Guide: For a solo trip
A solo motorcycle trip can be a transformative and liberating experience, allowing you to connect with yourself, try new things, and see the world in a way like no other. It’s undoubtedly an adventure that can change your perspective on life. You’ll learn to know yourself and be amazed at what you’re capable of.
However, there are a few things to know before diving into this journey. If you’re considering traveling alone, here are some tips that can help you get started and make the most of every moment.
A solo motorcycle journey is more than just a physical adventure—it’s an inner journey that brings you face-to-face with both yourself and the world in a direct way. Along the way, you’ll gain not only kilometers but also experiences, skills, and a deeper understanding of yourself.
When you ride alone, every decision is yours. Every challenge on the road—whether it’s fixing your bike, dealing with stormy weather, or an unexpected encounter—becomes an opportunity to learn something new. Throughout the journey, you’ll improve your abilities in planning, decision-making, judgment, and understanding your environment.
Personal Empowerment
Riding alone on a motorcycle pushes you out of your comfort zone and challenges you to face unexpected fears and obstacles. Every kilometer you travel boosts your self-confidence and strengthens your ability to navigate on your own. Each experience will be far more intense and meaningful than if you were riding with friends. It’s a journey of personal empowerment, where you’ll learn to trust your strength and your ability to handle any situation that arises—sometimes even discovering creative solutions you didn’t know you had within you.
Every problem—whether it’s a mechanical issue, an unsafe road, or a wrong turn—demands an immediate solution. You’ll develop decision-making skills and face challenges that require quick and creative thinking. After just a few days, you won’t even notice that solving problems has become a natural part of your routine.
In the beginning, you may feel disconnected or lonely, especially in the first week. Inside, you may feel overwhelmed by the intensity of what you’re experiencing. But over time, you’ll realize that this is an opportunity to connect more deeply with yourself and your surroundings. You’ll learn to enjoy the silence, focus on your thoughts, and deal with the feeling of solitude in a healthy way.
While solo travel may seem isolated and lonely, it actually provides great opportunities for interactions with people you wouldn’t normally meet if you were traveling with friends. Strangers will approach you out of curiosity or a desire to help, and you’ll find yourself connecting with them in surprising ways.
When you arrive at certain places, you’ll find yourself surrounded by locals and fellow travelers who are drawn to you because of the curiosity you radiate through your journey. You’ll change plans based on spontaneous encounters, and every connection you make will become a lasting memory. Along every path, you’ll find new friends, with whom you’ll stay in touch for years.
Without even realizing it, after a week or so on the road, you’ll undergo an internal transformation. Day-to-day, this might not always be noticeable—you might first just feel the physical space you’ve covered and the landscapes around you. But suddenly, after a few days, you’ll begin to notice other changes. Your thoughts shift, your approach to challenges evolves, and the way you see yourself will change. The self-confidence you develop will turn you into a more peaceful person.
You’ll learn to deal with things you never imagined you’d have to face. It’s not just about surviving the road, but also learning to handle whatever comes up in your mind, how to deal with silence, with being alone, and how to take a step forward at every moment. It’s a process, but at some point, you’ll realize that being alone is an advantage. It’s truly an opportunity to meet people and, most importantly, to get to know yourself in a way you never have before.
When you return from the journey, you’ll look at life from a different perspective.
Route Planning – The Exciting Part
Route planning isn’t just a technical step—it’s one of the most fun and exciting parts before setting off. This is your chance to imagine the journey. However, it’s important to remember that good planning requires flexibility and the willingness to adapt to changes. Things won’t always go exactly as you imagined, but that’s part of the magic and the experience of the trip.
Understanding the Weather Conditions
Weather plays a crucial role in any motorcycle journey. To be prepared, it’s important to use a weather app that provides real-time updates and to check forecasts daily.
Understanding the local conditions: If you’re planning to ride through mountainous areas, it’s important to know if rain, fog, or cold weather are expected.
Route Planning:
Places that seem promising during the planning phase might not meet your expectations when you arrive. Sometimes, you’ll meet people or see landscapes that will inspire you to change your plans.
Discovering New Opportunities: Recommendations from locals or photos you find along the way can lead you to places you didn’t plan on visiting.
Set general goals, but avoid being overly rigid about schedules and distances.
Remember, the journey is the trip.
Route planning is an exciting part, but it’s important to remember that every solo journey also involves flexibility and the ability to adapt to changes. What seems like a mistake can turn into an opportunity, and a glowing recommendation you received might end up being boring.
Packing for a Solo Motorcycle Trip:
When packing, it’s important to keep balance in mind—excess weight will make riding cumbersome. There’s always the option to buy something along the way if you find a need, but the more prepared you are ahead of time, the less you’ll have to deal with unnecessary equipment mid-trip.
I haven’t met any rider who hasn’t packed extra gear. I struggle with this myself when I pack.
Riding Gear:
From personal experience, I’ve concluded that it’s best to choose gear that works for all seasons. The jacket you choose should be waterproof, as sometimes you’ll ride in the rain and won’t always be able to stop to change into a rain suit. The jacket should also have ventilation openings, so in hot weather, you can open them and avoid excessive heat.
The shirt you wear under the jacket is very important. I remember a time when riding with a short-sleeve T-shirt under the jacket in warm weather created excessive sweating, especially in areas where I rode at slow speeds. After some time, I switched to long, breathable shirts that reduce sweating. At high speeds, the wind flowing through the vents dries the sweat quickly, giving you a cool feeling, almost like air conditioning. It’s important to know that when riding across countries, you may experience hot and dry weather, as well as humid and rainy mountainous areas.
The same goes for pants—four-season pants with ventilation openings and waterproofing will do the job.
Boots:
Never ride with regular shoes or city riding boots—when you’re on a motorcycle, foot protection is critical. Adventure boots are the best choice because they provide not only excellent protection against falls but also comfort for walking. Every rider who values their safety understands that this is a necessary investment.
Gloves:
I usually carry three different types of gloves to be prepared for all weather conditions. One pair of warm, waterproof gloves, especially important for rainy and cold days. Also, a pair of lightweight summer gloves to ease riding in hot weather. Additionally, I always pack gloves suited for cooler, non-rainy days. They provide the necessary warmth, especially for long rides in the early morning or evening hours. Having a variety of gloves allows you to be ready for any weather conditions, which is extremely important for a long and challenging solo journey.
Helmet:
Choosing the right helmet is crucial, especially for long solo journeys. From my personal experience, it’s very important to select a helmet with a visor. Often, you’ll find yourself riding on a long stretch of road with the sun directly in front of you, which can make it difficult to see clearly, even if you’re wearing dark goggles or glasses. A helmet with a visor offers an excellent solution—by tilting your head slightly downwards, the visor helps you avoid sun glare that can interfere with your ride. This may seem like a small detail, but it’s significant and can greatly improve both safety and comfort during long rides.
Helmet Visor Maintenance:
I make sure to carry a small bottle of visor cleaning spray along with a cloth for wiping. It’s important to keep the visor clean for clear and safe visibility. Additionally, there are special sprays that cause raindrops to slide off with the wind, so your visor stays free of water droplets.
Neck Warmer:
A neck warmer may be a small item, but it’s very important. It’s essential to have one with you, especially in the morning and evening when the weather is cooler. Even though it’s a small piece of gear, it can significantly enhance your ride—it keeps the warmth around your neck and throat, preventing cold air from seeping through the exposed area around the neck into your jacket. This prevents unpleasant cold sensations and helps with riding comfort (including reducing the risk of getting sick).
Personal Clothing for the Journey:
It’s important to remember that most of the time you’ll be riding your motorcycle, so your clothing will mainly serve you during the evenings and on days when you’re taking breaks. I prefer to pack minimal, yet sufficient clothing for the entire week:
- Underwear and Socks: I pack enough underwear and socks for the week. Additionally, I bring three pairs of long, warm socks if it’s summer (six pairs for winter).
- Jeans: One pair of jeans and long cotton pants.
- Thermal Shirts: Two thermal shirts in case it gets cold. They’re lightweight, compact, and provide warmth when needed.
- Down Jacket: A down jacket that packs into a small bag. This goes under the riding jacket if we encounter cold weather.
- T-shirts: Four lightweight t-shirts.
- Ventilated Riding Shirts: Two ventilated riding shirts. At the end of each riding day, I wash the one I used. This is one reason why I like them so much—they dry quickly.
- Flip-flops: For camping, mainly for shower use.
- Sports Shoes: I also pack sports shoes and activewear pants—staying fit helps with better riding.
- Towel: A thin, compact towel that doesn’t take up space.
Camping Gear:
Tent – It’s important that the tent is large enough but folds up small, suitable for two people, so you can store your gear inside rather than leaving it outside while you sleep.
Groundsheet – Lay this on the ground and set up the tent on top of it. This will prevent moisture and keep the tent dry.
Insulation Blanket – A compact, foldable blanket that you can spread inside the tent under the mattress. It enhances insulation and provides a warm and comfortable feel.
Inflatable Mattress – A compact, foldable mattress + sheet.
Inflatable Pillow.
Sleeping Bag – Suitable for the temperature of the season.
Rechargeable Lantern – That you can hang inside the tent.
Clothesline – When you need to do laundry, you won’t have to hang clean clothes on bushes.
Laundry Soap – I prefer solid soap.
Don’t skip a headlamp.
It’s important to have an extra phone in case it gets wet or becomes unusable.
Motorcycle Gear Before Departure:
Outfitting your motorcycle comfortably will make stops and overnight stays easier.
Front Panniers – 6 liters in volume. I use them for cooking gear and a stove. They’re accessible during meal breaks without needing to unpack half the gear.
Tank Bag – Must be waterproof. I use it to store the camera + lenses, a spare phone, extra charging cables, documents, and things I need readily available.
Two Side Bags under the Seat – I store spices, a bottle of olive oil, dish soap, and a sponge in them.
Side Cases – On the exhaust side goes the camping gear. In the other case, the clothes bag and personal items.
Middle Case – Laptop, gloves, and a bag with food + emergency food.
On each case – Waterproof bag.
Cooking Gear:
Stove, two small pots, and a kettle for boiling water for coffee. (Personally, I prefer a gasoline stove.) Cutlery.
Leatherman + Swiss Army knife.
Repair Gear:
Puncture repair kit, including glue.
Small Compressor.
Booster for starting the engine in case the battery runs out.
Basic tools to tighten screws.
In Conclusion:
Planning and preparing for a solo trip is an exciting and inseparable part of the journey experience.
For sure, after one trip, you’ll start planning the next one.
I’d be happy to answer any questions and help with selecting destinations for your trip.
Thank you for reading.
I hope this post helps and that you enjoyed reading.
