What should I bring to a dual sport motorcycle ride?

1) Street legal, quiet, insured, dirt-worthy motorcycle.

2) Protective motorcyle riding gear. I prefer to wear a mix of MX dirtbike gear, as well as a jacket and gloves that can protect me in the event of a crash on pavement.

A- In the wet and winter months, I wear waterproof motorcycle gear. That means GoreTex stuff. If it is real cold I add an electric vest. A penny-tech solution to quick wet weather gear is to take a large plastic trashbag and latex dishwashing gloves. I have worn both and found that you get what you pay for. I invested in longlasting GoreTex riding gear that has lasted thru years of adventure riding.

For an inexpensive alternative to GoreTex you could get the Thor Mud Suit. Looks like a good deal at $30. Should keep the rain off of you. Sweat in the inside is another thing.

Since I like to buy quality and keep the gear for years, I have found myself shopping at Aerostich. This is where the round-the-world adventure riders get their gear. The link to their site is here. The link to their adventure clothes called Darien is here.

B- If the weather is warm and dry I know there will be dust, so I bring a disposable dust mask.

C- I always wear a MX chest protector. Having broken ribs in stupid slow falls, I have learned that broken ribs hurt for a long time. The $89 for a chest protector is a lot less than I would have paid to make the pain go away. I'm sure most riders never fall, but I am the exception as I fall a lot when riding off-road. So, I wear a lot of plastic. The chest protector, knee guards, MX boots, full-face helmet, goggles (with a nose guard if it is raining or sleeting), and MX style street bike gloves for added protection.

3) Roll Chart Holder - This is an inexpensive plastic holder that is sized to hold a long roll of adding machine paper. Typically, dual sport rides offer riders a roll chart and a route map. Thus it is up to you and your ability to navigate using a roll chart to figure out the ride route. In essence a roll chart is a linear list of directions. As you progress along the ride route, you twist on the knob of the roll chart holder to advance the list to the next instruction. Heck, since the 1920s there have been routes and rallies using similar route sheets.

Enduro Engineering offers the blue roll chart holder here. I use this one also.

Four Strokes Only offers a couple roll chart holders here.

Cycle Gear offers tthe Countdown roll chart holder here.

For those that want the high zoot roll chart holder, look no farther than here. You can even get a lighting kit for it. I can tell you that there have been many long rides where I sure could have used this holder.

Many rides offer riders copied 8.5x11 sheets that you have to cut and tape together for roll charts. I can easily understand as creating single sheet roll charts is VERY labor intensive. However, no matter the hours it takes I print my roll charts on thick bond paper on sheets as long as the roll chart (as long as 12 feet). I cut the sheets of 16 roll charts into the 2" wide charts riders need to navigate the loops. If it is pouring rain, I suggest that riders add a single strip of scotch tape to the front or back of the chart. That way, if the chart gets wet the paper will not be able to tear apart. ••••• The point here is to bring a roll of Scotch tape to the ride.••••••

4) OPTIONAL GEAR - GPS

I am a huge fan of using a GPS. Here is the link to my GPS page. Having a GPS is an unnecessary luxury, but then so are a lot of the things we all collect. My roll charts and maps are very good, so you won't need a GPS. The GPS merely makes navigation a whole lot easier. If you get off track, many times a GPS is what it takes to get back on track.