There are hundreds, possibly even thousands, of great accessories designed especially to make the lives of motorcyclists easier and more enjoyable while out riding, but there are also some more mundane bits and bobs that weren’t originally meant for motorcycling, but which we think should be part of every biker’s kit. Here are five we don’t leave home without.

Bum bag

The bum bag, or fanny pack as our American cousins may call it, might be more commonly associated with elderly cruise ship passengers (well it is for me, anyway) but it makes my life a heck of a lot easier when out on the bike.

I like to have a little riding kit (mainly the stuff below) with me and the bum bag works great for keeping it all together. It’s particularly brilliant if I’m travelling light and wearing leathers, where it lets me keep my keys and wallet safe when riding. I also keep some spare earplugs, antihistamines, paracetamol, loose change, a cereal bar and copies of my motorcycle insurance and breakdown cover policy documents.

Baby wipes

Wet wipes are such a handy thing for any motorcyclist to carry. Yes, they’re not cool but they’re so, so versatile.

Why? Well anything that can remove poo from a baby’s bum has no problem removing dead bugs from a crash helmet and windscreen, and they’re equally adept at tidying up that melted ice cream on a summer ride out too!

As a hayfever sufferer, they can be very useful for wiping away pollen from around the nostrils – an absolute essential when riding during the spring and summer months.

Under gloves

I don’t know about you, but I really struggle to get on with thick winter gloves. Although they keep my hands nice and toasty, I don’t like the lack of feeling they give me through the handlebars and I find that I struggle with arm pump while wearing them.

As a result, I tend to take the same ‘layering’ approach to my hand wear as I do to the rest of my riding gear, and I carry some fairly humble undergloves to suit the weather conditions.

I wear fairly light and slightly vented gloves all year round. I’ve usually got some latex gloves in my bum bag, to wear under my riding glove should the rain come. Wearing them can get a bit sweaty on the palms, but they’re effective at keeping my hands dry.

I’ve also invested in some white cotton butler’s gloves and they’re brilliant to wear under my armoured gloves when riding. They’re soft and tactile, meaning that I barely lose any feel while wearing them, and they take out quite a bit of the chill factor in colder weather while staying nice and cool in the summer. Definitely a riding essential for me!

Neck tube

Perhaps seen by some as dedicated biking gear, a neck tube (like those made by Buff) really are versatile in summer and winter. They’re useful for all kinds of outdoor activity and already well adopted by motorcyclists.

Wear it around the neck to keep the wind blast off, or as a balaclava under the helmet, and it wicks away sweat as well as adding warmth. You can also wear it as a face covering in these Covid plagued times!

Cycling windbreaker

I like to travel light when riding, especially in the summer, but no-one wants to get caught out when the weather turns.

One clothing accessory I always take is a light cycling windbreaker cagoule. It’s a bit bigger than my usual size, allowing it to fit over my riding jacket, but can be rolled up and squeezed in under my bike’s seat.

While it’s hardly cutting edge protective wear, it adds an extra layer to reduce the windchill on an evening and copes with a light shower. The fact that it’s brightly coloured aids visibility, especially useful when riding at night or in adverse weather conditions.

And don’t forget…

Smart phones are so ubiquitous these days that it’s hard to imagine leaving home without one, but on a motorcycle it really is an essential item.

It goes without saying that the phone is an indispensable in case of an emergency but there are so many other benefits that have particular value when out on a ride.

Make sure your phone is fully charged and has all the apps you need before leaving home. If you use your phone as a sat nav, it’s worth investing in a proper mounting cradle, like a Quad Lock, as the vibrations can cause damage – especially to the camera. Having Google Pay or Apple Pay is also worthwhile, if you don’t already use them, and can give you peace of mind in case you lose your bank cards.

Beware that the battery may drain quickly, especially if you are using the sat nav and it’s cold, so make sure you have a way of charging during the day.

The phone can be a lifeline to help you get advice or find attractions during the day.

And, of course, it means you can access the Carole Nash website whenever you stop!