10 things every motorcyclist should own

You’ve got your protective gear in order, but there are few things you should carry with you that will make your riding experience better and safer. Here are some gear hacks that experience has taught us to carry while you’re on the bike...

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Regardless of how meticulous you are with maintenance and servicing, flay tyres happen. And when it comes to pressure gauges at service stations, meticulous and maintenance aren’t words anyone should generally associate with them.

Given how important the two inch-square contact patches of your tyres are in keeping you upright and unscathed, investing in a small and accurate digital pressure gauge is a must. It means you’re always using the same gauge, so you can be confident knowing exactly what your pressures are doing. They’re light, small and can live in a pocket of your jacket. Michelin does a great one which also comes with a tread-depth gauge and will set you back about $40.

While we’re on the subject of tyre pressures, depending on the design of your bike’s rim and valve stem, a few bucks will buy you a 90-degree valve stem that screws onto your valve, making it far more accessible when adjusting your pressures.

Given that most compressors at service stations are designed for use on passenger vehicles, it can often prove impossible to get a decent purchase on your valve stem, meaning instead of increasing your pressure slightly, all you end up doing is letting more air out as you fumble to get the inflator seated onto the valve. Just remember to ignore the gauge on said compressor and use your own reliable gauge you’ve got in your pocket.

A small, thin groundsheet designed to protect the base of your single-man tent is a surprisingly handy thing to keep stashed under the seat of your bike, especially if you ever find yourself having to perform roadside repairs. Not only does it help keep you and your tools cleaner, but it means when you invariably drop that small nut, screw or washer, you won’t have to spend the next 15 minutes poking around in the dirt or long grass trying to locate it.

And you’ll find it comes in all sort of other handy, too. Spread it over the handlebars and seat of your bike on those wet or icy evenings, secure it using small bungee cords through the tent-peg eyelets, and you’ll be the envy of your mates as you set off a bit more comfortably on those winter mornings.

Nothing makes you fatigue or make silly decisions quicker than dehydration and when you’re touring, dehydration can happen before you’ve even realised. If you’re getting tired on the bike, it’s all too easy to order a coffee at the next stop and forget about your hydration levels.

By having a hydration bladder on your back and accessible to take on small amounts of water regularly, you’ll be less tired and in the best shape to make quick and rational reactions to scenarios coming at you at 100km/h.

Don’t be tempted to buy a large-capacity one, or a pack with storage to carry other things – carrying too much weight on your back will also increase fatigue. A one- or two-litre bladder is more than enough to coincide with how often you’re stopping to refuel, and as for somewhere to stow your phone wallet and snacks, opt for a small tank bag instead.

A thin quick-dry neck buff is a must for anyone commuting or touring on a motorcycle. As well as keeping the wind of your neck, a buff that sits up underneath the base of your helmet reduces cold, noise and also fatigue. By using a thin, quick-dry fabric means you’ve also got yourself a visor cleaning rag in the evenings that you can rinse out and have dry by the time you set off the following morning.

It’s a bandana to hide that helmet hair when you stop for lunch, a headband to keep your long locks out of your eyes when you’re off the bike, or a band to tie up those said long locks. And it’s now even a face mask if required in these COVID-19 times.

Even if you have never suffered dry lips before, spend a couple of hours on a motorcycle in the cooler months and you’ll be looking for a chemist to ease the windburn you can feel developing on your lips. The combination of cool wind and moisture will dry your lips out quicker than you think and the less time you’re distracted by discomfort means you’re safer and more alert on the bike.

Shoving a handful of cable ties in various sizes underneath your seat is a really good idea and can assist you in myriad ways and in myriad scenarios. They can be a quick and effective fix for your luggage, your riding gear and even your bike.

There was a time when a bike suffered an innocuous fall off its side stand which snapped the perpendicular tang off the gearshift lever. Instead of riding to the next town in first gear, the rider linked a series of looped cable ties together, attached one end to the shifter and hung on to the other and changed up gears by yanking on the cable ties.

Between a handful of cable ties and a roll of tough cloth tape, it’s surprising how many quick and resourceful fixes can be made until you get to the next town or services.

Alongside your ground sheet and your cable ties, stash a cheap emergency blanket. While a well-equipped first-aid kit is also an excellent thing to have with you if you’re touring, an emergency blanket can literally save a life if the conditions are bad enough.

Working differently to a typical blanket, the impermeable metalised plastic sheet traps 90 percent of the wearer’s body heat while forming a windproof and waterproof layer against the elements. If you or someone you’re riding with suffers a crash and needs to wait in less-than-ideal conditions for medical assistance, the cheap disposable item will make all of the difference. And it could also play a similar role as the above mentioned groundsheet if you’re performing roadside repairs.

If you’re planning on some solo long-distant touring and your budget allows, you could do worse than invest in a good quality Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). When activated, it alerts authorities of your location and that you’re in distress and require medical assistance. And make sure you store it somewhere you can access easily, like on the backpack strap on the front of your chest. It’s no use having a flash EPIRB if it’s stashed in your luggage on your bike which you can’t get to.

There’s nothing worse than bounding out to the shed on a sunny Sunday morning after organising to meet up for a ride with your mates, to find your bike’s battery is flat and won’t turn over.

If you don’t ride your bike regularly, it’s a good idea to invest in a ‘smart’ trickle charger. Prices start from around $45 (and rise into the several hundreds) and, once connected, will continuously test the battery’s level of charge, and automatically switch between ‘float’ and ‘charge’ mode to ensure the voltage is always at its optimum level.

This article was originally published on September 5, 2022.