|
|
Tourer
Posts: 307
Columbia, SC | So I've got my victory vision, and I decided I'm gonna put at least ONE of those tiny sidecases to some good use!
So I've started stuffing some things in various nooks and crannies (OF THE BIKE!!!!) that I feel I want to have with me for any moments notice. Some of it has a rhyme or reason, and some of it, well, maybe one day it'll come into use.....so here's what I got. And feel free to chime in, and maybe we'll see some stuff that someone else has that will light up that bulb in our heads with a, "AHA! Now THAT'S a good idea!!!"
In the area between the trunk and the vision (where the factory CB would be installed), I keep...
- two gatornecks, some single use handwarmers, three sets of gloves (my normal riding gloves, thick waterproof/thinsulate gloves, and fleece gloves I pull over my wife's normal gloves if it's really cold as another layer), my manual and all documents (registration, insurance, lots of MSF course completion cards, copies of laws regarding headlight modulator and copies of regs concerning military motorcycle gear requirements, and the various allen keys that came with the bike), and two neoprene masks. It's a tight fit, and I can get rid of one of the neoprene masks (I prefer a gatorneck), but I can still snap that compartment closed.
I decided the left saddlebag area will be where I keep extra gear, and the right I'll keep free for, well, whatever. Here's what I got....
- A bungie "net", frogg togg raingear (top and bottom), slime air compressor, Garmin 2730 with necessary RAM mounts, two air pressure gauges, a small leatherman, a small swiss army knife, a small flashlight and I have some brand new batteries to put in it when (if) I need it.
What I plan to put in there...rag to wipe down screen if for some reason it gets muddy or something, I plan on finding a descrete part of the bike to duct tape a baggie with 20 bucks in it so it's out of sight and out of mind (heard this somewhere - hide 20 bucks somewhere in the car for that dreaded day you lose your wallet or something and need gas to get home), I THOUGHT about putting honda spray cleaner in there, but I don't feel comfortable with an aerosal can in my bike when it gets hot, some powerlet to cigarette lighter adaptors, a plate to put under the kickstand for whenever I have to park in gravel or on grass, and there's plenty of room for more.
Whatcha got? Maybe I'll see something I like and say, "That's a good idea...."
Alexi |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | American standard tools so I can help out my Harley buddies when their bike breaks. Bailing wire and electrical tape also. I hate leaving 'em, so I stay with them so I can get my tools back.
Edited by varyder 2012-01-31 9:49 PM
|
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | The tools and fuse puller that came with the bike, a bungie net, and a bottle of water. I never ride without a bottle of water. Never know when I might get caught in a traffic jam sitting cooking in the sun. Never needed the tools yet, but did need the fuse puller. I was glad I had it. |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | First aid kit,flashlight,Vic Tool kit,rain gear,paperwork ,knife,gloves,balacava, clear and shaded glasses,Tie-Wire,tie-wraps,Zumo case and USB,long-sleeve T-shirt.Air shock pump and Water bottle
All in trunk Liner.
When I'm 2 up she gets one saddle bag liner I the other.
Have Trunk rack have not used it yet
Edited by Trekwolf164 2012-01-31 10:09 PM
|
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | varyder - 2012-01-31 10:49 PM
American standard tools so I can help out my Harley buddies when their bike breaks. Bailing wire and electrical tape also. I hate leaving 'em, so I stay with them so I can get my tools back.l
Will they ever change to metric? They seem to look at metric as a bad thing. Someday they will be the only company still using inch fasteners and the cost for them will be high. They are going to have to change to stay competitive.
I have 12 cars, trucks, motorcycles, and racing bicycles of all makes that have been metric for many years. Some have never been inch. The entire world is metric except a few US companies. I work everday with both systems because we have customers using either system (metric requests far out numbers inch). I really don't care which system the world goes to. I can handle both the same. But the truth is that the inch system is dying. If we could change to metric and everyone else speak english it would be a perfect world. I think that would be a fair trade. Huh? |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 337
san antonio, tx | I keep the $20 stuffed in the bottom of the trunk tunnel. Along with that is my paperwork, and the little tool kit that came with my bike. Inside the toolkit I have a tire plug kit, some wire ties, a small pair of pliers, and a blaze orange signal panel from my military days and a folding knife. I keep a little flashlight with the batteries removed too. Oh yeah, I have two little LED tail lights designed for bicycles. I used them many years ago on another bike when my tail lights went out. Picked them up at a nearby Wal Mart and clipped them to the back of the bike. Hey, they got me home that night, and I didn't get hit. They don't take much room, and ya never know when they might come in handy. To keep everything from rattling and banging, I have some microfiber rags stuffed down in there.
In the little compartment under the right side bag door, I keep two bungie cords, a bungie net, and a little flashlight.
In the left compartment, I keep a little nylon stuff sack with rain gear, extra gloves, glove liners, polypropylene underwear top and bottom, extra pair of sunglasses, neck gator, and a small towel. One of everything for both me and my passenger. I also usually have a couple of bottles of water in there too.
In the trunk itself, there is an air pressure gauge and a compact air pump. |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | ....fuel bottle. It doesnt hold much but it kept me from walking once. I also have used it to keep others from walking a few times.
|
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | One thru Six. Been there since day 1 ....
|
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | Definitely a compressor and a tire plug kit. That HAS to be on any bike ALL of the time. We don't carry spare tires.... |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | willtill - 2012-02-01 1:53 AM Definitely a compressor and a tire plug kit. That HAS to be on any bike ALL of the time. We don't carry spare tires.... Ever had to use it? Not in 52 years I've been biking so I ain't gonna start now .... being prepared (as an old cub/scout) means carrying on-the-road insurance and a cell phone (or CB in the old days). Let someone else do the dirty work while I head for the pool/bar/restaurant. And I've been to Alaska AND Florida (and about everywhere inbetween)...  |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | donetracey - 2012-02-01 5:45 AM
willtill - 2012-02-01 1:53 AM Definitely a compressor and a tire plug kit. That HAS to be on any bike ALL of the time. We don't carry spare tires.... Ever had to use it?? Not in 52 years I've been biking so I ain't gonna start now .... being prepared (as an old cub/scout) means carrying on-the-road insurance and a cell phone (or CB in the old days). Let someone else do the dirty work while I head for the pool/bar/restaurant. And I've been to Alaska AND Florida (and about everywhere inbetween)...
Have not had to use it yet. But have assisted a friend at work who had a flat on his VTX. Saved him the wait and inconvenience of losing his bike for a day or more while a repair at a shop would've been made. He was underway in less than 30 minutes; after we plugged and aired his tire back up.
I have AMA M/C recovery insurance as well as a cell phone. But I would rather not be inconvenienced by the wait for a tow truck, the trip to a shop, and the wait for a repair.... when I can do something as easy as this myself.
Of course if you do not have a tubeless tire, your pretty much up the creek on this one; since you can't plug a tubed tire.
Edited by willtill 2012-02-01 5:33 AM
|
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Oh yeah - something else (never had to do - but would if I had to) - Ask for help. "May I use your phone please" or "Do you think you could call 911 for me? Thank you! " or "Geeze you're horny looking! Wan't to join me in my search for happiness?"
Point is - don't think you have to 'save the world' - let the world save you!
Your bike - no matter how big or how much luggage it can carry - will NEVER satisfy you if you are afraid to ask for help (or pay for it). Get a MOTORHOME if you have that attitude (and get an "Igor" to satisfy your other wierd desires) - really??? Stashing $20 ???? Or 'metric' tools?
Sorry folks - you lose me - too PAR-A-NOID
NEVER in my 52 years have I felt I needed to carry a bandaid. Leave that for the Paramedics. ... well - I do carry stuff for bad mosquito bites, but ....
What "gear never leaves YOUR bike" - has only one meaning: ME AND MY UBERSEXYWOMAN - all else is a waste of carry-space. 'fuck do I know.... ' LIGHTEN UP !!!!
|
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | I like to be as self sufficient as possible. I guess it's a pride thing. Don't ask for help unless I really need it. I get satisfaction from that. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 281
| +1 on the water bottle.
You can live without most of the other stuff discussed here but dehydration can be a killer. |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 446
East TN | donetracey - 2012-02-01 6:34 AM Oh yeah - something else (never had to do - but would if I had to) - Ask for help. "May I use your phone please" or "Do you think you could call 911 for me? Thank you! " or "Geeze you're horny looking! Wan't to join me in my search for happiness?" Point is - don't think you have to 'save the world' - let the world save you! Your bike - no matter how big or how much luggage it can carry - will NEVER satisfy you if you are afraid to ask for help (or pay for it). Get a MOTORHOME if you have that attitude (and get an "Igor" to satisfy your other wierd desires) - really??? Stashing $20 ???? Or 'metric' tools? Sorry folks - you lose me - too PAR-A-NOID NEVER in my 52 years have I felt I needed to carry a bandaid. Leave that for the Paramedics. ... well - I do carry stuff for bad mosquito bites, but .... What "gear never leaves YOUR bike" - has only one meaning: ME AND MY UBERSEXYWOMAN - all else is a waste of carry-space. 'fuck do I know.... ' LIGHTEN UP !!!! Haven't read the entire thread, but my take from your post leads me to think of a saying my ole man use to tell me ALL the time: Better to have it and not need it and than not have it and need it... Just sayin'
|
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I can sit in both camps, because I have. I find the older I get, the less I want or need to carry. Simplicity and saavy go together. Never go hiking without a knife, string, and a book of matches. An old Army saying is, "Trust God, but keep the powder dry." So we must have a level of preparedness, but don't carry the kitchen sink. I've had a few friends that will even admit they are "always prepared" but they are always tired of trying to keep up with everything. I quit carrying an airpump because it was always in my way and never could think of a time I needed it on the road. If I need that much air, chances are I need something else too. I do carry a compliment of tools, and even the rear axle nut wrench. Why? They really don't take up much space, I do use them in the driveway, so I don't have dig to in the shed; I can help out others, and that happens many times. The rear axle nut wrench is one that others most likely won't have if I break a belt on the road. Oh, I do have a first aide kit, not for myself, but if I was ever to come upon an accident, I do believe first response is often the life-saver. That is one thing I hope I'll never have to use.
Edited by varyder 2012-02-01 6:37 AM
|
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | My VRA card saved my butt in Sturgiss when DC's 3 year old battery bought the farm in 100+ degrees heat |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 752
Broken Arrow, OK | sfalexi - 2012-01-31 9:27 PM
- two gatornecks, some single use handwarmers, three sets of gloves (my normal riding gloves, thick waterproof/thinsulate gloves, and fleece gloves I pull over my wife's normal gloves if it's really cold as another layer)
AlexiFree up some space there. Toss all those dang gloves. Get some good deerskin gloves and turn on those grip heaters!! |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 741
Central New York | All I carry is the shock pump in case I pick up or abandon a passenger, The owners manual/tool kit that came with the bike (it has the reg and insurance card in it), and a one piece rain suit.
I don't need tools, tire kits, spare tires, extra pistons, or a portable hospital. I would have no intention of using any of that crap on the side of the road anyway, no more than I would change a flat tire on my car. That's why God gave us cell phones. |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 374
Tucson, AZ | My pistol, tire repair kit, and tool kit from the previous Harley with some added metric stuff.
mike |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | Tire plug kit and portable air pump, vic tools, cellphone charger... |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 233
flagstaff, AZ | this is the left bag only. never needed the tools for myself but have come in handy for other riders.
(IMG_20120201_124736 (Small).jpg)
Attachments
----------------
 IMG_20120201_124736 (Small).jpg (57KB - 1 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area |
donetracey - 2012-02-01 5:45 AM willtill - 2012-02-01 1:53 AM Definitely a compressor and a tire plug kit. That HAS to be on any bike ALL of the time. We don't carry spare tires.... Ever had to use it? Not in 52 years I've been biking so I ain't gonna start now .... being prepared (as an old cub/scout) means carrying on-the-road insurance and a cell phone (or CB in the old days). Let someone else do the dirty work while I head for the pool/bar/restaurant. And I've been to Alaska AND Florida (and about everywhere inbetween)... Yep, 3 times in just the last 5 years while riding over 64,000 miles. Not on my Vision, yet. |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 307
Columbia, SC | I definitely need to tone down my glove situation. And too many gatornecks/and cold-weather stuff. But I will ALWAYS have a bungee net. That thing ocmes in handy a LOT of times. Back and forth to work, if I need to bring something extra, I bungee it to the passenger seat and I can bring just THAT much more.
Alexi |
|
| |
|
Puddle Jumper
Posts: 36
coweta ok | cell phone, american express, walmart for everything else :-) |
|
| |
what gear never leaves YOUR bike?
