How do I prepare for long-distance motorbike trips?
There is nothing like heading out on a multiday ride that takes you to far-flung places. It is important to prepare sufficiently for such endeavours to avoid ruining what could be a great ride. These are some things to consider when undertaking a long bike trip.
Riding for days
Few things in life compare to swinging a leg over your bike and hitting the open road for a few days of unadulterated two-wheeled fun. The freedom of the road, the excitement of seeing new and interesting things and the camaraderie of touring. There is also nothing that ruins one of these trips faster than an unforeseen glitch that throws the entire ride off kilter.
Related: What is the average price range for motorcycles in South Africa?
Although events add to the adventure's overall story, they aren't fun at the moment and could, in fact, be life-threatening in the wrong circumstances. Here are a few things to consider before heading on your next road trip adventure.
Are there any motorcycle clubs or communities in South Africa?
Cash or card on your long-distance motorbike trip?
The further away you get from city life, the less likely establishments will accept cards. Often, you may have to deal with the locals who will appreciate cash in hand. Don't take your entire bankroll in cash; a few hundred should suffice in emergencies.
First aid
Accidents happen. Whether you or someone else gets injured, you should have a decent first aid kit on hand to deal with emergency situations. We're not just talking about some headache tabs and some plasters, either. Compact first aid kits can be very comprehensive, with everything from burn shields to suturing kits. Emergency space blankets may be annoying, but they can save a life!
Roadside repairs
Machines will be machines, and even if you are pedantic about bike maintenance, your bike could break down at the worst time. This is why you should carry a small, compact toolkit of critical tools to work on your motorcycle, as well as a puncture repair kit, spare fuses and bulbs, sparkplugs, and cable ties/binding wire. Be prepared for as many contingencies as possible.
Hardcopy maps
Technology has made our lives infinitely easier, but it doesn't always work the further away from civilisation you go. GPS pathfinding only works when you have a signal, and if you find yourself in a dead zone without coverage, you can very easily get completely lost. If you are going far off the beaten path, see about getting a hard copy paper map of the area and its roads as a backup if your GPS doesn't work.
Dress for the ride
Knowing what the weather will be like on your route is vital. You may be traversing a desert by day and climbing to higher altitudes over a mountain pass by afternoon, and the temperature differential is massive. Hyper and hypothermia are very real threats. There is also rain to consider. Pack dry clothes and a compact rain suit or poncho for when the weather turns nasty.
