Whether you actually need something on a motorcycle trip is certainly subjective. One person's must-have accessory is another's unneeded luxury item. But if you're planning a trip that's longer than say a weekend, then one must plan ahead in consideration of certain possibilities. Is your motorcycle a bare-bones machine like the Yamaha Bolt? Would you be riding through multiple climates? Will the ride be on pavement, off-road or both? How many days would you be gone for? Will you be traveling in places that are unknown to you?

In the planning stages of your trip, there should be an answer to every one of those questions. And depending on the answer, you'll know exactly what you'll need to bring with you and what to leave behind. For example, if you don't plan on camping, then leave your camping gear at home. If you're primarily sticking with on-road, highway touring, with a motorcycle that has a large gas tank, you may not necessarily need an emergency bottle of fuel. But chances are, that no matter how long your motorcycle trip is, you'll want to have at least most, if not all, of the following accessories with you.

RELATED: Top 10 Sport Touring Motorcycles On The Market

10 Tank Bag

Tank Bag for Motorcycle
MoskoMoto
Closeup of motorcycle with tank bag on gas tank.

Tank bags are extremely useful, they're typically small, so they don't hold a lot of stuff, but they're primarily there to keep the things that you'll need readily available. Consider them for holding your wallet, rag for wiping your seat or visor, your phone, a small first aid kit, a paper map and any number of things you may need quick access to.

Some motorcycle tanks are made of steel and magnetic tank bags are perfect for those applications. If your gas tank is plastic or aluminum, you may want to consider a bag that comes with a special mount, or straps. Regardless, make sure that it has a quick release so that you can grab it and take it with you whenever you stop for a break or a bite to eat, especially if the bag contains your valuables.

9 GPS Navigation Unit

Motorcycle GPS
Beeline
Closeup of motorcycle GPS unit.

If you're traveling to a destination you'd never been to before, or the route you're taking is new to you, you'll most likely need a GPS unit. The market is flush with options of every kind. From cheap no-brand units that are just as likely to get you lost, to expensive top of the line Garmin full color, touch-screen displays, the mobile wayfinding market has come a long way since having to print your own turn by turn instructions from MapQuest.

Garmin and TomTom are the two top tier GPS manufactures, but there's also Beeline, which makes a no-frills, minimalist unit that is tethered via Bluetooth to your phone. It connects to the Beeline map (which can be used as a standalone navigation app) and gives you basic information, allowing you to concentrate on riding, without glancing down too often. It has proven so popular, in fact, that Triumph has partnered with the company to release their own branded versions. And Royal Enfield has created a similar device that comes standard with some of their motorcycles.

RELATED: Top 10 Touring Bikes for Beginners

8 Phone Holder

Phone Mount On Bike
Quadlock
Rider putting phone onto a phone mount on handlebars.

And just as the GPS market has come a long way, so have the various digital map options. Apple has their own map app, Google's maps are always top of the order and there are even some motorcycle centric apps such as Rever that now offer navigation as well.

So, really, all you need is you smartphone in a tough, waterproof case and a handlebar mount. Fortunately for us motorcycle riders, the options there are also plentiful. There are different styles, befitting all applications. Two of the best come from Rockform and QuadLock respectively. They offer a wide variety of handlebar mounts, phone cases, universal clips and even vibration dampeners to help protect your phone camera from rattling apart.

7 Windshield

An action front shot of a 2023 KTM 790 ADVENTURE on a twisty road
KTM
The 2023 KTM 790 ADVENTURE riding on the road

Many motorcycles come with a windshield and that's great. But what if yours didn't come with one? You can definitely do a motorcycle trip without a windshield, like you could without any of these accessories. But why not make your life easier? They protect you from highway winds, rain, rocks, bugs and other debris. They're also great for slapping on some stickers to show everyone where you've been.

Depending on the year, make and model of your bike, you may be fortunate enough that the manufacturer of your motorcycle has an OEM accessory shield just for you. In which case it's fairly easy to purchase and install them. In other cases, it's not as easy, and the aftermarket has to come to the rescue. Companies like Dart can often times provide you with a bike-specific screen that comes with the necessary brackets and hardware and a manual on how to install them.

RELATED: Top 10 Touring Motorcycles On The Market

6 Heated Grips

Motorcycle in water
Eric Welch via Unsplash
 
Wet rider crossing river on motorcycle.

Heated grips truly are a luxury to have, though they're definitely worth springing for. Considering that the temperature difference of when you're at speed, versus when you're standing still can be as much as 15 degrees (Fahrenheit). And think about other motorcycle trip possibilities that can change temperatures in a blink of an eye, such as elevation changes, sunsets, entering a forest and sudden rain or even snow.

Many motorcycle manufacturers know that once you've had heated grips, you'll never not want them. So they often times provide OEM upgrade options for specific models. But even if your bike doesn't come with a set, you can always turn to the aftermarket, as with many of these other accessories. A company by the name of Oxford produces all sorts of motorcycle related equipment, including heated grips. And if you know you'll be tackling all sorts of weather on your trip, getting heated grips may be one of the wisest purchases you'll make.

5 Luggage

Luggage egor-myznik-KzRXZE8BGso-unsplash
Egor Myznik via Unsplash
Dual Sport motorcycle loaded with luggage on dirt road.

The one sin you don't want to commit while on a long distance trip, is to only use a backpack. Not only is that exhausting for your back at the end of the day, it's also very limiting. And if your motorcycle didn't come with OEM luggage pre-installed, like so many models do, there are plenty of options for you to consider.

You may have OEM systems available, or an aftermarket set up is your preferred choice. One choice you'll have to consider is whether you should get soft or hard luggage. There are pros and cons to both, with the hard cases being somewhat tamperproof, but easier to damaged from impacts. And though soft cases are able to absorb impacts better, they may be easier to steal from. There's also the option to get a tail bag in most cases, to complete the set-up. But regardless of what system you settle on, you can be sure that at the end of a long day of riding, your back and neck will thank you for not carrying a heavy backpack.

4 USB Port

power-supply-1x-usb-for-motorcycle-handlebar
Daytona Corp.
Closeup of USB port on motorcycle handlebars.

We're living in an increasingly digital, gadget-filled world. And even if all you have is a phone on you, you'll still need to charge it from time to time. Especially if you're using that phone for navigation. A lot of newer motorcycles come with USB ports already pre-installed, if not from the factory then at least from the dealership. But in most cases, they're somewhere hard to get to, like under the seat and near the battery. That's not the most useful location, unless you want to place the phone under the seat.

The best place of course is on the handlebars, where your phone often sits. There are plenty of options there as well, from Amazon to Ebay to sellers like Revzilla. There are also companies like Daytona that specialize in minimalist, motorcycle-centric USB ports that are made to look like they were factory-installed pieces.

3 Tool Bag With Essentials

motorcycle-tool-bag-waxed-canvas LONGRIDE_jpg
Longride
Motorcycle facing left with tool roll bag above headlight.

Even if you're riding a brand-new motorcycle, chances are, albeit small, that something may go wrong. It may be something minor, like a loose bolt, but when you're in the middle of nowhere it'll be hard to make even that adjustment, if you're not properly prepared.

The truth is, most of us are not seasoned mechanics. But even we can do something basic like tightening a bolt or zip tying a wire together. So it's crucial that we have a basic tool set with us, in a nice compact bag or roll. What kind of tools you bring is subjective and based on your knowledge level, but you'll at least need some zip ties, screwdrivers, pliers, Allen keys, as well as a flashlight and if you have the room, a set of wrenches.

2 Tire Patch Kit

Motorcycle Tire Fix
Egor Myznik via Unsplash
Closeup of mechanic fixing motorcycle tire.

In addition to a proper emergency tool kit, you should definitely consider picking up a tire patch kit. Take a look at the tires you have, and identify if they're tubed or tubeless. If they're tubeless, you're in luck as you'll simply have to patch the hole with the plugs in the kit, and refill the air with a pump (which can be powered by the bike's battery or an internal rechargeable battery). Things can get a little more interesting when you have tubed tires, as you'll need to take off the wheel, remove the tire, replace the tube and reinstall the tire back on to the bike.

1 Throttle Lock

Atlas Throttle Lock
Atlas
Closeup of motorcycle handlebars and a throttle lock.

We've all felt the wrist fatigue that comes with hauling many miles on two wheels. You can only twist the throttle so much before you get tired and the pain in your wrist starts affecting you mentally. If your motorcycle comes with factory installed cruise control, you're in luck. But many riders have aspirations of long distance touring on motorcycles that don't have any electronic rider assistance features.

Companies like Atlas have entered the space that's primarily filled with cheap, clip-on doohickeys that are hard to adjust or simple cramp buster clips that let your palm help with acceleration. Atlas produces a universal, simple two-button system that sits next to the throttle and allows you to lock in the accelerator with a push of one button. To release the throttle you simply press the other button, and you're done.