UKC

Is it possible to pack a pair of 60m half ropes, basic rack, clothes, boots, tent weighing about 3.5kg, and sleeping bag on a motorbike, e.g. using panniers and a rucksack - has anybody tried combining the two and if so which bike and which gear?

In reply to jhw: Back in the sixties/seventies it was a common method of getting to the alps. Don Whillans and Chris Bonnington being a couple of the more famous travellers.

Al

In reply to jhw:Hamish McInnes used to ride to Chamonix with all his kit on a Manx Norton.

In reply to jhw:

yes it's possible. you just need to be a bit creative.

Fill your panniers (side and top if you've got them).
attach tent or other bulky things to the rack/topbox using a bungee net or similar (this will take up your passenger seat then)
wear a rucksack if you need to.
you can also get a small tank bag that you put a cord around the handlebars and then there's a strong magnet in the bag

Ace. Aim to sort this in time for summer.

In reply to jhw:
Yes.
Tank bags are a help. Too much weight in a top box or too far back in panniers will throw your steering off.
I toured Scotland, 2 up, with walking, camping and full sailing equipment on an old CX500. Did wallow a bit - worth tightening up suspension.
Perfectly feasible with the kit you list. Will make you careful with your rack choice!

In reply to Scarab9:



DO NOT wear a rucksack on a motorbike, many do, but if you come off wearing one it will cause you to tumble instead of sliding, which could cause nasty injuries.

In reply to jhw:

Yep, easily with a bungee net and some bungees.

Rucksack on pillion seat, tent and sleeping mat on one side http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd137/senorlopez13/DSC00022.jpg http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd137/senorlopez13/DSC00060.jpg rope and rack on the other side http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd137/senorlopez13/DSC00057.jpg

Best is a light bike and stay in B roads, A roads if you must but not so much fun. Avoid big touring bikes and motorways, you are better of with a car for those, and the driving becomes more a necessary chore to go from a to b with no much enjoyment.

This was a few years ago in the fully laden KTM. You wouldn't be doing it in a big BMW... youtube.com/watch?v=t2ft0djduP4&

In reply to Ross McGibbon:

Blinkin flip, no kidding! My CX500 wallowed a bit with just me on it. ;O)

Mr Lopez, what bike is that? Thanks all for your replies.

In reply to jhw:

Did it for two seasons in the the 1980's,with a climbing partner as pillion.

First year on a Honda CX,and the second a BMW R100 RS,used throw over panniers and tank bag and a rucksack strapped on the back.We had to wear most of our climbing / waterproof clothing and big boots etc.We also fitted in two tents for a three week hit to Chamonix,had enough gear to complete several grande courses.

Good old days !

In reply to jhw:

It's a KTM LC4 supermoto. Not the most comfortable drive in motorways, but awfully fun in small twisty roads. Very reliable and easy to maintain as well, variations of these bike have dominated the Paris-Dakar since they came out in 2001, so much so that the Dakar Rally organisers pushed forward new rulings in 2010 to give a chance to the other makes. To no avail though, in no time KTM adapted them to the smaller engine limits and are still scooping the podiums with them.

Parts and bits and bobs for it are very cheap as well and widely available.
Plenty of luggage options if you want to go that way thanks to it's rally background. Here's the bike in it's 'city' setup. (I still miss it...)
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd137/senorlopez13/bike3.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd137/senorlopez13/Bike4.jpg

Thanks Mr Lopez I really like the idea of a Supermoto actually.

Reading reviews, the KTM might be too harsh for me (I'm a beginner) but what do you think about a DRZ e.g.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201209454068195/sort/priceasc...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201209453070265/sort/priceasc...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201204444290159/sort/priceasc...

or

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201151436346699/sort/priceasc...

Are supermoto bikes horribly fuel inefficient? I'm looking at getting something smaller, a 400, for fuel efficiency reasons

Cheers

In reply to skarabrae:

a good point. I only tend to wear one if doing a short trip at no more than 30mph, but should have mentioned that. even then it's not ideal.

In reply to Mr Lopez:


surely this is what tourers are for?!

I had a semi tourer at first, a 650 deauville, was bloody great for this sort of thing

In reply to jhw: I recommend a Bandit 1200. They're old and a bit shit, but addictively rapid. You'll easily be able to carry half the contents of your house on one. Well, definitely all the gear you want and a pillion and their gear. Cheap to run (excluding fuel), cheap to insure. Don't worry about it being 'harsh', bikes have brakes and the throttle tends to work in two directions. I'm selling one. Maybe.