Motorcycle Travel Gear: Essential Bike Setup for Long-Distance Riding
- Antonia Issa
- Sep 20
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 21
Your motorcycle becomes your home while on the road. My 8-hour workday is my ride, so my bike has to be set up in a way that feels good to me. Sometimes I don't know where I end and the bike begins, so this section covers things that are on your bike, not personal gear.
Everyone is different; there is no "one size fits all" when setting up a bike. However, I want to share the essentials that have become my go-to items. You can jump straight to the checklist below.
Comfort & Ergonomics
The joy of a cramp buster
My first three days on the road, I barely made it from Vancouver to San Francisco. My wrist seized up on the throttle, my whole forearm in agony. I hopped onto a women’s motorcycle forum and asked what I could do. Someone casually said,: “Ooh, you’ll want a cramp buster.” I marched into a shop, dropped $14 on this tiny piece of plastic, and it honestly saved my trip. That little gadget has kept me riding ever since.
Happy hands are essential
Cold or stiff fingers slow your response time, and I’ve had my hands seize up mid-ride—terrifying. Especially for women, who often have smaller hands and not-great circulation, heated grips are not a luxury—they’re a necessity. And if you’re thinking Mexico doesn’t get cold, think again. I’ve ridden through frost and even snow there.
Tip: Get heated grips - especially for women with less than optimal blood circulation and consider adding hand guards to protect you from the elements.
For taller riders
If you are a tall rider or if your knees are at less than a 90 degree riding angle look into footpeg options.
Tips
Enough space on your seat to adjust seating position
Cushion for the tush (worth it, trust me) - sheepskin is amazing
Cruise control / cramp buster
Heated grips/ hand guards
Wind screen
Highway pegs to stretch out your legs
Utility & Storage
Quadlock is the best (and better than the other one that rhymes with gram)
I started with a Ram Mount, but the X-shaped grip pinched my Android phone in all the wrong places. Buttons got squished, apps opened randomly, and once I lost one of the rubber end bits, the whole setup was useless. Quadlock changed the game. My phone locks into a dedicated case, so it’s not going anywhere. It also offers charging options—though I learned the hard way that USB charging in a rainstorm can kill a port. Wireless charging is slower, but way more reliable in the wet. Add a vibration dampener if you want to film while riding, and always angle your phone upright, otherwise the sun will cook it until it overheats.
My setup is pretty minimalist, so Rok Straps keep everything tied down tight. But even if you have racks and hard cases, a few extra straps can save the day. Need to haul artisan baskets, a giant dried starfish, or just the leftovers from lunch? Rok Straps give you options. I always pack spares.
Tips:
Quadlock or phone mount
USB port for charging things
Power bank
Headlamp for seeing in dark crevices
Tank bag / flex bag (I’d be lost without this)
Luggage system (waterproof)
Center stand
Radiator guard
Skid plate
Fuel Canister (5L)
Kickstand plate or a flat rock, whatever works
Rok-straps and bungee net, for surprise purchases/ gifts
A good folding knife (mostly for roadside fruit)
Maintenance & Repairs
You don’t need a garage on wheels, but a few basics can turn a disaster into a small delay.
Tips:
Mini Tire compressor
Mini Jump starter
Spare fuses and electrical wire
Tool roll with your exact tools minus the torque wrench
Zip ties, duct tape, epoxy putty
Microfibre towels
Chain lube and brush
Spare parts (sparkplugs, air/oil filter, brake pads, chain)
Tire repair kit
Tire pressure gauge
Tubing or hose (i cut my extra hydration pack hose to siphon coolant)
Safety & Security
My dreams of fog lights:
For a long time, I envied my BMW GS friends whose bikes were basically visible from space at night. Lights were clearly not a design priority on my Triumph Street Twin. So, I made it a rule not to ride at night, but life happens and so does riding unknown roads in the dark.. So, I upgraded. Two astonishing aftermarket fog lights in Mexico, complete with strobe, dim, and a few disco tricks. A guy wired them up the night before I left Mérida, and three days later my bike completely died near Coatzacoalcos. A surge fried my entire electrical system. After an expensive Christmas tow and some emergency soldering in Veracruz, my bike limped along with only basic lights and a throttle – no signals, no heated grips, no fuel gauge. Triumph, understandably(?) wanted nothing to do with it. The happy ending? A Bumble date-turned-partner who rewired my entire bike (best gift ever). Moral of the story? Fog lights are worth it, but don’t get them hastily installed by a random guy before a big trip.
Tips:
Upgrade your fog lights if needed
Have a disc lock
Bike cover for security: out of sight, out of mind
Spare key hidden somewhere
GPS tracker/ Airtag hidden on bike
Reflective tape
Emergency whistle/ compact mirror
A few camping rations/energy bars
First aid kit
Emergency blanket/ tarp
Nice to Have
I rode six trips without one, and then went to the Arctic and invested in a Cardo. I’ve discovered that I love listening to music.
Tips:
Cardo/ Sena or bluetooth sound system (also good for navigation)
The wrap up
Think of this list as a starting point, not a rulebook. The longer you ride, the more you’ll figure out what feels essential and what just adds clutter. Some people travel light and swear by minimalism, others bring half a garage along, and both ways work.
At the end of the day, your motorcycle should feel like an extension of your body: steady, comfortable, and ready for whatever the road throws at you. Set it up in a way that keeps you smiling when the miles get long. It doesn't matter how prepared you are, surprises will come your way. Learn to adapt and laugh through the challenges. That’s the real thing that matters.
The Complete Checklist: Essential Bike Setup for Long-Distance Riding
Comfort and Ergonomics
Enough space on your seat to adjust seating position
Cushion for the tush (worth it, trust me) - sheepskin is amazing
Cruise control / cramp buster
Heated grips/ hand guards
Wind screen
Highway pegs to stretch out your legs
Utility and Storage
Quadlock or phone mount
USB port for charging things
Power bank
Headlamp for seeing in dark crevaces
Tank bag / flex bag (I’d be lost without this)
Luggage system (waterproof)
Center stand
Radiator guard
Skid plate
Fuel Canister (5L)
Kickstand plate or a flat rock, whatever works
Rok-straps and bungee net, for surprise purchases/ gifts
A good folding knife (mostly to cut roadside fruit)
Maintenance and Repairs
Mini Tire compressor
Mini Jump starter
Spare fuses and electrical wire
Tool roll with your exact tools minus the torque wrench
Zip ties, duct tape, epoxy putty
Microfibre towels
Chain lube and brush
Spare parts (sparkplugs, air/oil filter, brake pads, chain)
Tire repair kit
Tire pressure gauge
Tubing or hose (i cut my extra hydration pack hose to siphon coolant)
