Bikepacking? Motopacking?

[o0synge0o]

You know, I have seen and read various stories about people spending days, or weeks "Bikepacking", adventuring on bicycles... Has anyone really made it a point to apply toese principles to motorcycling? It seems like everyone is so concerned with luggage and the like, that things could be so much simpler...

I mean, if you can "Bikepack" for a week on a bicycle, why couldn't you do the same thing on a motorcycle?

 

[Hltoppr]

I freqently go for a couple of weeks through Baja and Mainland Mexico on the Moto. Yes, I do have luggage for my tent/sleeping bag and clothing, but not a whole lot of extra stuff.

Every third day or so I try to find a shower....:bike_rider:

-H-

 

[goodtimes]

I mean, if you can "Bikepack" for a week on a bicycle, why couldn't you do the same thing on a motorcycle?

You can, and many do.

Backpacking gear (stoves, food, clothing, sleeping gear, tents, etc) transfers well between back-packing, bike-packing, moto-packing, horse/mule/camel/elephant-packing, . . .

I have a couple different sets of very simple luggage for my BMW, depending on what kind of trip I'm taking. Hard luggage (Jesse Luggage Systems) for trips like last weekend where I'm taking easy roads to camp and then setting up for the duration, with day-rides where I can leave the luggage at camp. I also use some Wolfman bags for the trips where I am in questionable terrain and/or moving every day.

 

[traveltoad]

If you mean actually having a backpack on your person while riding... I would much rather have the weight on the bike.

If you mean traveling light with only the basics... many do it. It's the only way to fly IMO.

Check out the Giant Loop product line. IMO it is a great, simple set up that is light and stays tight to the bike.

Coyote with a small dry bag is good for 3+ days of cool/cold weather camping... including cooking gear.

No fancy camping though...

Or for really light, warm weather camping try the Mo'Javi...

 

[Hltoppr]

Yup...simple.

-H-

 

[o0synge0o]

If you mean actually having a backpack on your person while riding... I would much rather have the weight on the bike.

If you mean traveling light with only the basics... many do it. It's the only way to fly IMO.

Check out the Giant Loop product line. IMO it is a great, simple set up that is light and stays tight to the bike.

Coyote with a small dry bag is good for 3+ days of cool/cold weather camping... including cooking gear.

No fancy camping though...

Or for really light, warm weather camping try the Mo'Javi...

Ahh, now that's something like what I was referring to. No bulky hard cases, no floppy soft bags and racks to deal with.

Thanks for the pics and the link!

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

My list from a previous post - add a couple lbs for a few more days of food
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is my list on a 3 day trip good for temps down to 32°(not including gas)...everything fits in my Moto-Sport soft bags, aftermarket fixed bike storage compartments and the 12"x27" sea bag.

Tent w/ rain fly
Tyvek tent ground cover
Inflatable mattress
Sleeping bag w/liner (variable 55°-30°)
Pillow
Chair
Waterproof sea bag for the above 12”x27”

Jet Boil-coffee press w/ coffee storage
Eating utensils
Insulated SS bottle
3 Days of food – Mountain House mostly
Snacks
Heavy duty aluminum foil
Olive oil
Spices


Convertible pants
2 shirts
Hike able flops
Swimming trunks
Towel
Basic toiletries items
Fleece vest
Maps
Ultra-light fishing kit

On an everyday basis I carry the following:
All needed repair material and spares
Tools
CD of FSM
Electric air compressor
Tube
Tire irons x2
Dish soap
1 gallon collapsible bladder(good for any liquid)
First aid
Water
Spare key
Miscellaneous survival stuff
iTouch(music, videos, and wyfi)
Camera
Flashlight
Cell phone
SPOT tracking device
Spare batteries
Rain gear
Trash bags
Miscellaneous cold weather gear
Mora Craftline all-around knife
Kel-Tec PF-9mm

Travel weights varies slightly with time of year and destination

Total weight of all above - ~50lbs

Left bag 8.5lbs
Right bag 5.0lbs
Tools 10.0lbs
Food-Kitchen 5.5lbs
Sea bag 19.0lbs

 

[jesusgatos]

Check out ADVrider. There are lots and lots of people traveling and camping on motorcycles.

 

[o0synge0o]

Yep, Im on there as well, I was just browsing through some of the bicycle threads here and thought I'd post up is all...

 

[kletzenklueffer]

That's pretty much the whole reason I bought a dualsport. There is a place I go hunting that I can only drive my truck so far. The trail continues as singletrack. I'll be riding the KLR there and continuing on the next few miles instead of hiking it. I'll be stashing the bike and hunting the area and will quarter the game and riding home after the hunt. At least that's how it works in my head.

 

[jkam]

I lived on my 1100GS for 4 years and traveled to 38 countries with this bike.
When you live on one for an extended time you try and find ways to make life as comfortable as possible. Often overdoing it and getting into situations where you wish you had less stuff to deal with. Overall, it's all a compromise between what you need and what you want.

 

[Christophe Noel]

The foundation to bikepacking with a bicycle centers around carrying just enough gear to be as comfortable as desired with the absolute minimum of gear. If the level of gear alters the ride of the bike too much, you go from "bikepacking" to touring, which is unfortunately a little bit like just moving your junk from A to B.

I used to do similar traveling on my Honda XR650L. I'd carry the minimum of gear as to not upset the ride qualities of the bike.

I know Jonathan Hansen did a similar ride recently on his Royal Enfield. In his case, too much gear would have disrupted the ride of the motorcycle. A perfect example of bikepacking methods with a motor.

 

[o0synge0o]

The foundation to bikepacking with a bicycle centers around carrying just enough gear to be as comfortable as desired with the absolute minimum of gear. If the level of gear alters the ride of the bike too much, you go from "bikepacking" to touring, which is unfortunately a little bit like just moving your junk from A to B.

I used to do similar traveling on my Honda XR650L. I'd carry the minimum of gear as to not upset the ride qualities of the bike.

I know Jonathan Hansen did a similar ride recently on his Royal Enfield. In his case, too much gear would have disrupted the ride of the motorcycle. A perfect example of bikepacking methods with a motor.

That's exactly what I'm talking about, and similar to Traveltoad's KTM above from what I can see. I'm interested in that aspect, vs the "touring" aspect.

Thanks for your input Flounder.

 

[Christophe Noel]

That's exactly what I'm talking about, and similar to Traveltoad's KTM above from what I can see. I'm interested in that aspect, vs the "touring" aspect.

Thanks for your input Flounder.

I know it seems like a dubious distinction, but there truly is a difference between bikepacking and touring with a bicycle. Motorcycling hasn't come up with a snappy buzz word like bikepacking, but I'm sure it's around the corner.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

You should contact Mark Sampson with BigDogAdventures and check out how little he carries while still remaining perfectly comfortable.

27 days from Mexico to Canada on a Yamaha WR250R.

I will be copying his setup pretty soon, as I find it to be perfect the perfect compromise of comfort and necessity. He's been doing it for forever, I've been doing it for years.... Each trip my load gets lighter.

I'll admit, I had the dry bag viewed below on this trip also, but was left at the hotel. Yes, thats in Mexico. South of Galeana, Nuevo Leon.

Floppy bag syndrome...

But if you want light.... backpack and hammock with light sleeping bag head lamp, and cooking- only really works when you can get food along the way though.

I've never not packed something that I've needed.