Trail Tools and Essential Supplies

Riding Dirt Bikes is a dangerous sport.  Many things can go wrong while out on the trail or track and everyone should be as prepared as they can be to cover the risk they are personally willing to accept.  As a rider and especially a trail rider there are some things that you should absolutely carry and some things you should think about carrying as well.  What you do carry for tools and essentials depends on several different variables like the terrain, length of the ride, remoteness of the environment, weather or not you are with a group, your skill level etc.  All this can change from day to day as well and can change based on the riding season.  I am going to cover what I carry on most rides I go on and some of the items I consider to be essential to a safe ride.

First Aid / Survival Kit

The single most important thing you can carry is some sort of first-aid / survival kit.  How complex your kit varies on most of the things I discussed above as well as your own accepted risk when riding.  I personally ride with enough in my own kit to perform basic first-aid and survival when riding I probably carry a bit more than most people but I do a lot of riding alone, so I feel its warranted.  I typically carry things like band-aids, gauze, and medical tape, alcohol wipes for some simple first-aid supplies.  For survival gear I always have a multi-tool I like the Leatherman Wave, disposable lighter, folding hand saw.  Water is also extremely important and you should stay hydrated well during your ride as it is an absolute workout to ride.

Tool Kit and Spare Parts

For any style of off-road riding, I think it is essential to be prepared and a tool kit is the first major part of my personal off-road arsenal.  Both of my bikes are KTM 250 two-stroke bikes and although they are 11 years apart, they are very similar parts wise.  So far as tools are concerned, I carry my 2018 250 XC-W tool kit that came with my bike.  It includes the following as well as some additions I feel are important for the trail.  There are a few items like spare hardware, flex seal tape and metal epoxy that can save your bacon in a pinch.

Other Tools / Gear

Carrying Gear

All this gear is great but unless you have a good way to carry all of while riding then you are out of luck.  I take a couple different approaches when carrying the gear as the weight can add up quickly and you can get pretty tired from carrying it all I opted for a vest instead of a backpack as it more evenly distributes the weight across my shoulders.  I went with the Klim Arsenal vest as I am a huge fan of Klim gear as it is extremely rugged and does last and it also comes with a 3L water bladder and a tool pack for all your trail tools.  A couple of cons however are that a vest allows you much more space for “stuff” and it is easy to go overboard when it comes to what you choose to take on a ride which again adds weight and can tire you out a lot quicker.  The vest can also be a bit warm for me in the mid summer.

Another great option is to carry as much of this gear as you can on your bike instead.  I also invested in a very small tank bag from www.giantloopmoto.com.  Their Buckin’ Roll tank bag is an awesome option for an enduro or light adventure (ADV) bike.  I keep some of the heavier items I carry in that bag and as it is very small it doesn’t affect my positioning on the bike.  It also has a clear top panel for a small map or a smartphone or GPS.  Front and rear fender bags are also a great option and there are great lashing options for those from companies like www.shop.trailbound.co. 

All in all it is a really good idea to carry a few tools and safety related items with you while you are on the trail.  Being able to make a quick repair on the trail can mean the difference between you being stuck miles away from you home or being able to get home and have an ice-cold beverage and enjoy time with your family or washing up and maintaining your bike for the next adventure.