I wouldn't buy and TRY to carry such a big and heavy tent...

I searched the tents and also started a thread about best tents for motorbiking in the Hubb.
I bought something light, effective which has better ventilation. May be you need a better tent for winter condition. Yeah but not something like this 12 kgs huge one... Even 5 kgs is much IMHO.
I have a very good Salewa Mountain 25 tent which is 4.25 kgs. It is very good for winter. I don't use it for motorbiking. The tent I bought is 3.3 kgs something. Sure, it is not for real winter...

Ah yes may be because of I am ver slim and don't want to have more wight on the bike...

__________________
"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "

Hey Mat, Sorry i have never experienced this. My tents have never had the no-see-em on the outer (inside yes). So i cant really advise.. Any condensation can still freeze in a mesh inner tent but it will be on the out side of the mesh so it will bounce off and not hit you (only things in the vestibules). One point that this did bring up.. if you are in snow conditions and you can.. dig the tent in a few cm or so (the deeper the better) then pack the snow around the edges of the tent's outter. It has 2 effects 1) stops anything from slipping under (cus even snow tents can move in the wind), it kinda acts as 360deg guy lines. 2) Snow is an amazing insulator so keeps you warmer. Snow caves (dig outs) can get too warm (trust me).

Indu, Yeah i know you are not talking Arctic tipis (but that is my only experience of them).. and yes it is possible to set them up solo (I just find it hard.) but I still find them too heavy .. yes it is compromise between weight and sq footage.. but my personal taste is that I will take small and light.. my tent weighs in at 0.95kg (with pegs, lines and fly and bag). My Main point is that even though they are made for it.. please be sure that you do have good circulation going if burning anything in the tent.. CO is too easy to die from.

__________________
2000 Africa Twin
http://two-up-ona-twin.blogspot.com

Yes, you are right. I think using a lavvo is like having a van: You sort of get addicted to the convenience of all that space. The lavvo in itself is not so large when packed up and fits neatly on the bike. But it's not small, and if size and/or weight is your prime concern there are other options. In winter, I have a high priority on the ability to make a fire to dry clothes and keep warm inside the tent. I do not find other suitable options than a lavvo. And I can bring in the bike if I need to ;-)

__________________
HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

Look at the photo, one of the guys is wearing a thermal suit bit like a ski suit. (red/black with some reflective on). Not sure what they are called but you can pick them up in larger supermarkets in Norway, they are cheap and great in cold dry conditions if it gets really cold you can sleep in them too.

If your heating packs up you can drive in them. They are a great bit of kit to have even if you only use them when in camp.

have a good trip

You're thinking of these, perhaps:



They are thermal wear and are actually quite popular among winter riders. Water repellant, windproof and very warm.

You can also buy snowmobile outfit, it works great for winter motorcycle riding too.

__________________
HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

If it came to that, I'll activate Plan B - the south of France.

In fact, it's now starting to seem like a really good idea.

__________________
I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

cheers Hans P they are the ones, a very useful bit of kit.

I was always taught that to sleep well at night in cold weather you had to strip off everything that you wore during the day (then find a Norwegian Princess) and put on dry clothing (that should keep you hot). The sweat that finds its way into your clothes during the day makes it colder if you leave even a slightly damp shirt on. I've been laughed at on a few occasions in cold weather as I pranced around naked in 1/2" cold weather - only to have a loyal following the next night.

A few hot rocks from around a camp fire, wrapped in newspaper can make life a lot more bearable.

That's the way I do it too, stripping off everything I mean. I only wear wool (not cotton or any other fabric) undies to transport any perspiration when I'm sleeping in my sleeping bag in the winter.

__________________
HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

I've found that silk sleeping bag liners do wonders. They add about a season to a bag and pack to the size of a fist. They were great in the kalahari when our kettle froze solid overnight.
And you can wash them easily - unlike sleeping bags.

Winter in the south of France is not that nice .. .. try Morocco. Might take a few days to get there ... I don't travel that fast in the cold.

__________________
---
Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

A bizarre but potentially life-saving tip. Well, a night's sleep saving tip anyway. Though if I'm on a bike tour it's rare I'll spend more than one night in one place. But a good tip anyway.

__________________
Seek Truth

15 countries in 40 days. Tanks, crashes, minefields and Kalashnikovs

Now it's not like me to point this one out, but I'm afraid this is one of those times when you have to stay off the too

Alchohol (and tea and coffee, less so) dehydrate you, make you need to pee and change your metabolic rate. The guy who has a tot before bed feels nice and warm, gets off to sleep OK but needs to pee at 2 am and that's your lot sleep wise until you get up, start the fire etc. The guy who goes to bed after say a mug of hot chocolate might wake up cold, but after the museli (I prefer a chocolate biscuit) will get back off to sleep again.

If you want a really bad nights sleep (actually about an hour), go to the Elefant, get off your face on what the Russian and Czech riders give you out of hip flasks, fail to close your tent properly and sleep fully clothed until the snow on your hat starts to melt. After that you can have as good a tent and sleeping bag as you like, you'll still be too cold to sleep.

If it is that sort of event, the cup of cocoa before you turn in works wonders IMHO, but need to be with it enough to use the stove safely.

Andy

How about chocolate and a little something making a nice, warm Kalhua type drink...

__________________
HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

Never tried. The first one might be revolting, but in my experience the next three or four are fine and it's the last one that does for you

Andy