I’m kind of a “be prepared nut”. Many time my buddies on KTMs will ask over the intercom, do you have xyz tool? I don’t think I’ve ever said, no I don’t have that tool.

Mostly because I’ve learned “the hard way” by suffering in the wilderness or stuck in a farm field with no phone and not hope of getting help (when I was a kid, I had to wait or walk miles to knock on the door and make a phone call).

So, I’ve really refined my toolkit over the years.

I know a lot of people suggest a “tool roll”, but that seems overly bulky. For dual sport bikes under 500 cc, I suggest a rip stop “Ditty bag” and just put your tools in there.

If the tool is lightweight and somewhat bulky (like a MC tow strap), I’ll put it in my backpack.

TIPS:

• no tool rolls, but tool bag for saving size/weight
• heavy tools on the bike, not me!
  • lighter tools can go into backpack
• multi-use tools are best
  • weight matters! slim tools or multi-use tools
• carry 1-2 use amount of fluids!
  • Use of 5-20 ML, you can carry about every possible fluid easily on your back or MC kit!
• dime sized zip lock, labeled means you can carry most over the counter meds (details below)
• having a box cutter and multi-tool in your tank bag for quick access

In keeping with my moto

• Be safe – safety first
• have a good experience
• learn something new

I’ll first discuss safety tools.

I’ve seen friends break bones because their tires are “worn out”. I’ve also seen others not wearing gloves and personal-protective equipment (PPE) get seriously injured because they don’t have or didn’t wear PPE.

I recently switched from my camelpak to klim nac pak because the camelpak hurt my shoulder (too tight). The nac pak seems to hold about the same amount, but carries it much better. I like the high-viz yellow too. I added red ribbons for movement (flags are easy to spot) while I’m riding. The nac pak also has a better spot for my inreach mini.

UPDATE Jan 2020 I’ve made a few changes and I wanted to document those tips.

SUMMARY UPDATE:

• Refresh and review of 72 hour kit/get-home kit (with many items for a motorcycle kit > https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NhaaeqzeqwY8vCSVhNCcTYv3eg7y-6Xu9oDNPI-y0jI/edit?usp=sharing
• 3 liter bladder that can be cleaned out because the top comes off Source Tactical WXP 3-Liter Hydration Reservoir Leakproof Antimicrobial System with Storm Valve
• sawyer mini water filter can be put inline with hydration pack hose!
• better quality hydration pack. Hard use and it is still together and I love the pocket layouts. CamelBak H.A.W.G. LR 20 Hydration Pack
• Uses small eye dropper 15 ml bottles to hold fluids like:
  rubbing alchol, wd40, clp, dish soap (wheel changes in the field) and or biodegradable soap, olive oil (blessings & cooking), bug spray fluid, dr christoper tissue & bone oil, rem oil, aloe vera, gear oil, Paraphen oil for chains
• Upgraded tow strap from green chili gear is awesome. I’ve used it a couple of times and the length with elastic is so perfect, worth every penny! https://greenchileadv.com/collections/z-drag-and-recovery/products/dynatow-dynamic-towstrap
• small zip lock bags of over the counter meds
• review and reducing of tools/gear to essentials
• bottle holsters can haul 1 liter gas can, a tube or tools. https://greenchileadv.com/products/gcag-bottle-holster
• amazing ditty bags/possibles bag for organizing tools without the bulk of a tool roll (I can get twice the tools in half the space and then when I get there, I can put the tools and parts onto a bandana! Check out these quality ditty bags! https://www.etsy.com/shop/FoxLiteGear
  • manual air pump in pack
  • spare tube in bottle holster
  • manual fuel pump….I sometimes need a KLR fuel tanker to refuel me
  •  
• Leatherman wave with bit extender and foxy pouch special mod for me!
• GPS satellite messanger and emergency locator on camelbak. I just use an old military pouch and geartie it onto the straps, but check out these shoulder pockets! keeps the mud off your inreach and close at hand https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/shoulder-strap-pouches/
• Storing quality/light weight channel locks with crescent wrench in tank bag (quick save when chain fell off riding buddy’s bike!)
  Knipex 87 01 180 7-1/4-Inch Cobra Pliers
• SO many uses for a bandana. Wrap tools/gear, stop bleeding, signaling, block the sun, towel etc. You can even get them with “how-to” like knott tying or prepper principles.

Here are some photos of the updated gear!

Update. I even went smaller (from 15ML to 5ML bottles)>

Nov 2018

Recently, I put together a Motorcycle Preparedness Kit as a result of almost not making it out of the wilderness (in the dark and snowy remote mountains of Utah).

The focus of this kit is a day pack. So very light and nibble. The wr450f doesn’t have a lot of storage options. The KLR650 has plenty of storage.

DEVINE INTERVENTION TRAIL:

1. used all water including for coolant on my bike (coolant leaked out!).
2. pull strap – yep we used it a lot to get over snowy rock ledges and deep mud
3. 5 hour energy

THINGS I WISHED I’d HAD:

1. LED bright headlight
2. clear goggles (I could ether be pelted in the eye with snow or see NOT see through my tinted googles.
3. cold weather neck and head guard.  As soon as we took our helmets off, we shivered uncontrollably.

I put a tusk rear fender bag on my wr450f. I put the heaviest tools in there.

Also, on that trip my backpack straps ripped out and so I had an excuse to get another MC bag.

Pill bottle has matches (lighter is in the pack too), AA battery, and a small tube of gasket maker.  Did you spot the under water epoxy?

MC pack with toolkit, jerky, granola bars, clear googles, spare batteries (see photo of all the gear)

CHECKLIST ITEMS:

MY DO ALL CHECKLIST SHEET

Winch Rope
(handy for a pull-strap and just about anything). Almost 4,000lbs rope and its about 1/4″ thick.

emma kites 200~5500lb 100% UHMWPE Braided Polyethylene Cord Spool – Heavy Duty Low Stretch – Outdoor Utility Cord Kitesurfing String Boating Fishing Speargun Shooting Line Hammock

Water purification tablets: https://amzn.to/2yQQUxX

Water filter sawyer mini: https://amzn.to/2PYbfNy

 

Water bottle & nested cup: https://amzn.to/2QjgGl6

LED bulb converter (now in my klr650 and wr450f worth EVERY penny, so bright!): https://amzn.to/2qt78bK

Hydration pack: https://amzn.to/2SQODv4

Patch Kit: https://amzn.to/2qw78aV

Chain Braker: https://amzn.to/2OpQoeZ

1/4 Socket extender and driver: https://amzn.to/2JENTVo
This is KEY to my tool system, because it can be a driver for any of my screwdriver set as well as many sockets.

Under water epoxy! https://amzn.to/2quSP6M

SOG multi-tool (my fav!) https://amzn.to/2QkmJWD

Reusable zip ties!: https://amzn.to/2SM5xL5

MTKNIVES neck knife!: https://amzn.to/2JCf2bD

Husky Utility Knife (get the small one, which is harder and harder to find!)

wet wipes! https://amzn.to/2QjPmmy

space blankets: https://amzn.to/2JGdFc2

small fix a flat: https://amzn.to/2JEscEV

pliers – big enough to get axle nut off: https://amzn.to/2yQPi74
8″ in MC kit, 10″ in UTV kit

Pry bar: https://amzn.to/2quaBak

Allen Key bit set: https://amzn.to/2JDhrTz
https://amzn.to/2Do6kO5

ROK straps (AWESOME TIE-DOWN STRAPS): https://amzn.to/2RzI6Dl

wire (bailing or rebar).

AA headlamp: https://amzn.to/2JEB4KS

Lighters

chapstick

boo-boo kit: bandaids, tripple antibiotic, alcohol wipes,

small battle dressing: https://amzn.to/2SGVrLw

freeze-out neck gaurd – can cover whole head or just neck/chin:

https://www.cyclegear.com/gear/freeze-out-warmr-balaclava

External battery (charge phone/gps):
https://amzn.to/2yN6gU7

FAV GPS: https://www.gaiagps.com/map/
Pre-download, 100s of overlays including topo, satellite, Nat geo, hunting, trails, forest service, etc etc! share your tracks via link after your adventure!

 

RESOURCES