Motorbike touring and camping

[Vexon101]

Been driving for about a month on L plates & feel confident enough to drive outside of town, I've decided to drive from Peterborough to shrewsbury, camping when I get there, spending the next day there and going back.

My first choice was land's end but decided It was a bit far and wanted to go when I've had a bit more experience and money. I'm also going alone.

just wondering If you've got any advice on anything.

[Paulington]

Take a tent.
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"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[Vexon101]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Travelling light is one of the attractions of motorcycling for me. Peterborough to Shrewsbury is about 120 miles, so you're only a couple of hours from home. As far as the bike is concerned, (unless you've been neglecting it) just the regular checks will be OK - tyre pressures, oil/adjust chain, check/top up oil & coolant.

For 2 nights camping, I'd not take alot - tent, sleeping bag and rollmat. I roll my jeans up and stick them in a T-shirt for a pillow. Change of undies/T shirt/socks. Toothbrush, toothpaste, length of looroll and a pack of wet wipes in a ziploc bag. LED torch on keyring. Ibuprofen/paracetamol/cocodamol/bag of weed/painkiller of choice.

Food and drink is a personal thing, I like a cuppa and a fryup in the morning so I have a small stove and campkit. Other times I just find a McDonalds for a double sausage and egg McMothafukka. Evening meals can just be a can of sausage and beans with a pot noodle thrown in, or you can do what Stinkwheel does and prepare a full Sunday roast using a mess tin and meths burner

Since it's your first trip, make notes. What bugged you about the ride? Did you wish you had an extra blanket/fleece/earplugs? Is your tent too small? Did you take anything you didn't use? Could it have been packed differently on the bike?

Either way, make sure you have a credit card and a fully charged phone and you'll be OK
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Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[yen_powell]

I used to put a fiver in the document pocket under the seat so if I lost all my money I could still buy enough fuel to get home. Of course, that would only get me to the top of the road nowadays!
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[Clanger]

You need to try the correct section of the forum, i.e. here... https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewforum.php?f=42
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[N cee thirty]

lol what is in shrewsbury ?

i went and got bored very fast
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[Vexon101]

[Vexon101]

[Vexon101]

[N cee thirty]

might aswell go camping in wales or somewhere,only a few extra miles

i'll ride with you if you say when ya going
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[Vexon101]

[Vexon101]

[Snodvan]

Good for you for (a) trying a solo/ camping trip (b) having the sense to ask here for advice.

I would love to do a solo trip & camp - but the Mrs won't let me. If I take the Mrs there will be no room on the bike for kit - and her makeup bag will be bigger than the tent anyway.

I have camped for years - but either small motorcaravan or typical frame tent, and we tend to take everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink. Despite having camping experience when the kids were small I usually made the first camp of the year a mere 5 miles from home (nice place though) just as an over-nighter a day or so before we went off on a 2-3 week main holiday. The idea was to find out what you had packed but did not really need - or what important thing I had forgotten.

Have fun

Snod
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04 (UK Reg) BMW F650cs, but really 02 first Reg in Holland

[Frost]

[Livefast123]

If your going for the first time I would keep things as light as possible and don't bother getting any expensive panniers etc. I would concentrate on making sure that you have a tent that packs up small (I have a Gelert Solo) and a sleeping bag that packs small.

I've enclosed some pics of my first camping trip at Billing Aquadrome where I just chucked all of the stuff into my favorite holdall and strapped it to the pillion seat. It was pissing down when I left so had to cover it in a black bag. The tent packs down so small that it easily fits in the bag and only costs £25 (it's the green one). I could fit my sleeping bag, wash kit, small stoves etc into the holdall and wore a rucksack for spare clothes.

Don't forget to check the bike over before you go otherwise it could go pear shaped.

https://img847.imageshack.us/img847/2/1050072.jpg

https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3664/1050076.jpg
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Current ride - Yamaha MT-07

[Gerrard]

[philoldsmobil...]

load the bike carefully, especially a light bike. try and get heavier items over the tank, where its weight will have least impact. then go for a holdall on the pillion seat.

if you can get away without a rucksack all the better, but if needs must, try and put softer items in it, last thing you want to do in the event of a mishap is land on something hard in a rucksack..

other than that, go for it!

[stinkwheel]

Your camping gear evolves over time.

If you took something three times and didn't use it. Take it out, you don't need it.

I went camping this weekend up in the Highlands, two nighter on my Enfield (so slower than your 125).

I took:
Change of clothes (socks undies, trousers, hoodie and T-shirt).
Therm-a-rest, sleeping bag, tent.
Basher sheet (my tent is really small, I can make a shelter to stand/cook under if it rains).
Stove, teapot (for on the stove), frying pan.
Brew kit (teabags, milk, sugar lumps for if I drop them)
Mug, Swiss army knife, spork.
Machete for cutting wood for the fire.
Head torch.
Insect repellant.
Hat.

Covered about 600 miles. Camped out, cooked on the fire. I had Chilli and nan bread on Friday night, sausage sandwiches on Saturday night. Watched the sun set over the Cullins from Arasaig.
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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.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Easter Bunny]

[stinkwheel]

[5headh]

Have a good time

I did Northampton - Ironbridge on 50cc scooters with 2 other friends - took 6 hours!

Then did Northampton - Ironbridge on 125cc last year and 500cc this year.

Just take your time, dont rush, dont try and do it without stopping.
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Honda cg125 > Honda Cb500 > Yamaha TDM850 > Honda NSR 125 > Yamaha XJ600 > Kawasaki GPZ 600 > Suzuki Bandit 600S

[philoldsmobil...]

The only other tip I can think of is to avoid big meals in the early evening until you get there - you'll instantly feel tired after eating a large meal. Stop for a pasty and a cup of coffee, and you're good to go for another couple of hours..

[Vincent]

[N cee thirty]