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Moto Camping!

6208 Views 36 Replies 18 Participants Last post by  Ramie, 
cshaw07
How many of you guys get out and camp on your bikes? I plan to a lot this year! What kind of gear do you take? Have any pictures?

My gear list:
Tarp
Wool blanket
Northface inferno 20* sleeping bag (totally awesome)
ENO single nest hammock (also, totally awesome)
paracord

That covers my sleeping, shelter, warmth, a cover for the bike, a clothes line, and a dry area to stretch my legs if it's raining.

On my bike i have the sleeping bag, all my clothes (one spare junk t shirt and 1 extra pair of old undies, 1 pair of junk socks per day (after use, they become rags/disposed of this is for 4 nights), and the tarp rolled up in the wool blanket and strapped to my handle bars in a dry bag.

Under the headlamp i'll have a fork bag with all my tools to do everything I'd ever need to on the bike including pull carbs, wheels, etc. Duct tape, tire plug kit, some wire, elec tape, spark plugs.

My "saddle bags" (military medic bags) contain:
the hammock (size of a soft ball)
military mess kit in it I have salt n pepper packets, coffee bags (like tea bags), mayo packets since i love mayo in my ramen noodles.. newspaper, 2 lighters, spoon.
fixed blade knife
2 cans of chili
2 packs of crushed ramen
first aid kit I put together with mostly everything id need
100' para cord (infinite uses)
atlas straps for hanging hammock about anywhere
toilet paper
sunglasses (don't need clear as i wear a full face with clear lens)
wool glove liners for if it gets cold riding
sunscreen
bug spray
bar of soap/tooth paste and brush/deodorant/baby wipes
swim trunks
chapstick
monkey butt powder (essential to trip lol)
flask with my choice of likker for takin the edge off a long day
water purification tablets

This fills one of my bags.

The other side will have rain gear and be left open for beer/if i get too warm and need to pack in some clothes/souvenirs

On me while riding:
wallet with $200 cash for 5 days
emergency credit card
small multi tool
phone
springfield xds .45 (i'm legal in about 33 states, the one's im not i don't visit)
Spare bike key in wallet
snacks like granola bars or something

Also strapped to the bike is a canteen with canteen cup for boiling water/heating chilli/ramen. Million other uses.

I tested my hammock and sleeping bag last night. If you've never slept a night in a hammock... DO IT NOW. I don't even want to sleep in my bed ever again. I'm happier today and my back doesn't hurt at all!

I'd post a pic of my bike all loaded up but i have the front end off for fork seals.

So, do you moto camp? Anything you can't go without? Comment, share, post pics, have fun!
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Menhir
Moonrider said:
Love it! I bet you got some "looks" on that trip1 ha ha ha
Pittsburgh is my hometown....what hills are you from?
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I used to tour on it regularly. Honestly, it drew attention at just about every destination which is funny because I tend by nature to keep a low profile...I wasn't looking for it. It was always the "Whoa, you came all that way on that?!?...Cool!" sort of attention. It was a relatively common occurrence for some life-long road warrior to strike up a conversation about the scooters they rode in the past.

Those scooters were small but they were surprisingly tough and well built...They could handle the miles just fine.

Hills? North. :D
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M
Yeah...its always cool when a fellow rider strikes up a conversation.
I caught my first fish in North park...learned to swim in the pool there in the mid 60's.My grandfather lived in Gibsonia. As for my hills.....South.
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"Captain D"
Older stuff is made better?

Menhir said:
My little blue dome tent was purchased used for $10.00 at a thrift store. I have no idea how old it was at the time, but this will be my 9th year motorcycle camping with it.

It's an Ozark Trail, which I think was sold at Wally World. I've seen the newer ones but they look like they're constructed differently. I guess it's safe to say they don't make them like they used to.

The only time it ever leaked was one year when I tried some "better" :wink:waterproofing. I went back to the cheap stuff after that and it's been fine ever since.

I'll be the first to admit that you take your chances when you select a cheaper tent, but sometimes you get lucky. :cool:


QUOTE]

Yes I agree!
When we first got together in '91, Ann bought a Jungle Hammock from a yard sale, for $5...
It is WWII vintage ...
I still use it for sandbar camping on those week long fishing excursions we take each spring and fall :D
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D
Planning a few motorcycle camping road trips for next summer. I am gonna use my canoe tripping gear.

Sleeping accommodation: Hennessy Hammock Explorer or Eureka Midori 3 tent, Thermarest Basecamp pad and a sleeping bag. I have a bunch of sleeping bags, the temperature decides which one I bring

Cooking/Water: MSR Pocket Rocket stove, at least 2 IsoPro fuel canisters, depends how long I'm going for, mess kit consisting of 2 pots w/lid that doubles as a bowl/plate, stainless steel mug, small set of utensils, camp suds. All that and the stove fits inside the pot set that goes in its own bag. Then a Platypus gravity water filter and a couple of nalgenes for storing water and a scrubbing pad/dishtowel. And waterproof matches and my zippo. I dehydrate my own food, lots of chili, potatoes, etc. A flask of bourbon. I always like to grill a steak the first night, and I fill a water bottle with some red wine to go with it, some rolo hot chocolate mix, instant oatmeal.

Misc.: Helinox chair for hanging our around the site, 2 guide tarps (one for the bike, one for sitting under/cooking under), Goal Zero Nomad solar charger, Battery pack from Best Buy to store the power.

Clothes: Rainwear for riding, packable rainwear for camp, some Keen sandals for around camp, an extra set of clothes, double the socks I think I will need, a sweater, and a toque. I think that's it...
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M
I haven't been doing this, but I think this next year, it's on my list of things to do. I was looking at a bivy sack instead of a tent/hammock. Has anyone used one and what are their thoughts? They look like they take up zero space and are set up when you unroll them. The only drawback would be sitting out a downpour for a long time, but someone has more experience with them probably knows more drawbacks.
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D
MickeyGlass said:
I haven't been doing this, but I think this next year, it's on my list of things to do. I was looking at a bivy sack instead of a tent/hammock. Has anyone used one and what are their thoughts? They look like they take up zero space and are set up when you unroll them. The only drawback would be sitting out a downpour for a long time, but someone has more experience with them probably knows more drawbacks.
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I haven't used a bivy sack before but your point about being in a downpour seems problematic to me. I've been in some pretty intense rain storms where I ended up with 4" of water around my tent, I have to imagine that if I was in a bivy I would have been pretty wet. I have a friend with one, he likes it but in my opinion a hammock is superior to a bivy in every way, and packs up just as small. I guess the weather where you are/are going and the availability of trees to hang your hammock from would play a factor as well.
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N
A lot of great info here. I am planning on a few camping trips on the bike as well. Will cut the cost of traveling down quiet a bit. I will be picking bits and pieces here to build my camping kit.
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D
not2sure said:
A lot of great info here. I am planning on a few camping trips on the bike as well. Will cut the cost of traveling down quiet a bit. I will be picking bits and pieces here to build my camping kit.
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It really is the best way to go! And buying camping gear is just as addictive as buying bike gear too :grin2:
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N
I have one item most of you probably are not concerned with. That is what makes this post so great for me. I can look at what every one takes and figure out what Would be good for me and what I can do with out. I am planning on making a custom seat for my friend. She loves road trips as much as I do. I will now look at how I can adapt it for storage as well.

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PhantomRider64
not2sure said:
I have one item most of you probably are not concerned with. That is what makes this post so great for me. I can look at what every one takes and figure out what Would be good for me and what I can do with out. I am planning on making a custom seat for my friend. She loves road trips as much as I do. I will now look at how I can adapt it for storage as well.
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That is too cute!!! I would love to take our pup, Loki, with us but he has a vehicle problem, he always gets sick. Dont really want to be in front of him when he does.

Any time I ask him if he wants to ride the bike with me he gets excited.:smile2: @ShadowAngel found one of those bags and showed it to me the other day,,,I would love to try taking him for a ride!!!

Here is a pic of him with the Christmas gift that he got for me.

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E
I can't wait to go camping on the bike. Wanted to last year but it got too cold for anyone to go with me before I was comfortable enough on the new bike. I hope to go the hammock route more often than not. I've done some hiking so going kite shouldn't be too hard.


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N
That's a cool little dog there. Mine loves the bike. When I bring it out. She will sit by the back tire and wait while I get every thing ready. I guess she want's to make sure she is not getting left at home. I plan on making a custom seat for her so I can have the T bag back. lol I thought I had heard they made some thing for pets that got car sick. I could be wrong. I have a small rear deck at the rear window in my ranchero. It is perfect for her. She will sit up there and can see out the windshield perfect. She is pretty spoiled. I take her pretty much every where I go. I will ask my sister about the stuff for car sick pets. I am sure your little friend there would love the bike. You guys have a Happy New year. @eaglegrad07 where are you located?
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blue flames
not2sure said:
I have one item most of you probably are not concerned with. That is what makes this post so great for me. I can look at what every one takes and figure out what Would be good for me and what I can do with out. I am planning on making a custom seat for my friend. She loves road trips as much as I do. I will now look at how I can adapt it for storage as well.
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That is too cool man! No way our mutts would do that!

RIDE SAFE !
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PA Dave
2
Here are two shots from a moto/flyfishing/camping trip. The first is the bike all loaded up and one of the campsite.




I carry a two-man Wally World tent that I picked up on sale for $20...easiest and fastest set up of any tent I've ever used, a folding chair, 4-piece flyrod,, drybag with my sleeping bag, air mattress, and some clothes, a boy scout mess kit, a small sterno stove, waders, and misc stuff.

I haven't gone camping with the CTX700 yet. I can't wait.
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PhantomRider64
not2sure said:
That's a cool little dog there. Mine loves the bike. When I bring it out. She will sit by the back tire and wait while I get every thing ready. I guess she want's to make sure she is not getting left at home. I plan on making a custom seat for her so I can have the T bag back. lol I thought I had heard they made some thing for pets that got car sick. I could be wrong. I have a small rear deck at the rear window in my ranchero. It is perfect for her. She will sit up there and can see out the windshield perfect. She is pretty spoiled. I take her pretty much every where I go. I will ask my sister about the stuff for car sick pets. I am sure your little friend there would love the bike. You guys have a Happy New year. @eaglegrad07 where are you located?
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Thanks. Please let me know what they use for the dog. If nothing else it should help him in the truck.
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E
I'm in northeast Georgia, near Athens.


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Ramie
I've been looking at one of these as I'm getting to old to sleep on the ground.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002MFTO4...TF8&colid=1Z7IIQL7QIJIB&coliid=I2IVH6R4R45R40
It's a little long 42" when folded up but I think I could make it work. Of course of the CP (Chief Purchaser) comes with it's always a Motel room.
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