Camping With a Motorcycle

dougford wrote:
I didn't think it was possible to camp WITHOUT a motorcycle...:-)

YES I agree ;)

We are set up to trailer the Harleys. We prefer taking them over the car. We also have an open trailer that allows us to take the bikes and the kayaks or canoe on top. If we take the dog though we tow the car.



I also camp with just the bike sometimes. Have my backpacking gear so it packs easily on the bike. Having all the amenities of the RV including a warm comfortable queen bed is nice though.

Bipeflier wrote:
If you are going to carry your camping gear on a bike, PLEASE learn to pack better than the pics that Carb Cleaner posted.

Lots of weight way up high and back on the bike can adversly affect the handling of the bike.

Learn to pack low and centered to minimize the affects.

Ride safe

I hear ya, and that's a good reminder, but that's all light-weight backpacking gear. I stuff a blanket in the pack for a back rest because there's too much space in the pack if I don't. It looks heavy, but it's really not. Weight-wise, I can easily carry everything on my bikes in one armload.
Besides, you can't tell me you've never seen a gal on the back of a bike that doesn't weigh at least twice what my gear weighs. Probably, three times the weight.
Handling, has not been an issue. I don't try to drag a knee when I'm on a Harley. I've ridden tens of thousands of miles, loaded with gear (cinch straps are better than bungie cords, but bungies have their uses). Naturally, with more weight, it's better to try having more braking distance. Certainly, loading low and centered is the way to go, but, sometimes, you make do with whatcha got (my Sportster with no saddlebags, on a 10 day solo trip, for example).
Now-a-days, the bikes get pulled behind our truck camper in a trailer. We set up a base camp and do day rides. Sleeping on the ground has become an unattractive option, and I will not stay in a motel/hotel.

Bipeflier wrote:
If you are going to carry your camping gear on a bike, PLEASE learn to pack better than the pics that Carb Cleaner posted.

Lots of weight way up high and back on the bike can adversly affect the handling of the bike.

Learn to pack low and centered to minimize the affects.

Ride safe

An option could be a URAL bike with sidecar, either passenger or cargo sidecar. The sidecar also has an engageable drive so it's a 2WD unit. Can haul mucho camping gear that way off-road.

haste maker wrote:
We enjoy camping & I enjoy camping & riding my motorcycle, my wife can't ride anymore. Is there any camping forum that people like me use (camping with a motorcycle) use to stay in touch with each other to camp & ride together?

I think you'll get better responses if you clarify a bit. Do you want to go camping in your RV and bring the motorcycle along for rides?

Or do you want to go camping on your motorcycle?

Motorcycle sites and motorcycle camping sites are not likely to discuss RV camping in any way, shape or form. RV sites are not likely to discuss more than the logistics of getting your motorcycle to the campground with your RV.

When you're packing a bike and carrying a passenger, your space is limited so a lot of stuff gets put higher than one would like. It's not the best way to do it, but sometimes you have no choice.



Circa 1975.

And besides, those are Harley's, no handling to worry about. :)

If you are going to carry your camping gear on a bike, PLEASE learn to pack better than the pics that Carb Cleaner posted.

Lots of weight way up high and back on the bike can adversly affect the handling of the bike.

Learn to pack low and centered to minimize the affects.

Ride safe

We will also have a motorcycle on the hitch of the MH this year. Cannot ride as much as I used to but still have the bug. In process of a rack to hang on the hitch to ease on/off. Tent camping means camping with a MH these days. Too many knee surgeries to sleep on the ground.

To each his own!!

Keep the shiny side up, no matter what you happen to be driving.??

DW and her ex used to do it all the time. They preferred the touring bike so they had Goldwings. They also towed a trailer each. Each trailer was a tent trailer with storage in the bottom.

Only real issue that had was that some campgrounds required at least a tent trailer to stay. They did not allow tent camping. Between the 2 bikes and trailers they never had a shortage of anything. The secret to bike camping is storage. Everything has to be in its own specific place.

I didn't think it was possible to camp WITHOUT a motorcycle...:-)