Any bikers here???
- Thread starter tytek
- Start date
I've just fitted a rack and panniers to my mountain bike for a bit of camping/trekking, the principal is the same. all you petrolheads will get there quicker but I bet i can get further off road. 
I've just fitted a rack and panniers to my mountain bike for a bit of camping/trekking, the principal is the same. all you petrolheads will get there quicker but I bet i can get further off road.
Exactly.
Cycle touring is the new backpacking. Faster than walking, zero polution, accesses areas cars can't, and has freedom to go away from train/bus routes where backpackers tend to herd up like sheep.
Don't go too big with the rucksack and avoid ones with side pockets. It doesn't take long before you start to feel the strain on your shoulders even if you only pack your light gear in them. Used to tear about with pack where the pockets stuck out and the wind catching them was a pain.
Also, clip-ons have you sitting forward with your head tilted back a touch. I know you said your bike had been streetfightered so it might not be too bad but I had to try out half a dozen rucksacks before I found one that didn't interfere with the seat hump of my wee ZXR400R or force my helmet forward. Ended up with a Karrimor alpine style at 35l.
Have to say the folk in the wee climbing shop in Penrith were really trusting. They let me take the ones off the racks that were packed up with paper and take a spin round the block with each of them.
Have you tried out soft panniers and a tailpack ? I guess that the Gixer has a relatively high exhaust so you are most likely limited to small panniers carried quite high. Places like Gelert and Go Outdoors are stocking cargo bags with half decent waterproofing that fit across the seat and panniers on many bikes - this ind of thing
http://www.gelert.com/products/Heavy_Duty_65_Litre_Cargo_Bag.aspx
Mine converts into a rucsac too, which is handy. Don't get one that is too big.
Richard
http://www.gelert.com/products/Heavy_Duty_65_Litre_Cargo_Bag.aspx
Mine converts into a rucsac too, which is handy. Don't get one that is too big.
Richard
Seconded on the rucksack stopping you lifting your head properly, I have one (Karrimor) that doesn't cause any issues and a Lowe Alpine where the top pocket gets in the way of the back of my lid.
Not got enough spare cash for a Kriega R 35 rucksack at the moment and to be fair I don't use a bike for camping trips, got a van.
Done lots of wild camping over the years on my bikes.
Mostly enjoyed France and Spain. On MZ 250 loaded up like a camel or old Harley Shovelhead. I'd go as long as I could make my money last. Usually months on bugger all.
You wouldn't believe the gear I could get on my MZ including all my camping gear I had a full size/length beach lounge chair with wooden armrests I found on a beach I toted all over the place.
Just did 3 years ago now over 20,000 miles wandering around the USA east coast to west. Wild camped over 6 months straight at one point (averaged 12 quid a week) until got a job for 6 months and lived in caravan up a mountain. bliss.
stuff the rat race.
The only down side is having to put fuel in.= expense
So I bought a cycle and want to try it on that next.
I cant wait to get away from the plebs once again.
Mart.
Mostly enjoyed France and Spain. On MZ 250 loaded up like a camel or old Harley Shovelhead. I'd go as long as I could make my money last. Usually months on bugger all.
You wouldn't believe the gear I could get on my MZ including all my camping gear I had a full size/length beach lounge chair with wooden armrests I found on a beach I toted all over the place.
Just did 3 years ago now over 20,000 miles wandering around the USA east coast to west. Wild camped over 6 months straight at one point (averaged 12 quid a week) until got a job for 6 months and lived in caravan up a mountain. bliss.
stuff the rat race.
The only down side is having to put fuel in.= expense
So I bought a cycle and want to try it on that next.
I cant wait to get away from the plebs once again.
Mart.
Last edited:
There is a trail here in the U.S. called Trail America that runs from eastern Tennessee to Port Orford, Oregon. The kicker is that it is entirely on dirt roads or off-road. Check it out at this website.
www.bigdogadventures.com/
If you like to ride the dirt, you're going to love this website. Enjoy. (note: be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to see the list of various rides this guy has taken)
Just remembered there is a second trail that runs from Mexico, up through the Rocky Mts. all the way to Canada. Dirt all the way.
www.bigdogadventures.com/
If you like to ride the dirt, you're going to love this website. Enjoy. (note: be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to see the list of various rides this guy has taken)
Just remembered there is a second trail that runs from Mexico, up through the Rocky Mts. all the way to Canada. Dirt all the way.
Last edited:
Yes, bmw r1150gs. Did a great outback trip last year. Here's the thread in out and about
You need a good tool kit (puncture repair etc), canvas side panniers are the go (andy strapz excellent) and obviously go for light weight gear (I was impressed with Mountain Hardware 1 person tent). I find a hydration backpack is an excellent idea. Keep your weight low makes the bike easier to control in the loose stuff.
You need a good tool kit (puncture repair etc), canvas side panniers are the go (andy strapz excellent) and obviously go for light weight gear (I was impressed with Mountain Hardware 1 person tent). I find a hydration backpack is an excellent idea. Keep your weight low makes the bike easier to control in the loose stuff.
Last edited:
I have a 250cc ex army 'Bombardier' for a run about along with a heap of spares. I've just worked out that I've owned it now for 30 years!
I had a Honda XL500 in OZ whilst touring in the early 1990's and clocked some 25000k's on the mainland and several months in Tasmania. I envied the BMW GS riders for their comfortable saddles and heard some interesting stories on how BM'ers behave in deep water clutch wise! My honda was fine if pushed through deep water with the engine not running but the wheels wanted to float and that made the whole excersise 'interesting' to say the least. Stripped of all items ie tank, seat etc made it quite light and thus easy to push.
Spent five days broken down somewhere in Cape York with a burned out clutch 'till I got a lift back over the Daintree river to get spares. I borrowed a 17mm socket and bar from a passing tour co Unimog to knock the flywheel nut on and off when I had the new plates. This was the only job I hadn't the tool for. The only other breakdowns were very occasional punctures and more often than not folks stopped if they were passing and this usually ended up with very kind hospitality and a bath, a station tour and friendship. Wow good times! I still hold that Australians are the most courteous of drivers.
Martin1. I envy your US trip. That's one I would like to do but other things have taken over so I will just be a listener!
Swyn.
I had a Honda XL500 in OZ whilst touring in the early 1990's and clocked some 25000k's on the mainland and several months in Tasmania. I envied the BMW GS riders for their comfortable saddles and heard some interesting stories on how BM'ers behave in deep water clutch wise! My honda was fine if pushed through deep water with the engine not running but the wheels wanted to float and that made the whole excersise 'interesting' to say the least. Stripped of all items ie tank, seat etc made it quite light and thus easy to push.
Spent five days broken down somewhere in Cape York with a burned out clutch 'till I got a lift back over the Daintree river to get spares. I borrowed a 17mm socket and bar from a passing tour co Unimog to knock the flywheel nut on and off when I had the new plates. This was the only job I hadn't the tool for. The only other breakdowns were very occasional punctures and more often than not folks stopped if they were passing and this usually ended up with very kind hospitality and a bath, a station tour and friendship. Wow good times! I still hold that Australians are the most courteous of drivers.
Martin1. I envy your US trip. That's one I would like to do but other things have taken over so I will just be a listener!
Swyn.
I was looking at a GS but I didn't want to come across as a 'Ewan or Charley' wannabe.
Nice bikes all the same - and plenty of accessories.
The ex-army MT350's (or the older MT500's) are good sturdy bikes. I had a 500 for a while before I got my Tenere.
They are made to be easy to work on - you just need to be good with a hammer and a screwdriver!!!
Nice bikes all the same - and plenty of accessories.
The ex-army MT350's (or the older MT500's) are good sturdy bikes. I had a 500 for a while before I got my Tenere.
They are made to be easy to work on - you just need to be good with a hammer and a screwdriver!!!
First post on here, been lurking for a while and not sure I can give any useful advice on luggage for the Gixer, Tytek, but couldn't resist the opportunity to talk bikes - took this one to Morocco and back and it coped with 3 weeks worth of stuff OK - mind you the heavy back end combined with dual purpose tyres gave it an evil high AND low speed weave!
currently thinking of a rough camp/bushcraft/trail riding trip on the Welsh borders but on a much smaller bike:
and do some of this:
which I'm hoping to make up some soft panniers and tank panniers for (some plan or other to use a couple of gasmask bags with magnets on the tank).
Last edited:
Loved the Tenere early versions, Tytek, (not so keen on the new one) mine's an 02 as well, burning a bit of oil now (20,000 miles) - just bought a compression tester to try and start diagnosing the ailment - hoping it's a valve problem - but I only had one breakdown so far (regulator/rectifier) and of the three of us on XTs who went to Morocco we had zero problems with any of the bikes. Slow but dead simple and easy.
Going back to your original post - I s'pose it depends how much stuff you'll be taking and it's dimensions as to how to strap it all on the bike.
So far - for a short trip - I'm thinking: Tool kit/Tarp/sleeping bag/cooking stuff/torch/maps/RAC card/cash card and phone. I'd love to take a camp bed but they are seriously big and I can't run to £180 for the ultralite one (cool tho tis).
what else would you take?
Going back to your original post - I s'pose it depends how much stuff you'll be taking and it's dimensions as to how to strap it all on the bike.
So far - for a short trip - I'm thinking: Tool kit/Tarp/sleeping bag/cooking stuff/torch/maps/RAC card/cash card and phone. I'd love to take a camp bed but they are seriously big and I can't run to £180 for the ultralite one (cool tho tis).
what else would you take?
So is anybody else coming to the Dragon Rally this year then ? Not very rough camping at all but fun all the same. This years venue is near Betws y Coed in Snowdonia.
If anybody is I'll be there with the Thumper Club and riding a 1977 R100S in faded red with a black cockpit fairing, haven't had the chance to fit a new alternator to the Tenere.
So come on, whose going ?
Richard
If anybody is I'll be there with the Thumper Club and riding a 1977 R100S in faded red with a black cockpit fairing, haven't had the chance to fit a new alternator to the Tenere.
So come on, whose going ?
Richard
Just checked out the photos, Lavrentyuk - think I'll have to work on my cold weather tolerance a bit first!
been without a bike for maybe three years in total since 1989...unfortunatly now is one of those times had a 1200 bandit last year i went camping on. ruck sacks are a terrible idea if you cant make it reach the seat, on an unfaired bike at least ((you can allways strap some kit to the pillion seat to achieve this ) did leeds to south wales in 3 hours once with three stops for fuel (its about 270 miles lol) coudnt feel my arms for 3 days.
been 195 mph on my old zx12r lost half the contents of my rucksack before i realised it had ripped open (on the section of private track between my house and work on a monday morning honest...officer )
cant imagine an extended trip of over a week on a bike tbh unless your useing hotels and ive never been able to afford that, doable with a 1000cc+ with luggage i supose but if you have the right bike for that sort of stuff your not a biker in my opinion, your a tourist that just happens to be on a bike.
ide say three days solo on a bike with no luggage is about it wild camping wich i have done many times on various bikes, only ever had a on//off road bike once a transalp and i never took it off road dosent seem to be an issue to take a faired bike a mile offroad if your on any sort of forestry track as long as it isnt to wet ofc.
i/we (the wife) are now at least 4 years from a new bike of any kind im 42 this year and the bike i buy next will be the last one i ever own (hopefully an 1800 suzuki my first ever custom ) looking to do a trip across america when the kids leave home ...but im trying to get the wife to agree to do it on a horse even though neither of us have ever riden even once lol
looking for an organised trip of at least 2000 mile take a few months off prob a pipe dream but what the hell will be memorable if it happens.
been 195 mph on my old zx12r lost half the contents of my rucksack before i realised it had ripped open (on the section of private track between my house and work on a monday morning honest...officer )
cant imagine an extended trip of over a week on a bike tbh unless your useing hotels and ive never been able to afford that, doable with a 1000cc+ with luggage i supose but if you have the right bike for that sort of stuff your not a biker in my opinion, your a tourist that just happens to be on a bike.
ide say three days solo on a bike with no luggage is about it wild camping wich i have done many times on various bikes, only ever had a on//off road bike once a transalp and i never took it off road dosent seem to be an issue to take a faired bike a mile offroad if your on any sort of forestry track as long as it isnt to wet ofc.
i/we (the wife) are now at least 4 years from a new bike of any kind im 42 this year and the bike i buy next will be the last one i ever own (hopefully an 1800 suzuki my first ever custom ) looking to do a trip across america when the kids leave home ...but im trying to get the wife to agree to do it on a horse even though neither of us have ever riden even once lol
looking for an organised trip of at least 2000 mile take a few months off prob a pipe dream but what the hell will be memorable if it happens.
I have to say that I don't believe that the cubic capacity of a bike is at all related to its ability to tour. My best tourer was an MZ 300 two stroke single. Second best the Tenere 600. My BMW 1000 is fun but offers no touring advantage.
I even thoroughly enjoyed touring the west coast of Ireland on a Honda C90 once.
I really need to get an MZ going again, I had more fun on that than anything else I have ever ridden.
So is anybody coming to the Dragon Rally then ?
Richard
I even thoroughly enjoyed touring the west coast of Ireland on a Honda C90 once.
I really need to get an MZ going again, I had more fun on that than anything else I have ever ridden.
So is anybody coming to the Dragon Rally then ?
Richard
Haha - yes I know what you mean - it just imposes different sorts of limitations, I saw a guy on a mini-monkey bike in northern spain - absolutely loaded up and obviously off on a longish trip - but definitely having a ball.
Also there was a guy on Advrider (website) who has gone from Australia to London on a postman's moped!
(on the other hand the thought of cruising 2 up with luggage along the m'ways of europe on a big beemer has it's attractions)
Similar threads
