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It's amazing how much you can actually fit on a bike. But it is also amazing how quickly you can overload your bike.

​We have all seen the pictures of heavyweight class adventure bikes that are the equivalents to the buggy in the opening credits of Beverly Hill Billies. For us, it was about the essentials and weeding out the unnecessary items (Marisa's hair curling iron, my 7" wireless bluetooth speaker). 
We had refined the list of luggage down to what we believed to be only essential items, but now nine months into the trip, we have reduced our gear dramatically. Still, I am sure that the professionals will shake their heads in disbelief, but sometimes it takes firsthand experience to learn the lessons that have been preached by the Elders of Adventure. 

The following is a list of the things we brought with us and why. We will continue to update this list periodically to explain what worked and what didn’t. We have not received any discounts or free merchandise for promotional purposes, nor are we paid by or affiliated with any company. We purchased these items with our own money, and due to that fact, better-quality and more expensive items may exist out there. These are simply our honest, unfiltered opinions on what we decided to bring on our trip. 

Last update on Sept. 14, 2018.
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The KTM and Enhancements

  • Rumbux crash bars and skid plate (A+) I love this set up, and admire the abuse it can take.
  • Barkbuster hand guards (A+) Haven't snapped off yet. I purchased the model that has the aluminum bar.
  • Homemade Sissy bar and rear rack (A+) The combination of a garage hose hanger, and a BBQ grill thingamajigger morphed into an awesome custom rack. 
  • Powercell pod air intakes (A+) Critical upgrade. They work amazingly, and the KTM Powershop in Bogotá, Colombia, said they had never seen an 1190 with such a clean airbox as ours! We highly recommend these.
  • Auxbeam 4" auxiliary lights with lens covers (A+) - A cheap ($20) set from Amazon, have not failed me yet over 7 months through rain and hail.
  • Double Take Collapsable mirrors (A+) When the bike goes down, the mirrors just fold in on themselves as they mount to RAM mounts.
  • Puig tall windshield  (B-) The tall windshield makes me think I may decapitate myself if I fall forward while riding off-road. Hopefully it will be a nice clean cut under the chin of my helmet, severing my head without pain or discomfort. But, it is nice on the highways.
  • KTM heated grips (D) If its 65 degrees, and you want it to be 67 degrees, they work awesome... for any real cold weather, they do absolutely nothing, even when cranked on high.
  • TKC70 Rear, TKC80 Front tire (A+) Everyone has their favorite set up, this by far is the set up I will continue to run (when given the option). I rode from Utah to Costa Rica on the TKC80 in the front, over ten thousand miles. Just under that on the rear TKC70. In Colombia I just changed the rear to...
  • AirHawk cushions for both seats (B+) I'm in a never-ending quest to make my ass more comfortable. At first I had to slightly customize the AirHawk cover to allow me to stuff a scarf in the front to better support my nether area that needed support... In Guatemala (because a dog ate my AirHawk), I purchased a newer model that has a space cut out for that area. Works great!
  • PDM power distribution module. (A+) I upgraded our electrical system with outlets all around the bike to plug in our heated gear (that we have since sent back home), charge our phones and GPS, etc.
  • For more detailed information, see our page The Motorcycle and our About the Bike blog posts.
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Troubleshooting and Tools

  • An air compressor and patch kit for flat tires (tubeless). Patch kit has worked great so far on our Colombia puncture of the rear tire.
  • An extra battery pack to jump the bike. Haven't had to use it yet.
  • Two 30 oz. MSR gasoline canisters and a one gallon Rotopax canister.
  • Tons of tools placed all around the bike
  • Again, if you're interested in our fixes, farkles, and upgrades, check out our page The Motorcycle and our blog section: About the Bike.

Storage

  • Right, left, and top soft luggage cases by Mosko Moto (A+) I love these bags! When the bike falls, they act like airbags and are able to survive the fall relatively unharmed. We have had to duct tape some fraying straps, but that's because we put these bags through absolute hell. 
  • We also purchased several Mosko Moto smaller MOLLE pouches. You can fit more tools, and an MSR water bladder into them which acts as a spigot on the bike. 
  • The Pelican hard case was left at home, but did make for a nice set-up for shorter trips.
  • KTM tank bag. (C) We obviously love KTM, but the zipper on this broke so we would not recommend this particular bag. I fixed it with my amazing seamstress abilities!
  • Random other storage bags placed around the bike to hold our tools, extra gasoline, water bottles, and other odds and ends.
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Camping

  • Nemo Losi 2P tent with the added garage and it has been amazing in a combination with two Nemo Cosmo insulated 25L air pads. (A+)
  • Enlightened Equipment Accomplice quilt. (A+++) Definitely keeps us warm on cold nights. It packs down small and is extremely light due to the down feathers. This was not a cheap purchase, but was an important one since keeping Marisa warm is a top priority. She often states she loves this quilt more than me.
  • MSR WhisperLite gasoline-fueled camping stove. (A) Best thing is, fuel is interchangeable between the stove and the bike. I brought two of the pumps for the MSR bottles, when one clogs, I have the spare and can clean the other one. I was having troubles with this stove in the beginning, but some cleaning and fuddling got it to work properly.
  • Camping pots and pans, just two cups for our essential coffee and tea consumption, and some forks and knives. Our cheap aluminum pots have bent and dented from the few times we've laid the bike over.
  • Survivor Filter Pro water filter. (A+) We have used this a lot for questionable water sources while camping. The one problem is you have to pump it, which can get tiresome.
  • Eno two-person hammock. (A+) This is a luxury item I know, but is it nice and has served us well on lazy days with beautiful surroundings. It packs down small.
  • Two G4Free foldable camping chairs. (C) Another luxury item, but you will never be able to convince me to leave them behind. While camping, chairs are important. Unfortunately both of these broke on us early on in the States, but we have fixed them with lots of duct tape and super glue.
  • Two Hydroflask (A+) water bottles along with an additional bladder.
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Marisa utilizing our chairs with the hammock in the background.
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This is our tent set-up with the garage on.

Personal Gear - Tim

  • KTM/Shuberth modular helmet. (A) This is a recent purchase in Costa Rica because my old Fulmer modular helmet was old, and it may be a half a size too big. My new helmet fits well, though I had to make some padding adjustments since I was not used to such a tight fit. It's a great helmet but can get a little hot.
  • Sena bluetooth system. (B+) This is a big upgrade from our directly wired intercom system we used to have. We talk to each other when we want, and when we're sick of that, we listen to our own music. A must have. Unfortunately, the wires are very thin and delicate, not made to withstand constant use, so I've had to splice them with new wires a couple times.
  • Spidi H2Out motorcycle jacket (C) It does its job taking the brunt of the dirt, dust, grime, and rain. But the original waterproof liner was not 100%, and the thermal layer attached awkwardly. It does have nice basic shoulder and elbow protection, but we did scrap the thermal and waterproof layers for a down jacket and rain jacket with a hood that could be worn separately from the touring jacket. 
  • Sedici motorcycle pants (C) Same as above... the waterproof zip-in liner was a joke. It had a wide "V" where the material separated at the crotch, right in the spot where most of the water funnels while riding through a rain storm. We have since purchased heavy duty rain pants. 
  • Ascend rain jacket and pants. (F) At first I thought this was a great replacements for the not-so-funtional waterproof sections of the touring jacket and pants. Then Marisa started complaining about getting wet and exchanged hers for a cheap plastic version in Colombia. Then here in Ecuador, we got into such a horrible storm, that I was cold and wet for hours afterwards, and have since ditched my Ascend rain gear. I've now purchased a local plastic set-up that I hope will be better.
  • Mountain Hardwear down jacket. (A+) This is another part of our gear that Marisa may love more than me.
  • Alpinestar Toucon motorcycle boots. (A+) Great protection, and can still hike around in them for short periods of time. We climbed some Mayan ruins in them, I don't suggest that, way too hot. The soles lasted me around 3 years before I had them replaced in Nicaragua by a local... the new sole lasted far less time, just a few months, until I bought proper replacement soles online and have had them resoled again just recently. So far so good. 
  • Every type of glove that was ever made I have bought, none of them are waterproof. I may have a problem with buying gloves.
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Personal Gear - Marisa

  • Schuberth modular helmet (A-) Marisa says it can get hot, the vents do not provide a difference in airflow. Besides that, she loves it. It blocks a great amount of the outside noise, and is comfortable.
  • Sena bluetooth system (B+) See description under Personal Gear- Tim.
  • Spidi motorcycle jacket (C) Marisa's jacket also came with useless liners.
  • Joe Rocket motorcycle pants (C) Didn't come with any waterproof liner, but is great for its protective padding. And with the addition of rain pants underneath, serves well in all types of weather. There is the added frustration that it's nearly impossible to find pants the fit women properly, and these do not. Plus, the front buttons never stay snapped.
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  • Ascend rain jacket (F) She says it was not waterproof. So she ended up buying cheap plastic cyclist jacket and pants in Colombia, and though they are hideous, they work great. She wears the rain pants under her motorcycle pants, but puts the jacket over her touring jacket and says that breaks the wind better.
  • Mountain Hardwear down jacket (A+) Packs down small, is light, and most importantly, is warm. Only problem is it's hard to wash.
  • BMW Allround waterproof boots (A+) Marisa was not really a fan of her old boots (BILT), so she purchased a pair of very expensive, but very comfortable boots that she has been able to hike in and wear daily in cold and wet weather.

Technology

  • Kyocera waterproof phones (A+) A very detailed blog inspired us to make this incredible purchase. Check it out here. I use it as a GPS with downloaded Google Maps, OSM&, and iOverlander. The combination of these apps have gotten me wherever we have needed to go.
  • Magnetic charging chord for the phone/GPS so that it can charge on the bike, and the vibrations do not damage the charging port.
  • Laptop, camera, chords, etc. etc. etc.
  • 2000 Watt Universal World Travel Adapter and Converter - Haven't had to use it yet but think we may in Peru. Either way, we know it will become important on other continents.

We will be updating this list and giving our feedback on these products. Any recommendations on what has worked for you, please leave your comments on our blog page, facebook page, or drop us a line.
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