Show us your bike loaded for a trip....

[mecki]

Whatever you feel comfortable with.
Obviously coppers are getting paid very well so they don't join the peasants when they eventually revolt, but for us peasants with normal salaries every penny counts.
So if I can stretch the distance between tank stops until I come to the end of a toll-road (i.e. at Reims on the way back) or across the border and can fill up at a supermarket at 10+ cents less a litre and have a decent meal and/or drink without paying through the nose makes a difference to me.
I have decent gear but the trip takes 2 days rain or shine and I have been in sudden downpours and been soaked through within minutes before.
And getting into wet gear the next morning is not an option if I can avoid it.
I wouldn't buy anything with a name starting with i-, so no shite-pad or shite-phone for me, thank you very much.
I have no use for it the rest of the year, so why buy a tablet or smart-phone from another manufacturer just to save space in the top case for a couple of weeks a year?
I have a notebook of course since they stopped making laptops ages ago. But even modern notebooks are sensible to shock so putting it in a proper case is the minimum you can do.
And I take the books because I leave them there so my son can read them as well.
And no presies for the grandkids and no cider for Corinne?  way
But I guess if they were dogs you wouldn't say that. 

[doebag]

Without going too far off topic.....................
Maybe some of this should be in the 'packing list' sticky, but on the subject of tools, what do we actually take with us?
I ditched the factory toolkit, but take quality tools. Quality multi-tool [ leatherman ] , 1/4 inch drive ratchet,extension,sockets up to 13mm and Allen key and screwdriver bits to fit the bike sizes [ no extras ]  6" adjustable. Cable ties, tape etc, latex gloves.
In other words tools I can reasonably expect to be able to use at the side of the road. So no engine work, major bodywork removal. I have thought of taking the right size tools for wheel removal. If you are stranded with a puncture, it may be possible to take the wheel to a repair place, rather than transport the whole bike.
But we are not doing the long way round, or trekking through Mongolia. Most of mainland Europe and beyond has phone coverage, AA/RAC coverage, and mainly, people who would be willing to help.
And unlike our stateside friends, I don't think I have seen anyone on this forum ask the question ' what firearm do you take with you, and where do you keep it' The answers to which truly show that we ARE two nations that are totally different despite speaking a common language.

[winnsworld]

If I had a tool kit I'd be dangerous. Apparently there is one under the seat for someone else to use, if needed.

When going abroad I take a small first aid kit, spare bulbs, hi-vis bibs, air compressor, torch, breathalyser kits (thx for the reminder Boomer) and the phone number of my breakdown service, etc. That lot takes up half of my top box, leaving plenty of room for her handbag and accessories, plus a pannier each for clothing, etc. Oh and thanks to Roger I now have a tank bag for my man bag and accessories!

[Boomer]

For France don't forget to pack your one-shot breathalysers.
The law says you have to carry them but there is no fine for not carrying them.
However, Monsieur le Plod would be well within his rights to take you to the Gendarmerie for a blood test and anal probing if you didn't have one.

I pack a first aid kit, 2 hi-vis jackets, spare bulbs, toolkit good enough to do anything I could do at the roadside (which is a fair bit), gaffer tape, cable ties, and last but not least RAC breakdown cover.

[zedmeister]

The Wolfs practical guide to travelling, available from WH Smiths and all other good book retailers for £9.99.   

You robbin git, i bet mecki can buy a pannier full of goodies for that!!!!   

[2kwacks]

Whatever you feel comfortable with.
Obviously coppers are getting paid very well so they don't join the peasants when they eventually revolt, but for us peasants with normal salaries every penny counts.
So if I can stretch the distance between tank stops until I come to the end of a toll-road (i.e. at Reims on the way back) or across the border and can fill up at a supermarket at 10+ cents less a litre and have a decent meal and/or drink without paying through the nose makes a difference to me.
I have decent gear but the trip takes 2 days rain or shine and I have been in sudden downpours and been soaked through within minutes before.
And getting into wet gear the next morning is not an option if I can avoid it.
I wouldn't buy anything with a name starting with i-, so no shite-pad or shite-phone for me, thank you very much.
I have no use for it the rest of the year, so why buy a tablet or smart-phone from another manufacturer just to save space in the top case for a couple of weeks a year?
I have a notebook of course since they stopped making laptops ages ago. But even modern notebooks are sensible to shock so putting it in a proper case is the minimum you can do.
And I take the books because I leave them there so my son can read them as well.
And no presies for the grandkids and no cider for Corinne?  way
But I guess if they were dogs you wouldn't say that. 

[/quote.. But I guess if they were dogs you wouldn't say that    if we were in the school yard at play time, there would be a gang of us shouting... FIGHT.. FIGHT!!!

[PCPeteUK]

I have to say, some of you are scaring me with your 'needs' 

In another thread I wrote

Quite a few years ago, I was given a packing tip.
When you come back from a trip, make three piles of the stuff that you took.
1/ Stuff you took and used
2/ Stuff you took and used, but could have left behind
3/ Stuff you took but did not need.

Next trip, take pile 1, a selection from pile 2 [ might include waterproofs for example], and leave pile 3 at home.

It still works for me 

I tried this and its a great method but putting Mrs Pete in pile 2 just earnt me a thick ear....

[Debs]

I tried this and its a great method but putting Mrs Pete in pile 2 just earnt me a thick ear....

[viper]

we did a trip around europe last year for two weeks , one box for my clothes , one box for swmbo, topbox for bike stuff, tank bag for valubles, we dont pack anything outside of the boxes and manage just fine, that included her taking hair straightners.

we figure that we wear our biking gear all day, so just for the evening time and eating out we only take one pair of jeans each, 3 tops and 1 fleece, under wear ect.

[Lonewolf]

Viper, what about the cider, where did you store the bottles of cider?

[Silverback]

Viper, what about the cider, where did you store the bottles of cider?

LW,

Take the top off the bottle, put neck of bottle to mouth and tip. Swallow contents.

Cider safely stored!!!  Easy..

SB

[viper]

Viper, what about the cider, where did you store the bottles of cider?

im going to put one bottle in each of my spare wellys and all the grandkids presents may have to go ontop of the bookcase thats bolted to my front fender

[Lonewolf]

Why didn't I think of that?

Anyway I've asked MG to design a way of transporting the kitchen sink, (double drainer with waste disposal unit installed) and send the plans straight through to our argumentative friend. 

[mecki]

Why didn't I think of that?

Anyway I've asked MG to design a way of transporting the kitchen sink, (double drainer with waste disposal unit installed) and send the plans straight through to our argumentative friend. 

Thank you, but that is not necessary because the kitchen sink is the only thing that stays home. 
Contrary to the common belief they actually have kitchen sinks in France too. 

[viper]

Why didn't I think of that?

Anyway I've asked MG to design a way of transporting the kitchen sink, (double drainer with waste disposal unit installed) and send the plans straight through to our argumentative friend. 

two people troll'd in one post, class