Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Equipment, Travel > Camping Equipment and all Clothing
A tent using the bike as part of the frame? A tent using the bike as part of the frame?
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Camping Equipment and all Clothing Tents, sleeping bags, stoves etc. Riding clothing, boots, helmets, what to wear when not riding, etc.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia




Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 19 Apr 2012
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: London
Posts: 9
A tent using the bike as part of the frame?
Topeak Bikamper Bike Tent : Bikes | Mountain Bikes | Road Bikes| Winstanleys

I'm off on a 2 month Eurotrip and really want to camp a fair bit.
What I'd like is a tent like the one I've linked to above.
Where I can use the bike as part of the frame.
Size is a factor but if there's any suggestions, I'll gladly receive them!

Tris...
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 19 Apr 2012
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
Quote:
Originally Posted by beertastic View Post
Topeak Bikamper Bike Tent : Bikes | Mountain Bikes | Road Bikes| Winstanleys

I'm off on a 2 month Eurotrip and really want to camp a fair bit.
What I'd like is a tent like the one I've linked to above.
Where I can use the bike as part of the frame.
Size is a factor but if there's any suggestions, I'll gladly receive them!

Tris...
That looks like a terrible design for a mountain bike , let alone a Motorbike.

You have to remove your bicycle wheel and the bike has to be level and straight. It also looks like it's about to rip in 5 places at any time..

It doesn't even pack that small.... Total gimmick at first glance.

Anyway... You can tie ANY tent, poncho or bivvy to your bike and use it as an anchor. But why bother !!

What 99% of people do is just use a free standing Dome/Geodesic designed tent, and for good reason. It just' the easiest, simplest, most practical and versatile thing for motorcycle travel.

I personally hate tying anything to my bike. What do you do if you want to ride to the shops etc ! Do you drag your camp site behind you ?

What if you get high winds and the tent pulls your bike over on top of you !

The list goes on.......
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 19 Apr 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Bassett, Nebraska
Posts: 276
Believe me, I have been down this road and appreciate your creative lateral thinking, but Touring Ted is right.

I imagine many riders have often thought: Why not use your bike as a frame for a tarp tent?

But then you go traveling and realize that it would have hurt when the bike blew over at night in a gale in Death Valley. And you can't go to town and get supplies if your bike is part of your tent. And the mosquitos are nasty, it would be nice if my moto-tarptent had netting. And then you look at some peoples solutions like this gargantuan thing that looks like it's made out of cheese:

Nomad Motorcycle Tent | Uncrate

And eventually you realize that it is much more practical to just get a high quality lightweight free standing tent and a black bike cover.

I am a minimalist and use this:

Tripod Bivy - Shelter - Tents, Shelters, Bivys, Accessories // Black Diamond, Bibler - Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd.

Larger tents are the norm and there are plenty of good ones out there.

Welcome to HU.

Kindest regards,
John Downs
__________________
South America and back on a 250 Super Sherpa Minimalist Adventure http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=831076
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 19 Apr 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,785
+3 to what John and Ted say.

I've also been down the route of trying to sleep in the sidecar. Seems logical, you have a nice waterproof box and will be your own bike alarm. Trouble is, you have so many compromises to make with regards to shape and size and finding a patch of ground that allows you to both park, get out again in the morning and have your head in a decent place while you sleep it's just easier to buy a tent and go.

Andy
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 19 Apr 2012
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: London
Posts: 9
I'm glad I can learn from your experiences!
OK, so a stand alone tent it is.
Now I am trying to keep the back of my bike clear (Only using panniers) to carry a spare helmet and pick up hitch-hikers along the way.
To that end, I must find a front rack that'll fit onto my Honda Varadero to hold the tent and Sleeping bag!
But that's for another forum I guess

Cheers all..!!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 19 Apr 2012
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
Quote:
Originally Posted by beertastic View Post
I'm glad I can learn from your experiences!
OK, so a stand alone tent it is.
Now I am trying to keep the back of my bike clear (Only using panniers) to carry a spare helmet and pick up hitch-hikers along the way.
To that end, I must find a front rack that'll fit onto my Honda Varadero to hold the tent and Sleeping bag!
But that's for another forum I guess

Cheers all..!!
Remember, just because your tent comes in a single unit bag, it doesn't mean it has to stay that way.

You could tie your poles onto your pannier rack (doesn't matter if they get wet) and you can stuff the outer tent wherever you feel like. Rolled, folded etc etc.

A three man Dome tent is all you will need for Europe. Happy travels
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 19 Apr 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Oxford UK
Posts: 2,116
I've tried using the bike as part of my shelter a quite a few times over the years - some out of necessity when I've lost the tent, some out of tiredness when I couldn't be bothered to put it up and some when I couldn't get the tent to stand on its own (mainly on sand).

For a quick overnight stop on a warm night when you're not going to get bitten to death by insects it's ok, in snow or in a 40mph wind it's not so good.

Apart from being some sort of conversation starter I can't imaging what advantage you'd get from a tent that was designed to need a bike as part of its support. Any weight saving must be minimal and what happens when you change the bike - do you have to get a new tent?

A few pics of my "biketent" experiences -




That one was some time ago. This one a bit more recently -


Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 19 Apr 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Nottingham UK
Posts: 227
Quote:
Originally Posted by beertastic View Post
Now I am trying to keep the back of my bike clear (Only using panniers) to carry a spare helmet and pick up hitch-hikers along the way.
To that end, I must find a front rack that'll fit onto my Honda Varadero to hold the tent and Sleeping bag!
That's an interesting idea about hitch-hikers. Of course you have to consider that a lot of hitch-hikers might not want to ride on the back of a motorcycle, and of the ones who do many will probably be carrying huge backpacks. But definitely an interesting idea that's sure to result in plenty of fun and antics.

To put a rack on the front of the bike you really need to make/modify one yourself, or use the services of somebody who can do this for you. You can carry a lot of stuff this way so it's definitely worth persevering with.

This was us carrying quite a lot 'up front', though I think we ended up rearranging things to have slightly less bulk there.



On the subject of Bashas/tarps: They're definitely not to most people's taste but they do work if you're wanting to go ultra minimal. I actually find sleeping under a basha particularly pleasant as the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning is the entire landscape that's surrounding you.
__________________
UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
tents

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Buying Used Bike in Santiago Chile lachy South America 187 5 Dec 2023 14:53
Buying and registering a motorcycle in Chile timyarb Trip Paperwork 16 2 Jan 2018 19:55
Information wanted from experienced bikers in South America joentje100 South America 35 1 Jan 2010 04:00
Looking for some help in getting started TotalTomination South America 20 30 Oct 2009 18:02

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 16:20.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top