First motorcycle camping

Plain and simple... I'm going for my first camping trip on the motorcycle. I'm looking for advice on how to pack the bike for such a trip. I have hard side-bags, a trunk (currently removed), and a backpacking backpack that I'd love to strap to the bike.

Any tips?

 

Nuff said. Have a good time and let me know how it works out, I'm trying to convince my wife to give it a go but she wants to know how we're going to pack a hot shower and electricity on the back of the motorcycle. I'm just kidding, she's a good sport but I'd love to know if it's easily doable or a real undertaking.

 

I camp quite a bit with the bike.
Room is your friend, but carefull packing is your LOVER.
Make sure weight is properly aligned as to not throw off your balance.

I have this bag, and also attach some aditional gear to assorted mount points on the bike.


"All thats needed" is a good motto to follow.
Tent, water, food, beer, what ever is important to you and your survival.
First aid kits and MRE's work well too. Hit the surplus store to see if some smaller gear is avalible

 

When I used to camp off the back of my Norton (no "hard" luggage) I used a pair of soft saddlebags and a tank bag for clothing and gear, and strapped the rolled up sleeping bag and tent crosswise across the rear fender and the tops of the saddlebags. My most valuable item was (and still is) a portable propane/butane stove that runs off spray-can sized bottles and folds up into a disc about 5" across and 2" thick. I also had a small (5'x2') backbacker's air mattress that folded thin enough to make it practical. Nowadays I prefer the 2"x3" little plastic "tent" that fits in my wallet...

 

all ya need is a bed roll tied to the forks with a change of clothes wrapped up in it... you are good to go. I used to go on trips every weekend and what i did was got a sissy bar and bungeed a duffle bag filled with stuff to it. It let me carry everything i wanted and gave me a nice back rest too

 

Camp within a few miles of the beer store!!!

 

LOL :lol: I still like to camp but that is my favorite tent too....

 

I'm not realy a biker...But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 

Very important Trey!! I have a Cabella's folding cooler.
About the size of a laptop when folded, but is a 45 can cooler when unfolded.
Has tie-down eyelets for a back seat strap down adventure. :wink:

 

I have a set of soft saddlebags that hold all my clothes, shaving kit and chain lube, oil etc. I just bought a dry bag to hold my sleeping bag and foam mattress. The tent gets rolled in a tarp and strapped on as well. I also have a small tank bag now that will hold my glasses, wallet, camera nad maps. It looks like this:

 

Saddle bags are a good option - keeps the weight down low. Add another bag on the back like this one and you should have enough storage - this one's from T-bags, but I've heard good things about the ones from Jafrum as well:


As for tents, pretty much whatever you like is what you need - just remember that space is a premium so you need it to pack small.
I haven't tried it, or even seen one in person, but I'd really like to see one of these:
Biker Tent



Edit: WOOHOO - post #1000!! :wink:

 

I took the XJ camping this year, hmm should write a thread, anyway.
This was my first bike camping trip.
I bought a tailbag from moto direct $48 holds 45 liters, pretty damn big.
You can buy the matching saddlebags that clip right on too.
A magnetic tankbag holds another 10 liters.
For shelter an $18 Wal Mart dome tent 6'x4', wieghs like 5lbs and the longest part(the poles) are 16".
I folded the tent flat and packed it, the poles I strapped under the bungee net.
A blowup pool matress for comfort.
I use a bungee net over the tailbag to hold down sleepingbag, jacket, bottle of booze bought from the discount NH liqiour store, ect.

This is plenty enough room for one person.
I was able to pack for 7 days and packed way to many cloths.
Pack light you can wear one set of shorts and jeans for awhile, just change your shirt so the ladies don't catch on. :wink:
The biker tent mentioned in this thread earlier wieghs 26.5lbs, yikes put that on top of your load.
I made a cooler out of a paper bag lined with a plastic one filled with ice, trashed it when I left.
Cheers!

 

I have a few thing s to offer.

Pack as light as possible. Several days before you go write a list of things to pack. Then a couple times a day before you leave look at the list and ask your self,"Do I really need that?" You will find that fter you do that a few times you will whittle that list down.

Pack your heavyest stuff at the bottom of your hard cases. The lower you keep your weight the better the bike will handle.

CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE! with the extra weight you will be carrying, this even more important.

Make sure you have rain gear.

Watch out for bears, skunks, rattlers, scorpians, rabbid fish, and the odd wild woman, they're the most dangerous and don't run away from pepper spray.

Most importantly.....have fun. Bike camping is one of my favorite pastimes. Take lots of pics.

The Buff

 

ohhh man i can wait for July USA here i come.