Didn't say it was the only thing I take. I said it was the only must have. What else I take varies for trip to trip but is generally about half of what I think I need and twice what I actually need.

Glad you are enjoying the open road Douggie, and the park benches

Here is what I keep under my seat, my luggage depends on the destination and terrain.

How much stuff can you store under you seat?

I also carry an EPIRB for motorcycling and other sports/hobbies that take me out of mobile and cc range (esp in mountain areas)

Do you have any pics of your mis-adventures??

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2010 DL650A - black

G'day SuzyVStrom
The old diarrhea pills are a must have.Didn't have them at the start of a push bike trip Peterbrough to Alice Springs.The take away in Peterbourgh was a killer.What a night that wasLesson learnt
Used many,many times during 6 years in Vietnam,then again last year when the mate picked up a bug in Armidale.Worth their weight in gold when the needs be
The wet pants went inside a pair of touring pants I bought a few years back(ALDI ???)never used as dropping the dacks on the side of the road could be a bit suss,and the trousers were crap as well.They had a vinyl sewn into the seat area that did nothing but cook ya bum.
The DriRider jacket I have now has a wet liner,used once,silly blood idea.
What do you use for dunny paper when bush camping mate ? I have tried the leaf/bark thing but ---------

One thing I have found is pack a small dry bag on the seat with the next nights needs if you are pub room/cabin touring.At the pub at Cooma recently the small bag had jeans/polo/joggers/jocks and socks and toilet bag+ small radio as room only board--easy as--the pans etc just stay on.

My full camping kit included a flattened roll of toilet paper in a clip lock bag .
Under the seat are a pack of baby wipes. Since babies tend to crap at inconvenient moments you can buy small packs in various shapes to clean up the mess - that seems a much more common problem than bike riders with a bad case of the shits.
Work on adult bums as well. Also damned good for cleaning grease off hands if you need to do roadside repairs on a BMW.

Pete

Which despite what most people think are usually caused by dirt and other matter on your hands getting in your mouth as you eat either from cutlery or from eating with your hands (pies and the like). In most cases if you are suspect the better thing to do is take a small packet of antiseptic hand wipes and use them religiously immediately before you eat.
Bad food can of cause cause problems but it's far less common than bugs introduced from your hands.

A few - but as I post them (or will) on flickr, I'm not sure how to link them. When I tried to insert them directly, they just gave a boxed ?.

Fortunately I remembered that misadventure can become amusing in retrospect, so I took some photos.

Doug

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"There's nothing I can't do, but there's a lot I won't do."

SUZI - I'm in love with her, but I'm afraid she's taking me for a ride.

All the pictures are at Townsville Trip November 2012 - a set on Flickr

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"There's nothing I can't do, but there's a lot I won't do."

SUZI - I'm in love with her, but I'm afraid she's taking me for a ride.

This is a fun thread. I have one riding mate who carries ... everything! So I can ride light But I'm for carrying diarrhea pills and flattened 1/2 roll of date roll in zip lock bag. Have had the need myself and also once for riding mate, ..oh the relief!! Puncture repair gear,chain lube, wet weather coat and a bottle of water are permanently on board with me. A couple of band aids always live in my wallet. I have tools for every nut and bolt etc on the bike too.
I have to whole heartedly agree that a wet weather liner ..inside.. a coat is plain stupid. The process needed to put wet weather liner 'protection' on while roadside is ...aaarh! Done that but never again. Agree, who ever thought up that ' solution'?
On the bottom of my top box, are several old fashion paper maps in a zip lock bag. I have resisted buying a GPS as I have never needed one. The few tracks that may not be on my maps ( very few) I can't take my Strom on anyway.
I never listen to music or radio as I'm totally free with my thoughts and soaking up the peace and calm that I find the country gives me. I really can understand native people around the world who call it " Mother Earth"

Saturn 5 .... feeling the peace and calm! ( We need another hippy era, am I now too old? )

Edit: Oh I forgot a permanent bit of gear. I have approx. 1.5mtrs or about 5 feet of battery jumper leads. These are made from 'Jumbo' speaker wire with alligator clips at each end. They roll up easily into a small bundle held tight with a strong rubber band and easily fit with other gear under the seat. They will carry the electrical load and work perfectly well. I have jump started a bike and a car. ( Car to car )

S 5

On GPS/maps(tools and stuff we carry).
Tho I am a believer in both,often when on a weekend away(with no particular place to go)I just pick a direction and go.Its a fun way to see the country,find some back roads/tracks that you normally would never see and some great camp spots.
That said,its nice to have the GPS when after hours of isolated riding the road/track just ends.Why do perfectly good dirt roads hit a stop just when its likely a new through route has been discovered.and why cant I remember to note which turn I take.
All good fun but,fuel tends to be a worry when well away from civilization.A jerry can is a help but the IMS 40 ltr tank ordered for the KLR should be better for the more isolated spots & keeping the Wee for closer in and the better roads more logical.
Its sensible to have the tools/spares for the most likely road side repairs,punctures etc.Best thing about carrying this stuff is its almost some sort of guarantee that you wont need it (but someone else will )
Then for when all else fails or for the life threatening experience its the EPERB and the hope that if TSHTF I can get to it and activate.
Aint motorcycling fun

A mate thats done everything from Cape York to the Simpson Desert (and is no mechanic)believes in carrying a small can of WD40----recons if that dont fix its well stuffed and he cant fix it anyway