must have's before hitting the trails?

A good dose of preventative maintenance before you leave will be more valuable than anything you carry.

I'd change the plug at home and not carry one at least for the first 15000 miles. I'd also avoid fix a flat - that crap rusts rims (when they are steel) and messes them up for the future. If you want something for flats use Slime (temporarily to get you home then buy a new tube) or (whatsitcalled) Rollon? a special MC flat preventer that you insert in the tube before the flat happens. Forget the quart of oil unless you are burning it like crazy. Maybe a jigger full would be nice for a month long trip. I'd take the bike tool kit, maybe an extra crescent wrench, and enough navigation equipment to let you walk out or enough water and snack to await help. Somethings you just can't plan for - so lean back and enjoy the bike without bogging it down with stuff that you will never use on the trail. JMHO. Tom

There you have the entire spectrum of wisdom possible on the internet. One guy says forget extra plugs and the other says carry two. One says carry a pint of oil and the other says put fresh gas and go. In other words do your reading, do your own pondering and do your own thing. We all have distinct risk level and riding styles. Whats trail for me, may be a walk in the park for you. And what I ride might scare the pee out of someone who doesn't like rocks, arroyos, dust bowls, or rattlesnakes. There an old axiom that you can't predict what is going to go wrong, but you can plan how you will be flexible enough to deal with just about anything that does - it might mean waiting for help or riding without a clutch lever, but either one will work.

Do some more reading and decide what it is you need. I guarantee you will adjust that list as you ride more. Tom