motorcycle camping...tent options?

“test”

“yeah...finally (was having trouble posting a new thread for some reason)

Anyhooter...

I'm in the market for a tent that packs SMALL...hopefully to fit into a saddlebag. Is this possible? Anyone know of any such thing? Probably would have to pack down smaller than 13-14". Weight is not an issue.

Size matters...
;)”

“Pack your tent in two smaller stuff sacks....one for fly and the other the tent body.

You can strap on the poles!!”

“strap-on, eh? I was hoping to find smaller ones to stuff.

I guess small poles aren't very popular?
:)”

“I didn't know AmyG was a biker chick.”

“Have you checked with bike dealers?

A few years ago when traveling cross country to go backpacking, in the adjacent camp site aguy riding a BWM bike pulled a solo tent out of the 'pod' on the back of the bike. I didn't get the name of the tent, but I remember his "preppi-ness" so I would guess he bought the tent with the bike.”

““I didn't know AmyG was a biker chick.”
lumberzac
8:32:48 AM

Maybe its a five-letter word that ain't "chick" and has a nastier connotation.

>8^O”

“Did a quick search, Montbell has a number of tents that may work. $$$”

“Yep...my vibrator has two wheels. :)

Thanks for the ideas CM. I'll check it out...”

“Let's see the wheels!!”

“Hey Amy

My dad used to just borrow my 2-man tent. Your best bet is to get a pack/upright duffel that can go behind you on the seat.

Don't forget your tools!”

“I travelled with this kind of rack with my rucksack and a couple of stuff sacks(sleeping bag and tent) bungeed down low.

Strapping it on* to a seesee bar raises the center of gravity........an important consideration when gravity can get you into big trouble.



* Tee hee!!”

“Overkill on the bungees is a good idea!!”

“I have some brand spankin' new willie and max saddlebags to be filled! Max weight is 16lbs on each side...
I would rather be filled than have it strapped on.
;)”

“Pshaw!!!

Whuddaya got, a modern sickle??

I had one of these oldies.....1978

”

“There ya go, talkin' about the willie!!

And a MAX willie at that!!”

“Try this one - I use the original for my truck and it is great. Of course there is a bunch of stuff that comes in this package but you don't need to take them all on your bike.

http://napierenterprises.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemid=32”

“kelty crestone tents pack up fairly compact, you might try looking into them.
last edited: 6/16/06 4:47:51 AM”

“Why don't you use your bivy and sleep right on the side of the road?

I think you just want a reason to buy yet one more tent. And I will not enable you to do such things!”

“Henry Shires tarptent packs small. And lightweight to boot -- WHADDA DEAL!

If you don't use a trekking pole with it, it does come with a front pole (well at least my model, prolly a couple years old, did)

Looking at it, it's maybe 12" in length when split up into its three lengths.
last edited: 6/16/06 6:55:15 AM”

“SuperT - I was eyeballing the Inoyo2, actually. Isn't that the old Cobra model?

The shire models and the "sportzpacs" seem pricey. Motorcycle camping isn't hardcore...most bikers will opt for a hotel room if there is so much as a drizzle. :p
(i.e. I don't need a superior quality tent here)”

“oh yeah, here is my baby hog (aka the piglet)
:)

”

“tarptent”

“I like the SD Clip Flashlight. It has a great balance of low weight, good price, small packing. I would think the poles are going to be the hardest thing. Many times if something doesn’t fit in a pack or bag well simply changing the stuff sack can give you a better shape that will pack better. I know many people rave about the Peak1 ultralight tent. Can’t remember the name it’s under now but it was the coleman Cobra.”

“heck, I'm still using my old peak 1 Cobra at times....”

“The tarptent will serve two needs: Take up little space... and serve that same function superiorly for backpacking.

You're AmyG! You're gonna get a hotel room if it drizzles!??!?!?!?
>8-O

The legend goes down...........”

“haha Lizzy...not me, but if the group I am with is hotelling it, I'm not gonna be camping in the parking lot either! :p

brat”

“That's a nice lookin' red X ya got there!”

“I can just see Amy sitting in her tarp tent that has been set up by tying off to car mirrors and bumpers refusing to join her friends in the hotel room on purist principles. LOL!”

“Do you have a sidecar for the doggy, or does he ride up on the handlebars?”

“Change of subject a bit.

One of my coworkers is trying to sell me his 2003 Harley Davidson XL1200 Custom for $7000. It's pretty much stock.

That sound high, cheap, or about right?”

“Cheap. That's a $12,000 bike.”

“I need this bike like I need another hole in my leg from my last bike 30 years ago. LOL”

“SS - I've got the fever too....bad. I'm looking at Honda Shadows. The husband of a client and I have been emailing. He races his CBR out at the Barbers track. I'd never considered a sport back, but Deals Gap would be dang fun.”

“We have to be carefull, John.
Poor Radagast pretty much quit backpacking after he got his bike.”

“... and Father Goose.

I have a hard time rationalizing a bike with a family, a kid on the way, a mortgage, and a business to run. The danger aspect almost seems selfish in my situation. At the same time, it would be fun to take a Sunday afternoon ride.

I still vividly recall my dad taking me for rides to see my grandparents when I was just 7 or 8. I'd fall asleep on the back so they bought an oversize belt to strap me to my dad. I've always loved bikes. I had one in hs. My wife, then gf would take it on picnics. In college I got around on a bike.”

“ooooh, Dayhiker! I was eyeballing a Shadow Spirit 750 when I was shopping...they are sweeet. (I just didn't want to finance my first bike, so I got my little piglet instead)

try again on the pic...
”

“I like that(yours) bike for sure. I've been browing ebay to see what the prices are. It appears that if you get a 98-2002 it's possible to be in the 3.5k range.

What do the little piglets run? Without knowing your stature, that's probably a good sized bike too. My first bike a little too big for me and I sometimes had trouble picking it back up.
last edited: 6/16/06 8:48:29 AM”

“Nice, nice.................bike this time!

What kinda helmet do ya call that??

At highway speed the wind blowin' across your ears gets kinda loud and when you stop its like you've been listening to loud music or working in a factory.

She's a wee lass.
last edited: 6/16/06 8:50:47 AM”

“I don't really ride on the highway...yet. For that, I'll wear a full face. I mostly just meander on back country roads. :)

My bike is a Suzuki GZ250....a great starter that I won't kill myself on. She maxes out at around 70mph...at least she did before I put the windshield on. ;)

I'm 5'5 and can put my feet flat on the ground. There are a lot of models that have a lower seat height (the Shadow Spirit is another good one, in that regard).

I'm drooling over a HD Nightrod for my next bike. Obviously, that one will be financed...cha-chinnnnng! =:0”

“That looks alot like the Honda Rebel I had in college. When Gulf War I started and gas shot all the way up to $1.50 I was loving having a bike. Oh the good ole days.

My wife loved riding it. She won't drive but loves to ride. A 250 is a great starter size. You're going to have a blst. A top speed of 70 isn't so much a problem. You can still out accelerate most cars and that's what really matters in traffic.

A friend and his dad in law have a Kawasake Vulcan 800 and a Shadow 600. THe size difference is amazing. The 800 feels so stiff and heavy. I'd hate to lose control of it. The 600 feels really light. The friend had the 800 at a church picnic a couple of months back and I got to take both my kids for a spin. My son (6) loved twisting that throttle as we drove.”

“I can't justify it right now either.
If a 'thing' happens in the next few weeks, I might can.”

“oh no...not another "thing."
:)

Life always seems to revolve around the thing...
women never have that problem.”

“SS - what size bike is the one you're looking at? Come on now, just write the check.”

“My 'thing' involves lawyers. :-(

dayhiker - 2003 Harley Davidson XL1200 Custom

If my 'thing' falls my way, I might just buy the bike as a celebration. ;-)
last edited: 6/16/06 9:07:39 AM”

“Back on your original question, I have a homebuilt tarptent and it they would truly be good from a volume standpoint. You can get poles custom made with as many "kinks" as you want since size matters to you females. I had to get this thread back to the glorious innuendo start it had going. The roll up smaller than a 2L coke bottle and weigh less than 2#'s. Heck, WalMart lets truckers and motorhomes use their lots at night. Get 2 bikes 8' apart and just pitch a tarp between them. Put down a sheet of visqueen and use a thermast.”

“Ahh big bike. Yep, 7k is a bargain. Sounds like Stovey and Allstate are gettin' busy.”

“I get the fever every spring now to get another XS 650 and restore it.

If I could afford something new it would be a Ducati 620 naked bike.

My '78 red-lined at 125.......I changed the rear sprocket from 34 to 30 teeth......and would get 60 mpg unless I was climbing mountains.
Then it dropped to 50 mpg.”

“Like this: ”