Choosing the right outfit for riding a bike in a tropical developing country is not easy. Because of the chaotic traffic ant the bad roads you want to have as much protection as possible. But most motorcycle outfit is designed for countries with moderate climates and is really uncomfortable to wear in the tropics because of the high temperatures and humidity.
Leather for example gets fungus easily during the wet season and is therefore not suitable. During more than 10 years riding motorcycles in the Philippines and Indonesia the author tried various gear and ended up with the following:
Riding Gear
Helmet: For laws and regulations regarding the use of helmets see Section Motorcycle related laws and regulations. Full face motorcycle offer best protection but have limited air circulation and get hot and sweaty very quickly. The best compromise between protection and comfort offer ‘three quarter shell’ helmets with a visor. The visor effectively protects from rain and dirt and adds some protection of the face from injury in case of an accident. When dirty the three quarter shell helmets can also be washed easily with warm water and shampoo and dried with a hair dryer.
Sun glasses: For protection from the sun. If the helmet does not have a visor glasses also help protecting the eyes from wind, dust, rain, dirt and insects and stones. During night or on cloudy days a pair of clear glasses come in handy for protection. Make sure that the glasses are made from material that does not shatter
Leather Gloves: Despite the hot climate the author uses some light leather gloves on longer trips for protection in case of a crash and also to protect the skin from the very intensive sun. When not in use store leather gloves in a dry place because they get mouldy easily in the humid tropical climate.
Jacket: A jacket should combine comfort with impact/abrasion protection. Ventilated and cooling clothing as often used in desert races are one option but they are expensive. A chest protector worn on top of a t-shirt provides both, good ventilation and protection. In the cold season a light jacket that protects from wind is useful.
Boots: Considering the poor road conditions proper footwear is a must. Important is sufficient foot and ankle protection, traction of the sole, water resistance. Hiking boots are not a bad solution especially if they are part of the travel luggage anyway.
Riding Pants: Important here are again comfort and impact/abrasion protection.
Rain Gear: Wet weather protection is necessary, especially in the wet season where monsoon rains are frequent. Raingear designed for moderate climates is not suitable for the Philippines. It keeps the rain out but also the sweat in. Gear with membranes like Gore-Tex are also quite hot because of the several layers they are made of. And if the relative humidity outside is around 100% and the temperature almost as high as body temperature the membranes do not let a lot of water vapour through. They just don’t work as intended. After experimenting with different rain gear the author is now using an ordinary Army poncho. The poncho gives sufficient protection from the top and the front and the air can easily transport sweat away from underneath. It is also put on much quicker than conventional rain gear and can be used for other purposes like as a blanket for picnics.
Carrying luggage
Most motorcycles in the Philippines don’t have luggage racks. They are also small so even with a luggage rack they don’t provide much space for bringing the essentials on a trip. For a short trip a backpack might be sufficient. For a longer trip you need to spend some time to prepare the bike.
Luggage rack: It is not very likely that you can find a pre-fabricated luggage rack at the local motorcycle shops. If you know the type of bike you are going to use in advance you can try to buy a rack in your home country and bring it. An easier solution might be to take the bike to one of the many local welding shops and have a rack custom made. The welders usually don’t have a clue about mechanics and forces that rack are exposed to at motorcycles and will probably either over-design the rack or under-design it so that it won’t last long. It is therefore good to bring some photographs of a rack that they could copy.
Tank Bag: For manoeuvrability it is best to locate most of the excess weight close to the centre of gravity and not too much at the back of the bike. It therefore pays off to invest in a proper tank bag and to put the heaviest pieces (e.g. tools, books, camera) in it. There is a limited selection of thank bags available in Manila but I recommend to being a universal enduro tank bag form your home country. Look for a bag that can be easily detached from the tank and maybe has some straps for carrying it like a daypack for sightseeing tours. It should have a compartment for maps and a rain cover would be of advantage in the rainy season. The tank bag is a great storage for frequently needed items like guide book, drink bottle, hand phone, camera etc.
Day pack: Since most local bikes don’t have luggage racks and saddle bags, the day pack becomes a very important item. This is true for short tips but it is also an option when touring. When selecting a daypack consider getting one that has provisions for including a hydration system (drink dispenser) that has a hose going to one of the backpacks shoulder straps. In the hot climate you should drink a lot to replace body fluids lost from sweating.
Waterproof bag: A waterproof bag for the luggage on the back rack is a good idea especially in the wet season. There are now waterproof ‘bobcat’ bags made from PVC available in the outdoor shops in all major malls in Manila. They are reasonably priced, come in different sizes and can be closed easily.
Saddle bags: If tank bag and day pack are not sufficient and your bike does not have hard cases at the back consider using saddle bags. They are easier to fix at the bike without having a rack made.
Essentials
A steel cable lock is probably the best protection against theft. Get one that is long enough to run through front wheel, back wheel and an around a pole that is mounted in the ground.
I always carry a small telescopic pump usually sold for mountain bikes. They are good enough to fill a tire in case of emergency; it just takes a bit of patience. Make sure that the pump fits automotive tire valves.
For hiding some money I found a money belt quite useful. It has the advantage that most thieves don’t expect money hidden in a belt and even if left laying around in the pants it is not obvious where the money is hidden since the zipper is in the inside.