It’s now 2025, and many people are planning trips for this year or even 2026. Lately, I’ve been thinking about my own future travels, as this is the time of year when planning really starts. Planning is essential for any adventure, and while I was working on my plans today, I listened to an Adventure Bike Radio podcast about the most common mistakes travellers make.
I’ve covered some of these topics in previous posts, but I’ve listed them again and expanded on them because they’re important points to consider when planning a journey. Interestingly, many of the things they discussed are lessons I’ve learned from my own experience, and experienced travellers will likely feel the same.
Right now, I’m planning two upcoming trips—a big one in 2025 and an even bigger one in 2026. Everything mentioned here applies to me as well. There are certain things I always do before any trip, as they can make the difference between a great journey and a disappointing one.
KNOWING YOUR BIKE
Before a long trip, you need to really know your bike. Understand where everything is, what it does, and how to adjust it – such as the suspension, levers, headlight height, and displays. You should also know how to check oil and coolant levels, where the fuses are, and also carry a few spare fuses. Look online and learn what commonly fails on your bike and how to deal with it. This includes knowing how to fix a puncture, plug a tubeless tyre, or remove a wheel to repair an inner tube.
When I travel, I always carry a few spare parts. If I know a service is due, I take filters or even spark plugs with me. I have a hydraulic clutch on my V-strom, but if I didn’t, I’d carry a spare clutch cable taped alongside the original, as clutch cable failures can leave riders stranded.
Being able to fix a puncture is essential. Always carry a puncture repair kit and a portable compressor. I use mine often, mostly to adjust tyre pressures for road and off-road use. I’ve met travellers without puncture kits or basic bike knowledge who still started major trips, which I think is a bit risky.
Your toolkit is just as important. You don’t need lots of tools, only enough to get you moving again. Check your bike and tailor your toolkit to it. On my bike, most bolts are 10, 12 and14mm, so I only carry those spanners and sockets. I also carry Allen keys, pliers, snips, a screwdriver with interchangeable bits, gloves, cable ties, insulating and duct tape plus mole grips.
For long trips outside Europe, I also carry inner tubes and tyre levers, which is based on past experience..! I’ve modified my fuel system with an in-line fuel filter and carry spares, as changing the in-tank filter is time-consuming. This isn’t necessary within Europe, where fuel quality is generally excellent.
REAR SUSPENSION
Your suspension takes a lot of punishment on a long trip, especially if you’re carrying luggage or a passenger. If it’s a short trip and your rear suspension is in good condition, that’s fine. But if your bike is known for weak rear suspension, or you’re riding an adventure bike off-road, it’s worth upgrading to something stronger before you go.
Suzuki rear suspension units can be unreliable, so I replaced mine before my West Africa trip. It’s taken a serious beating since, and I’m now fitting another low-mileage unit before my next trip. This might sound excessive, but it depends on how far and where you’re travelling. Breaking down with a failed rear shock in a remote country would be a nightmare, with little chance of finding a replacement.
If you’re travelling mainly on tarmac within mainland Europe, you’ll probably be fine. But if you’re heading further afield, it’s something worth considering.
PREPARING YOURSELF
Put your health first. Make sure you’re reasonably fit, you’re in the right headspace, and have the correct vaccinations for the countries you’ll visit – especially Yellow Fever and Hep A & B. For my West Africa trip, I needed ten jabs over three months, plus two more recently as boosters for Cholera and Hep A & B.
If you’re travelling outside the EU, check with your local doctor about required vaccinations—they can confirm everything from official records. Take a copy of your vaccination record and your Yellow Fever card with you. You may never be asked for them, but it’s best to be prepared.
Also, if you are going on an extended trip, visit the dentist. Finding dental care in remote places can be very difficult, and dealing with tooth pain while travelling will make the journey miserable.
OVERPLANNING
So, you’re planning a big summer trip while sitting comfortably at home in winter, and you’ve mapped out an impressive route: eight countries in fourteen days. What you haven’t planned for is torrential rain that makes crossing the Alps unsafe, or a blown tyre that strands you in a town for two days while the right replacement is ordered from the local car-tyre shop.
The truth is, anything can happen on the road, and no amount of planning can cover every setback.
Have a goal and a destination (or a few), but stay flexible. Don’t over-pack or over-plan your itinerary, or you may end up racing the clock to keep up with your itinerary, turning what should be an adventure into a chore.
UNDERPLANNING
So, you’ve planned your route and chosen several countries, but have you actually researched them? Is your bike insurance is valid, is insurance is available at the border, so you need a motorway vignette, or do you need a Carnet de Passages or Temporary Import Permit..? There’s a lot to consider when crossing borders, so proper research is essential.
You should also think about why you’re travelling. What do you really want to see? I enjoy history and castles, so I pin places like castles and museums in Google Maps and adjust my route around them. It makes planning much easier and more meaningful. Make the most of your trip by planning ahead, allowing time to see what interests you and being realistic about your schedule. Most importantly, leave room to stay flexible as you travel.
TOO MUCH GEAR
Oh, I have definitely made this mistake, especially on my first two trips and there were a few times when I left a campsite without those additional tee shirts or cooking item or plug adapters or towel – but from experience I now travel with only the kit I need. On my last YouTube video there were a few comments about travelling with the kitchen sink – but I travel with all the kit I want to travel with and feel comfortable carrying – and that is MY decision – borne from experience. I also have a big powerful bike with lots of luggage space, but if I had a smaller bike then undoubtedly I would travel with a little less.
From my experience I know what I need and what I can do without – but – you do have to be realistic with the things you have in your luggage. Once you’ve got out of the habit of taking those extra shirts or a jumper for ‘just in-case’, you will be surprised how little you actually need once you start travelling. Take what you need and not what you’d like, and if you don’t use it – then ditch it…
TESTING YOUR GEAR
A few weeks before your trip, load your bike with everything you plan to take—even food and water. Then go on a short trip for a few days, staying in hotels or camping, depending on how you’ll travel on the main trip. Move on each day so you practise packing, unpacking, and loading the bike regularly.
If you’re camping, this also helps you practise setting up and packing down your tent. You’ll quickly learn if your tent is right for you – too big, too small, or just a hassle. Use whatever tent suits you, but make sure you’re comfortable putting it up and taking it down before the real trip starts. I always choose a tent that takes me a few minutes to put up or take down. If the light is going or it suddenly starts raining, you need to get that tent up quickly and not messing about with poles or guy lines.
By the end of this “shakedown” trip, you’ll know what gear you actually used and what you didn’t. If you didn’t use it, consider leaving it behind. This process also helps you build a routine and get into the right mindset for travelling. A shakedown trip also helps you get to know your bike better. You’ll find out if the seat is comfortable, the suspension is set correctly, your phone mount works, your USB ports are reliable, or if anything needs adjusting.
Doing a short test trip beforehand shows you what works and what doesn’t – so you can prepare your kit, your bike, and yourself. Even with plenty of experience, I still do this before every big trip because it puts me back into my routine and me into the right headspace for travel.
INSURANCE
Inside the EU: All you’ll need is your passport, driving licence, V5, a copy of your bike insurance on your phone (or a hard-copy) and your NHS card. I’ve only used my NHS card once when I broke my ankle in Spain and I had no problems using it. The Spanish hospital was superb. Quick, efficient and friendly. My UK bike insurance also covers me for Europe, including breakdown recovery and bike repatriation cover – but – the repatriation only applies if the bike has broken down, and is not covered for an accident. Read your small-print…
Outside the EU: Things are difference and you need to do your research beforehand. You will need to carry your passport, driving licence, international driving licence, V5 and yellow fever inoculation card. Depending where and for how long, it will also be possible to arrange medical insurance form the UK – but you’ll have to shop around. When I went to West-Africa, I could not get medical insurance because of the countries I was visiting and the length time I was visiting, so I carried extra cash in case I had an ‘emergency’.
You will always be able to buy bike insurance at the border post, either just before or just after the border. If you are at a border post and cant see an insurance office or insurance-man – ask the border staff. Vehicle insurance is always a third-party insurance and ONLY covers the other vehicle. It will never cover your vehicle, but hopefully THEIR insurance will cover your damage – but only if they have any…
My bike looks ratty, but it works and it’s reliable. It’s my ticket to travel but it isn’t worth much money so if I’m outside the EU and if something serious happens, such as a major failure or an accident and it’s a write-off – then I am quite happy to gather all my kit, flag down a taxi or passing camel and walk away from it. That’s why I am reticent to travel outside the EU with an expensive bike and this is another thing to consider when travelling outside the EU. Would you be prepared to walk away from your £24k GS if the bike was a write-off…? Something to think about.
PLANNING FOR WEATHER
Before your trip, research the weather patterns for the countries you’ll be visiting, based on the time of year. Weather can change quickly and dramatically – rain, snow, heat, or cold can all affect your plans and even stop your trip altogether. Did you know it snows in Morocco…? It does.
Some routes, like mountain passes or far-north destinations, may be open most of the year, but bad weather can make riding uncomfortable or unsafe. If you don’t enjoy riding cold and wet (most people don’t), weather should be a key part of your planning because it can make or break your trip.
The same applies to heat. Riding for hours in very hot temperatures means thinking carefully about your gear, hydration, and how much water you’ll need to carry. IN hot climates I tend to start travelling as early as possible in the day with a view to be at my destination before the hottest part of the day. Dark and heavy clothing and black helmets also absorb heat. They may become unbearable, so think about your clothing if you’re going to a hot country. This is where Mesh jackets and trousers are essential.
Check the weather regularly while travelling. I ALWAYS check my weather the night before travelling, wherever I am. Looking a few countries ahead each day also gives you a good idea of what’s coming, and sometimes it’s worth adjusting your route to avoid bad conditions. Before you even leave home, make sure the seasonal weather makes sense for your plans, and once you’re on the road, stay flexible and keep checking the forecast daily.
PATIENCE
Patience is really essential when travelling. You’ll often run into officials, delays, or situations that don’t work the way you expect. When that happens, remember: it’s their country and their rules, so you need to go with the flow.
If you speak the language, you can politely ask what’s happening, but always stay positive. Don’t compare how things are done to what you’re used to as it will only make the situation more frustrating. Getting annoyed won’t help anyone, especially you.
Outside the EU, you’ll regularly deal with border crossings, police checks, or military checkpoints. These can be slow, confusing, and repetitive. Accept it as part of the journey. Stay calm, smile, keep water and something to read handy. Showing frustration will only make things harder. Be patient, stay friendly, and take it all as part of the adventure. Even the awkward border crossings are often part of why you chose that road in the first place.
FIRST AID KIT
A first-aid kit is essential on any trip. I carry two because I often travel off the beaten track: a large kit in my panniers and a small one in my jacket pocket.
The large kit, from Boots, includes the usual items plus a tourniquet, space blanket, burn gel, extra bandages, electrolytes for dehydration, and medication for stomach issues.
The small kit fits easily in my jacket pocket and contains basic essentials like a bandage, plasters and antiseptic wipes. It’s compact, light, and easy to access when needed.
HYGEINE
Personal hygiene is really important when travelling. I carry a simple wash kit with the basics: soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, comb, and a towel. I also include small extras like nail clippers, tweezers, floss, moisturiser and a compact beard trimmer.
I use a large microfibre towel because it dries quickly and packs small. If it’s still damp when I leave in the morning, I put it in a plastic bag and air it out later when I get to my next camp. It doesn’t take long to dry. You don’t need to overpack toiletries – just take what you actually use. Small travel-size bottles are ideal, and if you do run out of deodorant or soap – you will always be able to buy some from a shop, wherever you go.
I also carry a small bag with some washing powder and generally do my laundry once I’ve set up at a campsite, leaving my nicks, socks or tee shirt to dry overnight. Staying clean helps your mood and makes travelling more comfortable. Finally, always pack shorts and flip-flops. They are the first thing I change into once I set up my camp, and they’re perfect for wandering around campsites and going to the showers. They also take up very little space in your panniers.
FINALLY
During your planning, don’t overthink things. Try to be practical about your decisions, your bike and your kit, and if you are in doubt about anything then ask around or look online, but I’ve found that the best way of all – is to go and try it out. Its far better to see if something works for you by trying it out rather than relying on the advice of someone on YouTube or Facetube. A few times I’ve bought things from a review I’ve seen but found that it just didn’t work for me.
Most of all, you want your trip to be fun with a capital F, so with some practical planning you’re already half-way there to having a superb road-trip and maybe a trip of a lifetime.
