You are excited to go on your first Motorcycle Camping trip, and you've been doing your research to get ready for your maiden voyage. However, things may start to get overwhelming after going down several wormholes watching YouTube videos at two in the morning. Don't get me wrong, there are some great videos and articles on Motorcycle Camping and Motorcycle Camping Gear out there, but each author has their own opinion as to what they consider necessary gear for their particular camping style and circumstances.
That’s the point - there are some basic questions you should give consideration to before buying gear or outfitting your motorcycle. What is best for someone else, may or may not be the best for you and how you plan on camping with your motorcycle.
Heck, you may not have even purchased your motorcycle yet. You may still be looking at different makes, models, sizes, and/or styles of motorcycle you want or need for camping. But which motorcycle would fit your lifestyle best? We are going to assume you have already thought about budget and experience level. Budget is a personal decision that we can't help you with. You know what you can and can't afford. Buying the right size motorcycle for your skill level should be high on your checklist as well. This topic has varying opinions, and some may disagree with us, but if this is your first motorcycle ever, you probably should steer clear of a larger/heavier motorcycle until you get some saddle time under you.
With that out the way, here are some things to consider when looking for the perfect motorcycle for YOU:
What type of terrain will you be traveling on?
Will you be sticking to paved roads?
What about gravel or dirt roads?
Will you be giving up roads altogether and going cross country across open fields or rocky terrain to get to your campsite?
How far will you be traveling?
Motorcycles come in many different styles, and some are better suited to certain types of terrain than others. For example, if you plan on sticking to paved roads and traveling long distances, you may want to consider a full-on touring motorcycle such as a Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager or the iconic Harley Davidson Electra Glide. On the other hand, if you plan on staying off-road and traveling short distances to pitch a tent then a Yamaha XT225 might fit the bill for you.
Of course, there are plenty of options in between. Like most things in life, things are rarely black or white. You may end up riding moderate to long distances on regular paved roads until you get close to your camping area, then transition to some light off-road trails. Or you may ride a short distance on paved roads before spending most of your time on some rocky mountain sides. You get the picture – lots of shades of grey.
Luckily for you, motorcycle manufacturers have you covered no matter where you fall on the spectrum. Two of the more common styles of these “middle-of-the-road” (no pun intended) motorcycles include the Adventure and Dual Sport bikes. Adventure bikes lean toward heavier payment use and lighter off-road use, while Dual Sport models tip the other way providing riders with more robust off-road options but may not be as comfortable for the long-haul while having a shorter distance between fuel ups.
Dual Sport motorcycles tend to be smaller, lighter, and have more ground clearance than Adventure style bikes. Adventure motorcycles are usually larger, heavier and provide more options for comfort and longer distances when compared to the Dual Sports. Great Adventure motorcycles include the KTM 1290 Super Adventure and the BMW 1200GS. A couple of staple Dual Sports include the Kawasaki KLR 650 and the Suzuki DR650S.
Something else that has been popping up more and more on the discussion boards lately has to do with pulling a Motorcycle Trailer or even trailering a Motorcycle Pop Up Camper. If you are considering one of these options, then hopefully you are no longer a “newbie” at riding and have some ride time and skill under your belt. Pulling anything behind a motorcycle will require a motorcycle on the larger side. Larger is relative, but you will most likely want at least 1000 CCs if not more. You will also want to pay attention to the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and curb weight of your machine. Calculating the weight and power needed to pull a trailer or motorcycle camper trailer is beyond the scope of this article. However, if this is your endgame, please make sure to do your homework as safety is always priority #1.
Now that you have found that special motorcycle that will fit your style of camping, your research usually turns to Motorcycle Camping Gear. What do you need to pack with you to camp?
Again, that question begs even more questions:
How long of a trip will you take?
What will the weather be like?
How/where will you sleep?
How much storage space you have will directly correlate to how much stuff you can bring with you. Obviously, there is a big difference between bungee strapping some items to your passenger seat versus having large touring bags plus a trailer that you are toting behind you. You will have to be realistic with how much gear you can safely strap down or stuff into bags. Do you have room for a tent, footprint, sleeping bag, and pillow? Or will a hammock and light blanket be enough for you? If your trip is short, then you should bring just enough clothes to accommodate any temperature and moisture swings. For longer trips, consider hitting up a laundry mat or (clean) creek to clean your clothes. This will save space by not having to pack too many sets of clothes.
And more questions still:
Do you plan on bringing ready-made/pre-packaged foods?
Or will you catch and cook your own food?
Will you bring food that needs to be cooked at the campsite?
Of course, the answers to these questions will determine what if any cooking gear you need to pack. If the campground or campsite you will be visiting allows for open campfires, then you don’t have to worry about bringing a portable stove set or fuel. However, you will probably still want to bring a small cook set – such as pots, pans, utensils, etc. – appropriate for the foods you intend on cooking.
What about water?
Will you bring all your drinkable water, or are there resources in which special filtering devices can be used to supply your daily hydration? With that said, it is always a good idea to carry some extra drinking water with you, just in case.
What about entertainment?
We’ve talked about the necessities, but don’t forget to bring something to keep you entertained out in the wilderness. Whether you bring something more modern such as a phone, tablet, or laptop (don’t forget batteries/chargers), or you bring something more traditional – books, a deck of cards, or travel-sized games, we recommend having something to do when you are not spending time being one with nature. A couple of great books on motorcycle travel by the iconic Peter Egan include: Leanings: The Best of Peter Egan from Cycle World Magazine and Leanings 2.
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We hope this article has given you some ideas to help you prepare for your first Motorcycle Camping trip. We covered some important questions that you should be asking to help you choose a motorcycle that will meet your needs as well as what gear you should consider bringing with you based on your trip duration and where you intend to setup camp. We would love to hear about your first Motorcycle Camping trip and what you learned from that first experience. Leave a comment below and let us know.
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