Do R1200S rider use camping tent

[Cambridge K]

I have a question to all R1200S riders who camp - What tent do you use?
Or do you rough it out on the road at a hotel.
I'm looking for a 2 - 3-4 person tent that packs small for traveling on a K12S/R12S.
Open to your thoughts.

[DanGreene]

My good buddy Doug Peters is the Einstein of R1200s touring with camp gear. Maybe he will respond to your question. I can say this after spending a month on the road with him, it can be done in very fine form.

[Guest24]

Here is what I use. It will accomodate two campers and DOES NOT leak. Jerry Duke knows the guys that sell them. I paid $100.00 for it.

[Guest24]

This is a better shot. It takes 10 minutes to put it up or take it down.

[AndrewA]

I use the Eureka Zeus 2. Its very light (less than 4 lbs), packs very well, and sets up very quickly. Its been a perfect MC tent.

As a 2-man tent though, it's really only a good size for one person, or one person and a little kid. I used it two weeks ago on a scouting trip and found that now that my boy is a little bigger, we are defiantly going to need a bigger tent for the both of us, but for general MC camping, where your setting-up fast and leaving quickly, the Zeus 2 is perfect for the bike.

Joe - If you haven't already, you should go over to Hilton's Tent City by North Station. They have tons of tents, and some pretty good deals on closeouts.
Hilton's Tent City online store

[bradzdotcom]

REI and Avdenture 16 are both good sources for that type of two-man dome tent. i'd stay away from any store with the last name "mart" when it comes to camping gear.
rei has great backpacking tents: http://www.rei.com/search?search=tents&origin=Google&cat=8000&cat=4500029&hist=search%2Ctents^cat%2C4500029%3ABackpacking+Te nts


reminds me of hiking in yosemite. had a newbie friend with me and when we walked into the overnight camp area, he saw about a dozen traditional domed tents, and one of those odd shaped tents like the one shown next to bubba's in the image above.

he points at the strange shaped tent and says:
"hell, i didn't know we could have ridden into here! jeez, the guy even brought a cover for his bike too!"

newbies can be so amusing sometimes.

[martincito]

I use the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2
I spent a couple of big storms on in. No problems at all. Very small to pack easy to set and comfortable for two people.

Big Agnes : Superlight : Seedhouse SL2

[Droptarotter]

REI is probably your best bet for good selection.
But here is my take on motorcycle tent camping............get the cheapest, smallest tent you can....it's only used for bug protection and privacy......and.....because if it rain's........I'm heading for a motel.

I also have a very nice MSR Fusion tent that I use on my bicycle trips because on those trips I have no choice but to camp. I do not pack it on my bicycle......the gear van hauls it.....so size/weight is not an issue.
Cheers

[AZ-Twin]

Yes, I use a Kelty Teton II, Kelty | Tents

It is easy to pitch, packs very small, and would hold two people as long as you like each other. A little more vestibule area would be nice, but I need to learn to bring less stuff, and my tent packs smaller than my thermorest.


Here is my tent, you can also see it to the left in Bubba's pic of Pelican Row from TOR.

[cageyar]

Originally Posted by Cambridge K

Or do you rough it out on the road at a hotel.
Open to your thoughts.

My thoughts regarding where I like to stay after a long day's ride in the VT/NH mountains-Wentworth By-the-Sea by Marriott-no tents allowed thankfully:

[Droptarotter]

Originally Posted by cageyar

My thoughts regarding where I like to stay after a long day's ride in the VT/NH mountains-Wentworth By-the-Sea by Marriott-no tents allowed thankfully:

Yeah, but do you let the valet park your bike?
Cheers

[cageyar]

Originally Posted by Droptarotter

Yeah, but do you let the valet park your bike?
Cheers

Hell no, but I love sitting out on that porch with a nice cigar and a full bar just inside the front door.

[Cambridge K]

GEE I get better answers from you R guys then I do on a K sites.
The 2 person tent would be for myself when out alone, the 4 would be for myself & my kid on Rallies. Also the tent would need a vestibule for my bag, the 3-4 person tent 2 door & vesti. to stow crap out of the sleeping area & use one door only.
Andrew - yes I gone several time down to Hilton's - You can park your motorcycle in the ally way FYI - just tell them when ya go in.
Not many places have tents up to roll around in to see how they are inside, it's more word of mouth on sizes.

Thanks for everyone's input
Now what about air or cot mattress - getting older now / disc in back problems.
My thermorest from the '90's might need updating.

[Droptarotter]

Stick with the Thermarest or copy.........they can be rolled much smaller now and still have all the benefits.New technology, you know.
Cots just seem like too much hassle and can damage the tent floor.
Cheers

[Cambridge K]

Ultra lite cot - 16X5 packed - but $200.

[AndrewA]

Originally Posted by Cambridge K

Not many places have tents up to roll around in to see how they are inside, it's more word of mouth on sizes.

Ha! My boy and I went to REI yesturday - they set-up three tents for us. The kid that set them up was visibly pissed that we didn't buy anything. F' him.

We then went to Eastern Mountain Sports, where they let us set-up whatever we wanted. EMS in Newton had a deal were you buy a discount card for $ 10.00 from a local scout troop (they had a table in the store) and you can then take 20% off of any purchase. Let me know if you want the card that we got - it'll only cost you $15.00.

[lightfighter]

and this is twins tent after a few beers...



and this is a REI quarterdome t2 after a really long day in the desert and 1 beer:

[markjenn]

Log onto Advrider where tent threads are more common than oil threads.

Personally, I have owned three or four different tents in the past decade and finally got a MSR Hubba Hubba a couple years ago that I really like. My main priorities were that it be fairly small/light, freestanding, and be very easy to setup without the infernal sleeves that the poles have to be threaded through. The only drawback is that because it is all-mesh above the bathtub, it ventilates almost too well - not a good cold weather tent. But it is a great hot-weather tent. MSR has a new HP version that is much better for cold weather, but it gets super pricey.

Beware of true "single man" tents - some are almost unbelievably tiny, like sleeping in a coffin. Unless you're a real weight-weeny, I'd go for the two-man tents which are tight for two, but have some extra room for one. And personally, I like tents with big entrances and vestibules on both sides rather than a single entrance at one end.

- Mark

[RBMann]

In Bubba's #4 post above you see a Kelty Windfoil to the left of his dome and another Windfoil(purple rainfly) two more tents to the left. I like the Windfoil shape because at 6'2" I can stretch out and not have my head or feet against the side walls, like in most small domes. Simple set up with two poles and two tent pegs, it is up in less than 5 minutes. While not real wide, two people will fit. They have storage area at both ends and when the rainfly is on there is a covered area outside the front door. Good ventilation and star viewing thru the mesh in good weather without the rainfly.

I don't how the new version works but I love the long shape.

Kelty | Tents

[wswartzwel]

The windfoil is OK... but requires stakes to hold it... My windfoil (as seen set up next to Bubba's automatic sets itself up tent) has been relegated to the closet since i bought a nearly new North Face Nebula from the mayor.... Much more roomy, two large vestibules, 4 season comfort, and packs smaller than the kelty.