How to Pack a Motorcycle for a Trip: Loading, Balancing and Strapping Down in 10 Steps

To pack a motorcycle for a trip, keep the weight low and over or in front of the rear axle, balance the two sides, and strap everything down with multi-point elastic cords. Then set tire pressure and suspension for the load and stop to check it regularly.

This tutorial covers how to load the bike. For what to bring, use our motorcycle trip packing list. Both are part of the motorcycle trip planning hub.

Key takeaways- Most motorcycles aren't designed to carry much cargo. Know your weight limit before you pack.- A load behind the rear axle affects turning and braking and can cause a wobble.- Use elastic cords with more than one attachment point per side. Rope stretches and lets loads shift.- Never attach cargo to the front fender or handlebars.

What you need

• Your luggage: saddlebags or panniers, a tank bag, and a tail bag or dry bag
• Elastic cords or a cargo net, plus spare straps
• A bathroom scale
• A tire pressure gauge
• The owner's manual (for preload and tire pressure settings)
• Compression sacks or packing cubes for soft items

Step 1: Find your weight limit

Look for the certification label near where the handlebars meet the steering post. On US-market bikes it shows the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), as federal rules require. The bike, you, any passenger and all luggage together must stay under that number.

Riding two-up? Check that the bike is built to carry a passenger at all.

Step 2: Weigh everything

Weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding each bag. Write the numbers down. If the total is close to the limit, take things out now, not at the roadside.

Step 3: Sort by weight and by when you need it

Make three piles:

• Heavy: tools, spare parts, water, a camping stove if you carry one.
• Light and bulky: clothes, sleeping bag, jacket liner.
• Grab often: phone, wallet, rain gear, snacks, sunglasses.

Heavy items go in first and lowest. Grab-often items go in the tank bag or the top of a saddlebag.

Step 4: Pack the heavy items low and forward

The Alberta motorcycle handbook says to keep the load as low as practical and over or in front of the rear axle. Don't stack heavy bags against a sissy bar or the frame behind the seat. That raises the center of gravity. A load behind the rear axle affects turning and braking and can cause a wobble.

Step 5: Balance the saddlebags

Put about the same weight in each side. An uneven load can make the bike drift to one side. Weigh each bag if you're unsure.

Step 6: Fill the tank bag last

Keep tank bag loads forward, and be careful with hard or sharp items. Then turn the bars lock to lock. The bag must not touch the handlebars or controls.

Step 7: Strap the tail bag

Fasten loads securely or put them in bags made for the bike. Use elastic cords or a net with more than one attachment point per side. Avoid rope, which stretches and lets knots work loose. Tuck loose strap ends away from the chain and wheel.

Step 8: Set tire pressure and suspension for the load

Check tire pressure cold and adjust it to the load. The recommended cold inflation pressure is on the bike's label or in the owner's manual. With a heavy load, set suspension preload, air shocks and dampers to the recommended settings for the weight. Most wobbles trace back to bad loading, unsuitable accessories or wrong tire pressure.

Step 9: Adjust for a passenger

A passenger changes the setup. Adjust the shocks and check the drive chain slack for the extra weight. Expect slower responses and longer stops, so ride a little slower and leave more space.

Step 10: Test ride, then check at every stop

Ride a short loop near home with the full load. Brake, turn and change lanes at low speed and see how the bike feels. Then stop and check the load regularly on the trip, because it can work loose or move.

Common mistakes

Jacket choice saves space

A jacket with zip-off sleeves or vents can cover more weather, so you may carry one less layer. Leather Collection motorcycle touring jackets come in hand-stitched cowhide with vents, reflective piping or zip-off sleeves, in standard or custom sizes. Features vary by product, so check the listing.

For luggage strategy on long tours, see how to pack for motorcycle touring and motorcycle touring gear and packing essentials. Camping adds a lot of bulk; see how to pack for minimalist motorcycle camping.

FAQ

How should a passenger sit on a motorbike? As far forward as possible without crowding the rider, holding the rider's waist or the bike's grips, with both feet on the foot pegs even when stopped. The passenger should move with the rider: lean forward when speeding up, back when slowing and to the side in turns.

Does Google Maps have a motorcycle mode? Not in the US. Google's two-wheeled routing list doesn't include the United States, and its help page tells riders of motorcycles under 125cc to avoid tolls and highways instead. See how to choose a motorcycle trip planning app for motorcycle routing apps.

How do I check the bike before I leave? Run the T-CLOCS walk-around: tires, controls, lights, oil, chassis and stands. The full list is in motorcycle trip checklist: what to check before you leave.