Panniers always leak. Pack everything in old Tesco bags, Bugbags need two. They are cheaper than BMW inner bags and afterwards can be used for: rubbish, to put over socks in wet boots, to hang food off the ground etc.

Re-sealable plastic bags & Desiccant packs, radios, cameras, GPS, etc.

Pies and coffee are as important as petrol.

The inside pocket of a jacket with a removable lining is very easy to miss with your wallet.

Tie a yard of string to your prop stand pad & loop to handlebars to save falling off whilst trying to pick it up.

Touring Abroad? Take first aid kit, spare lamp kit, V5 (to prove ownership), Hi Vis Jerkin, Bail Bond, spare specs (if used), Headlamp dip mask, copies of passports & V5 are useful in case of loss, E111.

If you really want to know what's going on, watch what's happening at least five cars ahead.

Well-trained reflexes are quicker than luck.

Choose a tent with a larger living area than sleeping section. On wet days you will be thankful.

Choose a tent whose flysheet is erected first, if raining on arrival, one can finish erection in the dry.

Pitch tent near brambles. Fresh fruit on tap, and free, but remember the brambles for your 4am pee.

Tent Care. Rub a candle on the zips to help them slide easily (works on trousers too!) If you have a canvas tent, loosen the guys at night (dew shrinks it). For nylon tents tighten them. Always ensure tent is dry before packing. If not possible, dry it within a week of arriving home.

Carry spare rubber loops, they always break when it’s most windy.

Carry a roll of Gaffer / Duct Tape. For emergency "canvas" repairs.

Pitching Tent, Try to avoid hollows, with door away from wind. If ground slopes, make the bottom of the bed lowest. 

Pegs should be driven in at 45 degrees, NEVER vertically. 

On stony ground, try pushing the pegs in at a shallower angle. (useful in the New Forest)

Label different sets of tent poles with coloured tape for easier identification.

Always keep the ground sheet inside the flysheet. If not, when it rains the tent will flood

Sharpen pegs helps them slide past stones. A spade end is better than a point. But not so sharp as will cut the bag, remove all burrs.

Waterproof the inner tent, Fabsil is a silicon liquid, it also helps prevent mildew from condensation.

Applying Fabsil, Use an old kitchen cleaner spray gun, Outside. Most economic method so far.

Warning, Protect the lawn. Fabsil treated grass DIES.

If you cook in the tent, be at least 2 feet from canvas, fat splatters go miles! Not to mention fire.

Panniers will not hold all you want, but they can hold all you NEED.

The more you take, the longer it will take to pack.

Beware of packed items chafing in transit, especially LiLo & tent.

Boots, They will not be truly comfortable until they have been wet through, dry slowly then treat with dressing oil. Put two stakes in the ground & store them upside down stuffed with newspaper, to dry.

Try also to keep the weight low i.e:-Li-Lo, Cooking Stove in panniers. 

Try to make everything you take, essential or dual purpose. We always come back with unused clothes, so we aren't perfect. 

Loading Tent, If it won't fit packed, try removing poles & pegs, fold it, stow them separately. 

Some owners reckon that it's better to remove the Top Box & have a BIG bag on the rack.

If going away for a long time, consider posting a box of clothes to an address en route, swap for dirty ones & post the box home, or take few & buy them locally. We managed 10 days in Europe & had ½ pannier empty for contraband on the way home.

Over-trousers can be fabricated from 3 bin bags: 1^st open one long side and the bottom (i.e. make a strip), then wrap around legs and over boots, use strips of gaffer/parcel tape to hold in position. Repeat with the second bag on the other leg. Then cut the bottom corners off the 3^rd bag at an angle of approx 45 deg – you need to leave a reasonable amount of plastic to ‘sit’ in, slide one leg through each corner, pull bag up to nether regions et voila over-trousers (Mike, Little Carlton).

Shorts in the rain, Hairy legs dry quicker than trousers. (Barry, owner of hairy legs)

Sandals in the rain, Feet dry quicker than socks, sandals much faster than boots. (Me at BMF)

Wet Gloves & Neck warmer, Place on top of inner tent overnight to dry.

Use Fabsil (waterproofer) on your rally hat.

Winter Camping? Keep your water bottle inside the tent.

Winter Camping? Place your disposable BBQ on a flat rock. After use put the rock in your tent.

Check boots, shoes & socks for bugs before wearing, you should see the bites we got after the Nat Rally.

Pull up some lavender, crush the foliage in the palms of your hands, rub it around the zips on the door to your tent; light the lavender stems, allow the smouldering smoke to permeate your tent (from the inside is best, but try not to set the tent alight). Results: a nice-smelling tent and no mozzies for days.

Keeping things cool in the heat, stand them in a bowl, soak a towel or t-shirt in cold water, drape over bottles. As the water evaporates it draws heat from them. Not fridge temperature, but cooler than the ambient atmosphere. (Nog)

Keeping things cool 2, Dig a tapered hole inside tent, put food in plastic bag(s), and replace sod, as a rodent proof fridge. (Graham Parker)

Lilo's, I have air horns, I put a long hose on the compressor to blow my double bed up in 4 Mins. Or Halfords sell a (reasonably quiet) inflator with a dual type (fag lighter / Hella) plug fitted.

Lilo inflated too soft gives backache.

I take a 1/8" thick Ally sheet; to stand bike on, stand stoves on or as a stove windbreak.

Sitting on a towel or sheepskin on long rides can improve time in saddle

Before putting on over trousers. Put a plastic bag over each boot and see how easily they slip on.

Tank bags. Usually overpriced so try using a small rucksack (I have a Regatta 25 litre). The shoulder straps hook over the tank and the belly belt can be tightened under the back. This has worked on the Norton and the BMW. Particularly useful for fibreglass and aluminium tanks. Use anti-slip matting (Wilkinson or B&Q) under the bag.

Loading the bike. Try to balance the weight ie. tins in tank bag, tent on front. Try also to keep the weight low. Try to make everything you take essential or dual purpose. We always come back with unused clothes so we aren't perfect.

Lighting. I have a 12 volt fluorescent packed in a drainpipe (Steve's idea). Runs from bike power socket with a long lead and a switch two feet from the lamp.

Lighting 2. Install your lamp OUTSIDE the inner tent. The bugs will be less likely to join you inside.

Carry Jump leads (2 Metres of 2.5 sq mm will suffice) In case you forget the light switch.

Collect old 35mm film canisters. Use them for condiments, herbs, spices, matches, emergency tea, coffee and sugar rations, spare torch bulbs, Swarfega, Fairy, soap powder.

A Tupperware tub in the tank bag to hold the 35mm canisters, pegs, scissors, cutlery, bog roll, sharp knife, scrim, shampoo, soup,  glue, elastic band. ( Use your imagination).

Vinegar, good for insect bites, whitening washing, heartburn, & chips.

Lemon, in summer, rubbed on arms as an insect repellent. (Thanks Barry)

If you use a petrol lighter, keep spare flints under the wadding.

Winter Camping? Keep your water bottle inside the tent. (Barry again)

Ear plugs, whilst asleep if unusual sounds wake you. The ears never sleep. ( Barry)

Shorts, Hairy legs dry quicker than trousers. (Barry, owner of hairy legs)

Sandals in the rain, Feet dry quicker than socks, sandals much faster than boots. (Me at BMF)

Keeping Warm. A newspaper across the chest helps no end whilst riding. Most heat is lost from the head (mine's now a sunroof), a titfer in bed helps. If you can afford the space/weight, a blanket beneath the BugBags is worthwhile as is a cotton Bug Bag liner.

Wet Gloves & Neck warmer. Place on top of inner tent overnight to dry.

Anti Slip mat (see tank bag) placed under bug bag. It has the properties of a string vest.

Carry Sachets of porridge, pasta, beanfeast or soup, little space taken.

Label different sets of tent poles with coloured tape for easier erection.

Pack a torch in your tent bag for late arrival on site.

Pitching Tent. Try  to avoid hollows, with door away from wind. If ground slopes, make the bottom of the bed lowest. Pegs should be driven in at 45 degrees, NEVER vertically.

If riding to camp alone. Take an emergency meal and a pint of water - a credit card won't feed you (suggest tinned mince, potatoes and veg.) then if you do break down in the middle of nowhere, you can survive till Carole Nash arrives.

Tent Care. Rub a candle on the zips to help them slide easily (works on trousers too). If you have a canvas tent, loosen the guys at night (dew shrinks it). For nylon tents, tighten them. Carry spare rubber loops - they always break when its most windy.

Lilos. I have air horns fitted and put a long hose on the compressor to blow my bed up in four minutes.

Boots. They will not be truly comfortable until they have been wet through, dry slowly then treat with dressing oil.

Use Fabsil. A great waterproofer on your rally hat.

Badges. Put the on your rally hat or jacket lapel but never where they will cause leaks.

Carry extra guys (not boys) to use as a washing line between tent and bike. Take a few pegs too.

I freeze coke and milk in plastic bottles. It's great to have a cold drink on arrival and keeps the bacon fresh and the butter hard. Use the empty bottles as a water container for the rest of the weekend.

Eggs. Remove them from the boxes, wrap in kitchen roll or bubble wrap and carry in your mugs or billies.

Save plastic trays from the Chinese and use for slices of bread, bacon etc. and then discard.

Toilets are often devoid of paper, take the last 1/8th of a roll, flattened in a sealable bag.

Kitchen Roll takes much less space if concertina'd & flat in a sealable bag.

Chop odd shaped food (mushrooms) beforehand, it takes less space.

Drinking. Alcohol cause hangovers by replacing the water content of the brain, which shrinks. To reduce this effect, drink at least a pint of water before retiring and when you get up to pee at 4.00 am. I have no cures for night time pizza deliveries!