You’ve booked the flights, the route is loaded, and a KTM 790 Adventure is waiting for you in St Francis Bay. Now comes the question every touring rider wrestles with: what actually goes in the bags? Here’s the straight answer — what’s already on the bike, what you need to bring, and what the Eastern Cape weather can do.
What’s Already on the Bike
Every Outbound Moto 790 comes fitted with a rack-less soft pannier system — 60 litres across three 20-litre compartments.
Also on the bike: a small tool kit for adjustments, a tyre plug kit, a tyre pressure gauge and pump, duct tape, cable ties and blue thread-locker, plus a Garmin zūmo XT2 GPS with your full route preloaded. You don’t need to bring tools or navigation. Minor roadside fixes are yours to handle with that kit; for anything bigger, you can reach us 24/7.
Riding Gear: Bring Your Own
Helmet, jacket, riding pants, boots and gloves — these come with you. Gear is personal; a helmet that fits you and boots that are broken in matter more on day five than any amount of luggage space.
A few pointers for the Eastern Cape specifically: bring a jacket with a removable thermal liner and decent venting, because you’ll likely use both in the same week. Proper adventure or off-road boots earn their keep on the gravel — roughly 70% of the riding is dirt. And if you own a second pair of gloves, bring them — not essential, but wet gloves on a cold mountain morning are miserable, and a dry spare is a small luxury that costs no space.
Packing for 60 Litres
Sixty litres sounds like a lot until you start filling it. The good news: every night is spent in pre-booked accommodation with breakfast included, so you’re not hauling camping kit, cooking gear or food. That changes everything.
For a 7-day tour, think in layers, not outfits: two or three quick-dry base layers, one warm mid-layer (a down jacket packs small and works hard), one set of casual evening clothes, and comfortable shoes for when the boots come off. A small bar of hand-washing soap weighs nothing and keeps you in clean base layers all week. Roll, don’t fold, and keep the heavy items low and forward in the panniers — the bike handles better for it.
Season by Season
Both routes run year-round. October to April is generally drier and better suited weather-wise, but the Eastern Cape asks different questions in different months.
Summer (November–February): The Karoo sections can get very hot. Pack a hydration pack or bladder, sunscreen, and a buff for the dust. On the hot days, we recommend early starts — the riding is glorious at 6am and hard work at 2pm.
Winter (June–August): Expect cold mornings and the chance of rain on Cape2Karoo. On Frontier & Mist, the high-lying country can see snow. Thermal layers, a proper winter glove, and that jacket liner stop being optional.
April is a particularly good month for Frontier & Mist, with the highlands still mild before the colder weather sets in.
The Small Stuff That Matters
- Documents: your passport and motorcycle licence, and check whether you need an International Driving Permit for your licence.
- Power: South Africa uses type M and type N plugs — bring an adapter, plus a power bank for the long days.
- Cash: a little. The padstals (farm stalls) along these routes are an institution — roosterkoek, homemade jams, biltong and local hospitality — and a must-stop experience. Not all of them take cards.
- Earplugs, sunglasses, lip balm — small things, big difference over a week in the saddle.
- A sense of humour for the one day the weather does exactly what the forecast said it wouldn’t.
The Bottom Line
Pack light, pack in layers, and trust that the bike, tools, navigation and beds are handled. Sixty litres is enough for a week when you pack to it. If you’re unsure about a specific item, ask us before you fly — there’s no such thing as a silly packing question.