Stowing a tent on the bike - where?!

[G60]

Hi,

I am due to be visiting the IOM for the TT this year and have never camped there before. In fact, the wife and myself have never been camping on the bike, before as its been just been easier to B&B it.

Anyway, I've just bought a Khyam Biker tent and am wondering where the best possible place to stow it whilst we are both on the bike. The bike is a Fazer thou' and I will be carrying panniers (hard) and a topbox.

I work away so I don't have access to my bike right now, but it would be appreciated if someone could point me in the right direction.

Cheers!

[stinkwheel]

Best way is to just offr it up and see where it fits. You can sometimes get them strapped on top of a pannier.

I made a little alloy shelf on the end of the pannier rack on my enfield to take my tent and strap it to the end of the pannier with a couple of bungees.

Depending on design, I've seen people fit a couple of rails on top of their top-box and strap the tent to it (actually, I think they were kitchen drawer handles in one case).
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/63.png
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
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[G60]

Great pic and thanks for the response!

I'm not sure about fitting the tent to the top of the pannier as its curved and the wife's leg will be in the way.
Bolting some rails to the top could be done. Any thoughts about just chucking it on the top box with a non slip mat and either using a few bungees or a cargo net to keep it on?

Cheers!

[doggone]

Some bikes you can put it over the headlamp, consider stowing stiff poles separately from the fabric assuming it's not all in one.
It is more difficult with a pillion.

[Lone-Wolf]

Wotcha.

All manner of thngs can be loaded in all manner of places.

https://www.moonshiners.org.uk/images/08gg01loadedbullet.JPG

I built a front carrier for the Drifter.

https://www.moonshiners.org.uk/images/bbdrag08load.jpg

Whereas the Guzzi just gets things thrown on it

https://www.lonewolf.me.uk/LWMEimages/guzziload.jpg
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[Maruchino]

Just strap it on anywhere! This is a pic of Kreiga US-40 with my tent strapped under one side hanging from underneath. Get creative with straps and bungees, its within every man.

https://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs604.snc3/31791_583855214538_222701664_5311440_297542_n.jpg[/img]

[G60]

I have to say these pics have given me a bit of inspiration!

I'll get it on - somehow!

Cheers!

[stinkwheel]

[kitty kat]

my fazer 600 just before I set off for a long weekend in Dorset, tent is in the bag on back seat along with all camping equipment

https://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w119/thekittykat1/Dorset%20weekend%20July%2009/Dorsetweekend2ndjulyto6thJuly200-78.jpg


I also had a tank bag, which is not in the picture.
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[G60]

If I had no wife, this would be an easy job!
However, she needs to sit somewhere and so that's why I ask.


Here's a picture of my bike with the luggage on to give you an idea. I think its going to have to be bungeed to the topbox

[stinkwheel]

You might be able to get it behind her. Trouble is you can't get the poles out of that tent, then you could'ver put it in a pannier and stowed the poles elsewhere. When I've toured 2-up, I take my Vango spirit 200 which would fit in the panniers or the top-box.

One other suggestion. Leave the top-box at home. You'll get a big dry sack and a tent on a carrier, or one of the big green army duffle bags (into which you can put a tent plus a fairly enormous pile of other gear), which you can see on several of the above bikes and on the following picture.

This is my bike loaded up for a trip to shetland with my Fiancee. I have the tent in one of the panniers. You'll notice I have said duffle bag, two folding armchairs and a rucksack on the rear rack.

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/shetland%2008/Photo24_21.jpg
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Phoenix]

Bungies and cargo nets are a bit like duct tape, with some planning and experimentation you can hold anything together with them. My techique for loading the bike has improved over time but the addition of a luggage rack helps greatly on a sportsbike for tent carrying. With a top box it may tuck infront of the box and behind your passenger or below/above the top box.

Without a rack and way too much luggage, this mountain could be assembled in various ways but was always stable.
https://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff264/kiowan/Europe%202009/g.jpg

Much neater with a luggage rack
https://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff264/kiowan/Misc/DSCF1839.jpg

[doggone]

People are taking too much stuff!
I've done two weeks in Europe with tent, sleeping bag, waterproofs on the back, and a medium sized tank bag with everything else in it.

Mind I don't do cooking when camping usually.
It just needs too much stuff, although morning tea is sorely missed some days.

[G60]

Thanks again for your suggestions, guys.

Stinkwheel - I get where you are coming from, with that pic of your VFR. If I whip the top box off, then not only will I be able to get the tent on the rack, but I'll also be able to fit some chairs etc. which I would never have got on, if the top box had been fitted. The wife has always preferred the top box on this bike as it gives her a bit of security, but to be honest she's been spoilt with it and its probably made her a little bit lazy.
So firstly I'm going to see if I can get the tent behind her arse. If that doesn't go, I'll be getting a 75l waterproof bag. That should still give her a bit of security and I'll also be able to fit a lot more on the bike.

Thanks again!

[stinkwheel]

[G60]

Double post - oops!

[Phoenix]

[Tonka]

[Phoenix]

It's actually just a Tesco one, a lot of places sell very similar looking ones but they are definitely different in operation. Maplin for instance sell a totally useless one with a guage that doesn't work, doesn't inflate a tyre and get's incredibly hot, same for Motorworld. The Tesco one looks identical (little black one) but actually seems to work fairly well and the guage works to a degree, obviously you need to fit a 12v socket or change the plug on the pump to some clamps to go on your battery but it's a better option IMO than any kind of tyre weld in combination with a tyre repair kit. I carry mine around when i'm riding in England too.

Doesn't your offroader use tubed tyres? If so then for inflation it's ok but you'll still need tyre levers and repair patches etc so much more of a job than tubeless repair.

[Ed Case]

Plenty of ideas there my friend. I've toured both Scotland and Holland on a Z200 with tent and throw-overs and loved every minute of it. Done France, Belgium, Holland, Germany on bigger bikes with tent. Still rallying in the UK now. You'll love it

[John933]

This is my bike when in Spain. Last year. I have only done camping once two up. And it's a strain. In the end due to space we brought a second tent when we arrived. As the one we took was too small for two of us.
The problem is with two of you is you have to take two lot's of stuff. Some of the thing's I pack is.
A tyre weld bottle, dead easy to use and small to pack. Will get you to your next place or town to get it fixed.
Two people you will need two sleeping bag. A lot of space taken up with the extra bag.
Now you are going to need kit to walk round in and kit to ride in. Plus wet kit. Once you get all this together it take a lot of room.

Now how to get it all on to a bike. I've tried a load of way's. What I have found is to take small to mid size ruck sack's. They are easy to pack in to any space that you can find. And you can separate them out for different bit's. You are going to be pressed to tour two up. But lot of people do it. Me never again.

Me and my lady friend when we go camping now. We take the car, and even then it's full. Any way I wish you luck in what every way you go.
John933

[G60]

Thanks chaps. You are all giving me some good food for thought here and I really appreciate it.

Tonka - Whilst lying in bed last night it did occur to me that two bags might be better. Thanks for the advice.

John - thanks for the tips there. I really hope it all works out as I've been wanting to do this for ages. As I said in my first post, we have usually stayed in B&B's with just the topbox and tankbag, but its now getting to the stage to move on a bit and with the prices of accomodation at the TT, this seemed like the perfect time to give it a whirl.

Thanks again fellahs.

[tatters]

Tent on the rear, though l,m currently looking for a light weight one man tent l can get in my panniers to save on space for future travels.



Best method to hold bags down on the back of a biek is to use 25mm webbing straps with cam buckels, bungees are shit.
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[John933]

Another picture.

[Tonka]