If your motorcycle adventures are anything like mine, you?ll be used to things going wrong. But whether they?re as calamitous as mine or not, it pays dividends to prepare for the worst. I haven?t always done that, and when I haven?t, I?ve usually regretted it. So here are a few essential items of kit that I would suggest anyone planning a big motorcycle adventure finds a space for in their paniers or rucksack. Incidentally, they are all things that I been sat in a layby, wishing I?d had with me, at one point or another.

Tool kit

If you ride far enough, it doesn?t matter what bike you?re on, something will usually come loose. It?s quite often mirrors, and loose mirrors are a pain in the arse. With the right sized spanner (or even an adjustable) it can be a 30 second fix; without any spanners, you might have to put up with it for the next 30 hours. Or more.
Obviously, it?s not just mirrors. There are hundreds of things that can come loose and need tightening up, or break, and need removing. Especially if, like me, you?ve got a habit of accidentally laying bikes on the ground.

With a roll of tape, a handful of spanners and some Allen keys, you might not be able to strip an engine, but you?ll be able to fix (or at least have a go at fixing, even just temporarily) a plethora of problems.

Tow rope

Sometimes, your handful of spanners simply won?t suffice. If you?ve completely run out of fuel you might have to persuade one of your mates (if you?ve got ...