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Packing Bike for Touring

If a pillow is important to you, pack a pillow case and stuff it with your clothes each night till it's just right for sleeping. Double duty!

Voni
sMiling

I carry a full size down pillow with case in a compression sack. Some things I just won't do without.

I also have a rule that everything has to go inside the hard luggage. It took a long time to make that work.
 
Lovin' this! It will help us so much, this our first time out bike camping and all. It usually takes me at least a year of doing something stupid to figure out the most efficient ways!:)

If it had only taken me one year to stop doing stupid things while motorcycle traveling and camping I'd be at least 25 years ahead of where I am now.

We get comfortable doing the same things with the same stuff. Sometimes something breaks, or gets lost, or is in the way of something else so we have to try something different, and voila!, we like it. I hauled a coffee percolater and a nesting cook kit for years. Then I eliminated the coffee pot and made coffee with filter packets in my little cook pot. But a box of pods took up a lot of space, and we didn't like the Maxwell House filter pod coffee and knew we couldn't find it reliably every few days going to Alaska. So I got a Mr. Coffee filter basket that nests right inside the bowls in the cook kit, occupying zero space and I can use any brand of ground coffee I want/can find. I hauled a single burner propane stove for years. But that thing always ran out of propane in the middle of cooking a meal or making coffee. So I started carrying an extra propane bottle. Then I got a little dual fuel stove that burns gas right out of the bike. No extra fuel and smaller than the propane stove with even just one bottle. Voila!

So experiment. Try stuff. If it doesn't work out try something else. That's what garage sales and thrift stores are for; to get rid of the things we tried that didn't work out as well as we hoped, or to find stuff we think will work better. That's where I found my dual fuel stove for a couple of bucks.

Above all - continuously ask:

1. Why am I hauling this around?
2. Do I really use it and need it?
3. Could I buy one on the road if I really had to have it?
4. Could something smaller/lighter do the same thing?
5. Could something else I already haul around do it almost as well?
6. Do I need this many clothes or could I wash them more often?
7. Can I use light layers instead of heavy/bulky clothes?
8. Etc ....?

Then pare the stuff to the bare essentials.
 
Packing for touring

What an invaluable thread...learned so much already! Three of us are planning to ride from Newport, RI to Newport, OR via a northerly route this year (and attend our very first rally of course!). We've never done a trip of this scale so we're newbies at packing for a trip that will be longer than 3-4 days. We've largely identified WHAT to bring (especially the corkscrew!). However, dear experienced women riders, HOW MUCH to bring? How many pair of socks, jeans & tshirts, etc. is reasonable? Would love your thoughts...guys chime in too!
 
We (the group that permits me to tour with them) usually pack enough for ~4-5 days, and we camp along the way. That means we occasionally take a night to do laundry. We'll also find a laundromat near the rally site. As far as what type of clothes, we've been known to ride in undies with shorts and t-shirts under our riding gear. Look for convertible pants and maybe a nicer shirt/top for nicer restaurant.
 
We have an R12RT. It's an excellent two up motorcycle and we've spent a bunch of years riding together, so we have some pretty standard methods for either hotel travel or camping.

For hotel trips, we use the BMW factory top case and side bags. We have the 50 liter top case and have bag liners for all bags. We also have a factory tank bag.

Each of us gets a side bag. We carry larger items in the top case; bike cover, shoes, hats, maybe a jacket or something. The tankbag carries cameras, maps, books, flashlights and the little trouble kits I carry. We can load and unload the bike in about ten minutes, including taking the cover off.

For camping, we remove the top case and install an RTBMR back rest. We have a Mag's Bags standard Ubag that holds all our camping stuff, including chairs, cooking gear, hiking boots and so forth. We have a 100 oz Camelbak Unbottle that fits on one of the "arms" of the Ubag. Tina has a comfy spot to sit, but in more "enthusiastic" riding, she has a hard time reaching around behind her to brace for braking. Same for the handgrips: she has a hard time getting her hands down there to grab on. Instead, she puts her hands on my hips to brace herself.

To prevent damage to the side bags, I had a local auto detailing joint put some clear "bra" film on the tops. It's invisible and has weathered weeks of travel. Added benefit: you can't scratch the bags accidentally when mounting or dismounting.

For camping gear, we have two tents, depending on season and temps. We have an old Mountain Hardwear Skyview 3 for colder weather. It's got a giant vestibule that holds a ton of gear and can allow you to make coffee without having to get out of the tent. We also have a Mountain Hardwear Haven 3 for summer. This tent has two vestibules and holds almost as much stuff as the Skyview's vestibules.

For sleeping stuff, we carry two Big Agnes bags with the nifty integrated sleeping pads. The bags are Lost Ranger +20s and they compress down to about the size of a loaf of bread. The sleeping pads are about the size of a Nerf football. We also have a couple little inflatable pillows we bought. The have a thin layer that inflates and a pouch on the back where you can cram a fleece or something in. They fit into a pocket in the hood of the sleeping bag. So sweet! If we have room, we can sometimes fit two full size pillows in the Ubag. Luxorama.

We have a three piece pot set for cooking, along with a Jet Boil and an old MSR Whisperlite. We've also got a little butane lantern, which really helps around the campsite and works way better than candle lanterns. I'd like to check out the new LED ones I've seen, too.

We keep the tank bag as sort of a purse. It holds the stuff we use on the road and the stuff we use in the tent. I keep things organized in little bags, which makes packing efficient. I made some fleece sleeves to hold face shields in and keep them at the rear of the tank bag.

To make all that get down the road safely, we've upgraded our suspension to Ohlins and had springs installed capable of carrying our typical load. This made all the difference. The bike is now well controlled and doesn't wallow in corners. If you're going to load your bike, find out whether your suspension can handle it. Your suspension has an ideal amount of sag (how much suspension travel is taken up with the bike is supporting itself on its wheels). If you can't adjust the spring enough to get to that position, you need higher rate springs.
 
What an invaluable thread...learned so much already! Three of us are planning to ride from Newport, RI to Newport, OR via a northerly route this year (and attend our very first rally of course!). We've never done a trip of this scale so we're newbies at packing for a trip that will be longer than 3-4 days. We've largely identified WHAT to bring (especially the corkscrew!). However, dear experienced women riders, HOW MUCH to bring? How many pair of socks, jeans & tshirts, etc. is reasonable? Would love your thoughts...guys chime in too!

We pack 5 days of stuff. We don't pack any cotton stuff anymore. It's bulky and will either keep you hot when it's warm or cold when it's cold. We typically take 5 tops, a couple pair of shorts and one pair of long pants. Usually, I've got a thin layer of fleece and my electrics packed. The Pacific coast can be cold in the summer. For tops, a couple long sleeve bits, a couple crewneck pullovers and a semi respectable button up campshirt in case we go to a restaurant or something. For shoes, I'll pack a pair of Keens and a pair of Reef flipflops. Tina does about the same.

Plan on doing laundry on day 5. That's a good night to get a hotel, order a pizza and watch some tube while the laundry is running downstairs. You never know who you'll meet at a laundromat. We met the Borellas at one in Colorado and have been friends for 15 years.

In a pinch, you can rinse some synthetic garments out and they'll dry overnight. They won't reek too badly the next day. And let's face it, if you're just riding, who cares if you're kinda smelly. It's just you in your gear all day long.
 
Thanks for the link. If I can't find one locally, I may give that a go. I don't live too far from Holly, and was hoping she'd picked it up fairly close to home!
 
I pack for about 4/5 days. I found that the stuff made for runners, the "dri-fit" type fabric, is lighter and less bulky than the cotton t-shirts I used to pack. And the bonus is that you can wash them in the sink at night. I took 2 long sleeved and 2 short-sleeved ones on a 3 week trip to Colorado last year and just kept alternating between them. I have a long sleeved microfleece crew neck pullover that is my warm layer. It looks like a sweater but it is more functional (and washes and dries quickly). The most useful piece of clothing I carry is a front-zip, funnel neck, wind proof soft shell jacket that is suitable to wear on its own as a "dressy" jacket when dining out or otherwise being civilized. It has a superthin fleece layer on the inside and it is not at all bulky. This piece is my wind layer under my mesh jacket when the sun goes down, or the extra layer under my regular jacket when the temperature drops in the mountains. Easy to layer on or off and does double duty off the bike. Thin enough to layer under the riding clothes.
I carry my clothes and toiletries in a bag in one side case, and in the other one all the miscellaneous stuff: the stuff for the bike (oil, manuals, wire ties etc), rain gear, water bottle, hat, maps, small nylon backpack that folds up small to use for touring around at your destination, a lightweight travel bike cover, cable lock, multi-tool etc. The small travel purse goes there too. And, I carry my "overflow" bag - a waterproof 40 litre seal-line bag from Whitehorse Gear. It holds any purchases, sometimes laundry or shoes or extra riding gear, like the mesh jacket. When needed the bag straps on the seat behind me. I also have a top case that I keep my extra riding gloves in and that I use to store my helmet when I am off the bike. Its another emergency stowage container if I really need it.
I have over 90,000 km of mostly long distance travel on my 2003 F650 GS and I can be off that bike at the end of the day, grab the clothing bag out of the one side case, take the tank bag off and stow it in the side case, put on the cover and be done. :)

Patti G
Ottawa Ontario
 
Diann and I ofte travel together with a large tent (10' X 10').

Diann caries her personal stuff in her saddlebags and the air mattress and the sleeping bags in a duffel across the pillion seat, along with her chair.

I carry all my stuff in the saddlebags on my bike, and carry the tent and my chair on the pillion seat.

We both have tank bags for the usuall stuff, camera, lens cleaner, first aid kit, spare electrical parts, meter etc.

I also have a set of hi viz tank panniers that carries a small naptha stove, 2 bottles of water, nesting mess kit etc.

Regards, Rod.
 
Lots of good stuff in this thread, most of it familiar territory to long time campers, and interesting thinking explaining the various choices.

Here's another way to think about packing- I call it "rational segregation" and it is useful for trips that involve a few nights in hotels and some camping. I ride solo so its also packing for one rather than 2. The bike is a R1200RT with all of the factory luggage.

Starts with keeping camping gear totally separate from what goes into a hotel. I put ALL the camp gear(except cooking) in a medium size Seattle Sports duffle (waterproof) that goes on the back seat of my RT with 4 ROK straps diagonally crossed over it. The items in there include a Marmot Limelight 3 Tent, an REI air mattress with built in, hand operated inflation pump that is way smaller than a Thermarest pad, a full size Wiggy's lightweight synthetic sleeping bag, a crushable pillow, my shortened ball peen hammer for the tent stakes, and a Kermit chair. This my version of a "complete comfort" camping setup for a rally- plenty of tent space so ALL the excess weight can be stripped from the bike for riding while at the rally, comfortable and large sleeping stuff and the chair for those campfire and beer sessions. It can be shrunk by a third if you're into mimimalism.

The clothes, netbook, etc go in the topcase liner that gets lifted out for hotel use. (In addition to routine comm use, the netbook also holds the BMW service CD (RepROM) on its drive as well as the software for the GS-911 in the tool kit.

Right side case holds stuff that never comes off the bike like tools, maps, rain gear (unless I'm wearing it), hardcopy maps, cover, etc. All segregated and wrapped so I don't get a fallout mess when the case is opened. No liner in this case as it would make it harder to get to stuff.

Left side case is riding gear that may get changed during the day such as a Roadgear phase change jacket to go under mesh, a Gerbings if it will be cold enough where I'm heading to want one, riding jeans for those short runs around camp, evap cooling items if they'd be useful where I'm going, extra lnners layer like a synthetic turtleneck,extra gloves etc. This case has a liner and its contents can also be lifted to go into a hotel or off the bike easily. This is the case most frequently opened during the day.

Tank bag has electronics and a full setup to recharge cell phone, Scala Q2, etc . Also carries at least a liter of drinking water- often 2 L-, a few snack bars and has in its top, any hardcopy maps in use to supplement the GPS.

If carrying cooking gear, it goes in a small Ortlieb waterproof yellow rollup and is tied on top of the camp gear bag on the back seat using the tails of the 4 ROK straps that hold down the Seattle Sports duffle. There is no need to carry any amount of food supplies as these can be purchased on the road at small expense. I carry just a very small REI butane stove with a small pot, plus a coffee press (a little luxury) and a plastic jar of decent coffee. Sometimes a couple packs of Ramen for emergencies as they weigh nothing. When going to rallies, many overpack cooking gear.....there are a lot of good tricks for eating well well cooking in light gear, should you need to do that.

To avoid screwing up handling, heaviest items need to be packed lowest, and close to center of bike when possible. Beware of high heavy loads on rear seat and excess weight in (or on) the topcase (that is already too heavy when empty)- the worst location on the bike for weight. While it is possible to install a rack on the topcase, this is not required for typical rally trips when riding solo. IMO, of you are frequently riding double and camping, a bike with more capacity than the RT or a trailer begins to make a lot of sense - I've never liked riding stuff loaded to or above its rated max load capability.

Individual gear items used may vary with the season or location to which you are going. Different tents, sleeping bag for those cold weather runs than for those summer runs in the south, more or less cooking gear and food depending on whether its a rally trip or a week long off road excursion, choice of riding gear based on anticipated conditions (eg mesh vs non-mesh gear), etc..

Then there are the seriously optional items like bug repellent, bug mesh, etc (I don't carry it though I'd sure add it if I were heading way north and camping because I've been in places where one literally had to shout over the mosquitos to have a conversation. Yes, there really are such places but I've never run into one in the US mainland.) Black flies can be a serious annoyance in some northern parts of the US for a couple months each year but these can often be mitigated by camping where they're not so common (stay away from wooded waterways during the season and pick more open and elevated areas, if at all possible)

When you get back, ALWAYS review what got used and what didn't. Anything not used should be eliminated from next run unless its an emergency supply, repair tools, etc..Carry spare batteries for things that run on button cells- not so necessary if it uses AAs as thy can be bought anywhere- and use lithium batteries in those emergency lights for their long storage life and high energy density.

Common errors you will see at rallies include randomized packing or failure to practice that makes setup slow (not a great thing if its raining), poor gear choices like oversized cheap tents that leak in the first light rain or get blown away due to bad design and inadequate staking, pitching a tent in a poor location (look for high ground that is well drained),

When at a hotel, I do not remove camping gear from the bike. I just park it in a safe place, cover it, add a wheel lock and set the bikes aftermarket alarm that includes a proximity sensor.
 
So many excellent responses so how about a couple of pictures regarding his and her shoes while doing long distance two-up? (notice the 2 to 1 ratio here? Little clothes.... but so many. And I haven't even referred to that hair dryer!)

53d9f015.jpg


but if you want to take just about everything (yes, we overpack so this thread is good for us..... we are so undisciplined!) :brow

ac407eff.jpg
 
Here is a picture of my bike, packed up for my 48-State ride a couple of years ago. (14 days, 48 states - celebrating my 55th birthday. How cool is THAT? :) )

The Helen Bag contained clothes, extra shoes, sleeping bag, etc. The narrower bag contained my tent. Right saddle bag was what I might need to get at quickly. (Toiletries, road atlas, etc) Left saddle bag was my Gerbing and a change of clothes.

image004.jpg


For the full story about the ride, here is the LINK.
 
funny

How most of us who ride long distances have about the same way to pack stuff. Over the years I have tried all kinds of different bags and ways to put stuff on the bike (I am a solo rider). Have come to LOVE my Helen bags and their strap system - once you have lost half your camping gear (3am start did not help this along at all), you appreciate loops for your straps (load sometimes shifts mightly, but does not come off).

Now I can't wait to get on the road......

Britta
only 107F so far today...
 
Backpack
Sits behind me on the seat. Houses a change of cloths, food and accessory pack with flash light, multi-tool, hobo tool, writing instrument, and car phone charger. Accessory pack latches on the outside of the backpack.

Tent
Sits on the tail. Now on my new (old) hacked Triumph rack. Whoo hoo.

Sleeping Bag + Blanket.
Blanket fits in the sleeping bag's bag and I put that bag in a surplus dry bag ($5-10 at surplus stores) It sets between the backpack and the tent. I use 2 bungie nets to wrap and anchor on the panniers. Bungie Buddies or whatever they are called are worth the $8. I mounted 3 on each side bag, 2 on top and 1 on the end below the turn signals.

Side Case Right: (I never change contents in my cases, always on the bike)
Tools, misc pouch that includes 3 tie downs, siphon hose, and some additional straps. Quart of motor oil and quart of gear oil.

Side Case Right Lid:
Sandals, Clymers, bike manual, maps, journal. I keep the paper goods in a large plastic sleeve.

Side Case Left:
Duffle bag which containers 3 helmet bags.
Helmet Bag 1 contains jacket liner, gloves and electronic stuff in zip lock bags.
Helmet Bag 2 contains camping goods, tin cup, cooking pot, small fuel tank and burner which screws on fuel tank...
Helmet Bag 3 contains a can of fix a flat, can of Kroil. Seems like something else is in there.

Side Case Left Lid:
Reserved for the laptop (work, not play), I couldn't ask for a better fit.

Tool box under the seat houses an oil filter, set of plugs, anon book and first aid in a plastic bag.

I try to do all my stuff on the cheap. I get most of my gear from military surplus. My 3 dry bags cost a total of $20. Anything that goes in the backpack goes in the dry bag first which is then put in the backpack. I have a dry bag reserved for the laptop and a dry bag for the sleeping bag.

My backpack was $5 or 10, old ratty Czech military bag. I did add snaps to all the flaps and sewn on replacement shoulder straps.

The duffle bag in the left case is left over from my bro's stint in the Marines. Perfect size and free (at least for me, my brother may say something different)

Sleeping bag is also surplus, only downfall is it's a mummy bag but the selling point is it wraps up very small. Blanket is a military poncho liner that wads up really small. If it's not raining, the bugs arent bugging or I'm just feeling lazy, I wont bother with the tent and I'll sleep on the blanket under the stars.

I'm ready for another excursion after all this itemizing.
 
Those roll up luggage compression bags are a GREAT way to get your stuff packed efficiently. I use basic canvas totes as my case liners, rather than the purpose made side-case liners. I find they're more versatile.

I put things like sunscreen, Plexus, my camera, snacks, etc. in the tank bag.

Here's my bike loaded for the ride to the AMA Women's Rally in Keystone, CO last summer. My "regular" tail bag is fastened on the tail rack - with my rain gear in it - in front of that is my Helen2Wheels roll top bag, the funny shape on top of those is the mesh dry bag... for stuff that is too damp to pack, so it can dry as you ride.

This trip was planned as a hotel trip, so my tent isn't on board.

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v287/Lion_Lady/Colorado%202009/?action=view&current=February-19_0904.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/Lion_Lady/Colorado%202009/February-19_0904.jpg" border="0" alt="Feb-19 09:04"></a>

Here's my bike packed for camping. The yellow SeaLine bag has my sleeping bag/thermarest inside with an extra jacket as well. The black log shaped bag has the tent/footprint/rainfly (Helen2Wheels) - my Kermit chair is tucked between them:

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v287/Lion_Lady/Rockster%20Pics/?action=view&current=LoadedUp1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/Lion_Lady/Rockster%20Pics/LoadedUp1.jpg" border="0" alt="Loaded for home, side view. After the Square Root Rally."></a>

P
 
Shoes are a girl thing so if you're lucky enough to have your wife travel with you, you're no doubt "stuck" with it. Like the nesting pairs idea...
I just take the riding boots I wear and one totally crushable part of very light shoes- because the latter are more versatile than sandals.
 
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