#ride5000miles Champions: Top ten essential products for motorcycle touring

Published: 14 June 2017 Updated: 14 June 2017

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#ride5000miles group member Rhys Humphrey reveals his trusted touring kit.

“I am a bit of a budget biker – I have two bikes, a 1990 Yamaha XTZ 750 Super Tenere that has been completely customised for trail riding, and a 1996 Suzuki RF900R. The Yamaha cost me £1100 as a non-runner and the Suzuki was £1200 with one months MOT and no service history. My touring kit is of similar style. But I definitely have a few items that I love and wouldn’t be without…

1. Berghaus Freeflow III 35 + 8 backpack

I bought this quite a few years ago for around £60. It has served me very well. You can’t get this exact model now (although there is an updated version). It seems to be good at being waterproof as well.

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2. 1.9 litre Stanley tools tea caddy

I bought this about a year ago from Amazon. It holds nearly 2 litres of tea – I call it the Guy Martin flask! Brilliant piece of kit. I’m sure I only paid about £25 for mine. Great if you want to stop in an isolated spot and still be civilised!

3. Gore-Tex overtrousers

If it’s a relatively mild, short weekend away, and the weather looks reasonable I’ll wear my Kevlar jeans. But just in case I’ll pack my GoreTex waterproof trousers. The overtrousers also reduce windchill significantly on my legs if the temperature drops as it does in the Lake district and Scotland. I bought them from a reduced rack in an outdoor shop in Betwsy Coed, North Wales 10 years ago. I think they were about £40.

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4. USB charging socket and phone cable

Modern smartphones are amazing but battery life can be limited. These USB sockets only cost a few quid.

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5. 1.5 litre bottle of squash

You gotta stay hydrated to stay alert when the sun is beating down on you.

6. Oxford Earsoft FX foam disposable ear plugs

They do the job perfectly well and don’t cost the earth. Bung a few spares in the rucksack too.

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7. TomTom Rider 410 Great Rides Edition

I don’t go anywhere without this superb piece of kit. It’s hard wired to the bike on a RAM mount. I paid £320 for it.

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8. Tupperware snack box

I always take some snacks with me including fruit and cereal bars in a largish Tupperware box that goes into the backpack. Gotta keep your energy up when riding long distances!

9. Cash

I always like to carry at least £20 – £30 in change. Burger vans don’t take cards and I do like a burger or a sausage-in a bun. Onions? Yes please!

10. Under seat tool roll

Due to the age of my bikes I can still do roadside repairs should I need to. I have a half decent working knowledge of things – taught to me by my dad who is a motorcycle mechanic at the Motorcycle Restoration Company. The tool roll probably cost about £40, I put it together myself with tools brought from an autojumble.

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By Ped Baker

Former MCN Managing Editor (Digital & Events)