Motorcycle camping?

Question

Has anyone been camping and taken their motorcycle -- ie packed up all camping gear on the bike? Me and the hubby are going to the BMW motorcycle rally in a couple weeks and we are camping out.

This is going to be such an adventure. :D
Anyone ever done the motorcycle camping thing, gimmie some tips or feedback.

Thanks!!!

Someone asked do we own the bike the answer is YES. Its a BMW R1150R Rockstr 2004.

we got a U Pack and a 3 person tent from REI and self inflating ThermaRest sleeping pads. And sleeping bags that have a very small stuff size.

Answer 1

take a folding Sterno stove so you can cook in your tent if it rains (they fit in your back pocket) for coffee tea or stew & the little packages of oatmeal for breakfast (just add water) your ride will be more fun if you can package most of your gear & mail it to a place near your camp site & pick it up when you get there. I've never mailed my stuff thats why I have to ride alone and look like sanford & son on 2 wheels with all the trash bags flaping behind me.
you will need to get 1 of those little 8" around x 6" high coleman cooking sets that comes inside a little t pot & fits in its own zipper bag. take a flash light that will hang inside your tent. take a few trash bags & some bungies for the souveniers you will want to bring home. you are gonna have so much fun & enjoy the freedom so much you wont want to ever come home.

Answer 2

If you're going to the MOA rally in West bend, WI, I'll be there too. Usually there are 6-8000 people at these rallies, and the majority of them camp. (yes, you read that right. 3-4000 tents)

It's not really that hard. You need to pack light, especially if you're going two-up. Tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and clothes are the bare necessities. Pack for the weather (which will be hot), and don't pack too many bulky clothes. There will be beaucoup food vendors, so you don't need to take up space packing your camp stove if you don't want to.

The MOA rally is going to have shower trailers there. They're fantastic. Hot water galore. Buy a microfiber camp towel (they pack up small and dry quickly) and remember to bring it.

MOA rally camping is not out-in-the-woods camping. You won't be without food, drink, and just about whatever else you might need. A few years ago, there was a rally in West Virginia. A HUGE rainstorm blew up the first day of the rally and put a large portion of the rally grounds under a few inches of water. Some folks lost their entire tents in the river due to high winds. But folks gather together and make sure that their neighbors are OK. It's a great crowd, and a great time. Have fun!

Answer 3

After reading the other answers, it sounds like you don't need to bring much. My vacations used to be a week long disappearance into the woods, with a 75lb. pack.
When we went by motorcycle for a long weekend, packing the same helped a lot. Some tips :
Repack almost every thing.
Toilet paper - squash a roll, or unroll and wrap around a pencil(never know when you need one). Put in a ziploc bag to keep clean and dry.
Coffee and milk - instant, packed in ziploc bag, sugar too.
No cans, they weigh a lot, hard to pack, and make trash to get rid of.
Dried foods, there are all kind of ready-made meals available now. Powdered eggs can make people jealous, there's nothing like scrambled eggs for breakfast 100 miles from the nearest chicken!
Clothing - pack light clothing, 2 thin shirts instead of 1 heavy one. They pack smaller, and layers control your temp better. Always pack a set of thermal underwear, and a rainsuit. You never know when the weather will change. Cold & wet = sick & miserable.
Water - bring at least a 2 quart canteen for each. Water is more essential to life than food. If it's not available, you have it.

The key is to reduce weight and volume as much as possible. When you get it down right, you'll find you have room for extra. Extra is good.

My pack held : my clothes and personals, food for two people, two meals a day (double portions) for ten days, tent, stove, fuel, axe, saw, sleeping bag.,2 canteens.
She had her clothes, personals, and sleeping bag, and one canteen.
That's the 7 day trip.
If I went by myself I could disappear for a month, easy.

Answer 4

It sounds like a fun time. I don't have anything to add, except that I wore my ipod for the first time on a fairly long trip last weekend. I have argued against it to a lot of people over the last few years, but I thought I would give it a try. It was a really nice change to have some music. I know it cuts down on hearing, but it'ts no worse than in my car. I didn't use it the whole time, but it was a really nice addition to the trip. There are times in long trips where just the joy of being out on the road loses its cool factor. I get bored and tired, and I feel like renting a truck to drive me and the bike home. It always passes, but it's still a bummer. The ipod really helped with that.

Answer 5

I'v done this on quads. and had a blast. Water water water. It's the hot time of year. I take it this is a planned trip were you do not own the bikes so as for the gas and oil, parts and repaire you need not worry. Unless I am incorrect and they are yours. Plus with such a large group Chances are you will not get remotly lost. You will have fun. Bugs, They get anoying when you stop. and your arms will itch from the vibration along with your bumb. But this is only a minor negative compaired to the fun.

Answer 6

Wife and I have made several long trips , camping off of my Honda Valkyrie for two weeks at a time (as well as many weekend camping trips). We usually stay at state parks where they have showers and laundry, which cuts down on the clothing we need to carry. Our camping equipment is light weight back packing gear. The planning put into camp cooking makes a big difference.

Answer 7

done it , few years back , the only thing to do is the packing , make it tight as possible , IE a single inflatable mattress, should fit in a medium size tin of bake beans , roll t shirt , only take casual clothes , no party dress , no hand bag ,no high hells, forget slow cooker , fridge , and coffee machine , travel light , be careful at the gravity point on the bike , no more than 50/60 kgs on the back end .
Good luck , enjoy your trip , take care
rgds
Claude

Answer 8

Absolutely, I thought everybody did it!

Go to THE definitive motorcycling adventure site then visit the HUBB which is the main bulletin board. Select your area of interest e.g. Routefinding, BMW Tech, Equipment or whatever and just read all about it or ask whatever you want to ask. Also loads of links to biking and camping sites and stories.

HORIZONS UNLIMITED

PS.. I do it on a BMW R80

Answer 9

here in middle georgia we load our dual sports bikes up with as many bags as we ban fit and take off for fla once a year and do some real dirty trail riding and camp at night in state parks. we each carry sleeping rolls and 2 man pup tents.with an assortment of gear we all distribute to whichever one of us has room for it and we haveaa blast.we dont organize a lot .we just go.usually wind up around daytona and its a blast. of course dual sport bikes arent very comfortable but we have fun anyway.we ride back roads down ther with lots of stops and we off road wherever we see a place that looks interesting and camp when we get tired...street bikes are not near as much fun as dual sports because you are limited to blacktop and we can go off road as well as on road and we see things and places nobody else can

Answer 10

Here is the motorcycle camping gear you need. Lightweight and easy to pack!
http://www.advpulse.com/adv-products/8-motorcycle-camping-gear-essentials-for-under-300/