My number 1 rule, I learned from a friend of mine. Never park your motorcycle with the side stand facing your tent, next to your tent. My friend almost got crushed by his bike at night, because it started raining and the side stand sank into the "before solid and now soft" ground.
While away on a campingtrip i expetienced that two times. Although i warned them not to do that. That the bike needed to lean away from the tent or to put more space between the tent and the bike. One guy got the bike on his face in the middle of the night. He was not serious injured but imagine what could have happenend ? Loosing an eye ? My stomach turns thinking about that. He had a headdache for a full day. Just from the sudden scare while sleeping. It was plain stupid, nothing more then that. So your advise is spot on.
Just use compress a beer or soft drink can and put it under the sidestand....avoids the problem easy or go buy a plate to put under your sidestand.....
Good point. But WHY anyone would set up a tent so near to their bike is beyond me. That is camping done wrong, in my mind. Park your bike a good few feet away. You are camping-- not biking. The bike brought you there, but it is not a focal point of your trip. I would easily keep mine ten or twenty feet away. You need to be able to see in every direction around your camp, too.
In 2019, I hit 34 states and 4 Canadian provinces, tent camping everywhere I went. I carried all camping gear in a Navy seabag, which I strapped across the seat behind me. Besides being large enough to hold tent, sleeping bag, tarp, cooking gear, food, sandals, and clothes, I also believe the seabag helped me avoid speeding tickets. Many people in law enforcement are ex-military. I deserved a buttload of speeding tickets, but never got pulled over. Over 22,000 miles in 2 1/2 months.
My bike is a 2003 Kawasaki Concours, a 1000cc sport-tourer. I did not keep a record of how much I spent on my best summer ever, but it was in the thousands.
My first advice? Just DO it! You'll learn from it (and have fun) Started doing it at 17. Canvas pup tent, cheapo sleeping bag, flashlight, and matches... that was about it. And loved it!
By far my biggest mistake was leaving for a campsite in Acadia National Park, 450 miles from home, hoping the weather would change. I spent eight hours in the rain riding to the site. Which was almost flooded when I arrived. Sometimes it's better to change your plans when the weather is uncooperative. - Frank
@@d4nial I should have sought the advice of someone from Miane! I have been previously, with the Campervan to hike and those trips were sunny and or / foggy, but mostly dry. Poor planning on my part! - Frank
sometimes when you plan a trip you are going come hell or high water... no pun intended... my first cross country run from Chicago to PA (Stroudsburg) was 2 days riding in the rain on the interstate.... 2 days there 'having fun'... and then 2 days back where on the last morning the sun came out so I could ride home and get dry.... good times
I'm currently 60 years old and don't camp much anymore. However, some years back, my wife and I camped often in a 1978 VW Camper Bus we owned, just for camping. We did this for many years and had a lot of fun. Then, we decided to give motorcycle camping a try. Our first two attempts were at very active biker rallies. No sleep for two nights, too much activity, loud bands, party activities. Then we tried a more low-key adventure and stayed awake all night due to bad weather and froze. Looking back, both styles were really fun. You are right about packing as light as possible.
As a retired Army veteran I thoroughly enjoy moto-camping by myself after many, many years of Army "camping" with 50+ others sleeping under the stars with just my sleeping bag setup. It's calming and relaxing for me, but I tend to be a loner as well, love making new friends though.
Sage advice from Wanders of ... With my motorbike in Australia, usually about an hour to half-hour before dusk I start looking for a suitable site. Sometimes I’d double back just before dark and set up my campsite. The beauty of the bike was that I could wheel it about 100 metres into a state forest, over anti-car ditches etc, and no one knew I was there. Never was bothered by anyone. Careful not to make a mess or leave rubbish behind.
I can attest to this. Especially if you’re alone in the woods and hearing strange noises, can be quite ominous. Having someone there will help mitigate those fearful thoughts 😅
The #1 biggest mistake is to not motocamp, after years of long rides and nights at hotels I finally decided to pack my camping gear, needless to say we've not missed the expensive hotel rooms!
My thoughts exactly when people say they don't camp, but stay in hotels.. Those people do not know what they are missing, waking up in nature is awesome. Besides, I always find hotel rooms to be way too warm during the night and some don't even let you open a window.
The biggest mistake I made was going motorcycle camping with 5 strangers. None of us had ever met each other, and it was a disaster. Everybody had different riding skill levels and financial abilities for the ride. And some expected to sleep in 5 Star Hotels almost every night and that, since they didn't have enough cash to support that idea, expected the others in the group to pay for their hotel expeses. Even after they were told that the overall plan was to camp in our tents and only hostel every 4 days, or shower at pay showers at campsights. Major Hotel stays ( one guy expected me to pay for his Hampton Inn Stays, BION) were not even in the planned agenda, that was made clear during our planning emails. Our trip was supposed to be 6 weeks across the USA and do as much off-roading as possible. (Dirt Backwoods Roads and Fire Roads through the mountains.) By the 4th week, we had members of our group either peel off and go their own way, or just outright quit and head home I finished the 6th week riding with a guy, who, although rode on my skill level, thought that getting drunk every night and then complaining about a hangover all day the next day was acceptable. We had quite an adventure other than that! Bears walking through our campsite in the middle of the night and waiting for a herd of Buffalo to move out of the road kinda stuff. Really ruined my experience. ( My retirement celebration ride and all riders were recent retirees! ) Since then I limit my adventure rides to 3 to 4 people, and all who I know and have ridden with before. And guys I like!
All of my trips are solo. I really enjoy the opportunity to meet people along the way. When you’re riding with a group, striking up a conversation with a stranger is much more difficult. The only person I would consider spending that much time with is my wife. The thought of riding across the country with even two or three other guys sends chills down my spine 🤣
On my 22,000 mile ride in 2019, I rode alone. When asked by group riders why, I explained that I could get up in the morning whenever I felt like, I could ride as far and as fast as I wanted to every day, I stopped where and when I wanted to, and if I didn’t feel like riding one day, I wouldn’t. Total freedom.
I've been thru similair experiences and then realized I don't need buddies like that. I prefer being alone and do things my way instead of babysitting some wanna be adventurers
Fun one! One mistake was mentioned by other commenters, but it bears multiple mentions. That is, arriving at a camp well before dark. It’s easy to push too long into the evening and then regret it later. A second mistake I’ve made is underestimating the amount of water needed for my ride AND supper AND an overnight stay AND breakfast in the morning. Water is critical and after messing that one up, I now pack along more than enough to make sure I get to enjoy the morning in camp before getting back out on the trail/road.
@@jochenschrey2909 that’s a good question and it varies a little bit with heat. I generally keep between 5 and 7L per 24hr period. The upper end in summer heat and the lower end in the shoulder seasons when daily highs are net above something like 25 Celsius. This is an estimate of course, and may be adjusted if you’re planning to eat at restaurants or stay close to civilization. I ride solo in mostly remote areas of Colorado and Wyoming, so the options limited and taking care of yourself alone is imperative. I find that a Sawyer water filter can save the day if running low and you can find a stream suitable to filter. Cheers!
Suffering DEFINITELY enhances the experience. When everything goes right you rarely remember, it’s when things go wrong and there is suffering that you never forget. Those times you will never forget. Anyone can have easy/cheap fun. It’s when we face adversity that we REALLY have fun. Fun that we don’t forget.
I'd argue that suffering enhances the memory (and the storytelling potential), but not the actual experience itself. Small distinction, but an important one.
Regarding planning, I find useful to separate it in two parts: planning the ride and planning the camping. My biggest mistake in my first trip was overthinking the road part so much that when I arrived I had no plans on what to do so I kinda just hanged around. In the ride plan we account for tools, maintenance, spare parts and where to get them, weather, road conditions, traffic, local laws, navigation, emergency plans, communication, etc. Basically sit dow and think of every bad thing that could happen and what to do about it. In the camping plan it's basically what you said in this video. I might add hygiene items and procedures, food preservation, water storage/filtration... All depending on where you're planning to go but the same principle applies: imagine the worst an plan accordingly. Then don't forget as I did to check out what activities you can do in your destination to have fun. Every place has something unique, find it to make the trip memorable.
Your’s is one of the more thoughtful posts. Back in the 80s I probably got lucky first up by taking just enough of the right equipment for a comfortable stay over nights in Australia’s national parks (just off main roads). I camped using 1/ a big fat comfortable 750 cc 2/ a smallish 4 stroke 250 cc that was nowhere near as comfy but did the job. I always carried a small tent; sleeping bag; and two old ex-hessian army bag used as saddle bags. Took the usual fry pan, boy scout tin cookware, even a small spirit lamp, plus tiny gas stove. I had a back pack that rested on the folded up tent and the sleeping bag at the back of the bike, and a small carry bag that rested on the petrol tank. Some canned food and a water bottle, and some small tools, bits and pieces and it was all I needed. Not enough attention gets paid to solo entertainments. In my carry bag, I had a radio 📻, a couple of handheld computer games, my wordmaster dictionary, a small portable chess set, a thin book of chess problems, a couple of novels, a mouth organ, and a deck of cards, etc. Never got bored, and people were generally friendly enough along the way to provide additional entertainment (of the sort you can talk about on YT). I don’t think I could have squeezed much more on the motorbike but what I took covered the journeys quite well.
I came at motorcycle camping from an ultralight camping perspective from hiking, mountain biking and kayaking. I've been a fan of ultralight camping since reading Colin Fletcher's book The Man Who Walked Through Time in the mid 1970s. I view motorcycle camping as high speed bicycle camping. It's also great for old folks who aren't going to pedal a bicycle anymore. Everything I carry fits in a 66L waterproof roll top duffle bag on the pillion and rack, and a lot of that is the ample 7 pound tool roll, riding rain jacket (good waterproof wind breaker in camp too), and a few other motorcycle related items. It's better to carry the weight lower, but 35 pounds on the pillion seat carries just fine with no panniers causing aerodynamic drag or catching on trees or rocks off road. Pannier racks and panniers add a LOT of weight, even before any items are placed inside. I don't think I'm carrying too little. My goal is safe and comfortable camping with the least weight and complexity. Good shelter, sleeping bag and sleeping pad (for tent campers) are very important and are no place to cut corners. I prefer my Hennessy hammock if there are trees. It's much more comfortable than a tent, lighter and more compact, and not needing a thick mattress is a huge additional size/weight savings. Tip: I don't carry spare batteries for the LED headlamp because the Surefire headlamp I bought recharges from the bike with the same cable that I use to recharge my phone. Less is more. I hate needless clutter and complexity. Fewer items makes life simpler and more enjoyable. More items means more to stumble over when looking for something.
Funny that you mention not needing a thick mattress, my nemo pad is by far the smallest and lightest item of the shelter 4 (tent, pad, sleeping bag, pillow) and its even smaller and lighter than my warbonnet hammock. In fact, I've done some research on the topic and it seems that most experts agree that in the end, tent-camping is (weight and size wise) more minimalist than hammock camping. But preferences are quite personal and some like a hammock more and some like a tent more, and all is good in the end.
@@athaphian - I'd love to have a hammock tent that I could sleep in as a hammock whenever there are trees but also pitch as a tent when there are no trees. I'm looking into the Haven tent hammock as a possibility for motorcycle camping. I have an idea for an integrated tent hammock specifically optimized for motorcycle camping but there's no chance that will be anything but a pipe dream unless someone else makes it. I love the idea of a hammock tent with a perfectly fitted inflatable sleeping pad with some convective and radiative insulation and sleeping bag that is easy to set up and tear down, with everything rolling up into a single storage bag.
@@jammcguire1276 - One of my favorite places to camp is the Red River Gorge in southeastern Kentucky. Once every year or two, someone would go camping in The Gorge, get drunk, wake up in the middle of the night to pee, stumble out of the tent, and fall off a cliff and die. Please drink responsibly when camping. I spent a decade of weekends rock climbing in The Gorge, back in the 80s. There were a few times we'd see someone carrying in a styrofoam cooler when camping near the road. They'd drink the beer and then it seemed like a fun idea to smash the styrofoam cooler and toss it around their campsite for future campers to enjoy. We'd clean up their mess after they left. None of them "accidentally" fell off a cliff, but it could have very easily happened. Maybe if we had a little to drink and our inhibitions had been lowered....
@@Liberty4Ever Being a lifelong surfer taking trips all over the world, that is a problem in a ton of scenarios especially going South into Mexico (I live in San Diego). Moderation is the key but the 'bottle' was meant as much as fun, portability and acts as an 'extra' blanket. Drunks are drunks and no amount of intervention with them seems to do any good except, in your case, when they hit the bottom of the Gorge.
My solo camping realizations. Not mistakes but things I became aware of: 1- A tent won’t stay put in windy weather, so bring long tie downs in addition to what comes with your tent. A tent that lets plenty air flow through when erected without the rain fly. 2- A thick tarp to put your tent on, and a thick throw to put inside the tent. Don’t want to puncture your tent’s ground layer and you need some comfort padding in the tent. 3- A wide air mattress with a pump bag, and a soft pillow. Many of the air pillows are too stiff to sleep on. I feel camping mattresses are often narrow. 4- take a photo of your items after you stuff them in your luggage so you don’t have to guess what goes where.
I think how much you take and what is to much really depends on the ride and what you are riding. Taking a 1200GS on mostly paved roads with some easy gravel to a campground, you can carry a lot of stuff without the weight doing much. Riding a WR250 on tough trails, the weight really matters. You really have to evaluate it for what ride you are doing and packing what is appropriate.
I gave this comment a thumbs up, but I followed that logic in the other direction. I didn't want a big bike. I'm in my 60s and I wanted a light maneuverable bike. Actually, I've ridden nothing but small dual sport bikes since the mid 70s, so that was always my preference, but now I NEED a lightweight bike. I bought a G310GS for my 60th birthday and it's awesome. It's all I need for the ultralight camping that I prefer to do. Less is more.
As far as shelter; I did very well with a plastic tarp (for years) that folded small for packing. It would go over the bike , over me, and under my bed roll. It kept rain off well. Until the MOSQUITOES attacked at Grand Teton National Park. That was a nightmare X 10000 I always have a fully enclosed tent now.
Me and my lady drilled setting up our tent as if it were raining so we wouldn't get the tent wet. Basically set up the poles into the rain fly so you have a shelter crawl under, lay down the footprint then clip your tent up under the fly. This may be more hard-core than most campers though. We ride and camp year-round no matter the weather.
I'm smokejumper and bike rider. Pack whatever you need first in the top of your pack eg tarp, torch flint.. The 7P's are proper preparation planning prevents piss poor performance. Thank you for your video
This is all good advice. I have been moto camping for over 30 years. I still struggle with taking too much "just in case" stuff, as noted here. I have come full circle on tent size and highly recommend a roomy tent. Inclement weather can force some extended tent time, and having your gear out on the bike is no fun,and neither is not being able to move around a bit. Also, if you are with someone else, having them in for some cards,coffee or just conversation while waiting out severe weather can make a disappointing day bearable. If I am hub camping in the same place for more than one night, I generally unload the bike so as to enjoy the days ride unladen and being able to stash all in the tent while still being able to use the tent keeps my gear out of sight and out of any weather . Sorting,repacking and prep for loading out while awaiting clearing weather can also be very convenient and a way to make for lost time.... Space and weight are very important. But trying to make space and lower weight by using a tiny tent is not the way to go about it.
The “cards, coffee and conversation” making downtime bearable due to rain bit etc, highlighted the need for planning for this. A pack of cards I considered a necessity, even if it were just for Solitaire. I bought either a chess set or Scrabble set, a couple of 80s handheld computer games that were light on batteries, some letter writing / drawing material and a windup transistor radio, etc. Friends used to laugh at all this but came to see the wisdom of it when ... you guessed it we were stranded due to mechanical breakdown, or floods, and / or other inconveniences. We’re all different but I always found my 4 ft high 2-person tent sufficient for my needs. But then again, I was never trapped in it for more than a day, and merely used it mainly for storing luggage on one side, my sleeping bag on the other.
Another good video. I think everyone should have a check list. keeps you from forgetting something. I started using one when I went on one of my first group rides with camping overnight. I somehow forgot my sleeping bag. I was wondering why I had extra room. Once we got to camp it started raining and it rained hard all night. Seriously living in AZ it was the most rain I had ever seen for that long of period. The good part was it wasn't too cold. So I slept in my riding gear. I used my giant loop bag to keep my feet warm and made it through better than expected. Since that trip I have a checklist I use to avoid mistakes like that.
A background in backpacking helps keep gear in check. However, I find it relates closer to canoe camping -especially on canoe trips involving a portage. You can pack more gear than backpacking but you don't want to take a whole lot more.
Reminds me of a time 35 years ago on my first moto camping trip with my older cousin, one tent thin camping mat and two tins of bakes beans, the king sizes tins, no stove and only one spoon...and no can opener, we had to use a camping knife to open the tins....what a night lots of farting and laughs, 35 years on things have improved a bit. I moto-camp now and pack the same gear as I would for an overnighter of a 10 day trip as it is good to see how the components of the bike and gear hold up. Water is so hard to pack and heavy, MSR dormitory bags are good and can easily go in the bottom of you soft saddle bags.
I have experience back packing and bicycle touring/camping, and that is extremely helpful. I’m 66 now and have congestive heart failure, so motorcycles work better for me these days. I would say the single most important thing to be aware of is the difference between camping as you are traveling, as apposed to traveling to a camping area and staying a few days while you explore, fish, or otherwise enjoy the area. When you camp as you are traveling, you want to approach camping like someone, for instance, hiking the Appalachian trail. Moving every day and eating on the trail, or on the road in our case, greatly changes your gear selection. You will often find that cooking equipment, coffee making equipment, fire building equipment, and possibly even a chair to sit on, are all unnecessary. The last thing you do at the end of the day might be stopping for dinner and fuel, and the first thing you do in the morning is to pack up and head for the nearest cafe or coffee shop. When I was traveling by bicycle I was always on the road at first light, because the, cool temps, quiet roads, and that first cup of coffee, after 10 or 20 miles of riding, were so enjoyable :)
Sir you sound right but I dare to disagree. On a first long trip with my girlfriend I spent more on roadside coffee than on gasoline. If I have the space and payload to make myself independent from tourism's vampires, why shouldn't I use them? I happily stop and brew instant coffee on my gas stove or carry my trusty steel thermos to get me through most of the day. Going out and eating out are fine, when they feel right, but shouldn't be necessarry, when you aren't in that mood.
@@jochenschrey2909 when I say I pick up food along the way, I often eat from grocery stores, but I never feel bad about leaving a little money in the small towns I pass through. Often times the folks running the little cafe need the money a lot more than I do. I do also enjoy the opportunity to interact with the local people, and other travelers. In addition, we all have different financial situations. To one person, stopping at a motel and dropping $150 for the night is no big deal. To another person, that would break the budget. We all have to be responsible, and make the financial part of this equation fit our personal situation.
@@jochenschrey2909 I guess I should mention, in case it’s not obvious, that you don’t need a stove to eat from grocery stores. Often times, people hiking the Appalachian trail carry no cooking equipment at all.
@@clarson2916 Replenishing groceries on the way makes sense. No stove on a bike? Sure, I can spend days or weeks on bread and caffeine pills but coffee and warm meals seem very desirable, at least during the vacation part of a trip.
I come from a backpacking background and have my gear for that pretty much dialed in. A 5 night trip will bring me just over 30 pounds with food and a couple of liters of water, all in my backpack and that includes camera equipment. I really look forward to ALL the extra space on a bike!
I watched a lot of motorcycle camping videos and make similar comments. You are the only other person I've seen make a similar motorcycle camping comment. I carry 35 pounds in a 66L roll top duffle bag on the pillion and rear rack, and probably ten pounds is motorcycle tools and related stuff.
@@iosoi3145 My backpacking tent is a 2 person tent, under 3 pounds with poles, fly, ground sheet, stakes. Lightweight 2 person backpacking tents are generally around 3 pounds +/- and pack up quite small. IF I were buying a tent for MC Camping I would likely go for a 3 person backpacking tent, it would weigh a bit more but would give more room to put luggage. All my gear for backpacking, including food and cooking equipment fits in a 50 liter backpack (and that includes my luxury item, a chair which straps on the pack). To go to Motorcycle camping I need to add tools and a larger first aid kit. Plus I'd add a bit more clothing and maybe cooking stuff (oh and a nice 4 liter water bag so I could easily camp in areas without water).
My tip, book a room at the pub, take a change of cloths, that’s it. Camping sucks if you’re on a motorcycle. Save the money ya gunna spend on camping gear for a bike. Ps, I enjoy camping, but when ADV riding I give it a miss if possible. After a big day on the bike, I like a cold beer, shower, nice meal, and a bloody good bed, because day 2,3,4 etc gets harder especially when camping with minimal gear.
@@alripley5335 lol, I’m still up to a 10 hr day on the bike, and love every minute of it, but I’m old enough to appreciate a pub stay 😉. Ya just can’t pack cold beer and hot/cold shower on ADV bikes 😢. Ya get older and wiser; 👌
I prefer the camping with minimal gear. I can sleep in a bed at home. I've camped/backpacked for decades, the motorcycle just means I can carry better food.
Oh man, the weird campmate: My first moto camp I joined a buddy and his friend that were car camping. About 1 AM the friend gets too cold and gets into his car and starts it to run the heater. Then every 20 minutes, starts the car. For the rest of the night. And my tent is like 10 feet in front of the car, if the guy falls asleep and hits the shifter I'm toast. Plus the ground was very uneven, my old Thermarest did not cut it. And at first light, 4:30 AM, about a million birds started chirping and squawking. I'll just call it a learning experience.
Doing 6000 solo miles through the Canadian Maritimes in June. Don't know how to camp. Better learn quick! This stuff was gold. Thanks for your effort to put this and other vids together
I never went to a campground to camp from a motorcycle. I've always gone full primitive on public lands. I might have to try a campground one day. I'm currently searching for an island on a seldom used lake or river, to do a canoe camping trip. I guess that's to say, I prefer getting far away from others as possible.
My first time moto camping I had no plan, my gear was untested, I packed too much, and I was far away from home. I had an absolute great time. I had good weather, my bag only got slightly burned from my exhaust, and i cooked myself some canned chicken soup. It was certainly a learning experience and I'm still rethinking how to pack everything and what is necessary to bring along. I will say that I don't know if I would have enjoyed camping with others, I suppose it would be nice to have someone to talk with, but I also just really liked being alone and meeting a few strangers along the way.
When you travel alone, you interact more with the people you meet, and the places you go. When you travel with others, strangers are less likely to interact with you because they don’t want to intrude. The trip becomes about the people you are traveling with. One is not necessarily better than the other, just a lot different.
I agree with camping alone. Nobody to have to upkeep a synergy with. Just time that I can completely zone out. As for the canned soup, you'll figure out that items like that take up too much weight and space. Anytime you can omit water from what you haul, the better off you'll be. A Sawyer water filter is awesome, and just boiling water for use, is the next best thing.
@@ElementofKindness I don’t carry food at all. I prefer to buy it as I need it along the way. That being said, I don’t destination camp, I’m always travel camping, so I’m back on the road moving to a new location almost every day, and picking up supplies, or buy food at cafes is easy. It’s warmed up enough for me to get out of my northern US town, and I’m heading to Mexico this week, and I will most likely stay 2 - 3 days at a few of the costal towns on this trip. Being retired is great 🤣😎
@@clarson2916 That makes a lot of sense for long trips in populated areas. However, I always try to disconnect from society, going deep into the woods, where nothing but the sounds of nature to keep me company, so that option wouldn't be available to me. It's cool how many ways "camping" can be done. As long as one doesn't end up injured or dead, pretty safe to say that there is no wrong way to do it!
@@ElementofKindness I’m with you on this. Café meals along the way are okay but even in populated areas I took one or two cans of my favourite food (ravioli or sausages & veg for supper, small packs of instant porridge etc for breakfast, etc) plus the obligatory coffee, and water. This stuff if packed properly doesn’t take up a ton of space. Even a small 250 cc commuter bike or scooter will allow you to take an inordinate amount of equipment. The secret is not to take what you don’t need (i.e. a chair; TV set; bar fridge etc). I do recommend some thought to entertainment and always took my portable chessboard set and a slender volume of puzzles, plus a paperback and a windup transistor radio.
Great rundown. I’ve been moto camping for 15 years around PNW. One of my early mistakes was not realizing how you’ll lose sunlight sooner in the mountain. More than once I timed out my campsite waypoint thinking I’ll have sunlight to setup camp but ended up setting up in the dark.
Good for you !! Too many people forget about the entertainment side of traveling and camping. I always took 2 books - one I hadn’t read and an old favourite I just loved reading again and again (Robertson Crusoe). I also took a small portable chess set and some chess puzzles. A pack of cards for solitaire and a few other things to play with. A good but cheap portable radio that is light on batteries was good, too. The thing was portability. If you’re ever trapped somewhere while traveling you’ll be glad you have packed these things ... especially if others around you are bored because they didn’t have the foresight to do likewise.
Excellent video! The freedom one can experience on a long moto-camping trip is truly amazing! Along with the essentials I usually bring along a collapsible fishing rod, small tackle box, and a gold pan! For me, weight is more important if I'm doing more back-country riding, but less important if I'm sticking to paved or gravel roads. Like most things, the more you do it, the better you'll become, and you'll develop your own little tricks. Keep making great videos!
Always bring a good knife. A mora kinfe is a great choice. Flip flops. Getting up at night to piss sucks having to put on boots. Oil for the bike, a wash cloth and soap. Camping for a few days creates swamp ass and that sucks. First aid kit, headlamp and fresh batteries, a beanie and a boonie hat for sun, off, sunblock. A small tarp. Hiking gear crosses over nicely
Great video and explanation. Made most of those mistakes myself, and still have some front panniers to prove that I can over pack with the best of them.
This is great. First time I went motocamping was at a campground solo past fall creek Oregon. Didn't bring firewood and surprise camp post showed up and offered to sell me some and deliver it:). You gotta have a camp fire when camping and you can't forget your spirits and cigars. It was a great experience. Dig your content dude. Thanks for sharing
Just went on a 4 day bow hunting trip w tags in AZ.... made split second decision NOT to bring spirts and cigars as we thought we'd be backpacking in and out...vs. car supported. NEVER AGAIN will skip those 2 items!
I love backpacking so I have my setup down to a manageable size and weight. I’m saving for my first bike. This is the first video I’m watching to prepare and learn. Cheers bro.
Don't know where to start really. Ok, finished high school in B.C. and bought a 10 speed bike from Sears and cycled from Mission to Calgary and never, never seen anyone on the road. A lot of camping inbetween too. Fast forward twenty years and again, Cycled from Calgary to Alaska and back. Outside of bears, moose, eagles, etc., someone stole my air pump off my bike and that was all, I have front and back panners and six water botttles too. Now fast forward thirty years and this summer going on my Shadow 750 up and down the Rockies with no time limit and better equipment. Yes, gopro and will be doing shots as well. Hoping to do route 66 on my 66th birthday this year, will see how it goes up and down the Mountains.... Love the video and your thoughts too. ty
Tips 1 and 2, and at least partly 3 boil down to: don’t take what you might need, take what you can’t do without. But a little ingenuity goes a long way. All those little things I need like prescription meds, pain killers, sewing kits etc, I pack into a mess tin, in slightly larger quantities than I think I’ll need for the trip. That’s better than taking whole boxes of things. I take a torch to hang up in the tent, another one to carry around; they back up each other. 4 Yep. 5, 6, and 7 don’t apply to the camping I do, because it’s either with 100 to 1,000 other bikers at a rally, or I’m on an organised camp site. One good tip is not to park your bike too close to your tent. If it goes over in the night you don’t want a wrecked tent as well, or to wake up with the bike on top of you.
A hot meal or at least a hot drink is essential for your energy, mood and spirits in my opinion. Particularly in northern England where I'm from as it is very often cold and wet (take The Lake District for example)
Especially when coming from car-camping first make yourself familiar with backpacking stuff! This will be inspiring enough to know what’s essential, what’s possible and then to decide for those additional „luxury“ items you are able to bring along on your bike. After all carrying less weight (and not the maximum possible) will result in having much more fun on your bike when handling wouldn’t be that demanding 😉
Just bought a like new 2020 Moto Guzzi V85tt adventure , has the three panniers on it and it can haul a decent amount of stuff. I’m stupid excited to get into motorcycle camping and ( after watching countless reviews ) really the reason I bought this motorcycle . Now to learn all the great tips before hand . Thanks for a great video!
Actually as an older retired person my thoughts is at this point in life with my health is to revert back to using my AWD mini van as the camping machine and picking up a mini moto such as a grom or monkey, maybe even a modded ct70 or possibly something even up to a tw200 or xt250 type of bike for exploring on while in the area I am at. My general location offers multiple state and National parks and campgrounds close to National Forest with service roads and parks which offer fishing opportunities as well as biking opportunities all within basically a few hours driving distance from home and some even much closer . Not to mention these parks with the national park senior pass also offer 1/2 price rates to seniors on the campgrounds and also as being disabled I do not have to pay the entry fees for day entry of any of the parks or facilities. Also nice being retired you can plan your trips away from holidays or weekends and take advantage of the Monday - Thursday slots when the facilities at many times during the year are basically almost deserted. One time a few years back in the spring I stayed at one major state park with a lakeside camping spot on a major reservoir and from Monday until late Thursday afternoon I was the only occupant of the entire campground! which has 70 camping opportunities within the park. Using my mini van I can just do an air mattress/sleeping in the back eliminating needing to set up a tent or really worrying about rain, I can bring a cooler for the ice and beverages, I have an easy up canopy and can just bring my regular camping bag chairs, camping stove and lanterns for comfort while in the campsite. I already have a ceiling mounted fishing rod holder that holds 4 rods and the van was originally a conversion van which has the rear side windows which will slide open with a screen to offer a little air flow. The bike I can transport on the rear of the van on a hitch carrier as I plan to definitely stay under about a maximum 300lb weight limit for the bike. Although older and not quite at the point physically where I want to or am able to log in a lot of miles on a bike traveling anymore does not mean that camping, nature and motorcycles still do not hold importance, you just have to adjust exactly how you pull it off or keep your expectations to what you still can or cannot do realistic as you age. Just like I know in my current state of health gnarley single tracks are definitely in my rear view mirror but a nice wooded 2 track fairly well maintained fire service road can still be immensely enjoyed at a much reduced pace from my younger years. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, enjoy what you can while you can.
Liked your post 😃. My motorbike camping days are gone, but YT videos like this are useful for people with small cars, as in what to take. I’m 5ft 9ins but I have slept quite comfortably in a small 4 door hatchback. It takes a bit of arranging, trial and error, and finding the smallest pump up airbed you can find, as in narrow. Cheap pump up cushions and pump up pillows take up little space when deflated but come in handy when needed. If you’re into stealth camping, curtains and an indoor sun reflector for the front windscreen, should just about make one invisible in a quiet side street late at night.
Some amazing advice for getting into motocamping! I like how the vid is more of a checklist reminder rather than some original specialized knowledge we're lucky you came off of. You care more about making the activity enjoyable and efficient for the novice rather than trying to present yourself as some big ego'ed expert. Truly helpful content! Just subbed and along for the ride!
Planning ahead is a big one for me. A while ago I had a short overnighter not too far from my house - a midweek getaway. I got up really early the next morning to get to work and found the campsite was locked and I was locked in. I had to do some serious off-road bushwhacking through North Carolina’s forests to get out and get home in time for work. 🤣
Reminds me of a truck blockade of the City of Melbourne back in the late 70s. They wouldn’t let any vehicles in or out. So I slipped my 750 cc motorbike through a state forest (a car would never have got through). Had to get of a walk the bike a few times but still got through. Several times I did a commute between Melbourne and Brisbane (about 1,800 kms) took a leisurely 2 days and camped in a state forest at the halfway point. You weren’t supposed to, but with the motorcycle, manoeuvred it over the anti-car ditch and walked it about 100 metres out of sight. Never had any problems and careful not to leave any traces or rubbish behind. Sometimes there are things you can do on a motorbike you simply can’t do in a car (and I never got bogged on a bike, either).
I've camped with a super-weirdo!! ;-) He drank all the beer and ate all of the sausages then complained about the abundance of firewood! hahaha j/k love ya man! My first motocamping mistake was bringing way too many tools. We were going thousands of miles on the bikes through Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho. Yeah. I had waaaayyy too many tools. Great video man!
I did a long ride some years back where we all rode the trusty KLR's. I owned a Motorcycle Repair & Mod Shop so somehow all the maintenance and tools we took somehow became my burden. I was ok with most of it, but the one guy who rode a smoking clapped out 650, that should have been left at home, became my challege to keep running. (For Free too!)
When you live in a country like Australia ... everything you said went into the bin ... I'm a solo rider in the most inhospitable desert country ... key factors ... blow up mattress & pillow by mouth ... sleeping bag is determined by coldest expected temp ... small single person light hikers tent & ground sheet ... same with cooking utensils ... food is made up of tin food/rice/noodles/fruit/energy bars ... water/camelbak ... hygiene ... etc ... study fuel stocks & supplies & the ability to carry extra ... tools & kits are made up of spark plug/chain tension/fuel/filters/fuel hose/air filter socks/tyre levers/compressor & puncture kit/bulbs/electrical/cable ties/ etc etc ... medical ... thermal underwear ... head lamp & rechargeable batteries ... you get my drift ... essentials only ... Epirb is an absolute must & must always be worn on the body ... never ever not wear it on the body ... ever ... Practice repairing punctures by hand at home over & over before leaving ... You will never fix any major mechanical mishaps along the way ... so bike must be prepared prior to leaving from steering head bearings to wheel bearings to wiring routes so as not to rub thru ... tools are for maintenance/adjustments & anything coming loose ... tie in & route spare cables like clutch/throttle with ends taped up greased & sealed ... When planning ... always start from the front of the bike & work your way to the back to identify any potential mishaps occurring & carry spares & tools to suit ... Oils & coolants depend on bike ... Any questions ... just sing out ...
My biggest mistake was using a single person tent. Motorcycling gear is bulky (helmet, jacket, pants, etc) there simply is not enough room to protect gear, keep it out of the elements, get dressed if it's pouring rain, etc. Adding a tarp would have been helpful but I won't do single man again.
Great video! I'm at the beginning of my motocamping journey, and thinking about a June weekend trip to the Central Oregon area, sounds like I'm already on the right track!
Use a GI Military duffel bags. You can stuff everything into it. Maybe a smaller tank bag etc. etc.. for the finer toiletries, medicine, first aid. Personal items even if by yourself. But a Army Duffel Bag "holds everything and a lot more" bungeed to the back seat area. Makes it so much easier.
Fantastic advice! I'm an (inspiring) moto camper on an HD Ultra Limited with my wife and a buddy of mine (Road Glide). We're going to start next riding season so we're prepping now and taking as much advice as possible. Thanks for sharing!
Great advice. I like to do my shakedown run with a car camper that has the room to bring everything...Just in case you forgot something or had a catastrophic failure.
Dork the Wise! Learned the Over-packing on my first Backpacking trip. Left probably 20lbs of stuff out on my second trip. I could probably dropped another 5 lbs.
A poncho or bivvy is an ideal device in case your tent fails. With 2 / 3 bungees you can make a tent with it and it also can be used to cover your bike quickly if the heavens open and it is half unpacked
Fully agree with the too much stuff - I'm *_still_* guilty of it. You definitely need to check your loading and also do a shakedown camp. Once I got my panniers and seat bag I loaded all my camping gear up, put it on the bike and went for a ride around town to see how the bike and the load performed. There's a really good public park - that allows freedom camping and has awesome trees for setting up a hammock - only a half-hour's ride from my home.
Good day to you! I am a HONDA Cross Cub senior rider from Japan. Enjoying camping and touring and upload video. This is so nice video! Awesome! Have a nice day my friend!
I agree, bringing too much stuff is a biggie, but very hard to perfect. No matter how much I agonize over my list of what to bring, I can't find anything on that list that I want to be without when Im out there, and it ends up being... too much stuff. I have always "over planned" and this year I fully intend to do the opposite and "not plan ahead".
I have been doing long motorcycle trips for more then 35 years. Sometimes 20000 km'ters. You need stuff with you. But you really have to overthink every item several times if you really need it. Most of the times you will not. In the beginning the few things i wanted to be as good as possible was my sleeping. So whatever i did i always took two sleepingbags. One was very light and one for more cold. And i could combine them. But somewhere around 10 years ago i changed all of that completely. And i am still so happy that i did that. I went the electrical way. On a long trip through several countries you will experience all kind of weather. But i needed to dump the extra stuff for that really cold weather. I take a light but high quality motorcycle air vent jacket. Then a very light water and windproof but thin jacket. And a Gerbing jacket that can be electric heated. With those three you can tackle everything. And what is very important. You do not have to wear a very heavy jacket when riding in hot weather. Also i bought several 12 volt heat pads. I combined two of them on a thin piece of cloth. So it has a heated area of 20 by 40 cm. Made two of those and did put them inside a light sleepingbag. One at the feet and one in the middle. Got a little container for 18650 lithion batteries that gives an output of 12 volts. Since then i can leave a lot of bulky stuff at home. Cause when it is really getting cold at night i have the possebility the electrical heat the sleepingbag. It is really so great. It works flawlessly cause as soon as you swith the 12 on you will be warm within 60 seconds. I use the Gerbing tempcontroller to adjust the tempereture. On the lowest setting you will easily have more then 8 hours of heat. I also can swith between only heating my feet. Most of the time this is more then ok. To leave the electricity on for 2 minutes on full and then to turn it off again. Now i have a sleepingbag that is packed the size of two liters of milk. But you still have to take a decent insulated sleepingpad with you. Like Exped has. An insulated air-matras. The 12 volt powerbank has also a usb out. So i can charge all the five volt stuff with it also. And the 18650 batteries i charge during the day while riding. And it can also use it for the Gerbing jacket and gloves when away from the bike. Multipurpose all your gear. Those heating pads you can find on Amazon and Wish. The 18650 battery holder i got from a Dutch store. But probably it can be found in your country also. Will put a link beneath ; www.prolech.nl/webshop/stroom/batterijen/batterijpack-accu-batterijen/detail/4705/12v-batterij-pack---powerbank---6x-18650---usb-en-dc-plug.html I would recommend taking 12 18650 batteries. And always have 6 fully charged ready. With going that way i can not only leave a lot of bulky and heavy gear at home but i also gives me a much broader tempeture range and comfort. F.e. when riding in Turkey with a temp of 40 degrees Celsius you treasure all the wind that you can get on your body. And not have to wear a heavier goretex layered jacket. What even can become dangerous at times. Remember to drink as much water as you can. Plumb your stomach full with water before starting to ride and then take drinks at good intervals when riding in high temps. You do not want to have bloodclots.
Summer 1975,my brother (Suzuki 500, unknown year) and I (1969 suzuki 350) rode and camped through New England to Nova Scotia and back. Made lots of mistakes, but had a very cool summer.
I used to way overpack, then while I was camping, I started writing down everything I used and stuff I wish I had, and only take that each time now. getting a master list makes it so simple each time I go. never forget anything and don't bring too much. Print it on paper when you are packing so you can mark stuff off or write little notes down.
That bed dude..looks excellent..number ONE rule..you've got to be able to sleep comfortably...l cannot sleep on the ground...just can't do it..but the orange bed looks great..
This is so funny. My first moto-camping trip was a multi-day many hundreds of miles by myself. My only plan was to go to Florida to see my children and figure all of those "How, where, when" and all those other questions you asked while I was on my way. Had a great time down and back!! But I did grow up backpacking and wilderness camping.
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Nice video and good tips. My biggest mistake first time solo tripping was dragging along way to much clothing. Like six pair of socks, 6 T shirts etc. Just to realise it's pretty easy to wash it and let it dry hanging on the mirrors or something.
I am about to do my first shake down in WMA about 18mi away. I did a car camping trip at a national regular park as part of a shore scuba dive. The dive ended up a bust due to viz but camping was fine. I had all my gear on my bike yesterday and went a local park to play amateur radio. I went to the WMA today planning to camp in an unimproved site I viewed last week. I couldn't make a reservation online and the ranger wasn't on site, so I came home. I had been looking at rackless panniers to go with my top box and tank bag, so I pulled the trigger on some Rinowalk 14Lx2 panniers. I also got a pair of 1.5L bicycle frame bags that should fit my front Tusk crash bars. I recently setup a 3"x24" PVC tool tube in front of the engine of my 2018 KLR 650. The panniers will let me travel with an empty backpack which will make life nicer. I'm starting with my 2-3 man tent, but I bought hammock to try out and I have a canvas tarp I might try. I haven't done minimalist camping since basic training at Ft. Jackson in 1984. Gather up lots of pine needles to get above the mud and provide a soft bed. Cover with rain poncho. Put tent with buddy, each providing a shelter half. Smell your buddies stinky feet all night. Lol About 1/4 my setup is for amateur radio: radio, antenna, tune, battery, and solar panel. RF noise in town is horrendous. Once you get a few miles away from the nearest powerline its a new world. ua-cam.com/video/nShDYlZGKlc/v-deo.html
My mistake was after the trip. Clean and prep your gear, mildew sucks. Also take notes while it's all still fresh. Camping is awesome spur of the moment, be ready to ride.
I’m going on my first bike camping trip tomorrow after work. I have a Honda ADV 150. I can fit everything under the seat and all my comfort extras in a slim backpack. I have alway been a minimalist camper so this is going to be a breeze. Can’t wait to just get some me time looking up at the stars.
This is a good list. I have not done an overnight camping trip yet. I would like to mention Army MRE meals do have a water-activated heater in all of them.
I camped off a 250 Honda Elite scooter for 3 days, stealth camped "leave no trace" practice... basically just brought my light weight backpacking hiking gear and strapped entire backpack of it to back, keeping other items in trunk. I could bring more weight than hiking, but not as much as car camping obviously. You find solitude and relaxation when doing this alone, and no baggage of bringing anyone that may need hand holding of how to do it, or needy people in a rush that need to follow some stupid schedule of their own that does not agree with yours. Thanks for video of this.
I live in Colorado so this might not apply to others. Twice, I've had bears walk thru camp! Black bears are generally not aggressive, but we did lose a lady here in the Durango area a year or so ago to a black bear. Very rare. So... #1 Have GOOD bear spray. I also works for lions (I've had two lion encounters, but not while camping). Frontier Sabre, large can is recommended by many expert - that's what I have. #2 I always have a side arm, usually a .357 Magnum revolver... simple, reliable. I've NEVER had to shoot a predator - so far. But I did have a lion at 8 feet (measured the next day, my boot prints to his paw prints, under some brush). He left AFTER I carefully backed up, keeping my eyes on him. I've also never had to deploy bear spray, but better safe than sorry. Love your vids!
Tanks for good inof and all valuable. Some thoughts that might help... your tent - if it requires staking out to stand it is not good for many locales like desert and shale areas. Find one that is free standing. If you have a camp knife do you need a fancy food prep chef's knife? Basically everything that can serve multiple purposes is good for keeping weight down. Tupper Ware bowl for food and spices storage or whatever, the lid is your cutting board and where you can set cooked items to rest while you finish cooking no need for a separate board etc. Don't go cheap on warmth items. Cheap means less performance per pound and cubic inch and possibly can fail in worst cases. Choose food items by calorie density except for the comfort items. BTW whiskey is pretty calorie dense! Clothes is another area where folks over pack. Same for string lights, battery powered fans and lanterns etc. Nice to have but add to weight fast.
My number 1 rule, I learned from a friend of mine.
Never park your motorcycle with the side stand facing your tent, next to your tent. My friend almost got crushed by his bike at night, because it started raining and the side stand sank into the "before solid and now soft" ground.
that never happened to me but is in my paranoid brain as a big reason why i have ordered a center stand for my bike lol
While away on a campingtrip i expetienced that two times. Although i warned them not to do that. That the bike needed to lean away from the tent or to put more space between the tent and the bike. One guy got the bike on his face in the middle of the night. He was not serious injured but imagine what could have happenend ? Loosing an eye ? My stomach turns thinking about that. He had a headdache for a full day. Just from the sudden scare while sleeping. It was plain stupid, nothing more then that. So your advise is spot on.
I have seen once a bike fall on a tent with people in it. The injures was not light. It was hospital stuff.
Just use compress a beer or soft drink can and put it under the sidestand....avoids the problem easy or go buy a plate to put under your sidestand.....
Good point. But WHY anyone would set up a tent so near to their bike is beyond me. That is camping done wrong, in my mind. Park your bike a good few feet away. You are camping-- not biking. The bike brought you there, but it is not a focal point of your trip. I would easily keep mine ten or twenty feet away. You need to be able to see in every direction around your camp, too.
The biggest mistake is not going at all..
been doing that for years
"Every time you don't even try, you fail"
In 2019, I hit 34 states and 4 Canadian provinces, tent camping everywhere I went. I carried all camping gear in a Navy seabag, which I strapped across the seat behind me. Besides being large enough to hold tent, sleeping bag, tarp, cooking gear, food, sandals, and clothes, I also believe the seabag helped me avoid speeding tickets. Many people in law enforcement are ex-military. I deserved a buttload of speeding tickets, but never got pulled over. Over 22,000 miles in 2 1/2 months.
Great advice!
Wow, that sounds like an awesome trip!!
Love it.
How much did it cost you and what bike did you ride? I wanna do it this summer.
My bike is a 2003 Kawasaki Concours, a 1000cc sport-tourer. I did not keep a record of how much I spent on my best summer ever, but it was in the thousands.
My first advice? Just DO it! You'll learn from it (and have fun) Started doing it at 17. Canvas pup tent, cheapo sleeping bag, flashlight, and matches... that was about it. And loved it!
By far my biggest mistake was leaving for a campsite in Acadia National Park, 450 miles from home, hoping the weather would change. I spent eight hours in the rain riding to the site. Which was almost flooded when I arrived.
Sometimes it's better to change your plans when the weather is uncooperative. - Frank
@@Random-ed2xf DOH! Hey, think of it this way, you are providing a service to the locals when you end their drought! - Frank
Even being a Mainer, I've NEVER had a trip to Acadia not be half in the rain! Something magical about that island 😊
@@d4nial I should have sought the advice of someone from Miane! I have been previously, with the Campervan to hike and those trips were sunny and or / foggy, but mostly dry. Poor planning on my part! - Frank
sometimes when you plan a trip you are going come hell or high water... no pun intended... my first cross country run from Chicago to PA (Stroudsburg) was 2 days riding in the rain on the interstate.... 2 days there 'having fun'... and then 2 days back where on the last morning the sun came out so I could ride home and get dry.... good times
Good one. Follow the sun!
I'm currently 60 years old and don't camp much anymore. However, some years back, my wife and I camped often in a 1978 VW Camper Bus we owned, just for camping. We did this for many years and had a lot of fun. Then, we decided to give motorcycle camping a try. Our first two attempts were at very active biker rallies. No sleep for two nights, too much activity, loud bands, party activities. Then we tried a more low-key adventure and stayed awake all night due to bad weather and froze. Looking back, both styles were really fun. You are right about packing as light as possible.
As a retired Army veteran I thoroughly enjoy moto-camping by myself after many, many years of Army "camping" with 50+ others sleeping under the stars with just my sleeping bag setup. It's calming and relaxing for me, but I tend to be a loner as well, love making new friends though.
The pre trip ride and shake down overnighted are EXCELLENT TIPS!
Give yourself time to find a campsite while it's still light out if on a long ride, finding a spot and setting up in the dark isn't ideal
Beyond annoying when solo!
Sage advice from Wanders of ... With my motorbike in Australia, usually about an hour to half-hour before dusk I start looking for a suitable site. Sometimes I’d double back just before dark and set up my campsite. The beauty of the bike was that I could wheel it about 100 metres into a state forest, over anti-car ditches etc, and no one knew I was there. Never was bothered by anyone. Careful not to make a mess or leave rubbish behind.
I can attest to this. Especially if you’re alone in the woods and hearing strange noises, can be quite ominous. Having someone there will help mitigate those fearful thoughts 😅
The #1 biggest mistake is to not motocamp, after years of long rides and nights at hotels I finally decided to pack my camping gear, needless to say we've not missed the expensive hotel rooms!
My thoughts exactly when people say they don't camp, but stay in hotels.. Those people do not know what they are missing, waking up in nature is awesome. Besides, I always find hotel rooms to be way too warm during the night and some don't even let you open a window.
The biggest mistake I made was going motorcycle camping with 5 strangers. None of us had ever met each other, and it was a disaster. Everybody had different riding skill levels and financial abilities for the ride. And some expected to sleep in 5 Star Hotels almost every night and that, since they didn't have enough cash to support that idea, expected the others in the group to pay for their hotel expeses. Even after they were told that the overall plan was to camp in our tents and only hostel every 4 days, or shower at pay showers at campsights. Major Hotel stays ( one guy expected me to pay for his Hampton Inn Stays, BION) were not even in the planned agenda, that was made clear during our planning emails. Our trip was supposed to be 6 weeks across the USA and do as much off-roading as possible. (Dirt Backwoods Roads and Fire Roads through the mountains.) By the 4th week, we had members of our group either peel off and go their own way, or just outright quit and head home I finished the 6th week riding with a guy, who, although rode on my skill level, thought that getting drunk every night and then complaining about a hangover all day the next day was acceptable. We had quite an adventure other than that! Bears walking through our campsite in the middle of the night and waiting for a herd of Buffalo to move out of the road kinda stuff.
Really ruined my experience. ( My retirement celebration ride and all riders were recent retirees! )
Since then I limit my adventure rides to 3 to 4 people, and all who I know and have ridden with before. And guys I like!
All of my trips are solo. I really enjoy the opportunity to meet people along the way. When you’re riding with a group, striking up a conversation with a stranger is much more difficult. The only person I would consider spending that much time with is my wife. The thought of riding across the country with even two or three other guys sends chills down my spine 🤣
On my 22,000 mile ride in 2019, I rode alone. When asked by group riders why, I explained that I could get up in the morning whenever I felt like, I could ride as far and as fast as I wanted to every day, I stopped where and when I wanted to, and if I didn’t feel like riding one day, I wouldn’t. Total freedom.
@@rastus666
“The man who goes alone can start today, but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready.” - Henry David Thoreau.
I've been thru similair experiences and then realized I don't need buddies like that. I prefer being alone and do things my way instead of babysitting some wanna be adventurers
how are others even considered? either drive or mingle; dont talk & drive
Fun one! One mistake was mentioned by other commenters, but it bears multiple mentions. That is, arriving at a camp well before dark. It’s easy to push too long into the evening and then regret it later. A second mistake I’ve made is underestimating the amount of water needed for my ride AND supper AND an overnight stay AND breakfast in the morning. Water is critical and after messing that one up, I now pack along more than enough to make sure I get to enjoy the morning in camp before getting back out on the trail/road.
How much water do you suggest? 5l/24h? Even more?
@@jochenschrey2909 that’s a good question and it varies a little bit with heat. I generally keep between 5 and 7L per 24hr period. The upper end in summer heat and the lower end in the shoulder seasons when daily highs are net above something like 25 Celsius. This is an estimate of course, and may be adjusted if you’re planning to eat at restaurants or stay close to civilization. I ride solo in mostly remote areas of Colorado and Wyoming, so the options limited and taking care of yourself alone is imperative. I find that a Sawyer water filter can save the day if running low and you can find a stream suitable to filter. Cheers!
Best Western sounds like my campground!
Suffering DEFINITELY enhances the experience. When everything goes right you rarely remember, it’s when things go wrong and there is suffering that you never forget. Those times you will never forget. Anyone can have easy/cheap fun. It’s when we face adversity that we REALLY have fun. Fun that we don’t forget.
I'd argue that suffering enhances the memory (and the storytelling potential), but not the actual experience itself. Small distinction, but an important one.
Regarding planning, I find useful to separate it in two parts: planning the ride and planning the camping. My biggest mistake in my first trip was overthinking the road part so much that when I arrived I had no plans on what to do so I kinda just hanged around.
In the ride plan we account for tools, maintenance, spare parts and where to get them, weather, road conditions, traffic, local laws, navigation, emergency plans, communication, etc. Basically sit dow and think of every bad thing that could happen and what to do about it.
In the camping plan it's basically what you said in this video. I might add hygiene items and procedures, food preservation, water storage/filtration... All depending on where you're planning to go but the same principle applies: imagine the worst an plan accordingly. Then don't forget as I did to check out what activities you can do in your destination to have fun. Every place has something unique, find it to make the trip memorable.
Helpful. Thanks.
Your’s is one of the more thoughtful posts.
Back in the 80s I probably got lucky first up by taking just enough of the right equipment for a comfortable stay over nights in Australia’s national parks (just off main roads). I camped using 1/ a big fat comfortable 750 cc 2/ a smallish 4 stroke 250 cc that was nowhere near as comfy but did the job. I always carried a small tent; sleeping bag; and two old ex-hessian army bag used as saddle bags. Took the usual fry pan, boy scout tin cookware, even a small spirit lamp, plus tiny gas stove. I had a back pack that rested on the folded up tent and the sleeping bag at the back of the bike, and a small carry bag that rested on the petrol tank. Some canned food and a water bottle, and some small tools, bits and pieces and it was all I needed.
Not enough attention gets paid to solo entertainments. In my carry bag, I had a radio 📻, a couple of handheld computer games, my wordmaster dictionary, a small portable chess set, a thin book of chess problems, a couple of novels, a mouth organ, and a deck of cards, etc. Never got bored, and people were generally friendly enough along the way to provide additional entertainment (of the sort you can talk about on YT).
I don’t think I could have squeezed much more on the motorbike but what I took covered the journeys quite well.
I came at motorcycle camping from an ultralight camping perspective from hiking, mountain biking and kayaking. I've been a fan of ultralight camping since reading Colin Fletcher's book The Man Who Walked Through Time in the mid 1970s. I view motorcycle camping as high speed bicycle camping. It's also great for old folks who aren't going to pedal a bicycle anymore.
Everything I carry fits in a 66L waterproof roll top duffle bag on the pillion and rack, and a lot of that is the ample 7 pound tool roll, riding rain jacket (good waterproof wind breaker in camp too), and a few other motorcycle related items. It's better to carry the weight lower, but 35 pounds on the pillion seat carries just fine with no panniers causing aerodynamic drag or catching on trees or rocks off road. Pannier racks and panniers add a LOT of weight, even before any items are placed inside.
I don't think I'm carrying too little. My goal is safe and comfortable camping with the least weight and complexity. Good shelter, sleeping bag and sleeping pad (for tent campers) are very important and are no place to cut corners. I prefer my Hennessy hammock if there are trees. It's much more comfortable than a tent, lighter and more compact, and not needing a thick mattress is a huge additional size/weight savings.
Tip: I don't carry spare batteries for the LED headlamp because the Surefire headlamp I bought recharges from the bike with the same cable that I use to recharge my phone. Less is more. I hate needless clutter and complexity. Fewer items makes life simpler and more enjoyable. More items means more to stumble over when looking for something.
Funny that you mention not needing a thick mattress, my nemo pad is by far the smallest and lightest item of the shelter 4 (tent, pad, sleeping bag, pillow) and its even smaller and lighter than my warbonnet hammock. In fact, I've done some research on the topic and it seems that most experts agree that in the end, tent-camping is (weight and size wise) more minimalist than hammock camping. But preferences are quite personal and some like a hammock more and some like a tent more, and all is good in the end.
@@athaphian - I'd love to have a hammock tent that I could sleep in as a hammock whenever there are trees but also pitch as a tent when there are no trees. I'm looking into the Haven tent hammock as a possibility for motorcycle camping. I have an idea for an integrated tent hammock specifically optimized for motorcycle camping but there's no chance that will be anything but a pipe dream unless someone else makes it. I love the idea of a hammock tent with a perfectly fitted inflatable sleeping pad with some convective and radiative insulation and sleeping bag that is easy to set up and tear down, with everything rolling up into a single storage bag.
Bring a bottle of your favorite booze.
@@jammcguire1276 - One of my favorite places to camp is the Red River Gorge in southeastern Kentucky. Once every year or two, someone would go camping in The Gorge, get drunk, wake up in the middle of the night to pee, stumble out of the tent, and fall off a cliff and die. Please drink responsibly when camping.
I spent a decade of weekends rock climbing in The Gorge, back in the 80s. There were a few times we'd see someone carrying in a styrofoam cooler when camping near the road. They'd drink the beer and then it seemed like a fun idea to smash the styrofoam cooler and toss it around their campsite for future campers to enjoy. We'd clean up their mess after they left. None of them "accidentally" fell off a cliff, but it could have very easily happened. Maybe if we had a little to drink and our inhibitions had been lowered....
@@Liberty4Ever Being a lifelong surfer taking trips all over the world, that is a problem in a ton of scenarios especially going South into Mexico (I live in San Diego). Moderation is the key but the 'bottle' was meant as much as fun, portability and acts as an 'extra' blanket. Drunks are drunks and no amount of intervention with them seems to do any good except, in your case, when they hit the bottom of the Gorge.
My solo camping realizations. Not mistakes but things I became aware of:
1- A tent won’t stay put in windy weather, so bring long tie downs in addition to what comes with your tent. A tent that lets plenty air flow through when erected without the rain fly.
2- A thick tarp to put your tent on, and a thick throw to put inside the tent. Don’t want to puncture your tent’s ground layer and you need some comfort padding in the tent.
3- A wide air mattress with a pump bag, and a soft pillow. Many of the air pillows are too stiff to sleep on. I feel camping mattresses are often narrow.
4- take a photo of your items after you stuff them in your luggage so you don’t have to guess what goes where.
I was motorcycle camping before it was cool. 79 to 81 wife and I spent every weekend in the mountains on the bike. Suzuki GS1000. I miss those days.
Motels were real cheap then like 10 bucks...if one wanted a night in...
I think how much you take and what is to much really depends on the ride and what you are riding. Taking a 1200GS on mostly paved roads with some easy gravel to a campground, you can carry a lot of stuff without the weight doing much. Riding a WR250 on tough trails, the weight really matters. You really have to evaluate it for what ride you are doing and packing what is appropriate.
I gave this comment a thumbs up, but I followed that logic in the other direction. I didn't want a big bike. I'm in my 60s and I wanted a light maneuverable bike. Actually, I've ridden nothing but small dual sport bikes since the mid 70s, so that was always my preference, but now I NEED a lightweight bike. I bought a G310GS for my 60th birthday and it's awesome. It's all I need for the ultralight camping that I prefer to do. Less is more.
Yup no matter what or how you are camping cooking on a fire for dinner is a must for me. 👍
As far as shelter; I did very well with a plastic tarp (for years) that folded small for packing.
It would go over the bike , over me, and under my bed roll. It kept rain off well.
Until the MOSQUITOES attacked at Grand Teton National Park.
That was a nightmare X 10000
I always have a fully enclosed tent now.
Me and my lady drilled setting up our tent as if it were raining so we wouldn't get the tent wet. Basically set up the poles into the rain fly so you have a shelter crawl under, lay down the footprint then clip your tent up under the fly. This may be more hard-core than most campers though. We ride and camp year-round no matter the weather.
I'm smokejumper and bike rider. Pack whatever you need first in the top of your pack eg tarp, torch flint.. The 7P's are proper preparation planning prevents piss poor performance. Thank you for your video
This is all good advice. I have been moto camping for over 30 years. I still struggle with taking too much "just in case" stuff, as noted here. I have come full circle on tent size and highly recommend a roomy tent. Inclement weather can force some extended tent time, and having your gear out on the bike is no fun,and neither is not being able to move around a bit. Also, if you are with someone else, having them in for some cards,coffee or just conversation while waiting out severe weather can make a disappointing day bearable. If I am hub camping in the same place for more than one night, I generally unload the bike so as to enjoy the days ride unladen and being able to stash all in the tent while still being able to use the tent keeps my gear out of sight and out of any weather . Sorting,repacking and prep for loading out while awaiting clearing weather can also be very convenient and a way to make for lost time.... Space and weight are very important. But trying to make space and lower weight by using a tiny tent is not the way to go about it.
The “cards, coffee and conversation” making downtime bearable due to rain bit etc, highlighted the need for planning for this. A pack of cards I considered a necessity, even if it were just for Solitaire. I bought either a chess set or Scrabble set, a couple of 80s handheld computer games that were light on batteries, some letter writing / drawing material and a windup transistor radio, etc. Friends used to laugh at all this but came to see the wisdom of it when ... you guessed it we were stranded due to mechanical breakdown, or floods, and / or other inconveniences.
We’re all different but I always found my 4 ft high 2-person tent sufficient for my needs. But then again, I was never trapped in it for more than a day, and merely used it mainly for storing luggage on one side, my sleeping bag on the other.
An ultralight tarp can give you some living room on a rainy day.
Another good video. I think everyone should have a check list. keeps you from forgetting something. I started using one when I went on one of my first group rides with camping overnight. I somehow forgot my sleeping bag. I was wondering why I had extra room. Once we got to camp it started raining and it rained hard all night. Seriously living in AZ it was the most rain I had ever seen for that long of period. The good part was it wasn't too cold. So I slept in my riding gear. I used my giant loop bag to keep my feet warm and made it through better than expected. Since that trip I have a checklist I use to avoid mistakes like that.
A background in backpacking helps keep gear in check. However, I find it relates closer to canoe camping -especially on canoe trips involving a portage. You can pack more gear than backpacking but you don't want to take a whole lot more.
Nice comment. I use my gear for both moto and kayak
Reminds me of a time 35 years ago on my first moto camping trip with my older cousin, one tent thin camping mat and two tins of bakes beans, the king sizes tins, no stove and only one spoon...and no can opener, we had to use a camping knife to open the tins....what a night lots of farting and laughs, 35 years on things have improved a bit. I moto-camp now and pack the same gear as I would for an overnighter of a 10 day trip as it is good to see how the components of the bike and gear hold up. Water is so hard to pack and heavy, MSR dormitory bags are good and can easily go in the bottom of you soft saddle bags.
I have experience back packing and bicycle touring/camping, and that is extremely helpful. I’m 66 now and have congestive heart failure, so motorcycles work better for me these days. I would say the single most important thing to be aware of is the difference between camping as you are traveling, as apposed to traveling to a camping area and staying a few days while you explore, fish, or otherwise enjoy the area. When you camp as you are traveling, you want to approach camping like someone, for instance, hiking the Appalachian trail. Moving every day and eating on the trail, or on the road in our case, greatly changes your gear selection. You will often find that cooking equipment, coffee making equipment, fire building equipment, and possibly even a chair to sit on, are all unnecessary. The last thing you do at the end of the day might be stopping for dinner and fuel, and the first thing you do in the morning is to pack up and head for the nearest cafe or coffee shop. When I was traveling by bicycle I was always on the road at first light, because the, cool temps, quiet roads, and that first cup of coffee, after 10 or 20 miles of riding, were so enjoyable :)
Sir you sound right but I dare to disagree. On a first long trip with my girlfriend I spent more on roadside coffee than on gasoline. If I have the space and payload to make myself independent from tourism's vampires, why shouldn't I use them? I happily stop and brew instant coffee on my gas stove or carry my trusty steel thermos to get me through most of the day. Going out and eating out are fine, when they feel right, but shouldn't be necessarry, when you aren't in that mood.
@@jochenschrey2909 when I say I pick up food along the way, I often eat from grocery stores, but I never feel bad about leaving a little money in the small towns I pass through. Often times the folks running the little cafe need the money a lot more than I do. I do also enjoy the opportunity to interact with the local people, and other travelers. In addition, we all have different financial situations. To one person, stopping at a motel and dropping $150 for the night is no big deal. To another person, that would break the budget. We all have to be responsible, and make the financial part of this equation fit our personal situation.
@@jochenschrey2909 I guess I should mention, in case it’s not obvious, that you don’t need a stove to eat from grocery stores. Often times, people hiking the Appalachian trail carry no cooking equipment at all.
@@clarson2916 Replenishing groceries on the way makes sense. No stove on a bike? Sure, I can spend days or weeks on bread and caffeine pills but coffee and warm meals seem very desirable, at least during the vacation part of a trip.
@@jochenschrey2909 if you really want to avoid buying any prepared food, yeah you should carry a full set of cooking equipment.
I come from a backpacking background and have my gear for that pretty much dialed in. A 5 night trip will bring me just over 30 pounds with food and a couple of liters of water, all in my backpack and that includes camera equipment. I really look forward to ALL the extra space on a bike!
I watched a lot of motorcycle camping videos and make similar comments. You are the only other person I've seen make a similar motorcycle camping comment. I carry 35 pounds in a 66L roll top duffle bag on the pillion and rear rack, and probably ten pounds is motorcycle tools and related stuff.
All that ultralight backpacking background helps.
I'm about to get started with motorcycling camping. Do you use a hiking tent, tarp... something super light like that?
@@iosoi3145 My backpacking tent is a 2 person tent, under 3 pounds with poles, fly, ground sheet, stakes. Lightweight 2 person backpacking tents are generally around 3 pounds +/- and pack up quite small. IF I were buying a tent for MC Camping I would likely go for a 3 person backpacking tent, it would weigh a bit more but would give more room to put luggage.
All my gear for backpacking, including food and cooking equipment fits in a 50 liter backpack (and that includes my luxury item, a chair which straps on the pack). To go to Motorcycle camping I need to add tools and a larger first aid kit. Plus I'd add a bit more clothing and maybe cooking stuff (oh and a nice 4 liter water bag so I could easily camp in areas without water).
@@donmartin9567 Awesome. Thanks
My tip, book a room at the pub, take a change of cloths, that’s it.
Camping sucks if you’re on a motorcycle.
Save the money ya gunna spend on camping gear for a bike.
Ps, I enjoy camping, but when ADV riding I give it a miss if possible.
After a big day on the bike, I like a cold beer, shower, nice meal, and a bloody good bed, because day 2,3,4 etc gets harder especially when camping with minimal gear.
Spitting the truth there. I feel and do the same.
@@alripley5335 lol, I’m still up to a 10 hr day on the bike, and love every minute of it, but I’m old enough to appreciate a pub stay 😉. Ya just can’t pack cold beer and hot/cold shower on ADV bikes 😢. Ya get older and wiser; 👌
I prefer the camping with minimal gear. I can sleep in a bed at home. I've camped/backpacked for decades, the motorcycle just means I can carry better food.
Here here!
I concur; when I got the $$ that's what I do.
When I'm short on cash I know how to camp.
Wow! Motorcycling, camping & cigar smoking - definetly needs to subscribe 😁 Greets from Poland!
Oh man, the weird campmate: My first moto camp I joined a buddy and his friend that were car camping. About 1 AM the friend gets too cold and gets into his car and starts it to run the heater. Then every 20 minutes, starts the car. For the rest of the night. And my tent is like 10 feet in front of the car, if the guy falls asleep and hits the shifter I'm toast. Plus the ground was very uneven, my old Thermarest did not cut it. And at first light, 4:30 AM, about a million birds started chirping and squawking.
I'll just call it a learning experience.
Doing 6000 solo miles through the Canadian Maritimes in June.
Don't know how to camp.
Better learn quick!
This stuff was gold.
Thanks for your effort to put this and other vids together
Your best attribute is your honesty! Being humble about anything is so great to watch and hear.
Went on my first camp with the bike this weekend... it was fantastic, a lot fun. Many other campers were intrigued with me camping on a bike
I never went to a campground to camp from a motorcycle. I've always gone full primitive on public lands. I might have to try a campground one day. I'm currently searching for an island on a seldom used lake or river, to do a canoe camping trip. I guess that's to say, I prefer getting far away from others as possible.
Been camping on bikes back to 70s that 1970 all you said was right on great job
My first time moto camping I had no plan, my gear was untested, I packed too much, and I was far away from home. I had an absolute great time. I had good weather, my bag only got slightly burned from my exhaust, and i cooked myself some canned chicken soup. It was certainly a learning experience and I'm still rethinking how to pack everything and what is necessary to bring along. I will say that I don't know if I would have enjoyed camping with others, I suppose it would be nice to have someone to talk with, but I also just really liked being alone and meeting a few strangers along the way.
When you travel alone, you interact more with the people you meet, and the places you go. When you travel with others, strangers are less likely to interact with you because they don’t want to intrude. The trip becomes about the people you are traveling with. One is not necessarily better than the other, just a lot different.
I agree with camping alone. Nobody to have to upkeep a synergy with. Just time that I can completely zone out.
As for the canned soup, you'll figure out that items like that take up too much weight and space. Anytime you can omit water from what you haul, the better off you'll be. A Sawyer water filter is awesome, and just boiling water for use, is the next best thing.
@@ElementofKindness I don’t carry food at all. I prefer to buy it as I need it along the way. That being said, I don’t destination camp, I’m always travel camping, so I’m back on the road moving to a new location almost every day, and picking up supplies, or buy food at cafes is easy. It’s warmed up enough for me to get out of my northern US town, and I’m heading to Mexico this week, and I will most likely stay 2 - 3 days at a few of the costal towns on this trip. Being retired is great 🤣😎
@@clarson2916 That makes a lot of sense for long trips in populated areas. However, I always try to disconnect from society, going deep into the woods, where nothing but the sounds of nature to keep me company, so that option wouldn't be available to me.
It's cool how many ways "camping" can be done. As long as one doesn't end up injured or dead, pretty safe to say that there is no wrong way to do it!
@@ElementofKindness I’m with you on this. Café meals along the way are okay but even in populated areas I took one or two cans of my favourite food (ravioli or sausages & veg for supper, small packs of instant porridge etc for breakfast, etc) plus the obligatory coffee, and water. This stuff if packed properly doesn’t take up a ton of space.
Even a small 250 cc commuter bike or scooter will allow you to take an inordinate amount of equipment. The secret is not to take what you don’t need (i.e. a chair; TV set; bar fridge etc). I do recommend some thought to entertainment and always took my portable chessboard set and a slender volume of puzzles, plus a paperback and a windup transistor radio.
Great rundown. I’ve been moto camping for 15 years around PNW. One of my early mistakes was not realizing how you’ll lose sunlight sooner in the mountain. More than once I timed out my campsite waypoint thinking I’ll have sunlight to setup camp but ended up setting up in the dark.
Pack a good book to read. Something you really WANT to dive into. I love reading at the campsite by the fire.
Good for you !! Too many people forget about the entertainment side of traveling and camping. I always took 2 books - one I hadn’t read and an old favourite I just loved reading again and again (Robertson Crusoe). I also took a small portable chess set and some chess puzzles. A pack of cards for solitaire and a few other things to play with. A good but cheap portable radio that is light on batteries was good, too. The thing was portability.
If you’re ever trapped somewhere while traveling you’ll be glad you have packed these things ... especially if others around you are bored because they didn’t have the foresight to do likewise.
Excellent video! The freedom one can experience on a long moto-camping trip is truly amazing! Along with the essentials I usually bring along a collapsible fishing rod, small tackle box, and a gold pan! For me, weight is more important if I'm doing more back-country riding, but less important if I'm sticking to paved or gravel roads. Like most things, the more you do it, the better you'll become, and you'll develop your own little tricks. Keep making great videos!
Always bring a good knife. A mora kinfe is a great choice. Flip flops. Getting up at night to piss sucks having to put on boots. Oil for the bike, a wash cloth and soap. Camping for a few days creates swamp ass and that sucks. First aid kit, headlamp and fresh batteries, a beanie and a boonie hat for sun, off, sunblock. A small tarp. Hiking gear crosses over nicely
Great video and explanation. Made most of those mistakes myself, and still have some front panniers to prove that I can over pack with the best of them.
This is great. First time I went motocamping was at a campground solo past fall creek Oregon. Didn't bring firewood and surprise camp post showed up and offered to sell me some and deliver it:). You gotta have a camp fire when camping and you can't forget your spirits and cigars. It was a great experience. Dig your content dude. Thanks for sharing
Just went on a 4 day bow hunting trip w tags in AZ.... made split second decision NOT to bring spirts and cigars as we thought we'd be backpacking in and out...vs. car supported. NEVER AGAIN will skip those 2 items!
Getting back into camping at a late age. So extra comfort is a must. Great video.
I love backpacking so I have my setup down to a manageable size and weight. I’m saving for my first bike. This is the first video I’m watching to prepare and learn. Cheers bro.
Don't know where to start really. Ok, finished high school in B.C. and bought a 10 speed bike from Sears and cycled from Mission to Calgary and never, never seen anyone on the road. A lot of camping inbetween too. Fast forward twenty years and again, Cycled from Calgary to Alaska and back. Outside of bears, moose, eagles, etc., someone stole my air pump off my bike and that was all, I have front and back panners and six water botttles too. Now fast forward thirty years and this summer going on my Shadow 750 up and down the Rockies with no time limit and better equipment. Yes, gopro and will be doing shots as well. Hoping to do route 66 on my 66th birthday this year, will see how it goes up and down the Mountains.... Love the video and your thoughts too. ty
Tips 1 and 2, and at least partly 3 boil down to:
don’t take what you might need, take what you can’t do without.
But a little ingenuity goes a long way. All those little things I need like prescription meds, pain killers, sewing kits etc, I pack into a mess tin, in slightly larger quantities than I think I’ll need for the trip. That’s better than taking whole boxes of things. I take a torch to hang up in the tent, another one to carry around; they back up each other.
4 Yep.
5, 6, and 7 don’t apply to the camping I do, because it’s either with 100 to 1,000 other bikers at a rally, or I’m on an organised camp site.
One good tip is not to park your bike too close to your tent. If it goes over in the night you don’t want a wrecked tent as well, or to wake up with the bike on top of you.
A hot meal or at least a hot drink is essential for your energy, mood and spirits in my opinion. Particularly in northern England where I'm from as it is very often cold and wet (take The Lake District for example)
Hi. Just waiting to go on my first bike camping trip. Won't a bit more sun in the evening yet. I'm in the UK!
Thanks for the info very useful. Cheers.
Especially when coming from car-camping first make yourself familiar with backpacking stuff! This will be inspiring enough to know what’s essential, what’s possible and then to decide for those additional „luxury“ items you are able to bring along on your bike. After all carrying less weight (and not the maximum possible) will result in having much more fun on your bike when handling wouldn’t be that demanding 😉
Just bought a like new 2020 Moto Guzzi V85tt adventure , has the three panniers on it and it can haul a decent amount of stuff. I’m stupid excited to get into motorcycle camping and ( after watching countless reviews ) really the reason I bought this motorcycle . Now to learn all the great tips before hand . Thanks for a great video!
Actually as an older retired person my thoughts is at this point in life with my health is to revert back to using my AWD mini van as the camping machine and picking up a mini moto such as a grom or monkey, maybe even a modded ct70 or possibly something even up to a tw200 or xt250 type of bike for exploring on while in the area I am at.
My general location offers multiple state and National parks and campgrounds close to National Forest with service roads and parks which offer fishing opportunities as well as biking opportunities all within basically a few hours driving distance from home and some even much closer .
Not to mention these parks with the national park senior pass also offer 1/2 price rates to seniors on the campgrounds and also as being disabled I do not have to pay the entry fees for day entry of any of the parks or facilities.
Also nice being retired you can plan your trips away from holidays or weekends and take advantage of the Monday - Thursday slots when the facilities at many times during the year are basically almost deserted.
One time a few years back in the spring I stayed at one major state park with a lakeside camping spot on a major reservoir and from Monday until late Thursday afternoon I was the only occupant of the entire campground! which has 70 camping opportunities within the park.
Using my mini van I can just do an air mattress/sleeping in the back eliminating needing to set up a tent or really worrying about rain, I can bring a cooler for the ice and beverages, I have an easy up canopy and can just bring my regular camping bag chairs, camping stove and lanterns for comfort while in the campsite.
I already have a ceiling mounted fishing rod holder that holds 4 rods and the van was originally a conversion van which has the rear side windows which will slide open with a screen to offer a little air flow.
The bike I can transport on the rear of the van on a hitch carrier as I plan to definitely stay under about a maximum 300lb weight limit for the bike.
Although older and not quite at the point physically where I want to or am able to log in a lot of miles on a bike traveling anymore does not mean that camping, nature and motorcycles still do not hold importance, you just have to adjust exactly how you pull it off or keep your expectations to what you still can or cannot do realistic as you age.
Just like I know in my current state of health gnarley single tracks are definitely in my rear view mirror but a nice wooded 2 track fairly well maintained fire service road can still be immensely enjoyed at a much reduced pace from my younger years.
None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, enjoy what you can while you can.
Liked your post 😃. My motorbike camping days are gone, but YT videos like this are useful for people with small cars, as in what to take. I’m 5ft 9ins but I have slept quite comfortably in a small 4 door hatchback. It takes a bit of arranging, trial and error, and finding the smallest pump up airbed you can find, as in narrow. Cheap pump up cushions and pump up pillows take up little space when deflated but come in handy when needed. If you’re into stealth camping, curtains and an indoor sun reflector for the front windscreen, should just about make one invisible in a quiet side street late at night.
Some amazing advice for getting into motocamping!
I like how the vid is more of a checklist reminder rather than some original specialized knowledge we're lucky you came off of. You care more about making the activity enjoyable and efficient for the novice rather than trying to present yourself as some big ego'ed expert. Truly helpful content! Just subbed and along for the ride!
Planning ahead is a big one for me. A while ago I had a short overnighter not too far from my house - a midweek getaway. I got up really early the next morning to get to work and found the campsite was locked and I was locked in. I had to do some serious off-road bushwhacking through North Carolina’s forests to get out and get home in time for work. 🤣
Reminds me of a truck blockade of the City of Melbourne back in the late 70s. They wouldn’t let any vehicles in or out. So I slipped my 750 cc motorbike through a state forest (a car would never have got through). Had to get of a walk the bike a few times but still got through.
Several times I did a commute between Melbourne and Brisbane (about 1,800 kms) took a leisurely 2 days and camped in a state forest at the halfway point. You weren’t supposed to, but with the motorcycle, manoeuvred it over the anti-car ditch and walked it about 100 metres out of sight. Never had any problems and careful not to leave any traces or rubbish behind.
Sometimes there are things you can do on a motorbike you simply can’t do in a car (and I never got bogged on a bike, either).
Subscribed for the KLR650 content. Stayed for the Moto-camping content👍
This is how all videos should be made, tldr list in the description and cool nostalgic nes effects😁
Dork in the road is my favorite dual sport/Moto camping channel on UA-cam. Great work! Keep it up.
I've camped with a super-weirdo!! ;-) He drank all the beer and ate all of the sausages then complained about the abundance of firewood! hahaha j/k love ya man!
My first motocamping mistake was bringing way too many tools. We were going thousands of miles on the bikes through Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho. Yeah. I had waaaayyy too many tools. Great video man!
Sounds like you camped with my brother! A six-pack of beer means one for me, five for him. :)
I did a long ride some years back where we all rode the trusty KLR's. I owned a Motorcycle Repair & Mod Shop so somehow all the maintenance and tools we took somehow became my burden. I was ok with most of it, but the one guy who rode a smoking clapped out 650, that should have been left at home, became my challege to keep running. (For Free too!)
@@CurtisDrew1 After 2 repairs, I think I would have called for a tow- truck. Not much fun working, when you're supposed to be relaxing.
When you live in a country like Australia ... everything you said went into the bin ... I'm a solo rider in the most inhospitable desert country ... key factors ... blow up mattress & pillow by mouth ... sleeping bag is determined by coldest expected temp ... small single person light hikers tent & ground sheet ... same with cooking utensils ... food is made up of tin food/rice/noodles/fruit/energy bars ... water/camelbak ... hygiene ... etc ... study fuel stocks & supplies & the ability to carry extra ... tools & kits are made up of spark plug/chain tension/fuel/filters/fuel hose/air filter socks/tyre levers/compressor & puncture kit/bulbs/electrical/cable ties/ etc etc ... medical ... thermal underwear ... head lamp & rechargeable batteries ... you get my drift ... essentials only ... Epirb is an absolute must & must always be worn on the body ... never ever not wear it on the body ... ever ...
Practice repairing punctures by hand at home over & over before leaving ...
You will never fix any major mechanical mishaps along the way ... so bike must be prepared prior to leaving from steering head bearings to wheel bearings to wiring routes so as not to rub thru ... tools are for maintenance/adjustments & anything coming loose ... tie in & route spare cables like clutch/throttle with ends taped up greased & sealed ...
When planning ... always start from the front of the bike & work your way to the back to identify any potential mishaps occurring & carry spares & tools to suit ...
Oils & coolants depend on bike ...
Any questions ... just sing out ...
My biggest mistake was using a single person tent. Motorcycling gear is bulky (helmet, jacket, pants, etc) there simply is not enough room to protect gear, keep it out of the elements, get dressed if it's pouring rain, etc. Adding a tarp would have been helpful but I won't do single man again.
GROM camping.. I love it. Makes my adventure bike look like an RV
First time seeing your channel (UA-cam suggested this video). Great presentation style, clean audio, sharp video, nice background. Good stuff man 👌
Great video! I'm at the beginning of my motocamping journey, and thinking about a June weekend trip to the Central Oregon area, sounds like I'm already on the right track!
I recognize this camping spot, we have it marked for future outings. Great video by the way.
Use a GI Military duffel bags. You can stuff everything into it. Maybe a smaller tank bag etc. etc.. for the finer toiletries, medicine, first aid. Personal items even if by yourself. But a Army Duffel Bag "holds everything and a lot more" bungeed to the back seat area. Makes it so much easier.
It's really interesting to watch these prepare-videos, especially when different authors reccommend opposite takes on advice. Thank you for sharing.
Fantastic advice! I'm an (inspiring) moto camper on an HD Ultra Limited with my wife and a buddy of mine (Road Glide). We're going to start next riding season so we're prepping now and taking as much advice as possible. Thanks for sharing!
@@agentinsidious2090 aspiring?
Great advice. I like to do my shakedown run with a car camper that has the room to bring everything...Just in case you forgot something or had a catastrophic failure.
NGL, Dork has grown on me. Your content stays fresh, tips to new riders and seasoned.
I like to watch motorcycle camping videos and light weight hiking/backpacking videos and try to be somewhere in between.
Dork the Wise!
Learned the Over-packing on my first Backpacking trip. Left probably 20lbs of stuff out on my second trip. I could probably dropped another 5 lbs.
A poncho or bivvy is an ideal device in case your tent fails. With 2 / 3 bungees you can make a tent with it and it also can be used to cover your bike quickly if the heavens open and it is half unpacked
Hi, most appreciated and agreed to all points you mentioned! Same experience from my side. Go on and stay safe!
Fully agree with the too much stuff - I'm *_still_* guilty of it. You definitely need to check your loading and also do a shakedown camp. Once I got my panniers and seat bag I loaded all my camping gear up, put it on the bike and went for a ride around town to see how the bike and the load performed. There's a really good public park - that allows freedom camping and has awesome trees for setting up a hammock - only a half-hour's ride from my home.
Bought an adventure bike several months ago actually looking at going camping on my motorcycle this was very useful little tidbits of advice
Great video, not testing your great before you need it is a great rule for ANYTHING in life.
Great video . I've never experienced a real camping trip . It looks very relaxing especially bringing everything you need in your bike . Thanks !
Good day to you!
I am a HONDA Cross Cub senior rider from Japan.
Enjoying camping and touring and upload video.
This is so nice video!
Awesome!
Have a nice day my friend!
I agree, bringing too much stuff is a biggie, but very hard to perfect. No matter how much I agonize over my list of what to bring, I can't find anything on that list that I want to be without when Im out there, and it ends up being... too much stuff. I have always "over planned" and this year I fully intend to do the opposite and "not plan ahead".
I have been doing long motorcycle trips for more then 35 years. Sometimes 20000 km'ters.
You need stuff with you. But you really have to overthink every item several times if you really need it. Most of the times you will not.
In the beginning the few things i wanted to be as good as possible was my sleeping. So whatever i did i always took two sleepingbags. One was very light and one for more cold. And i could combine them.
But somewhere around 10 years ago i changed all of that completely. And i am still so happy that i did that.
I went the electrical way. On a long trip through several countries you will experience all kind of weather. But i needed to dump the extra stuff for that really cold weather. I take a light but high quality motorcycle air vent jacket. Then a very light water and windproof but thin jacket. And a Gerbing jacket that can be electric heated. With those three you can tackle everything. And what is very important. You do not have to wear a very heavy jacket when riding in hot weather.
Also i bought several 12 volt heat pads. I combined two of them on a thin piece of cloth. So it has a heated area of 20 by 40 cm. Made two of those and did put them inside a light sleepingbag. One at the feet and one in the middle. Got a little container for 18650 lithion batteries that gives an output of 12 volts. Since then i can leave a lot of bulky stuff at home. Cause when it is really getting cold at night i have the possebility the electrical heat the sleepingbag. It is really so great. It works flawlessly cause as soon as you swith the 12 on you will be warm within 60 seconds. I use the Gerbing tempcontroller to adjust the tempereture. On the lowest setting you will easily have more then 8 hours of heat. I also can swith between only heating my feet. Most of the time this is more then ok. To leave the electricity on for 2 minutes on full and then to turn it off again. Now i have a sleepingbag that is packed the size of two liters of milk.
But you still have to take a decent insulated sleepingpad with you. Like Exped has. An insulated air-matras.
The 12 volt powerbank has also a usb out. So i can charge all the five volt stuff with it also. And the 18650 batteries i charge during the day while riding. And it can also use it for the Gerbing jacket and gloves when away from the bike. Multipurpose all your gear. Those heating pads you can find on Amazon and Wish. The 18650 battery holder i got from a Dutch store. But probably it can be found in your country also. Will put a link beneath ;
www.prolech.nl/webshop/stroom/batterijen/batterijpack-accu-batterijen/detail/4705/12v-batterij-pack---powerbank---6x-18650---usb-en-dc-plug.html
I would recommend taking 12 18650 batteries. And always have 6 fully charged ready.
With going that way i can not only leave a lot of bulky and heavy gear at home but i also gives me a much broader tempeture range and comfort. F.e. when riding in Turkey with a temp of 40 degrees Celsius you treasure all the wind that you can get on your body. And not have to wear a heavier goretex layered jacket. What even can become dangerous at times. Remember to drink as much water as you can. Plumb your stomach full with water before starting to ride and then take drinks at good intervals when riding in high temps. You do not want to have bloodclots.
Summer 1975,my brother (Suzuki 500, unknown year) and I (1969 suzuki 350) rode and camped through New England to Nova Scotia and back. Made lots of mistakes, but had a very cool summer.
Thanks!! Haven’t moto camped as of yet, but its on the list for next summer. Ride safe!! 👍🏼✌🏼
Good luck!
Good call on he cooking, it’s half the fun and rewarding, Keep the MRE for emergencies
I used to way overpack, then while I was camping, I started writing down everything I used and stuff I wish I had, and only take that each time now. getting a master list makes it so simple each time I go. never forget anything and don't bring too much. Print it on paper when you are packing so you can mark stuff off or write little notes down.
That bed dude..looks excellent..number ONE rule..you've got to be able to sleep comfortably...l cannot sleep on the ground...just can't do it..but the orange bed looks great..
This is so funny. My first moto-camping trip was a multi-day many hundreds of miles by myself. My only plan was to go to Florida to see my children and figure all of those "How, where, when" and all those other questions you asked while I was on my way. Had a great time down and back!! But I did grow up backpacking and wilderness camping.
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Nice video and good tips.
My biggest mistake first time solo tripping was dragging along way to much clothing. Like six pair of socks, 6 T shirts etc. Just to realise it's pretty easy to wash it and let it dry hanging on the mirrors or something.
Or just buy new once, if you need more.
I totally agree with each and every point you made. It takes time to get into motocamping.
I am about to do my first shake down in WMA about 18mi away. I did a car camping trip at a national regular park as part of a shore scuba dive. The dive ended up a bust due to viz but camping was fine.
I had all my gear on my bike yesterday and went a local park to play amateur radio. I went to the WMA today planning to camp in an unimproved site I viewed last week. I couldn't make a reservation online and the ranger wasn't on site, so I came home.
I had been looking at rackless panniers to go with my top box and tank bag, so I pulled the trigger on some Rinowalk 14Lx2 panniers. I also got a pair of 1.5L bicycle frame bags that should fit my front Tusk crash bars. I recently setup a 3"x24" PVC tool tube in front of the engine of my 2018 KLR 650. The panniers will let me travel with an empty backpack which will make life nicer.
I'm starting with my 2-3 man tent, but I bought hammock to try out and I have a canvas tarp I might try.
I haven't done minimalist camping since basic training at Ft. Jackson in 1984.
Gather up lots of pine needles to get above the mud and provide a soft bed. Cover with rain poncho. Put tent with buddy, each providing a shelter half. Smell your buddies stinky feet all night. Lol
About 1/4 my setup is for amateur radio: radio, antenna, tune, battery, and solar panel. RF noise in town is horrendous. Once you get a few miles away from the nearest powerline its a new world.
ua-cam.com/video/nShDYlZGKlc/v-deo.html
My mistake was after the trip. Clean and prep your gear, mildew sucks. Also take notes while it's all still fresh. Camping is awesome spur of the moment, be ready to ride.
I’m going on my first bike camping trip tomorrow after work. I have a Honda ADV 150. I can fit everything under the seat and all my comfort extras in a slim backpack. I have alway been a minimalist camper so this is going to be a breeze. Can’t wait to just get some me time looking up at the stars.
This is a good list. I have not done an overnight camping trip yet. I would like to mention Army MRE meals do have a water-activated heater in all of them.
I camped off a 250 Honda Elite scooter for 3 days, stealth camped "leave no trace" practice... basically just brought my light weight backpacking hiking gear and strapped entire backpack of it to back, keeping other items in trunk. I could bring more weight than hiking, but not as much as car camping obviously. You find solitude and relaxation when doing this alone, and no baggage of bringing anyone that may need hand holding of how to do it, or needy people in a rush that need to follow some stupid schedule of their own that does not agree with yours. Thanks for video of this.
Planning on taking a stab at moto camping this summer! Need to check your past videos for some ideas on spots around Oregon!
I live in Colorado so this might not apply to others. Twice, I've had bears walk thru camp! Black bears are generally not aggressive, but we did lose a lady here in the Durango area a year or so ago to a black bear. Very rare. So... #1 Have GOOD bear spray. I also works for lions (I've had two lion encounters, but not while camping). Frontier Sabre, large can is recommended by many expert - that's what I have. #2 I always have a side arm, usually a .357 Magnum revolver... simple, reliable. I've NEVER had to shoot a predator - so far. But I did have a lion at 8 feet (measured the next day, my boot prints to his paw prints, under some brush). He left AFTER I carefully backed up, keeping my eyes on him. I've also never had to deploy bear spray, but better safe than sorry. Love your vids!
My first time bike camping I left Trail,Or. to camp at the coast. I ended up in Ky. by way of Kingman, Az. Lol
Cooking is the best and hardest bit to ad. Nice work
WoW!! Now I’m ready! If that isn’t everything I (as a newbie) need to know it hasn’t been thought of!! Thanks for a fun video.
Thanks for watching!
Tanks for good inof and all valuable. Some thoughts that might help... your tent - if it requires staking out to stand it is not good for many locales like desert and shale areas. Find one that is free standing. If you have a camp knife do you need a fancy food prep chef's knife? Basically everything that can serve multiple purposes is good for keeping weight down. Tupper Ware bowl for food and spices storage or whatever, the lid is your cutting board and where you can set cooked items to rest while you finish cooking no need for a separate board etc.
Don't go cheap on warmth items. Cheap means less performance per pound and cubic inch and possibly can fail in worst cases. Choose food items by calorie density except for the comfort items. BTW whiskey is pretty calorie dense!
Clothes is another area where folks over pack. Same for string lights, battery powered fans and lanterns etc. Nice to have but add to weight fast.