Motorcycle Motorcycle Accessories Road Trips Riding Open Road
Motorcycle accessories are important additions that not only make your bike unique to you, but they serve very important functions, Imagine trying to make a ride cross country (or even a few hundred miles) with a custom bike that has been lowered and has very long forks due to the rake (angle) of the triple tree (where the front forks and ultimately the front wheel attach to the motorcycle). It would not be very much fun at all. These bikes look great going around town or the occasional highway ride but they are definitely not built for long distance rides. This is just one example of how accessories on a motorcycle can be used. If used incorrectly, they will cause more trouble than help.
Here are few accessories that make your bike much more road trip ready.
6 speed transmission. This may seem like an odd accessory but when you are on a long distance road trip, having that extra gear will lower the RPMs, increase your gas mileage and cut down on overall vibrations.
A comfortable seat. If you are planning on traveling hundreds of miles each day, your butt will appreciate a nice padded seat. Wide ones that have slight upturns around the edge seem to be more comfortable. If you want to go all out, you can get seats that have arm rests on them.
Communication. If you are traveling with a partner, it is not very expensive to have a closed circuit radio system that attaches to the two helmets. This way you can share the experience of the road with your significant other. Actual conversation does a lot more than pointing, shoulder taps and head nods.
Suspension. This is more of a high end accessory. If you are spending a lot of time on the road, your body will thank you for upgrading the suspension to absorb the bumps of the road so your body doesn't have to.
Forward controls. While many people think these are only for looks, try riding several hundred miles sitting in an upright position. If you move the foot controls forward, you will allow your legs to stretch out during the ride. Over great distances, this is a very handy add on.
Storage. You are not going to be making a cross country road trip on a “crotch rocket” or a chopper (if you are smart). You will need room for storage. This could be anything. Remember, you are on a two wheeled vehicle, not an RV. Saddle bags or the hard shelled luggage compartments work very well for any needed supplies (and comforts).
Tools. Even if you rolled your bike off the show room floor hours before your trip, surprise things can happen. You don't have to have a tool kit that would make an ASE certified mechanic proud. Some screwdrivers, a crescent wrench, and a couple of open ended box wrenches can be a life savers when you have a malfunction in the middle of nowhere.
Cell phone. It can be turned off and put away. If an emergency arises, it can literally be a life saver.
All weather gear. You never know when you may run into a rain storm in the middle of nowhere when there isn't any kind of shelter around. It only takes a few minutes to put on and it beats riding in soaked clothing freezing half to death while the wind dries you out.
These are only a few of the accessories that can make a road trip both safe and enjoyable. The more you think about it, the more things that will come to mind that you need. Best advice, lay out all of the things that you think that you might possibly need. You can go through and trim it down. Remember, space is a factor. If you are lost, and it isn't on purpose, you can always stop and ask for directions.
Enjoy your road trip. Plan ahead so it is as fun as possible. There is no reason that you can't take a cross country trip, see the country and be safe and comfortable at the same time.
