And these two all-rounders are always with us, no matter which bike we’re travelling with:

• Neck gaiter | Whether it’s summer or the cooler seasons in between, this unisex neck gaiter* is always comfortable to wear
• Hearing protection | We were sceptical at first, but now we absolutely love using the Alpine Motosafe Tour*

Sleeping Gear:

• Tent & Footprint | For years, we have been using the Nordisk Oppland Tunnel Tent* (both the two- and three-person versions, including the matching footprint). And with our voucher code "Time to ride", you save a full 20% on all tents, tent accessories, groundsheets and more at Nordisk!
• Sleeping mat | A good night’s sleep is just as important while travelling, which is why Bea uses a women’s sleeping mat from Sea to Summit*, while Helmut relies on the super robust Therm-a-Rest NeoAir*
• Sleeping bag | Since our Australia adventure, we're using the high-quality Y by Nordisk V.I.B. 400* down sleeping bag, made in Germany - and we can definitely feel the difference. With our voucher code "Time to ride", you save a full 20% on all sleeping bags at Nordisk.
• Sleeping bag liner | The Cocoon MummyLiner Silk & Cotton* protects your sleeping bag from dirt and sweat, while the Performer* model adds extra warmth on particularly cold nights - Guess who ended up with which one!
• Camping pillow | Compact, affordable and super comfortable – Hikenture Camping Pillow*
• Headlamp | Reliable and powerful, the Olight Array 2 Pro*
• Sleep mask | Perfect for brightly lit campsites and morning grumps – Sleep Mask*
• Sleeping earplugs | Highly recommended for light sleepers (BEA!), as their special shape means they don’t feel uncomfortable or press against your ears while sleeping – Alpine Silence* (from the same company that makes our motorcycle earplugs!)
• Tent & sleeping mat repair kit

Food & Cooking:

• Packing bags in different sizes and colours | For better organisation and less packing volume - available in different sizes and colours*
• Cutlery set & cooking spoon | Nothing is more annoying than bad cutlery, which is why we use the Primus Campfire cutlery set*
• Camping knife | For more than 15 years, this has been the perfect companion for our outdoor kitchen – Victorinox Forester*
• Extra-thin cutting board | Flexible cutting boards* offer plenty of space for chopping while adding almost no weight or bulk
• Plate | Lightweight and robust plastic plates*
• Cup | We always carry our own enamel mugs with TimetoRide design
• Cooking pot(s) | We use hard-anodised aluminium cookware - pot set including frying pan*
• Stove | We have trusted our Primus multifuel stove since 2011 and it has never let us down – Primus Omnifuel*
• Stove maintenance/cleaning kit | Always in our luggage: the compact Primus service kit*
• Lighter
• Folding bowl | An absolutely essential and reliable piece of gear for us – folding bowl*
• Spices | We never travel without them – 6-in-1 spice shaker*
• Emergency food supply | Trekk’n Eat* offers a wide range of meals that are lightweight, easy to pack and have a long shelf life
• Dish sponge
• Dishwashing liquid | If you spend a lot of nights camping in nature, we recommend using a fully biodegradable dishwashing liquid*
• Quick-drying dish towel | Fast drying and with a small pack size – microfibre travel towel*
• Water filter (depending on travel region) | We have been using the robust Katadyn Combi water filter* for many years

General:

• Camping chair | A little luxury some people can do without, but an absolute MUST for us – the Helinox Chair One*
• Clothesline & clothespins | We always carry a roughly 3 m long plastic cord and a handful of clothespins
• Laundry detergent | If you spend a lot of nights camping in nature, we recommend using a biodegradable travel laundry detergent*

• GPS device / smartphone | You can find a detailed overview of the setup we use in the Electronics section
• Paper map | In addition to our navigation device, we always carry a tear- and waterproof map from Reise Know-How* with us
• Travel guide | We don’t use traditional travel guides – except for our own TimetoRide eTourGuides. They are clear, focused on the essentials and specifically designed for motorcycle travellers

• 12V USB charger for motorcycle power socket | With today’s power-hungry USB devices, our favourite is this USB power charger* with two USB ports and a powerful 4.8 A charging output
• Various USB cables
• Power bank with jump starter function | Powerful and packed with useful features – Noco Boost GB50 jump starter & power bank*
• Travel power adapter | Since power outlets are often limited when travelling, we use this cube-shaped travel adapter* with four sockets and two USB ports