If you're getting ready for a long road trip on your motorcycle, then you need to be prepared. It's not like a leisurely ride that you might take at night after work. When you're going to be on the road for several days you have to be prepared for all eventualities. You don't want to be several hundred miles away from your home base and realize you left something at home. So with that in mind here is a simple checklist of what you need to bring with you.
GPS
The first thing you should get is a good GPS unit that can be attached to your Triumph's dashboard. This will help you should you get lost while on the road. You are going to want to make sure you choose a model that will fit your Triumph cruiser. Some GPS units are too big and only designed for use in automobiles. So make sure you choose one that has been designed to fit onto a motorcycle. It's incredibly important that you avoid any handheld GPS units. You want to be able to use the GPS device while riding, and it's unsafe to hold a GPS unit and attempt to steer.
Saddlebags
When you are going on a long trip you will need to bring clothing and other gear with you. Some people ride their motorcycles with a backpack during short trips, but that won't be comfortable for long rides. Also, a backpack won't be able to contain a lot of material. You will need to have clothing, toiletries, and other things that will over stuff a regular backpack. The solution is to get saddlebags for your Triumph. You can get either leather or a synthetic material. Leather is a classic choice, especially if you're driving a cruiser such as the Thunderbird Commander. However, if you don't like the idea of having to apply oils and leather conditioners every so often, you can get a heavy duty set of rainproof nylon bags.
Rain Jacket
The one article of clothing that is absolutely essential for your trip is a rain jacket. You might be on a long stretch of road when the rain starts and you might not be near a rest stop or your hotel. So, you will have to pull over and put on a rain jacket. Otherwise you will get soaked.
Tool Kit
Finally, you need to bring a tool kit with you. This should include basic wrenches, pliers, and a kit to repair your tire. You should also include spare fuses and also an extra light-bulb for the headlight lamp in the event it goes out while you're on the road at night.
