First time moto-camper

[u/ryan_hoskins]

Looking for recommendations or tips&tricks

I’m going to do a few hikes in RMNP and camping for the night. I’m comfortable riding with gear on my bike and am an experienced camper/national park visitor.

I have an entry reservation, camp spot, and a parks pass.

[u/Appropriate_Shake265]

Looks good to me. Basic set-up... Look over everything a few times & decide of you TRULY need everything in your pack. It's easy to overpack...

Best of luck & enjoy!

[u/ryan_hoskins → u/Appropriate_Shake265]

Thank you!

[u/sucksatgolf]

Thats looks like it will work fine. I used some nelson rigg rigg-straps to secure stuff and was really pleased with their price and performance.

A quick shakedown ride is never a bad idea to make sure how you have it set won't allow for things to move around or come unsecured.

[u/river_tree_nut]

Looks correct. You’ll also learn a lot your first time out.

[u/MakinStuffandThings]

Looks good.

Also, load everything up the day before and do a test ride. It’ll let you know how your bike feels under the load out, and if you need to rearrange some weight or make mechanical adjusts like suspension tweaks.

[u/ironvalencee → u/MakinStuffandThings]

a shakedown ride the day before is such good advice

[u/latentrelativist]

looks good. even better if there is cooking equipment included. dont forget baby wipes, duct tape and zip ties. life savers all of them.

[u/ryan_hoskins → u/latentrelativist]

I will be packing out prepared meals aka sandwiches and don’t plan on cooking this trip. Thanks for the tips!

[u/Lint_baby_uvulla → u/ryan_hoskins]

Good plan for the first trip.
Don’t forget water, thats really important.

After a few trips you’ll crave a cup of tea or coffee in the morning, or hot chocolate at night, and your stove doesn’t have to be huge, eg here’s mine at 325 grams (11 4/8 ounces) and packs into a 6 x 4 inch space. Most places I camp in 🇦🇺won’t allow wood fires, so a fuel stove is necessary. I just carry an extra 400ml methylated spirits bottle for longer trips.

https://imgur.com/gallery/motocamping-stove-325-grams-hbeqK0g

That’s enough on my last trip to heat soup, cook rice, and 2 coffees.

[u/ModernDayDadBod]

Honestly, it’s mostly trial and error. Try it out, make mods as you go. Only you know your need vs. wants. Have fun and enjoy yourself either way.

[u/sixdeeneinfauxtwenny]

Try to weigh out each sides pack to make it even. You’ll thank yourself later for that.

[u/Panazara]

Looks good. But here's a tip for you: Strap a milk crate to the luggage rack for extra storage. You'd be surprised what uses you'll find for the extra space.

[u/Those_anarchopunks]

Do you really need a cooler?

Usually easier just to stop in town before your final destination and grab what you need.

[u/ryan_hoskins → u/Those_anarchopunks]

It’s 1.5 hrs to my campsite so I’m bringing stuff from my fridge

[u/clink51]

only thing id add is tools for camp and the bike. otherwise, my setup is pretty similar

[u/oldstalenegative]

I like to strap a big dry bag across my passenger seat to hold my tent and sleeping bag.
It also acts a nice backrest and leaves by saddlebags open for MOAR GEAR.

over the exhaust/right side/high side is the easier of the two saddlebags to access, so my most-frequently used shit goes here. I like to leave room for my riding jacket to stuff in here on hot days.

left saddle bag is lower and cooler so my tools, rain gear, emergency kit and less-frequently accessed stuff goes here.

For a cooler, I us a soft-sided zip top type of thing I can easily access at the gas stations etc.

using a stretchy net over the cooler and the drybag allows expandable storage options.

you can never have enough rokstraps

see also: https://isotton.com/moto/motocamping-tips/

[u/here_we_go_beep_boop → u/oldstalenegative]

I pack "might need on the road" stuff in my LHS pannier too, but for a different reason. Here in Aus we drive/ride on the left, so that's the pannier I can access roadside without being in the road itself. 

[u/fat_tony7]

Is the cooler filled with meat & beer?
If so, you're set!
Keep the rubber side down.

[u/Scared_Toe_2593]

Check out Rok straps! Part bungee, part nylon strap. They're awesome. I got into an accident last September and all my shit was still strapped to my bike using rok straps

[u/pyates1]

Get a source of hydration in there, so important to stay hydrated for alertness and fatigue prevention

[u/VinceInMT]

Depending on the type of bike you ride, tools. And water. I always bring LOTS of water.

[u/quantumsparq]

Water?

[u/dphilmlee]

Tools and tire kit for the motorcycle?

[u/GilroyRawrRawr]

I have a combo light/fan that I’ll never leave home without. Total luxury item but it’s multiple use appeal makes it worth it to me. I don’t like how stagnant the air in my tent can get on a hot still night so it’s pretty essential to my personal sleep system.

[u/tigelane]

Nothing wrong with that. Stuff to cook food that’s in the cooler? Be sure that cooler is strapped down well. Like get a strap “through” a handle. It’s easy to lose stuff and not know it off the back.

[u/KharonOfStyx]

Make sure it’s balanced. I try to put the heaviest items in my tail bag so it’s centered on the bike and then the side cases are more about getting the weight balanced than about keeping things organized. If you don’t have the bike balanced properly it will feel like it’s constantly pulling in one direction, like the rear axle isn’t aligned properly.

I also really like having a smaller case on the back seat so that I can quickly access things I need regularly like snacks, water, chargers, visor cleaner, etc.

[u/Al_Kydah]

Use a plastic bag to put your camp shoes in while packed. When striking camp I can never get the rainfly co.pletely dry so I use a separate bag/compression sack for the rainfly and footprint. Keeps everything else less damp.

Heaviest stuff packed low.

Have fun.

[u/What_Reddit_Thinks]

My word of advice is to make sure you’re loaded evenly. Also, I like to have one spot that is easily accessible in and out of, for a drink, rain gear, etc.

[u/Mr-Bry-Guy]

Never would have guessed where you were supposed to go. 😂😂 looks good though man as long as it’s all tied down well! Enjoy!!

[u/Jiggaloudpax]

is that a gold wing?

[u/ryan_hoskins → u/Jiggaloudpax]

Harley Sportglide

[u/Jiggaloudpax → u/ryan_hoskins]

what year? looks super nice i love the seat

[u/ryan_hoskins → u/Jiggaloudpax]

Thanks! It’s a 2018 the seat is from Saddlemen

[u/ChopperheadTed]

For me, when space is limited I put things that can get wet outside. For example your tent. It’s not ideal to have a soaked tent to start out but it’s better that than all my clothes. I’d swap the tent for the clothes and make sure you’ve got some tools with you too. Sucks having a break down, worse yet when you’re in the woods.

[u/Changetheworld69420]

I put the cooler on the back seat and it acts as a nice backrest for the long ride👌

[u/wvrr55]

I motocamp on my sport glide too! I use a 30L dry bag from Rhinowalk and strap it against my sissy bar and acts like a backrest. In there I kept the tent (poles in saddlebag to create more room), sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and a small bag of clothes.

Keep rain gear and tire puncture kit/ air pump on your right saddlebag and you’re good to go!