Bikepacking? Motopacking?

[WU7X]

a counter view...

Giant Loop makes incredibly well built and well thought out gear. BUT... I just sold a Great Basin and Fandango setup. The Fandango was just too small for what I wanted on the tank. The Great Basin carried everything I needed (almost), but was a PITA at times. One has to loosen the three retaining straps to get into it. So if you're traveling along and want to change clothing, get a snack, additional water, etc. you have to pull the thing apart to get at it. If that isn't a problem for you, I'd highly recommend Giant Loop. I really like the way they designed the GB to carry two large MSR fuel bottles internally, for example.

At my age, I'm more of a putter than a racer. I would rather cover less miles per day, and take the time to enjoy the ride. I went with a used Wolfman Ranier tank bag and a set of used Happy Trail metal panniers. With the panniers especially, I like to carry my tools and spare parts (the heaviest stuff i take along) about the level of the rear axle.

So in the end, it all depends on how you plan on traveling as much as what you want to carry.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

The biggest issue I've found has been carrying the most appropriate amount of spares and tools.

For example, on a trip to Mexico last year, we were three dual sport bikes all with 21" front tires. We chose to each carry one spare front tube. My bike had an 18" rear wheel and the other bikes had 17" wheels. I carried two spare rear tubes, while the other guys carried one each. My 18" tube would work for them, but theirs wouldnt in my bike. We had 2 front flats and a rear flat, all nasty desert thorns...

What is most important is being able to get to your stuff without having to unload and unstrap everything on the bike. Unfortunately, I had a luggage malfunction (see yellow straps?)

Well packed KLR.

 

[traveltoad]

At my age, I'm more of a putter than a racer. I would rather cover less miles per day, and take the time to enjoy the ride.

Regardless of your age or the daily miles covered... most of the "crap" people carry is camp related. If you are moving most of the time, at whatever speed, you can get away with much less IMO. Chairs and tables and big tents with sitting areas etc etc are all great if you are setting up camp and spending a lot if time hanging out. If camp is mainly a necessity to re-energize then more of those creature comforts can be left at home.

It's all about how you like to travel.

 

[o0synge0o]

Right on, great posts on info and experience, and in the direction I'm heading.

Thanks!

 

[CoastalDefender]

Regardless of your age or the daily miles covered... most of the "crap" people carry is camp related. If you are moving most of the time, at whatever speed, you can get away with much less IMO. Chairs and tables and big tents with sitting areas etc etc are all great if you are setting up camp and spending a lot if time hanging out. If camp is mainly a necessity to re-energize then more of those creature comforts can be left at home.

It's all about how you like to travel.

Very good info here.

One thing I've found out is that if you travel solo, your required creature comforts are actually very minimal. You can go solo very light.

When you begin adding more riders, you'll notice time at camp grows exponentially. When time at camp grows, you'll need more creature comforts, and will end up packing more.

The nice thing about adding riders, is you can divide up equipment among bikes to not only lighten the burden on one or two bikes, but also make room for more beer for camp. :bike_rider:


When I ride for solo over-nighters, I have my snugpak, gortex bivy cover, camp stove, camp food, water, water filter, TP, baby wipes, camp-clothes, and sleeping fleece. This all packs into a single backpack and gets strapped to my tail rack.

If I go with people, I start filling my boxes up on the sides and it just gets heavier from there.

 

[traveltoad]

Camping styles also change over time.

For myself, I am on a quest to travel lighter. To do this can take a bit of time and experience. Every trip is an opportunity to critically look at what needs to be added, what can be taken away and what needs to be replaced with something improved.

2004: 3 day trip, both Jesse bags stuffed full... and I mean full. Not only that, food was carried by a Land Rover so no food or water in the Jesse bags.

Fast forward to 2009: Brand new Super Enduro, same ol' over packing. I had made the decision to "go light" and I had removed a lot of stuff from my moto camping kit. I was "down" to this:

This was much better, but still heavier than I wanted and still significantly impacting what trails I felt comfortable riding, especially when solo.

2010: Getting there. At this point I add very little to the kit. Things get removed or replaced with an "improved" item. Similar to backpacking, I review packed size and weight for everything I buy.

3 day trip, warm weather, no sleeping bag:

3 day trip, cold weather, all camping gear (including down jacket, food, water):

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Hey Aaron, what size tank is on the SE?

 

[traveltoad]

Hey Aaron, what size tank is on the SE?

7.9 gal

 

[CoastalDefender]

7.9 gal

That's not fair!

 

[traveltoad]

That's not fair!

200 miles of fun fun fun....

 

[xcmountain80]

Plan on doing some motopacking soon, I just call it camping with a motorcycle. I have all the light backpacking things from the early cycling, car or canoe camping days. I think (this is only a thought and may not be true) but some fall into that rut that some of us have with our trucks loading the crap out of them for no particular reason other than to take a trip that could have been done in a Honda Civic and a backpack.

Now the bike I chose doesn't allow for panniers which may be a blessing in disguise as it forces me to use smaller soft bags and backpacks which I feel is not a problem as I have gone over the gear needed for a week and just cannot see where the bulk comes into play, take that and divide it over 2-3 bikes and everyone rides light and happy..................,,,,,,,,,/////////////

 

[cruiseroutfit]

So who bought the motopacking.com domain last week

 

[xcmountain80]

Weren't me!

A

 

[CoastalDefender]

200 miles of fun fun fun....

I guess it is fair, I put 220m on 4.3g...

 

[traveltoad]

I guess it is fair, I put 220m on 4.3g...

I think that range is the hardest thing about trip planning with the 950. I have gone as far as 260 mle before the fuel light came on (about 1.4 gal in reserve, but I count on only 1 gal usable) and as little as 160 miles to reserve.

I can control (or at least try to control) some of the fuel usage do to the 100hp-fun-factor. But difficult trails (especially deep sand) suck fuel big time.

On average I plan on 200 miles between fill ups.