What do I need to bring?

[Black Hawk]

Okay, so I have created a list of equipment that I believe I will need for my trip from San Diego California, through Mexico, Central America, and South America. As this is my first trip of this magnitude and I have generated this list myself I am both unsure of its exhaustive enough and/or has things on it that are unnecessary. If you have the time would you please review the list and give me suggestions to things I'm at the list as well as things and then removed from the list. Thank you.
Black Hawk
· Objective: Packing for the trip
o Riding Gear
§ Helmet
§ Jacket and Liner
§ Gloves
§ Trousers
§ Thermal Underwear
§ Boots
§ Ring suit
§ Intercom and chargers
§ Earplugs
o Clothing
§ Socks
§ Underwear
§ Trousers
§ Shirt
§ Shorts
§ Hat
§ Sunglasses
§ Tennis Shoes
§ Flip-flops
§ Swimsuit
§ Towel
§ Skirt
o Toiletries
§ Soap/Shampoo
§ Wash towel
§ Deodorant
§ Razor
§ Comb
§ Nail clippers
§ Toothbrush and Toothpaste
§ Floss
§ Toilet paper
§ Sunscreen
§ Chapstick
§ Insect repellent
o Camping
§ Tent
§ Sleeping bag
§ Sleeping mat
§ Head torch
§ Flint and/or lighter
§ Mosquito net
o Cooking
§ Cook stove and fuel
§ Water and filtration system
§ Dish rag and pan scrubber
§ Spoon, fork, and knife
§ Cooking pots and pot gripper
§ Dish soap/Antibacterial
§ Mug/Water bottle
§ Food
· Rice
· Oat Meal
· Dried Food
· Cereal/energy Bar
· Trail mix
· Instant potatoes
· Soups
· Jerky
o Documents
§ Passport
§ Drivers license
§ Title & Registration
§ Visas
§ Tourist Card
§ Photocopies of all essential documents
§ Travelers insurance
§ Vehicle insurance
§ Money, CC, & DC
o Navigation
§ Maps
§ Compass
o Tools
§ Socket wrench
§ Tire irons
§ Allen wrenches
§ Pliers
§ Box wrench: 10 mm, 12 mm…
§ Screwdrivers: Cross and flat bladed
§ Puncture repair kit
§ Duct tape
§ Pliers with wire cutters
§ Spoke the
§ Junior hacksaw with spare blades
§ Funnel
§ Lock tight
o Spare parts
§ 2 front inner tubes
§ 2 rear inner tubes
§ Chain connecting links
§ Control levers and cables
§ 2 spare oil filters
§ Oil
§ Wire
§ Spare nuts and bolts
§ Instant gasket
§ Epoxy glue
§ WD-40
§ Electrical tape
§ Electric wire
§ 2 spare spark plugs
§ Fuel line
§ Spare Gas
§ Air filter
o First aid kit
§ Band-Aids
§ Gauze
§ Syringe
§ Scissors
§ Scalpel
§ Iodine
§ Medications
Ø Calcium
Ø Ibuprofen
Ø Antihistamine
Ø Malaria Pills
Ø Diarrhea Pills
Ø Dramamine
o Miscellaneous
§ Spare Keys
§ Locks
§ Rubber bands
§ Plastic bags
§ Zip ties
§ Camera
§ Journal
§ Pens
§ Shoe polish
§ Pull Straps
§ Safety pins
§ Spare batteries
§ Sewing kit
§ stuff sacks
§ Computer
§ I Phone
§ Carabineers

[Wuwei]

One thing I would add is a secret place to stash spare cash and a credit card, or maybe several places. A money belt is a starter, or maybe you can stuff some cash in your boots. In really bad areas I carried a dummy wallet in my back pocket complete with a bunch of small bills and a bunch of old expired cards that didn't work any more. Carry some sort of emergency contact card in case of accident.

Bike parts I would skip like the fuel line, spark plugs, air filter, etc. You can probably find most of those along the way if you need them. Tools on the other hand are useful--particularly ones that you aren't likely to find in an emergency, like the right-size thin walled spark plug socket. I wouldn't plan on carrying a ton of food--eat what the locals are eating mostly, and there are lots of cheap restaurants where you're headed.

[twobob]

No GPS ?

[markharf]

Eh? Shoe polish? Carabiners?

First glance I said to myself "This is ridiculous. Too much stuff, and not even worth reading the list." Then I realized I carried virtually all of what you're listing, and more (no skirt, though).

I carried food only when it appeared I'd need it, and seldom more than a day's worth. I carried a stove and single pot only during certain sections in the southern tier, then gave them away. I carried a few more parts than you've listed (clutch cables were the key consumable, but bulbs, oil filters, a pre-oiled airfilter to rotate in, and a stash of spare nuts bolts, lockwashers and such were also worth bringing from home). You don't need more than two spare tubes, and many carry just one (the front, which can be used in back in a pinch). You don't need extra gas until Bolivia or so, so carry a small container if you must but skip the fuel itself. If you've got barkbusters you don't need spare levers, and surely a single spark plug will suffice. A pump, if that's not included in your kit: personally, I carry one 12v and one hand pump, having had the experience of having one of each give out on me on the roadside. I also carry a fold-up mat for oilchanges (about twenty on my Latin America trip, of which I did about half myself), and a tupperware container into which I drain my oil (then clean and use for storage of bike parts). At some point you'll surely want luggage straps and/or heavy duty rubber bungies, and even if you don't use locking luggage you'll be glad to carry a little padlock for hostel storage or locking your room somewhere along the way.

I carry a bottle of flagyl (for amoebas or giardia) plus a course of penicillin (for tooth infections) and one of ciprofloxacin (for anything else). These have come in very, very handy from time to time....but then again, they're easily purchased in most countries heading south.

Best advice: take some shakedown trips if you haven't already. You might find your bike so unwieldy that you decide to leave stuff behind. Then allow for the likelihood that you'll be sending a box home (or giving stuff away) before crossing the border into Mexico. And don't forget that you're not exactly riding off into unknown wilderness: you can buy camping gear, clothes and parts along the way, so carrying everything you might need for a yearlong trip is unnecessary, and maybe silly.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Edit to add: oh, and whether or not I'm carrying a sleeping bag, I always bring a silk liner--the double size, which unzips into a full-sized sheet. I stay in a lot of budget lodging, and there are times when I don't want to come into contact with the bedding.....even fully dressed and wearing mx boots. YMMV.

[Sirakor]

Your list looks pretty good to me.

Different styles suit different people, so I guess you'll hear many different opinions. The most important thing imho is not to go wild and merge all lists you come across in an effort to be prepared for the least probable of all events. Less is definitely better, and most things you can pick up along the way anyways. I put in some comments that came to my mind in blue, will check against my list later

Originally Posted by Black Hawk

Okay, so I have created a list of equipment that I believe I will need for my trip from San Diego California, through Mexico, Central America, and South America. As this is my first trip of this magnitude and I have generated this list myself I am both unsure of its exhaustive enough and/or has things on it that are unnecessary. If you have the time would you please review the list and give me suggestions to things I'm at the list as well as things and then removed from the list. Thank you.
Black Hawk
· Objective: Packing for the trip
o Riding Gear
§ Helmet
§ Jacket and Liner Neck-buff?
§ Gloves If you will have altitude or colder areas, consider taking 2 pairs, 1 warm, waterproof, 1 thin enduro-style
§ Trousers
§ Thermal Underwear
§ Boots
§ Ring suit
§ Intercom and chargers I wouldn't, make sure you try before and consider it necessary
§ Earplugs
o Clothing
§ Socks Most people take too many, 2-3 pairs will do
§ Underwear Again most people take too many, 3-5 will do

§ Trousers 1 pair max
§ Shirt
§ Shorts Take 1 pair that doubles as swimsuit
§ Hat
§ Sunglasses
§ Tennis Shoes
§ Flip-flops
§ Swimsuit Out/see shorts above
§ Towel
§ Skirt Use towel?
o Toiletries
§ Soap/Shampoo
§ Wash towel Why 2 towels?
§ Deodorant
§ Razor
§ Comb
§ Nail clippers
§ Toothbrush and Toothpaste
§ Floss
§ Toilet paper
§ Sunscreen
§ Chapstick
§ Insect repellent DEET works best in my experience
o Camping
§ Tent
§ Sleeping bag
§ Sleeping mat
§ Head torch
§ Flint and/or lighter
§ Mosquito net No need, you already have a tent. If you want a net inside the hotel, there probably are ways to (ab)use the tent ;-)
o Cooking
§ Cook stove and fuel
§ Water and filtration system You will get many opinions on this ... if you want to go lightwight, I prefer using iodine (it's in the first aid kit anyways). If you dislike the taste, use ascorbic acid (vitamin C) after purification to remove the iodine/taste. Less $$, less weight, less bulk, and safer (filters don't remove viruses)
§ Dish rag and pan scrubber half a scrubber, I wouldnt take a rag
§ Spoon, fork, and knife No knife in cook set - you will probably have another (proper) knife anyways (leatherman, swisstool, etc)
§ Cooking pots and pot gripper
§ Dish soap/Antibacterial
§ Mug/Water bottle camelback/MSR dromedary is better than bottles imho
§ Food Pick up whatever is local, and don't carry too many days worth. Once out of the first world food is cheap anyways ... Also I wouldnt take any emergency rations. If you get in trouble, water and fuel will be your main concern ...
· Rice
· Oat Meal
· Dried Food
· Cereal/energy Bar
· Trail mix
· Instant potatoes
· Soups
· Jerky
o Documents
§ Passport
§ Drivers license International drivers licence/translation, best to have a few and/or good color photocopies/fakes of your license. You're free to hand them over to corrupt police and bugger off if they insist on a bribe to return the document
§ Title & Registration
§ Visas
§ Tourist Card
§ Photocopies of all essential documents Best to have this online somewhere too
§ Travelers insurance
§ Vehicle insurance
§ Money, CC, & DC
o Navigation
§ Maps
§ Compass
o Tools Make sure the tools work on your bike, and you take only tools that you know how to use, as otherwise the help you will need will most likely have its own tools - with the exception of very special items
§ Socket wrench
§ Tire irons
§ Allen wrenches
§ Pliers
§ Box wrench: 10 mm, 12 mm…
§ Screwdrivers: Cross and flat bladed
§ Puncture repair kit
§ Duct tape
§ Pliers with wire cutters
§ Spoke the
§ Junior hacksaw with spare blades
§ Funnel I would take a few more bodge aids, e.g. jubilee clips, zip ties!! etc, take a look here http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-germany-51242
§ Lock tight
o Spare parts
§ 2 front inner tubes I think 1 front is enough. Tubes are very heavy and take up lots of space. A front will fit the rear if needed, and the third world has many people good at vulcanizing old tubes. Fit Michelin Ultra Heavy duty before you head out.
§ 2 rear inner tubes See above, no rear tube
§ Chain connecting links
§ Control levers and cables Install on the bike parallel to original before departure
§ 2 spare oil filters
§ Oil
§ Wire Ni-plated so it doenst rust like crazy
§ Spare nuts and bolts Could consider M6/M8 drill bits
§ Instant gasket
§ Epoxy glue
§ WD-40
§ Electrical tape
§ Electric wire Take one long enough, ideally Silicone sealed so its temperature proof
§ 2 spare spark plugs Take a waterproof case
§ Fuel line
§ Spare Gas ???
§ Air filter I wouldn't ... install a washable foam one, maybe take a thin filter skin for dusty places if you need
o First aid kit
§ Band-Aids Steristrips for suture-like mending in addition
§ Gauze
§ Syringe
§ Scissors
§ Scalpel
§ Iodine
§ Medications
Ø Calcium
Ø Ibuprofen
Ø Antihistamine
Ø Malaria Pills
Ø Diarrhea Pills
Ø Dramamine Consider: antibiotic, antifungal creme, burn/sunburn creme, eye drops, rehydration sachets/mix, alcohol wipes
o Miscellaneous
§ Spare Keys
§ Locks
§ Rubber bands won't last long
§ Plastic bags
§ Zip ties several sizes
§ Camera A couple of SD-cards
§ Journal
§ Pens
§ Shoe polish ???? no?
§ Pull Straps
§ Safety pins
§ Spare batteries
§ Sewing kit
§ stuff sacks
§ Computer Matter of taste, I didn't
§ I Phone
§ Carabineers

I like to take a multi-purpose "sheet" (usually I take an army poncho): Often it's a very good idea to have a bike cover, and if whatever you use as bike cover can double as tarp, tent ground sheet, working mat in the dirt, etc etc so much the better

[Sirakor]

Come to think of it, also definitely add:

- Fuses
- Brake pads
- Light bulb (head light), could do without tail if you fit a good LED
- Spare valve stem and valve cap

[naildoc1]

Do you have a date when you are leaving? Are you traveling Solo? My husband and I are planning to go sometime in January from Oregon. (We will need a good window of weather to leave). We will be traveling as far as Panama. If you are interested in traveling with others, send me a message and we can talk about it. If not, have a safe and fabulous trip!