Most useful: Altberg motorcycle/walking boots-great for everything. GPS- I get lost easily. Wife- numerous uses and great company. Duck tape and bungees secured everything that broke or fell off. Camping washing line.

Least useful: Multi tool thing. Torque wrench (but only 'cause I didn't need it!)

Top kit:
1) Button-sized LED light on the keyring
2) Fabric, drawstring backpack which folds up to nothing
3) Piece of plank to put under the centre-stand on soft ground while repairing punctures
4) Synthetic clothing (on & off the bike)
5) Tent etc. for planned and unplanned camping

Not so top kit:
1) GPS
2) Credit cards that can't be used in ATMs
3) Tools I can't use
4) ... um, can't think of anything else; all the rest is well-used, a spare, or there for good juju. Wouldn't want to be without my Leatherman.

James

[This message has been edited by JamesCo (edited 17 November 2003).]

least used- camelback- too much of a pain to put it somewhere (even on my back, as it interferes with my luggage on back seat) and fill with clean water

most used- Bota of Boulder waterbottle with built in filter- fill from tap at hotel and put behind windscreen, iodine tablets good idea too

also good kit- a kidney belt used for off road- it saves my back

Just thought of a few more;
I have 2 identical cable locks. The male end of one fits into the female end of the other and vice versa. I can use them as 2 separate or one long cable- very versatile.

Craftsman ratchet wrenches. (Open end wrench on one end and closed ratcheting end on other) They were a christmas gift as I would consider them too much a luxury to spend the extra cash myself. But, man, do I use them a lot. I almost never use regular wrenches anymore. Dont get the cheap ones. Make sure they are as compact as standard and have a really fine pitch to the ratchet teeth.

Lots of good metric bolts, washers, nuts, including odd ones. Hard to find good stuff in 3rd world. My travel partner laughed at how many bolts I had on last trip but we used a LOT of them including Tshaped washers to fix his helmet visor after impact with a vultchur.

Least useful- travelers checks. Almost impossible to cash most places and you pay comission twice and get a bad exchange rate. Emergency only. On the subject of money- my PLUS system card did not work ANYWHERE in Brazil and my bank (Bank One- USA) could not fix it. Partners SIRRUS system card did work. I have one of each this time around.

------------------
Back on the road again.

sopgear.com

[This message has been edited by jim stanley (edited 25 November 2003).]

I always found that a mixture of US$, travellers cheques and a Visa card with an ATM pin number was the best combination. The only country we encountered whilst travelling through Africa, the Middle East and Asia where we couldn't use the ATM's was Mozambique.

I found something, Pocket Duct Tape.
A flat pack.
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commer...rfnbr=30391989

John

Most useful items I have found for a RTW on a motorbike would have to be.

Full set of Golf Clubs.
Inflatable paddling pool. (for those hot days)
Microwave
Fax machine
Portable toilet (try to get the small one, saves on space)


Least useful

Exercise Bike (all that pedalling and not going anywhere)
An electric fan.
Food processor (never used it once)
Controversial I know, but I have to say Leatherman.

hi Biggles
Have you tried the George Forman grill bit lighter than a microwave
Regards
Gaz

Am NEVER taking the AGA again. Anthracite so difficult to get hold of en route.

------------------
Johnefyn

Multi-tool, petzl headtorch and swiss army knife all mentioned already I know but I ALWAYS carry a handfull of assorted cable ties, I find they are brilliant for a huge range of things and will contrive a repair for loads of problems and they cost pennies.

Good:
Yep, cable ties are great.
Another vote for duct tape.
Book.
Cask strength whisky. (weight and space conscious as always!)
Opinel knife.
Homemade velcro bags of light nylon for clothes/washkit etc.
Buff

Useless:
Too many pants.
Open face helmet.
Narrow road bars.
Itty bitty aftermarket indicators.
Itty bitty tyre levers made of old cheese.

Most usefull;

My wife when she's right.
Official I.D. at a border or police stop.

Least usefull;

My wife when I'm wrong.
Official I.D. at a border or police stop.

As always the circumstance dictates and nothing is useless when the need arises.

Internet reviews of products have been my savior and my curse. This site and reviews on camping magazine sites have allowed me to pare down my kit to the point that I can pack my tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, camp pillow, towel, quick dry shirts, toiletries, cook gear into my tank bag or even tank panniers if I also want to bring 6 litres of water in the panniers. I truly regret buying my panniers and top box. Almost no need for them.

Most used:

1) Pack of smokes and lighter
2) Can of beer in my emergency kit
3) A stack of cash

Least used:
1) Tools I never use
2) The rest of my emergency kit
3) Throttle rocker

To add something to this thread:

Most useful:

- I recently switched from motorcycle boots to regular hiking boots, also using it for driving. So I can go for a walk in the mountains or somewhere without having to take an additional pair of shoes with me.

Least useful:

- I carried a three-legged stool with me, which i fortunately lost after three months of travelling. Never missed it since then...

Marco
http://www.schnueriger.net