Originally Posted by
Trev
+ the bike much more fun when you get there ; )
I did a few longer trips early in the year including West coast of Scotland in April, I was lucky with the weather, was a bit chilly but not too wet, it's okay with the right gear but warm & waterproof kit a priority. My tip would be to make plenty of stops if the cold is getting to you as your reactions & decision making suffer, better to be a bit late than dented & bruised.
Bike kit wise; toolkit it came with + Leatherman or similar, tape, fuses and of course cable ties of all sizes! I also carry a spare headlight and tail light bulb after getting caught out once a late night trip home from Cornwall, wrap them in a pair of rubber gloves and there's bound to be somewhere you can stow them permanently on the bike.
After years of not bothering with (or needing) either I have taken to carrying the following on the NC as I have space:
a puncture repair kit , I did practice on an old tyre/wheel, not the easiest thing to use but it worked and the CO2 cannisters got a decent pressure with only two used.
I fitted a 1 litre spare fuel bottle carrier as a result of near misses in France, I've left it on not expecting to need it in the UK but it got me out of trouble when last in Scotland as the main road garage I was counting on was closed for refurbishment and I had to hunt around a bit for an alternative
Finally, if you don't have a charge port on the bike, one of those phone recharge batteries, only cost a tenner now for one that will charge and iphone or similar
Enjoy the ride
