Minimalist camping - Motorcycle style

[spudboy]

Went off for a first test run of the "mini" camping setup on my motorbike last night. Quite a bit different to camping from the Landie where you have everything to hand including the kitchen sink. Can't see how you'd do long term trips without having every 2nd or 3rd night at some proper accommodation.

Can't believe how facist South Australian councils are down on the Fleuriea (sp?) Peninsular. Can't camp anywhere these days. Everything is fenced off or signed NO CAMPING.

I ended up pitching tent right on dusk as it took me an hour or so to find a reasonable place to stop for the night. Got a nice view in the morning though.

First time I've ever used a Trangia cooking kit. Pretty impressive. Nowhere near as fast as Gas or a Coleman dual-fuel, but cooked up dinner in a reasonable time. Folds up into nothing, and weighs almost nothing.

So - a few refinements to the kit and I'll be out again over the Xmas break.

Cheers
David

[richard4u2]

plenty of free camping spots across the nullabore :) your tent , that's about the size of my caravan :D

[Chops]

Hi David,

Cool looking setup you have, very nice indeed,,,

Have you seen the DVD's "Long Way Down" and "Long Way Around" by McGreggor and Boorman?
Its a very good watch, and something I'd have loved to have done or do myself. (probably a bit unfit for it these days :() But they seemed to do just that, (as in every few days) they had their support crew which were able to carry "extra's" etc for them as well as being on hand for other problems etc.

So,,, my point is,, you'll have to team up with some of the guys from here,, your own "support crew",,, :D

[Cap]

Love the Beemers... they are one of the best 2 wheeled touring machines out there. My parents (chucaro) did loads of two wheel touring some years ago.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/12/1150.jpg

[hoadie72]

My dad and his fiance went around Aus a few years ago on an R1100 towing a bike trailer & took about 2 months doing so. That way they were able to take a few extras like an esky, folding table, chairs and so forth.

[Albert]

You look like your well set up.
I spent 6 months strait in NZ, 2 up, on my Transalp. I carried all our cooking (Trianglar), camping gear and food. Our wet weather gear was worn most of the time!
We tried to stay light because we were off road a lot of the time but could carry every thing we needed.
When we came back to Aus I found we struggled to fit every thing into the Landy.
We also took our bikes overland to the UK over 12 months, but we had a bike each then. I would say between our 2 bikes we had nearly as much pannier space as you do. Thats why in all our photos we are wearing the same clothes, no room for spares.

[spudboy]

Yeah - I've seen a few web sites where a couple have done extended touring on a single bike (some on Round the World tours) and cannot imagine how they carry enough gear.

A bike each would be the minimum I'd think. At least you could then share the common bulky/heavy things like the tent and cooking gear etc.

Hoadie - not sure that I'd like to tow anything behind the GS :eek: I think it'd probably be easier to just take the 110! Still, if you love riding I guess it would be an option.

[Disco44]

If you go on the main highways particularly in the eastern states free camping is hard to find but it is there just have to look.The big problem is that , in my opinion, most councils want campers in caravan parks and therein lies the problem. Most caravan parks charge like wounded bulls and to make sure they get that little bit extra out of you, up goes the charges around this time of the year.
Greed nearly wrecked the world in the last couple of years .Have we in Australia learnt anything at all from it.
Cheers,
John ( disco44)

[spudboy]

Caravan parks have their place, I am sure, but I for one don't want to camp with 100 other people and be regimented into putting up my tent where they say I should.

It is definitely getting worse trying to find spots to put up a tent. I am self sufficient and don't want/need power, shower blocks, running water, clothes line, etc. I'd rather camp out in the bundu.

If I wanted something civilised, I'd just stay home.

I am soundling like a grumpy old man - sorry about that ;)

[nice1guv]

Your setup looks good! :D

Just in case you haven't run across this site, it is a good bike forum: ADVrider - Powered by vBulletin (http://www.advrider.com/forums/)

[robzilla]

It would be much along the lines of backpacking wouldn't it?
Maybe you could get into some backpacking mags and forums to see how they cope on long trips ;)
go Bear Gryll's style. Knife, water bottle and flint :D

[numpty]

go Bear Gryll's style. Knife, water bottle and flint :D

Only my opinion of course, but that bloke is a top class wally.:p

[crump]

one tip I would suggest is the "9 day underpants theory."
Day1-normal
Day2-back to front
Day3-normal inside out
Day4-Back to front inside out
Day5-commando
?????????:angel:

[spudboy]

Day5-commando:angel:

Wasn't 100% sure about this, so had to look it up:

Going Commando

If a person is 'going commando', they are not wearing any underwear.

It is called 'going commando' because of an old practice in the army, where, so you didn't **** your underwear in battle, you didn't wear any - and therefore could boast that you didn't **** your pants.

Also a known cure for vpl (http://www.aulro.com/define.php'term=vpl).
"I'm gonna wear those really tight shorts and go commando to show off my bulge."

[crump]

Wasn't 100% sure about this, so had to look it up:

Going Commando

If a person is 'going commando', they are not wearing any underwear.

It is called 'going commando' because of an old practice in the army, where, so you didn't **** your underwear in battle, you didn't wear any - and therefore could boast that you didn't **** your pants.

Also a known cure for vpl (http://www.aulro.com/define.php'term=vpl).
"I'm gonna wear those really tight shorts and go commando to show off my bulge."


but you haven't asked about the other 4 days?

[spudboy]

After Commando, I wasn't game :p

[87County]

Wasn't 100% sure about this, so had to look it up:

Going Commando

If a person is 'going commando', they are not wearing any underwear.

It is called 'going commando' because of an old practice in the army, where, so you didn't **** your underwear in battle, you didn't wear any - and therefore could boast that you didn't **** your pants.

Also a known cure for vpl (http://www.aulro.com/define.php'term=vpl).
"I'm gonna wear those really tight shorts and go commando to show off my bulge."


in some circles, the "going commando" expression has matured to be known as "freeballing" (which could become quite uncomfortable on a motorcycle I imagine)

[nice1guv]

in some circles, the "going commando" expression has matured to be known as "freeballing" (which could become quite uncomfortable on a motorcycle I imagine)

That's 1000 87County!!

You'd be surprised - it's quite comfortable! :D

Normal jocks are damn uncomfortable over long rides, the edge seams start cutting into your legs on the sides of the seat after a while.

Freeballing or boxers are the only way to go!

[Scouse]

That's 1000 87County!!

And what a way to bring it up :eek:.

:p:p

[Tombie]

That's 1000 87County!!

You'd be surprised - it's quite comfortable! :D

Normal jocks are damn uncomfortable over long rides, the edge seams start cutting into your legs on the sides of the seat after a while.

Freeballing or boxers are the only way to go!

YUP :thumbsup:

[spudboy]

but you haven't asked about the other 4 days?

OK - well, fill us in then :confused:

[Redback]

Boy this takes me back:)
Touring Europe
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
Touring round Oz
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

God I miss it:(

Baz.

[JohnF]

Was in bushwalking club years ago. years ago read in book on light weight camping some guys would go to such extremes as to hacksaw of the handle of the tooth brush to save afew grams of weigh, while others would not caryy a toothbrush, and use some campfire charcoal on their finger to clean their teeth. They could do a week's hike with under a 20 kilo pack, carrying all food [dehydrated to save weight of course].

It is partly how you decide to go lightweight. Years ago I had a terrific lightweight tent. Lent it and never got it back. It was 2 man, and weighed only 1.25 kilograms with poles. Only needed two aluminium pegs unless very windy. Had a summer weight down sleeping bag that weighed about a kilo--still have it. So you can get weight down if you have the right gear, and have a hacksaw at home.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

You know Baz,,
it wouldnt surprize me if we met one another back then---

[austastar]

Hi,
We spent nearly 4 months touring on a BMW, did 25,000km round Australia in 1976.
Bought the bike new, fitted a Krauser rack and panniers which we got rid of after one weekend trip, and welded up my own carrier, and made my own fibreglass panniers.
We had a small tent, fly, lilos, shellite stove, and could be self contained for a few nights.
Buying and storing food was a bit of a problem with space, clothing was limited.
We sent our warm clothing home by freight once we hit the tropics, and bought more on our way South when returning.
It can be done, and is heaps of fun.
We got to Laura, Broom, did the Gibb River Beef road (had to carry 15L of spare fuel), didn't go to SW WA but came back via Alice Springs.
By the way I think we did it on less than $500 back then.
The bike is still in regular use, and has 320,000km on the clock.
cheers

[big guy]

Spudboy

I just noticed this thread.

Did not even know you also are into bikes.

Your collection must surely be getting out of hand soon.:D

Very nice bike indeed.
Its too big and heavy for me and my days of riding are probably over, had my fun on several ducatis I had and glad I lived to tell the story.

[MacMan]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/bazzar/Bike%20Photos/Roll23-020.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/


God I miss it:(

Baz.


Snap!
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Taken a couple of years ago. Was going to sell the K but couldn't bring myself to do it. Trusty old nag of a thing.

[Redback]

Snap!
http://members.optusnet.com.au/%7Emacmanmike/Grampians080901/K100RS_Grampians080904.jpg

Taken a couple of years ago. Was going to sell the K but couldn't bring myself to do it. Trusty old nag of a thing.

I bloody near cried when I sold mine, it's the only bike/car I have ever been emotional about, I loved my old K100:D

Baz.

[waynep]

Boy this takes me back:)
Touring Europe

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
Touring round Oz


God I miss it:(

Baz.

Are you doing what I think you're doing in the above pic ? :D

[Redback]

Are you doing what I think you're doing in the above pic ? :D

Aaah no:angel: it's not me and no it's not what you think:D it's one of the guys I met when I picked my bike up from BMW in Munich, his bike is out of shot.

Baz.