Pack the heavy stuff at the bottom of your panniers and keep the weight on either side of the bike roughly even so it’s all nice and balanced. Personally I was carrying all of the above and waaaayyy more camera gear than any sane person should. Most bikes with luggage cases, or panniers, like the one pictured will have enough room for a tent, sleeping gear, a few days’ clothes, a hiking stove and gas canister, a couple litres of water, cooking gear and simple meals. Space is limited, so really think about what you need to take with you. Although I made it just fine, it was a much slower and nervous 40km than the Ewan MacGregor-like visions I had when including it in my route.Ĭhances are you already have everything you need apart from a helmet (essential), and a protective jacket (optional but highly recommended). Full disclosure, I included a section of dirt about 40km long on day one of my trip and regretted it almost immediately. By the time I stopped for meals (it’s impossible to eat a pie while riding…), to take photos, grab a coffee and explore some side roads this worked out pretty well.Įxploring remote dirt roads dials the stoke levels right up but it’s a whole other ball game that demands some skill and practice. 300 – 400km in a day is generally about all you’d want to do.įor the research trip I planned to ride 150km on day one, 350km on day 2 and 260km on day 3 on a loop that took in the Hunter Valley, Mudgee, and the Blue Mountains. It’s unlikely you’ll cover the kilometres like you would in a car and if you do you’ll be pretty knackered when you get there. Road tripping on a bike is at its best on quiet, curvy backroads. This has led to a number of smaller, more cost effective models entering the scene allowing you to be on the road to nowhere for less than $10k. In recent years motorbike manufacturers have realised there’s a large market of people that would love a touring bike but aren’t willing to spend $20-30k on a big powerful bike that spends most of the year in the shed. Touring bikes once upon a time only really came in one size, BIG. Think of the adventure bike as a LandCruiser and a touring bike as a Subaru Outback, both great for getting you out there but one’s gonna get you to those harder to reach places. These are touring bikes only tougher, with beefier suspension and chunkier tyres. For this you’ll want an ‘adventure’ bike. The fun really starts where the black top ends. Here’s what I learnt from my foray into motorcycle touring and adventure, but first!īroadly speaking the best bet will be a ‘touring’ bike, as the name implies they’re designed for longer rides and come with comfy seats and a more upright riding position, along with suspension designed for comfort over speed. What if I could microdose my dreams in the form of short sharp road trips, and do it on the cheap? I just needed a bike and a few spare days. I didn’t need an expensive German motorbike or months of space in my calendar to have an adventure. Then one day, while tumbling down a rabbit hole of two-wheeled wanderlust it dawned on me. I’d resigned those dreams to a time when an older but still adventurous me would be unshackled from the responsibilities of a 9-5 job and mouths to feed. The old days – where I’d pack it all in and drain my bank account in pursuit of freedom and new experiences – are now firmly limited to annual leave and long weekends. Sure, adventures were had at home and abroad, but there always remained a nagging box that remained unchecked on my adventure resume. I settled for living vicariously through similarly minded folks who managed to make it happen. I’ve read countless books and watched all the ‘ Long Ways ’ but such an adventure has always eluded me, largely due to time and money (motorised adventure isn’t cheap!). To me an adventure on a bike is the most adventurous way to travel. I’m not a motorcyclist, but I have always loved the idea of motorcycles.
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