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  #1  
Old 29 Jun 2007
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2-up camping on R1200GS ?

Hi all,

Has anyone done a 2-up camping trip of reasonable length abroad on a 1200GS ? Am I being too optimistic considering doing it ? Looking at my checklist, fitting everything on the bike feels ambitious to me. I can imagine 1-up and camping gear being OK or 2-up and no camping gear but is both too ambitious ? Any experiences appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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Old 29 Jun 2007
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You could mount stuff on the top of the panniers.


Another way to get extra storage is tank panniers, see
Touratech UK Webshop
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Old 29 Jun 2007
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Hi. Yea - I have been assuming using a tankbag+panniers and then either topbox or probably a large waterproof bag in place of the topbox. Yes - I can attach some things to the top (or maybe bottom) of the panniers. My question really is whether anyone has managed to pack 2 people, clothes for 2, tent, sleeping bags, spares, tools, 1st aid kit, stove etc. all onto a 1200GS and manage to ride it OK!?
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Old 29 Jun 2007
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You think that's bad. I'm facing the same question for a TDM850! It's where to put the camping kit that's leaving me stumped. Tent, stove, pots etc.

I keep telling her she's gotta learn to ride.

Alternatively, has anyone overlanded by bike pulling a trailer?
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Old 29 Jun 2007
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Hi I don’t have a 1200 I have an R100GS but a bikes a bike
We camp all the time and have done 3 and 4 week trips
You don’t need that much more gear for a few weeks than you would need for a weekend
Infact we sometimes take more gear for a weekend if we are not going very far that we do for a full 2 week trip
I find the big bag across the rear rack works very well but it can put a lot of weight right at the rear which is not so good at the moment we are using panniers and a top box with the tent and sleeping bags on top of the panniers and only light things like food in the top box I have ended up with things on top of the top box its ok as long as its light stuff
I think the secret is to be very harsh at the packing stage and try and get your gear down as light as you can the important things are good tent sleeping mats and sleeping bags if that’s sorted the rest is just stuff

Top Tip your gear will expand or at least my gear seems to so if every thing is full when you leave after a week you wont be able to fit it all in I don’t know how this happens but it does

Mind you when we first set off you some times wonder it the bike will go round the first corner as we wobble off up the road but by the time you get to the Alps you will be dragging the panniers on the floor round the bends

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Old 29 Jun 2007
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Amen to the pair of panniers and a large "ortlieb" type flexible bag on the back with a tank bag at the front for easy accessibility on the road - my mate does it all the time for two up camping on his 1200GS.

For the theory of it doesn't all fit in on the road, in my case this is because I get more and more sloppy about packing - each camping pitch I don't get things back in there in quite the same way; a kind of laziness! More slap dash each day with the compression straps on the sleeping bag and that type of thing.

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Old 2 Jul 2007
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Thanks for the feedback everyone
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