Hi
My route will be France,Italy,Austria,Hungary,Romania,Bulgaria,Turk ey then the usual route of Iran ,Pakistan,India and onwards.I intend to get to Turkey fairly quickly (as I have toured all over Europe)and once there I know that accomodation is cheap and gets cheaper the further East you go.Is it worth lugging a tent ,bag and mat around with all the weight and space it all takes up ?Or is there something I dont know!Opinions appreciated.

I know weight is important but personally I wouldn't go that distance without the back-up of a tent and bag...You never know when your likely to get caught out. The tent would also come in handy if you found yourself broken down somewhere in the wilderness towards night time. Depending on when you go, there is probably no need to buy an expensive 4 season tent, a good 3 season one should be okay in summer/autumn.

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

I'd say you won't need camping equipment if you do not intend to camp.

Accomodation is available anywhere along your route and even in case you get caught up, somebody will most probably invite you for a night or so.

I'd take an inner linen though, some beds will be dirty. Depending on season maybe a sleeping bag, too. And maybe a pillow case.

Lars

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http://www.ontheroad.de
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiVqgukzm40

That's pretty much on the line of what I was about to type when Lars' post popped up!

You could consider:-
Take a bivvy bag in place of a tent, as an emergency overnight stop facility + a light weight sleeping bag that folds up really small - for rough camping you just climb into that bag, wearing all of the clothing that you are carrying in any case.

Post it home when you decide that you don't want it any longer!

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Dave

I'd second the bivi bag option, I've used them for years, I started with a cheap green one, and then bought a Goretex which I've had for so long I can't find it on the net now, but it's similar to THIS.



I went for one with the single hoop at the opening, as it's much easier to get into in the rain, you've got a bit of room to get in and out of clothes without mooning at everyone, and I personally hated the "body-bag" feel of those without. It also comes in handy if you really can't face laying on that dubious sheet in that dodgy hotel and for a siesta in either the pouring rain or the boiling sun. I usually leave my sleeping bag inside it and roll the whole lot up together unless it's too damp. The only thing I'd do to improve it (and I've never seen it done) would be to have an inflatable mattress built in, so I had a true modern version of my dad's aussie bed roll.

One thing though, choose your colour wisely. Green is great if you want to stick it behind a hedge in a farmer's field and not be noticed, red is better if you're on a camp site and don't want to come back from the showers to find some clod in a campervan's driven straight over the top without noticing (and that's a thought that does stick in your head a bit as you bed down for the night, so park your bike close).

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If you decide to go with the Bivy bag option I know a great place to get a British Army one from - British Military Surplus

Or this one -
British Military Surplus


I have bought 4 water containers from them and got them 2 days later.

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).