A Clif breakfast bar, the one I tend to eat, weighs 2.6 oz. Could I add 0.1 oz more than that, and have six things added to my kit that could seriously save time/money/health… and probably a little frustration?

First, the proof those breakfast bars are that heavy!

…and now the 2.7 oz collection.

Experienced riders with miles under their belts will probably look at the above image and mutter… “Yeah, yeah, this BS again, everyone knows about this stuff!” But do they? There are always new riders joining the adventure ranks, and some of this stuff isn’t always as apparent as it seems, so experienced or not, have read and if you can add any good tips put them in the comments below.

So what is in that pile, what are those six things?

Filter Skins

The big white thing—if you ride dirt you probably know this is a filter skin. A very fine elasticated mesh that is an additional dirt/ dust/ sand/grit barrier to save your air filter from the ingress of that fine dust. If you ride in the #2 position or further back in your group your air filter can get pretty clogged up in a short time.

Add one of these to help reduce wear on the internals of your engine components, saving you time and money between potential expensive rebuilds, It will make cleaning your filter a little easier, and if mid-ride your bike tends to bog down from the dust you can just pull it off for an almost clean filter or carry a spare and replace it. They are easy to clean and reuse too.

I buy them fromPC Racingfor about $15 for a pack of three; other companies make and sell them too.

A chain master link

I wasn’t going to include this until I read something a “new to lighter adventure bikes” guy posted:

I’ve been riding shaft drive bikes for a few decades, I decided I wanted to get a little more remote, ride more adventurous dirt, so I went and bought a KTM 500exc.

The dealer delivered it to my house, and I have a dirt road behind the house, but before I took off on my first ride I noticed the chain was loose, so I tightened it.

Took off on my first real (short) dirt ride in over 20 years, just a quick test, and about five miles down the dirt road my chain snapped, and I had to walk back to the house to get my truck and trailer!

Chains do snap, rarely but they do, this guy was unlucky and had a lack of knowledge about correct chain tension, but a master link and a Leatherman would have saved him a walk.

Correct chain tension eliminates most failures, but, carry the tools to mount your preferred master link, clip, or press-on style.

Tire depth gauge

about $4 from loads of outlets.

如果你出发一个长途骑,假设you start with new consumables including tires, take an initial measurement of depth. When you do an oil change, clean an air filter, etc, remember to check your tire depth.

知道你的骑乘风格/ /你在哪里riding causes tire wear you should be able to estimate where you’ll need tires. By doing this you could save yourself quite a bit of money. Also if you don’t or can’t change your own tires, knowing tire wear might be the difference of a few hundred dollars in the price of the tire and labor from one area/ country to another.

Flip Fuel

I carry thisFlip Fueland prefer to support them as they are an Arizona-based company, vs some no name brand.

Partially empty fuel cans are annoying on the trail. Replacements are usually easy to find, but then you are carrying a 1/4 full one that you shouldn’t throw away as it is dangerous, and it doesn’t have enough pressure to burn well. And, you’re also hauling the new can. This wastes space. Or maybe you and a buddy are riding together and you both have partially-empty cans that aren’t functioning optimally?

You can take the old can home and add it to your partially empty stash, but that seems kind of silly…

The simple solution is to combine two partially-empty canisters to fill one. Put one in the sun and the other in the shade for a few minutes then transfer the fuel. Use the purge button after to get rid of any remaining fuel, puncture the can, and then it’s safe to dispose of.

Ear Plugs

I get these from Amazon, paying $9 for 25 pairs.

Tinnitus, partial deafness anyone? Motorcycles and wind are loud, and helmets don’t stop all the noise regardless of the manufacturer’s claims. Save your hearing; it diminishes at a slow rate, and earplugs will certainly help. They come in lots of shapes, sizes, and brands. Find the ones that you feel comfortable with. Carry a few extras in your tank bag…

Fork seal cleaner

In the old days when you carried a 35mm film camera a small section of film was excellent for cleaning dirty fork seals, Motion Pro makes a similar idea out of plastic. Though good. they just don’t last, because they split so I prefer to use the Risk Racing version below that fits on your fork leg

Yes, you can do the same thing with a piece of plastic water bottle or a business card. Whichever route you choose, learn how to use whatever seal cleaning tool you have. It could save you a bunch of money, and make your fork seals last a lot longer.

What do you carry in your luggage that takes up virtually no space, adds no weight but can be a trip or money saver when you are on the road?