When it comes to filling your panniers, top case, tank bag and dry bag for an extended motorcycle trip, we often struggle to decide what comes with us and what stays home. From “I use this every day” to “but I might need it,” we have to balance limited space and gross weight limits with our needs, wants and comforts.
There’s no one correct set of stuff to take and no one right way to pack your bike, but I can offer some tips and insights based on what I take with me for a trip of longer than one week.
This is Part 1, looking at just one pannier. I call it my “high side” case because if the bike is on its side stand, this is the one on the high side of the bike. The panniers are from Touratech’s Zega EVO X series and hold 38 liters per side. I wrote a comprehensive review of these cases after riding to the National Rally in Great Falls, Montana, in 2021. In the review, I talk a little about what I took with me on that trip; consider this series a 2026 update. Read Part 2 | Read Part 3 | Read Part 4 (all coming soon)
I’ve left some extra room because I like to be able to carry some insulating layers with me—a heavy flannel shirt and maybe even a sweatshirt or hoodie. Those kinds of things unfortunately don’t compact down terribly well, but chances are I’m wearing them for at least part of the day, so they’re not always in the pannier anyway.
1: Rain gear
My rain gear is a mix of brands simply due to convenience. Frogg Toggs pants (silver), Tiheen jacket (blue) and BMW Motorrad gloves (black). All waterproof, all easily compacted into a basic stuff sack.
2: Bike cover
This is my Nelson-Rigg “Defender” XL half-cover in its stuff sack. This comes in handy anywhere you stop for the night; it keeps rain off the seat and looky-loos from thinking they can touch your bike whenever you like. Don’t leave your expensive electronics mounted, though—it’s not a secure cover in that regard.
3: Air pump
There are about a million USB-rechargeable air pumps on the market now, so pick one. Mine from Trail Tech (look under “adventure gear”) has its own semi-rigid case, which is nice for tossing into a pannier. It also can function as a power bank to recharge your phone, but I hesitate to use it like that because I’m always concerned about having enough charge to air up the tires. I carry a separate power bank with my computer gear.
4: Tool roll
I have a MotoHansa kit I got from the Beemershop a number of years ago—it’s meant for the non-liquid cooled boxers of the 21st century, but there’s a lot of overlap. They’ve switched to a new supplier (SBV Tools) with similar high-quality tools. (I’d love to update my kit to this one if anybody’s looking for a Christmas gift!) I supplement my kit with a few extras, like a small probe (the orange handled thing), toothbrush (for cleaning things when needed), tool for taking apart electrical connectors (red handle), 22mm wrench, wire cutters (on top of the 22mm) and a 12/13 combo ratcheting wrench (next to the ratchet driver). Because this is easily the heaviest thing in the pannier, I have it on the bottom and slid forward as far as possible.
5: Quart of oil
BMW says to use 5W40 oil for my 2015 R 1200 GS, so that’s what I have. I like Castrol “Power 1.” Organizing the case like this means I can keep the oil bottle upright, which—once it’s been opened—can help minimize the possibility of spilling oil inside the case. Trust me when I tell you that if you spill oil inside your pannier, it is a giant pain to clean. (Hint: use lots of Dawn liquid dish soap!)
6: First aid kit
I started with a My Medic FAK and added a few things, like an easy-to-use tourniquet and clotting powder packets. Because the things I added didn’t fit in the case the kit came in, I switched to a Giant Loop Possibles Pouch, specifically a short run they did with the universal “first aid kit inside here” symbol on it. They’ve updated the design and don’t appear to offer the first aid logo any more.
