Motorcycle Touring Checklist for India: Documents, Tools, Gear and Packing

A long motorcycle trip in India goes wrong in small ways: a missing document at a check-post, a snapped clutch cable 200 km from a workshop, a rain suit left at home. This checklist covers everything you need before a multi-day ride, from Ladakh to the Konkan coast.

Documents

• Driving licence valid for motorcycles
• Registration certificate (RC)
• Insurance (valid, at least third-party)
• Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
• Government photo ID (Aadhaar, voter ID or passport)
• Permits for the regions you’re visiting (for example, the eILP for Arunachal Pradesh or the environment fee receipt for Ladakh)
• Emergency contacts and medical information written down, in case your phone is dead

Digital documents: your driving licence and RC in DigiLocker or mParivahan are legally valid, and traffic police must accept them. A photo of your documents is not enough. Carry paper copies too for remote areas with no signal.

Bike preparation (1–2 weeks before)

• Full service, including oil change
• Tyres with plenty of tread (replace if they’re half worn and you’re going somewhere remote)
• Brake pads and fluid
• Chain and sprockets: clean, lubed and correctly adjusted
• Clutch and accelerator cables
• Battery and electricals
• All lights and the horn
• Ride 100–200 km after the service to make sure nothing is loose

Tools and spares

• Tool kit that fits your bike’s bolts
• Tubeless repair kit or spare tubes and tyre levers
• Portable air compressor or pump
• Spare clutch and accelerator cables
• Spark plug, fuses and bulbs
• Chain lube and a spare master link
• Zip ties, duct tape, a small roll of wire
• Spare levers for off-road or remote trips

Riding gear

• Full-face helmet (ISI-certified; also DOT or ECE if you prefer)
• Riding jacket and trousers with armour
• Riding gloves (and a warmer pair for the mountains)
• Riding boots
• Rain suit and boot covers
• Thermal layers for altitude or winter
• Balaclava or neck warmer
• Reflective vest or bright layer

Communication and navigation

• Phone mount and charging cable (or a USB charger fitted to the bike)
• Power bank
• Bluetooth helmet headset, fully charged (see our headset guide)
• Offline maps downloaded
• Waterproof phone pouch

Medical kit

• Bandages, antiseptic, gauze and tape
• Pain relief and anti-inflammatories
• Oral rehydration salts
• Your regular medications
• Medication for altitude sickness, only after talking to your doctor, for high-altitude trips
• Sunscreen and lip balm

Luggage and packing

• Pack light. Most riders take twice what they need.
• Keep the weight low and central, with heavy items close to the bike’s centre.
• Waterproof everything with dry bags or liners.
• Keep essentials accessible: documents, money, rain gear and water should be easy to reach.
• Check the straps at every stop.

Money

• Carry enough cash for remote regions where cards and UPI may not work.
• Keep some cash separate from your wallet, in case you lose it.

Group ride essentials

If you’re riding as a group, add:

• A briefing with the route, regroup points, lead and sweep (see our group riding rules)
• A shared list of emergency contacts
• A group call or riding app so the lead and sweep can talk
• A plan for what happens if someone breaks down

Before you ride off

• Tyre pressure checked
• Fuel full
• Documents in a waterproof pocket
• Phone and headset charged
• Someone at home knows your route

Planning where to go? See the 15 best motorcycle road trips in India.