Camping

RickHolt · Traffic Copper Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Karma :

How do you carry a tent and sleeping bags on a bike? I've got a tank bag so far and am looking for some side bags but would have thought they're too small. I'll be taking my girlfriend so there's not much space on the back really. Any tips?

It's about a two hour trip to get there and will include motorways if that helps at all.

EDIT: The bikes a GPZ500 Rolling Eyes

EuropeanNC30R... · Gay Hairdresser Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :

A luggage rack would be handy, otherwise if the tent won't fit in panniers you're in trouble. Cargo nets start coming in very handy at this point.

shellshock · Spanner Monkey Joined: 25 Jul 2004 Karma :

We are having this exact same dilemma, if we have a brainstorm, we will let you know.

Current idea is to make Ash drive and store all our gear in his car - although he doesn't know this as yet Twisted Evil

froggy128 · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Karma :

how bigs the tent - the 2 man tent from lidl that ive just bought is in a bag with a strap so you can carry it around you or in a rucksack. 2 side bags for the sleeping bags and put clothes in the tank bag.

It looks like am going to leeds festival via bike as soom idiot decided to pull out in front of my boyfriends car. Anyone know if therews anywhere to chain bikes to at leeds?

RickHolt · Traffic Copper Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Karma :

I'm pretty sure we could fit the tent in a bag on her back, but I don't like carrying bags like that on a bike. Doesn't feel safe and isn't very comfortable. Are luggage racks all specially designed for different bikes? How much do they cost? How do they attatch to the bike?

LustyLew · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Apr 2004 Karma :

I once rode from North Herts to the New Forest on the bike. Had Panniers, tail pack, tank bag, ruck sack and a spare crash helmet!

It's amazing what you can get on a bike, if you load it properly. Not too sure about prices of racks, I used the pillion seat.
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Like a Yorkie - I'm not for the girls Wink

EuropeanNC30R... · Gay Hairdresser Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10464&item=7969197013&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

There's a couple on ebay now.

jay12329 · Dr. Evil Joined: 02 May 2003 Karma :

I'm sure there is a photo around of my bike on the way to a track day. Large Tank bag on the front. On the back tied on with bungie cords a 2 man tent, roll mat and sleeping bag. As you hva the MRs on the back i would prob sugest a rucksack attached to her. Can get loads of stuff in it and tent and stuff on top/underneath. Not ideal but neither is taking a bike camping!
J

Scotsman37 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Karma :

Renntec make carrier/sport racks in chrome or matt black for many makes of bikes and you can buy them at the Hein Gericke shops.

Also, I would strongly suggest in the following taking with you a spare set of brake & clutch levers just in case you happen to drop the bike on it's side along with the correct set of tools to undo the bolts, etc while carring that load on the back. Maybe even getting engine bars fitted because that's also a life saver because you don't want to be in the middle of no where with a broken engine cover. Oh yes, take spare bulbs with you like the one's sold at Hein Gericke and it's the Philips bulbs pack and it comes with a few fuses.

Most of all GET breakdown cover for pick up & recovery any where in the UK along with home start - It's a life saver!

https://www.internationalbreakdown.com/

EuropeanNC30R... · Gay Hairdresser Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :

yambabe · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

It just takes practice, patience and lots of bungees! take a few evenings or some weekend time well before the event you are going to to have a go and see what will go where, how it feels to ride, if it falls off at speed etc.

One way that a lot of people I know recommend is to get an army-style kit bag, put everything in it then just keep fastening to the back of the bike til it feels secure.

Personally I have a set of soft throwover panniers that the sleeping bag, changes of clothes & shoes, wet gear & spare gloves, basic tools, plastic sidestand foot, make-up, handbag and at least one bottle of decent booze will fit in. I can bungee our tent (4-man with porch), folding chair, double airbed & cooking gear onto my seatpad & tailpiece securely. As I now also have my Lidl tankbag, food & more drink will be going in there on our next weekend out! I used to carry these in a rucksack before I got the tankbag, but don't like riding with stuff on my back as it can get uncomfortable.

You need to be careful when packing panniers to get the weight fairly even on both sides, same with stuff that may be hanging over at the back, but I generally find that riding with luggage doesn't affect the balance of the bike that much - if you're used to carrying pillions it won't matter to you at all!

Note to Shellshock, if you are intending to go to a rally with a car you need to check with the organisers first as parking space is usually very limited. You will probably need some sort of pass, which will also cost you a bit more.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate. Very Happy

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

They make a Rentech sports rack specifically for the GPZ500s. It comes with a sticker saying max. load 2.5kg. Ignore this, I have tested said racks up to twenty times that level (carrying sacks of coal).

What you need is an Ortleib Dry-sack. They are available from outdoor shops, just a big cylindrical bag that you roll down the top of. They are 100% immersion proof so you can pack your sleeping bag with confidence. If you get a big enough one, you will get your tent and two sleeping bags in it, or save it for the sleeping bags and dry clothes. A full Ortleib bag and a 2-man tent will fit fine accross a sportsrack, two bungees will hold them on. I usually use four bungees in case I need to carry anything else, I usually wrap two of them completley round the luggage and rack, one each side then cross the other two from the back corner of the rack to the opposite side bungee point.

I'll load my luggage onto my H100 tonight and take a piccy for you if it stays dry.
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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.

tintin · Traffic Copper Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Karma :

Cover your tailpiece with gaffa tape or wonderweb first and you don't rub all the paintwork off. Cargo nets will cure a lot of problems.
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The older I get the better I was

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Here we go, gone one better and raked out the GPZ. This one has no sports rack but there is an Ortleib dry bag and an army surplus duffel bag on the back of it containing:

Four man dome tent.
Two, 4-season sleeping bags.
Groundsheet.
Thermarest.

Fixed on using four army issue bungees (which are wickedly strong, beware your fingernails).
____________________
“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.

Lone-Wolf · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Karma :

Method · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Karma :

Dr Nick · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jun 2003 Karma :

Oh but its 'Tactical waiting Evil or Very Mad

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is that it

Johnny GSX-R · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Karma :

Rick, i have some panniers you can use when ever you want mate, i'll even drop them off for you. They are gay purple but hey, they work ok.

numark1 · Scared of girls Joined: 09 May 2004 Karma :

^^ You should be renamed "The Provider" Laughing

gavking · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Karma :

Ok i'm awaiting the ridiculing... I have a GS125 but do walking/climbing/camping whenever i can so i have a 30 litre topbox, a 15 litre magnetic tankbag, and a 65 litre rucksack. In that lot, I can happily fit a Terra Nova 2 man tent, a four season sleeping bag, My helly baselayers, walking/climbing boots, fleece tops, goretex jacket, and light trousers, gas stove, 3 days of food, and still have room for 'civvies' and bike spares. The rucksack has aluminium bars down the back that can be moulded to the shape of your back so that doesn't ache as much as i thought it might. Its a shame i can only go places at 50mph tops with all that lot with me Embarassed

. It was a cheap way to get lots of storage though. Smile

I thought about a waterproof rollbag aswell, but can you fix those to your seat (behind the rider obviously!) because I can't think of anywhere else to attach stuff!

Johnny GSX-R · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Karma :

zxr400baby · Nova Slayer Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Karma :

drink red bull!! Rolling Eyes

RickHolt · Traffic Copper Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Karma :

I was thinking of doing things Gavkings way but I really don't want the pillion to be wearing a rucksack. I know I wouldn't wear it if I could avoid it. Thanks for all the help, and the pictures, they were really useful. I'm still not too sure about putting the tent and sleeping bag on the back like shown in the pic. It just doesn't look very secure. I'll be giving it a go though Thumbs Up

Thanks Jonny, might take you up on the offer of the panniers. Would be ideal for the first couple of times while we see how it goes. Just spent alot getting her riding kit, can't really afford all the bags/racks/extras I want right now.

Thanks again for the help Thumbs Up

I'll make sure I take a camera to show you how it goes.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I have tested that system at three figure speeds. Solid as a rock, the pillion could lean back against the bags.

Buy a rack, honestly. They take no more than 1/2 hour to fit (and most of that is taking off then replacing the side plastics). I fitted mine in the carpark at M&P in Edinburgh (when it was still open).

The other option is some throwovers. Hein Gericke are doing some cheap, own brand throwovers at the moment which fit on a 500s, or there is the oxford range. I personally used a pair of rubberised cotton bags I bought from the army surplus shop for £3.50 as throwovers for years.

https://www.renntec.co.uk/products/sports.htm

https://www.renntec.co.uk/images/sportsracks/rack2.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.

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

I usually rough it at the nearest Marriott.... Thumbs Up