Here is a document I wrote in 2012 as an overall planning guide and packing list. Copy it and make it your own. Post your own additions here. 

Jerry
"I ride because it frees my mind from the tyranny of petty things."

Alaska Planning - Structured Planning Outline

“How to plan to ride your motorcycle to Alaska and back and survive”

   By Jerry Matson, jerrym100@gmail.com - March 2012

Early Preparation

   - Travel strategy - Solo or with a buddy or group? This is the single most strategic decision to make that will shape your entire experience. Buddies need to be compatible! Do a test ride with an overnight. Are you camping or moteling? Cooking or eating out? 

   - Order state maps from state tourism offices a couple of months ahead - they’re free!

   - Get a new Rand McNally Road Atlas from Walmart and cut out the pages of the states you will be going through. 

   - Update your GPS software. Order new maps? 

   - Order a second, spare credit card or debit card. 

   - Consider your bike insurance - roadside assistance? Do you need Medjet Assist? 

   - Collect as many places, addresses, web sites, and phone numbers as you can. Document and keep in cell phone or computer. For key places look them up in Google Maps and then download them to your GPS as a POI. That way they are ready for you to navigate to when you need them. 

   - Consider if/how you will record daily info or blog your trip. Paper journal, cell phone app, or carry a laptop/tablet. Highly recommended. 

   - Save GPS tracklog? Do you want to keep a record of everywhere you go? Download your GPS tracklog each day to your laptop or tablet. Practice this before you depart. 

Bike Preparation

   - RULE: Never add or change a farkle less than a week before your trip. 

   - Maintenance - change all time-based usage items (oil & filter, air filter, chain & sprockets, fuel filter, final drive fluid, brake fluid, battery)

   - Tool kit - Tire change tools, air compressor, gas siphon, jumper cables, tire tubes, tire lube, shims for disc brakes. Ensure you have at least the tools required to remove your wheels so you can take them somewhere to get fixed. Spare headlight bulb(s), turn signal bulbs

   - Farkles - air horn, extra lights, GPS mount, cell phone. SPOT Personal Tracker? Extra outlets to charge stuff while you are riding. 

   - Spare items - clutch and shift levers and cables, extra camera, SD cards, spare chargers 

Packing List

   - Spare bike key and credit card - if you lose either one of those you are dead in the water!

   - Personal gear - clothes, bathroom kit, shower/camp shoes, hat, pack things in gallon or 2 gallon sized ziplock bags. Bring some clothes detergent in small packs or some powder. 

   - Highly recommend getting some merino wool socks for your riding boots. Ensure you get the ‘light’ socks and boot length or over-the-calf. Merino wool does not collect odor over time. 

   - Camping gear - tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, inflatable pillow, light blanket, sleeping cap to keep your sleeping bag clean from hair oil. Bring some light “water shoes” to walk around the campsite or in public showers. 

   - Cooking gear? Camp stove and propane/butane tank, sporks, small pot to boil water, freeze-dried meal packs, oatmeal packages, snack stuff (protein bars, peanut butter small jar, Ritz crackers),  water bottle/hydration pack, 

   - Sharp knife, P-38 can opener, coffee, sugar, coffee cup, sponge for cleaning, paper towels, baby wipes, hand sanitizer alcohol stuff for cleaning hands, 

   - Cold/wet weather gear - Summer and/or winter jacket/pants, electric jacket & gloves (Gerbing, Tourmaster, etc). Don’t forget the controller! Small umbrella for rain OR sun. 

   - Mosquito repellent (100% DEET), mosquito head net, first aid itch cream, sunscreen, ibuprofen, aspirin, sleep aid (Benadryl), wax earplugs (for riding and sleeping)

   - Emergency repair stuff - JB Weld, safety wire, duck tape, zip ties large and small, RTV cement, a roll of 1-inch velcro (Home Depot). This is your McGiver gear!

   - First aid stuff - blood clotting packs, bandaids, gauze pads, medical tape, 

   - Misc - Bear spray, paracord (towing, hanging a bear bag, makeshift clothesline for drying), 

   - Plastic shopping bags - for dirty clothes, wet stuff, 

   - Use clamping straps to tie stuff down, never just bungee cords. 

   - Bungee net for loose things on top. 

   - Consider loading everything up and do a complete checklist review at least a week before so you have time to order something online if you need it. Don’t wait till the last minute. 

Documents

   - Registration, Insurance card, passport, verification of insurance (for Canadian), title, insurance declarations/coverage page, medical insurance card(s), unusual prescriptions, emergency contact list, emergency information page (medical history, blood type, allergies, conditions, family physician). 

   - Print these out and ensure your traveling buddy has copies or knows where they are. 

Route Planning

   - Get an Alaskan "Milepost" - lots of good information and maps. Cut pages out, don't carry the whole thing. Published in March. themilepost.com. 

   - Rand McNally Road Atlas - I tear out the pages of the states and provinces I will travel through and fold them into quarters. Good size for your tank bag. They are good to get a large scale perspective that your GPS can’t show. 

   - Plan your route generally but not your stops. Be flexible. Have an idea of how to get up there and a different way to get back. What places do you plan to see? 

   - Travel strategy - camping or moteling? Solo or with a buddy or group? Cooking or eating out? Buddies need to be compatible!

  - Plan for separation. If you want to ride with a friend plan for what to do if someone has some trip ending event (bike maintenance failure, accident, family emergency). You or the other person needs to be able and mentally prepared to finish your/their trip. 

   - Trip Time frame? Do you have a time limit for returning? Late spring (May), early summer (June), or later (July August)? Weigh advantages/ disad. Consider events such as "Dust to Dawson" in June. It is always on the summer solstice - June 21st. 

   - Lodging is expensive in the summer in Fairbanks, use the Univ of Alaska dorms. 

   - Prudhoe Bay Strategy - Stay over in PB (need reservation) or stay in Wiseman/Cold Foot and return. Riding partner or group? How to clean mud off radiator? Spare gas? Change tires? Go/no-go criteria. Consider the possibility of not going if the conditions aren’t right… (I didn’t go!)

   - Collect as many places, addresses, web sites, and phone numbers as you can. Document and keep in cell phone or computer. 

   - Consider if/how you will record daily info or blog your trip. Paper journal, or carry a laptop/tablet. Highly recommended. 

   - Save GPS tracklog. 

Contingency Planning

   - Read many ride reports about what kinds of things can happen. As they say, “Traveling to Alaska is not inherently dangerous but the consequences of a mistake can be devastating.” 

   - MedJet Assist membership for emergency evacuation. 

   - Carry your title in case you need to sell the bike

   - Canadian Insurance verification

   - ICE (In Case of Emergency) information – ICE info in cell phone, copy all your wallet cards (and passport) onto a paper or PDF, copy onto an SD card and keep that in a bracelet or necklace. 

   - List of prescription meds. 

   - If you are traveling with a buddy carry a copy of each other’s information and emergency contacts. Can your traveling buddy get into your cell phone??

Pre-Trip Departure Preparations

   - A week or so before departure I set up a table in the garage and begin to collect everything. Organize into functional groups. Go thru the checklist. Think thru each day’s routine and what you will need. Then, finally, begin to pack it into bags and into the various locations on the bike. 

   - GPS - Load custom POI lists (BMW dealerships, RV/campgrounds, state parks, Walmart/Target/Kmart list, breweries,) http://www.poi-factory.com/ 

   - Also load the newest BMW Anonymous Book app when it is available. 

   - Sync your point-and-shoot camera time to GPS or cell phone so you can place photos according to the GPS tracklog later. 

   - Do you have updated copies of your bike registration, insurance card? In case you get stopped or have an accident. Those should be in your tank bag, not under your seat. 

   - If your bike has adjustable suspension adjust it for the extra load you will be carrying. 

Final Departure Checklist

   - Top off gas tank a day or two before

   - Pack and check everything a day or two before. 

   - Reset GPS trip odometer(s). I use my bike’s “Trip A” for my gas tank and “Trip B” for my oil changes. Most GPSs also have 2 trip odometers. Use one for your accumulated total trip miles. Understand they will be different at the end of the trip. 

   - Take a picture of bike odometer at the start to document not only the starting mileage but the date and time. 

   - The morning of departure should be crank and go. The last minute is the absolute worst time to try to think of anything you might have forgotten. Focus on your ride, get your mind on your goal for the day.