Camping

[Az]

Me and a friend have planned to go to wales again on our 125's from Birmingham but.... this time we're camping out. It's a 300mile trip (in total, there and back) and I was wondering if u had any tips about camping and biking together. Such as what not to forget, how to secure things well, tips on carrying heavy panniers on light bikes etc... any general advice would be great

Thanks in advance, Az

Edit: We leave on the 1st and stay till the 5th August and have paid for a space on Shell Island, North Wales to camp on.

[J.M.]

It's good there, I like it!

Make sure your tent is waterproof and bring something to put underneath your sidestand. It's wales. The weather decides to change its mind fairly frequently.

Don't forget things like swimming shorts and towels. Shower Gel. Deodorant. Toothbrush. I don't know about shell island, as I haven't been there for a fair few years, but when I was in Spain most of the campsites didn't provide bog roll.

Last time I was at Shell Island, we collected loads of dry firewood and built a large fire. So matches!

One key thing... bring some entertainment. Seriously. It's the one thing I didn't think about when going to Spain. It's nice to have something to do in your free time. Sure you're with mates, but you're not female, you can't talk 24/7 Wish I'd bought a gameboy and Pokemon

Your panniers shouldn't really be too heavy? Make sure to equally balance the weight in your 2 panniers and make sure they're secure and not going to foul your exhaust. I melted my panniers when mine slipped a little due to poor mounting
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Az]

Thanks for ur reply mate
What can i use to put under the side stands when they're on the grass? Would cardboard do?
I've now added matches and loo roll to ze list of stuff we need
Entertainment wise i think we'll be alright, we always have a laugh and have packed some playing cards and have our iPhones. If we get that bored we have our bikes for entertainment, we can just jump on and go explore lol

[Marmalade]

[Az]

[UnspeedySam]

Stuff I brought with me to Wales for my trip this weekend:

Luggage: Oxford Sports Panniers and a dry bag I got cheap from Lidl all bungeed to the pillion seat.

Camping Gear:
-Tent (Karrimor Beta)
-Sleeping Bag (Cheap double one for me and the Mrs)
-Alpkit Base 180 (Thermarest Knockoff type thing) uber comfortable sleeping mat - https://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16532&category_id=289
-Clothes and Toiletries
-Cheap blow up pillows

If I'm camping in more variable weathers I would add a few fleeces to this list...that's about the only change.

I've not been touring on a small bike but I have travelled from Essex to Southampton a few times on my RXS100 with more or less the same luggage setup...it works fine but does make the handling a little worse and the steering slower. Basically don't push the limits of the bike too much on the twisties (see my thread for some REALLY good ones in Wales) and enjoy yourself!
____________________
Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[J.M.]

Bear in mind, I think you need to find a metal pit if you want to have a fire though. Usure now as it's been a fair few years; don't remember where we got ours from but I don't remember paying for it!

Wouldn't fancy riding too late at night there personally. Too little visibility to have much fun. Also you have to be careful not to get caught out by the causeway. If tide is in... well... you're a braver man than I if you ride through it... and I've ridden through 1ft of water before

Cardboard would be terrible, especially if it rains. You need something more solid. I personally use a roofing tile that was lying around under my side-stand whilst I'm on my gravel drive

If you're taking phones, you'll want to add someway of charging your phones from your bikes. The campsite will charge you to charge your phones, and let's face it, you're not getting more than a day out of an iPhone.

[UnspeedySam]

Ah yes. I've got a cigarette lighter socket hooked up to my battery which has a 12v > USB adapter and finally my iPhone cable. Does the trick.

Also taking a torch is a good idea. Now if only I could find my mini maglite! Oh and I've lost my rubber mallet which would have come in handy this weekend!
____________________
Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[Marmalade]

I've bought one of these > https://www.maplin.co.uk/10000mah-portable-power-bank-for-mobile-devices-625352

From maplins. fully charged it'll charge most of not all usb chargeable devices including ipad, iphone and my scala bluetooth helmet thing.

For £29 it's worth carrying in case all other things pack up or as for me when out on xr250 that doesn't have a battery and it's the only way i can charge my phone when out on it.
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[Az]

So far we've packed into the panniers - sleeping bags, cutlery, gas canisters (for cooker), pan/plate thing, mugs, waterproof one piece suits, blow up beds, foot pump (for beds), chain lube and engine oil.

Things to bungee down to rear seats: Gas cooker (on my rear seat) and Tent (on friends rear seat)

Things to pack but still in use or to buy:
Match sticks, tinned food(we'll buy there), bike chains, pillows (gonna pick up cheap small camping pillows), clothes, toiletries including toilet roll, small selection of tools, rubber mallet, sandwich's/food for the journey, fags & drinks.

Have we forgotten/not considered anything? We're doing 4 nights/5 days and we leave in like 10days so we haven't packed everything yet... but packing what's listed above over the next few days.

[stinkwheel]

As a general rule, if you're not sure if you should take something, leave it.

Your camping luggage kind of evolves over time though. If I take something twice and don't use it, it gets taken out.

Pack a brew kit (tea, coffee or whatever your poison is). If you land up broken down or running late, it's something you should have on you.

Clothes, one on, one clean and one drying is the MAX you need of anything. I took that for a three month road trip. Take a lightweight change of footwear for when you get off the bike.

Insect repellant, sunscreen. Water container.

Put the gas cannisters in the pannier OPPOSITE the exhaust.
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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.

[_Iain_]

[Az]

[groovylee]

get a cheap trangia - they're epic

as for security, don't worry too much, just don't leave anything on the bike that you cant easily replace with money, like, your wallet / keys / phone
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Past - 1988 honda revere 600, 1996 kawasaki gpz500s, 1999 Yamaha R6

Current - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R & 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R

[Az]

[Az]

[groovylee]

not too big mate, about 8 inches diameter x 6inches high, tops.

they run on methylated spirits, so fuel is easy to get anywhere

I wouldn't be without mine now.

Lee
____________________
Past - 1988 honda revere 600, 1996 kawasaki gpz500s, 1999 Yamaha R6

Current - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R & 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R

[sabian92]

Loads of touring cyclists use and swear by their Trangia stoves - one blog I followed had a couple on the road for 2 years with one stuffed in a panniers over some properly rough terrain and it just kept working. Bulletproof doesn't even cover it.

[Hamayar]

I dont use a stove at all these days. tend to eat anywhere I fancy no more lugging cans and pots and crap.

Most important for me is a hot mug or two of tea in the morning same at night
I use a jetboil great thing all packs into its one litre cylinder including the gas which lasts me about 5 days, boils enough water for a mug in under a minute, two minutes gives me enough boiling water for a mug or tea and a dried cuppa noodles.
I use em if weather turned to crap and I couldnt spot an eating place when I was ready to set the tent and crash for the night.

Dreid sachet weight buggerall and pack anywhere but worth having
when you need that hot meal and dont feel like hunting around.
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Current bikes: CBF600Cowl GL1500SE...

Recent bikes since 2000: ST1100 TCS ABS VTX1300C ZZR1100D1 GS500S DR750 XJ600S GL1200DG