Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more

General => General Chat => Topic started by: Dowser on August 30, 2011

Title: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: Dowser on August 30, 2011
(http://i.imgur.com/nUB5Y.jpg)

I've been doing lots of travelling through Scotland recently by Motorbike and it has really got me thinking about doing a bit of Touring/Camping on two wheels.

Was just wondering how many of our members own a motorbike and would be interested in something like this.

I had to postpone my trip to Donegal (http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2316.0) recently and I might consider doing it on the motorbike over the next couple of months.

Scotland would be awesome too, but would obviously cost a wee bit more, although I do have a wheeze to get you over and back on the HSS for £40 return by motorbike which shouldn't break the bank.

No specialist equipment would be required.  Panniers would be good to have but I have travelled 600 miles (300 non-stop) with a standard rucksack with no difficulties.

This site here gives some good tips: http://www.lazymotorbike.eu/tips/camping/

And here are some more photos to give you a taster:

My Bike
(http://i.imgur.com/dfMDP.jpg)

My Bike at Night
(http://i.imgur.com/xPkVU.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/pyukz.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/GNNEg.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/hPuUf.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/EL7w5.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/vCy4Y.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/iqQ2f.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/ZPH6c.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/xTPbd.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/qmIwx.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/Un0g3.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/0yFuy.jpg)

 :o 8) :o




Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: LennyJ1 on August 30, 2011
I dont have a motorbike but I have just got a new push bike which I have panniers for and was think about taking my bike for a weekend away.
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: Dowser on August 30, 2011
Quote from: LennyJ1 on August 30, 2011
I dont have a motorbike but I have just got a new push bike which I have panniers for and was think about taking my bike for a weekend away.

You'll not pull women like Nikki and Ellie in the photo above on a push bike lol  :D
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: LandyLiam on August 30, 2011
i'm just about to ask the boss if i can buy a motorbike  8)
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: Dowser on August 30, 2011
Quote from: LandyLiam on August 30, 2011
i'm just about to ask the boss if i can buy a motorbike  8)

Nice...  Take my advice and don't ask.  I would just buy it then phone her and pretend to be all excited and tell her you won it in a raffle  ;)
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: LandyLiam on August 30, 2011
she initially said yes, then when i checked 5 mins later she couldn't remember saying yes  ???
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: downthelane on August 30, 2011
hello-i have a few bikes,nothing new,i ride them everyday,20 thousand miles a year,have done a lot of camping by bike over the years through britain ireland europe and scandinavia,still enjoy it as much as ever after 30 years.ride safe
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: Dowser on August 31, 2011
Quote from: downthelane on August 30, 2011
hello-i have a few bikes,nothing new,i ride them everyday,20 thousand miles a year,have done a lot of camping by bike over the years through britain ireland europe and scandinavia,still enjoy it as much as ever after 30 years.ride safe

Hi Downthelane... Good to have you onboard.  Keep an eye on the site for a possible Bike/Camp and maybe we'll get the dust blown of one of those bikes of yours!!!
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: wmclaughlin on August 31, 2011
I have a couple of bikes, a Fazer 600 and a Revere 600. Just getting organised with some gear for touring, only done a one night camp so far. Will keep and eye on the forum for any news. I mostly have a lurk around here most days anyway.

Willie
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: chris on August 31, 2011
Just passed my bike test today, and now that I'm moving to england your all talking about bike camping!!!
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: Dowser on August 31, 2011
Quote from: chris on August 31, 2011
Just passed my bike test today, and now that I'm moving to england your all talking about bike camping!!!


Awww Dude... That is what I call bad timing  :(

Sure, when you get settled in England check out some cool camping locations and we'll get a run over... Nothing like a change of scenery now and again. We could maybe even think about changing our name to UK-Wild lol

Congrats on the passing the bike test too. I hear it 's not as easy as it was in my day... When I were a lad etc etc etc lol

8)
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: twentyclicks on September 15, 2011
Yup, done bike camping a number of times all over the place. Current bike is broken, but should be in action by spring. Like hiking; light is right. Don't want too much bulk. In Corsica we saw a few couples touring on those big scooters with full camping gear...

Wouldn't mind a bit of cycle camping too next year... got to practice for if I ever cycle to Mongolia.
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: Dowser on September 16, 2011
Quote from: twentyclicks on September 15, 2011
Yup, done bike camping a number of times all over the place. Current bike is broken, but should be in action by spring. Like hiking; light is right. Don't want too much bulk. In Corsica we saw a few couples touring on those big scooters with full camping gear...

Wouldn't mind a bit of cycle camping too next year... got to practice for if I ever cycle to Mongolia.

Excellent... We'll get that bike of yours Gaffer Taped back together and we'll get a decent trip organised for spring.  For a change we will actually have a bit of time to prepare and we can get the piggy banks nice and plump in advance  :D
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: chunk on September 18, 2011
10 years since i last was on a bike, loved the bike camping, best places i found were galway, connemara especially. few spots around wicklow, and kerry.
but some prick pulling out infront me, kind of put me off. ruined my life totally. severe nerve damage to my arm.

1200 bandit was my weapon of choice, throw a top box on it and theres just enough space for a small tent, stove and clothes.
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: suspectmonkey on September 20, 2011
Congrats on passing your bike test Chris!

My biking days appear to be behind me, but in a rather mad few years I covered a pretty respectable mileage and some bike touring.  Awesome fun.  If I ever got a bike again it would be for bike touring rather than the Portaferry TT... well, that would be the plan anyway :)

I actually really fancy trying some cycle touring ever since I watched the Mark Beaumont (http://www.markbeaumontonline.com/) docu!  That said I've never particularly enjoyed cycling on the road thanks to some crazy road users, and watching James Cracknell's Race Across America (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8246206/James-Cracknell-on-the-bike-accident-that-nearly-killed-him.html) didn't inspire further confidence!
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: MG1 on September 21, 2011
Quote from: suspectmonkey on September 20, 2011
Congrats on passing your bike test Chris!

My biking days appear to be behind me, but in a rather mad few years I covered a pretty respectable mileage and some bike touring.  Awesome fun.  If I ever got a bike again it would be for bike touring rather than the Portaferry TT... well, that would be the plan anyway :)

I actually really fancy trying some cycle touring ever since I watched the Mark Beaumont (http://www.markbeaumontonline.com/) docu!  That said I've never particularly enjoyed cycling on the road thanks to some crazy road users, and watching James Cracknell's Race Across America (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8246206/James-Cracknell-on-the-bike-accident-that-nearly-killed-him.html) didn't inspire further confidence!
I seen some crazy cyclists during lap the lough. One lady had a horrible crash, guy cut in front of her clipped her front wheel, she came off her bike and head first into an on coming car. Last i heard she was in a wheel chair paralysed from the waist down.
Title: Re: Combining Motorbiking and Camping
Post by: twentyclicks on September 21, 2011
Jees - that's nasty both to happen & witness!  :(

<musing>
I'm always a bit wary riding close to other people - you can only really do it if you are similar levels of ability and are on the same page... people forget the wheels stick out the front and back and can easily overlap. Some people also seem to stop dead at any small rise - they just back off immediately and you near go right into the back of them. Only time I'd wear a helmet is group riding or if I was to enter a race (not likely  :) ) as you commit to a situation where you would have no time or space to react and are likely to tip on your noggin.

With cars you need to position yourself really well... I reckon there is a huge percentage difference in people who would risk knocking you off and 'pretending it didn't happen or you rode into the side of them and knocked yourself off', to those who would actually run you clean down in front of them. They may get frustrated and annoyed, but it forces them to overtake properly. You are only in danger of gestures or a quick ignorant rant. If you give them an opportunity to do something stupid or squeeze past they will without thinking.
The Cracknell thing perhaps falls into this - he was trying to get across country quickly so probably on a main highway and sitting right at the side to allow the fast traffic past - fair enough, but an inattentive big rig clipped him (we've all seen 'The World's Wildest Police Videos'  :o ). James probably had nowhere to go, or exhausted himself, didn't realise what was happening around him until in the ditch/hospital. It's a mix of unideal factors due to the particular circumstances he signed up for... his campaign for everyone to wear helmets is a bit of a crusade (I find it interesting to wonder if psychologically it is a reactionary cover up for misgivings over his part in the incident - attention, or being there in the first place; or even just shock at being confronted with his own mortality?). With reference to World's Wildest Police Videos again; it's not hard to imagine that helmet or not, he could have been mincemeat. An unlucky situation with a lucky outcome. <end musing>