MOTO SURVIVAL ESSENTIALS | Part 1

Take a moment and picture this scenario...You're out on the trails ripping it up. You weren't planning on an overnight trip and the sun's getting low in the sky. You start heading back to the highway but at that moment your bike putters to a stop. Engine problems? Maybe. Did you forget to fill up the tank before heading out? It happens. Whatever the reason, you've found yourself stranded in the wilderness, far from civilization. Do you have a plan?

Sure you can hide the bike behind some brush and start heading towards the nearest road but what direction is that? Maybe you noticed where the sun sunk below the horizon but how long do you have before it's too dark to see your hand in front of your face. This situation could turn from bad to worse in a matter of seconds if you're not properly prepared. MotoEx is here to help!

Over an 11 Part Series, MotoEx is going to be covering a carefully selected list of very useful items that every adventure rider should always carry with them while out on the trails. Stay tuned each week for another addition to this Survival Essentials Series.

Depending on your environment, shelter is probably going to be your number one priority in a survival situation, especially if you need to stay put for the night. Whether the sun's rays are beating you down or the weather is deteriorating quickly, you need to have some sort of easily deployable shelter. I’m not talking about a 6-man mansion of a tent with poles here either! Remember this is something you’re going to get into the habit of bringing along on every ride so your shelter should be lightweight and space-saving but durable at the same time. A traditional pole tent isn’t very suitable for this case but a silnylon tarp meets all the criteria.

The tarp that I personally carry is one made by Bushcraft USA and is called the MEST (Multipurpose Emergency Survival Tarp). It measures out to be 5'x7' and is a featherweight at 10.5 ounces. With a little bit of cordage, it can be strung up between two trees or you can even use your bike as an anchor point in a pinch. Also, there's no need to bring along any stakes; you can use sticks or rocks to secure your tarp to the ground. This will provide you with a dry safe haven from the elements while you work on a plan to get home.

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