Bikes, Rallies & Camping.

I`ve had a few people ask about what equipment is needed to go camping on your bike as it can be a bit of a minefield knowing what to take to be comfortable but also travelling light enough to go on a bike. So I`ve decided to start this thread to make it easier for first timers to work out what they need.

This isn`t a be all & end all list but hopefully it will give you a good starting point to work from depending on your situation.

• Tent. Obviously you will need a tent. The size is really up to you but I would suggest getting one that`s rated for 1 more person than will be actually using it. i.e. for 1 person a 2 man tent, 2 people a 3 man tent. This will give you room inside to move about a bit & also store clothes, food & valuables out of sight & inside the main compartment. Personally, I think its a good idea to get a tent with some sort of porch arrangement. This means that should it rain, you have an area you can take off & store wet or muddy boots/waterproofs while keeping the sleeping area as clean & dry as possible. You can also leave the less valuable items in the porch area over night & still zip the flap up to keep the worst of the weather off them. Take note of the size & weight when packed as this will have to fit on your bike. Make sure you also have a mallet of some sort for knocking your tent pegs in if the grounds hard.

• Sleeping bag. Again, the type is completely up to you but again, owing to our fickle weather I would suggest a "3 season" type which will be warm enough for spring or autumn but won`t have you boiling should we end up with a half decent summer. Its probably a good idea to get one that comes with its own "compression bag". This type makes the sleeping bag as small as possible which is a great help when it comes to repacking your bike for the return journey home.

• Sleep mat. Campsites are quite often used by caravans & motorhomes as well as tents so the ground can become quite compact & hard. A basic foam sleep mat will give a small amount of cushioning against this & will also help take some of the unevenness out of the ground. Remember, you will have to ride home afterwards so you don`t want to wake up with uncomfortable hips or shoulders from a bad nights sleep on hard or rough ground. If you have room (& funds) you could consider an air mattress instead. This will give you superior cushioning but be aware, unless you have a HUGE pair of lungs & enjoy a "head-rush", you`ll also have to factor in a pump of some sort. Electric pumps that run off batteries or a 12v socket are available for those with a power outlet on your bike but are bulkier & heavier than a foot pump.

• Clothes. You`ll want some comfy clothes for the evenings for when you are off the bike. Make sure you have enough for the whole trip & I would highly recommend putting at least 1 full set inside a couple of well sealed bin bags so you know you have at least 1 fully dry set should the weather turn inclement while riding. Don`t forget some other form of footwear in addition to your riding boots.

• Wash kit. Most campsites will offer some form of washing facilities so just take your usual stuff, soap, towel, toothbrush etc. If you really want to travel light or just don`t like using public washrooms, a pack of baby wipes will do just as well. If they are good enough to clean babies @rses, they`ll be fine for a bikers sweaty pits & bits. Just don`t try to clean your teeth with them, they don`t taste good Oh! Don`t forget some toilet roll too! Campsites are notorious for not having any.

• Eating & drinking utensils. My preference is for army style mess tins as they nest inside each other & keep a nice shape for packing. You can pack a "clip together" knife, fork & spoon set inside quite easily if you put them in diagonally. Also there is plenty of room inside to pack smaller items such as matches, spare torch batteries etc. You`ll also want some sort of cup thats suitable for hot or cold drinks. I tend to lean towards the insulated type cup with a lid but again, its down to personal preference.

• Cooker & fuel. At the bare minimum, you`ll want something that you can at least use to boil some water for tea or coffee because we all need 1 or the other to be able to start the day properly. The 2 main types are gas fuelled or solid tablet fuelled. Gas fired ones will give instant heat & will boil water faster but are usually bulkier than the solid fuel types due to the gas canister. Which type you choose really depends on how much cooking you want to do & how much room you have.

• Kettle or something to boil your water in. Mess tins are perfect for this meaning you don`t have to carry anything extra. There are also kettles nowadays which are made from silicone with a metal base allowing them to be folded flat when not in use.

• Head lamp or torch. Campsites are not the easiest of places to navigate in the dark when you are dying for the loo. Even a small torch will give enough light to stop you falling over someones guy ropes. Your fellow campers will not thank you for bringing a tent down on someone at 3am

These are what I consider to be the bare essentials & if you want to take extra items by all means do but remember, you have to not only fit it on your bike but make sure the bike is still safe to ride. When packing your bike remember to not exceed the maximum weight limit which can be found in the manufacturers manual. Remember this weight includes rider, pillion & any extras that may be fitted to your bike.

Try to keep the weight low where possible to keep the centre of gravity down & not make the bike too top heavy, so try to pack the heavier items in the bottom of your bags or panniers. Where possible, keep the lighter stuff in your top-box if you have one. If you have a rack fitted, try to keep the weight as far forwards as possible to stop the steering becoming light. If you have a tank bag, you can use that to counterweight anything on the rack & restore some balance back to the bike.

If you are planning on using bungees to secure items, make sure they are tight enough for items to not shift around as you ride. I prefer the security type bungee with a sprung loaded D-ring "gate" catch over the standard hook-ended type.

Also, your bike will be heavier so it will handle differently so it may be worth loading your bike up & going for a ride on roads you know to get a feel for how the handling & acceleration has changed before heading out on a longer journey.

If anyone wants to add anything further to this by all means do as I`m sure there`s stuff that I`ve forgotten.

 

I was concentrating on the actual camping gear for a short trip such as our own rally but you do raise a good point there. I`ve only done short trips but I`m sure there are others on here who have done longer trips who would have a much better idea & be in a better position to advise.

 

I have tried those & neither Sue or myself could get on with them. I`m not saying they are no good but its horses for course.

I remember you saying this & having tried it, this method does work well.

Both of those are good pieces of advice.

With regards to parking on grass, bring a side stand pad, piece of wood or even a crushed drinks can to put under your side stand. This will spread the load a bit & stop it sinking while parked. Although the ground may seem firm, the weight of your bike on such a small area can soon have it pushing into the ground.

 

I'd take some fire power with you in touring certain parts in south America. Fully automatics would be best

 

Yeah. I even tried blowing them up once too. They just aren`t thick enough to give the support I or Sue need mate.

 

Good call but I don`t have a 12v socket Rob

 

2 good ideas there Fergy. We`ve got some little fold up camping stools which come with their own carry case & strapped them on the rack with the tent.

 

Just out of interest, which solar charger do you have mate? Most seem to have mixed reviews but I suspect that`s down to some ppl having unrealistic expectations from it.