There’s a first time for everything, this time I’m actually reposting some from another blog. I’ve never done it before but this good advice must be shared! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen bikers packed up for a long trip and I looked at their packing job and thought to myself, what the heck? There’s no way they are going to make it. Items piled high, things not distributed evenly, basically just a mess! I’ve even been with someone, in my early days, who didn’t have a clue and we’ve had to stop to readjust the gear, inconvenient, yes, but worse….not safe…and even I have not been smart about packing gear. I didn’t secure a gym bag properly and had it slip to the side and my tires rubbed through my bag. I count myself lucky that the bag didn’t get caught in my tires and cause a more serious problem. Truth is, people will see that you’ve left a buckle undone, a strap will come loose or things will shift and no one will wave you over to let you know. McGyver and I have done this many times knowing the danger of improperly packed bike. When I saw this post on Biker Chick News, I just knew I had to share it too.
Traveling? Load your bike with FLEAS!
by Corn Dog on May 20, 2011
in Travel Tips
Whether you’re already an expert, or brand spankin’ new to traveling long distances on a motorcycle, it’s important to know how to properly pack and load your bike. Your goal, of course, is to maintain the bike’s overall balance and center of gravity so that maneuvering isn’t any more difficult with the added weight of luggage and stuff.
Like every good problem-solver these days, I’ve devised an acronym to help remember how to most effectively pack the bike for a trip. So get ready to pack your bike with FLEAS!!
Forward – Keep your load forward, meaning over or in front of the rear axle when possible. A load that is too far to the rear can affect turning or braking, or cause the bike to wobble. Use common sense, of course: a tankbag, while certainly forward, should not interfere with your ability to manage steering or hand controls.
Low – Keep your load low, meaning inside saddle bags as much as possible. Of course, this isn’t always possible – just remember that a load carried on the passenger seat should not be stacked too high, and should not be allowed to shift when traveling. (When we traveled to Sturgis, I had to learn to swing my throw-over leg over the luggage bungeed to the sissy bar, but I didn’t feel like the bike was unbalanced. It felt like I had a lightweight passenger on the back.) 
Even – Distribute weight evenly between saddlebags so the bike doesn’t want to list left or right.
Accessible – Keep important items accessible even when the bike is packed. Rain gear, cell phone, tool kit, camera… whatever is on your must-have list should be available easily when you stop for a break, so you don’t have to unpack the whole bike just to get to them.
Secure – Goes without saying you should batten down the hatches as completely as possible, especially if you have a T-bag, roll-bag, or other “loose luggage” to attach to the bike. I use multiple bungee cords, criss-crossing them over the bags and making sure they are super-snug. It’s also helpful to know your bungee plan when using multiple cords.
And always, keep the Rubber Side Down and FLEAS on your bike…Giggles.
Here is another recent great article from another lady rider friends of mine. http://agmom98-5.blogspot.com/2011/05/interesting-opinions-from-other-side.html
Glad you found this helpful… I think to some degree everyone learns by trial and error, but this gives some basic principles to start with. Wish I had a long trip to pack for this year, but looks like mostly day rides for now. 🙂 ride safe!