If you like the idea of Motorcycle camping and have NOT picked out a bike yet, I have some tips for you. Many people buy a bike based completely on how it looks. They dont car about any of the specs, the reliability, ease of maintenance, or ride comfort. They look at that one sexy ride they like and say "give me that one!" It's only a month later they discover that their decision was a bad one or there are quirks or compromises they did not realize they had to make. For example, a friend of mine wanted a bike, he LOVES sport bikes. He had drooled over a Ducati Streetfighter for months for two reasons. One, he loved how it looked. Sexy and nothing like the other bikes out there. Two, it was a brand that is not as popular so he would stand out. "I ride a Ducati!" is what he wanted to say. Well 3 months later and he discovered that this fine bike has Fuel injection problems, parts and mechanics are hard to come by to fix issues, and being a performance sport-bike any long trips are grueling uncomfortable rides with everything strapped to your back. A 350 mile ride to me is a comfortable fun ride. The same ride to him is a torture chamber. The difference? what the bike is designed for. My bike is designed to ride 300-600 miles with 2 passengers and about 200 pounds of gear. His bike is designed for 1 rider, no gear and to make it from stoplight to stoplight at the speed of light, or around a track at incredible speed. It is not designed for comfort. It's designed for performance and racing. In a drag race he will win every time. In a race across the USA from NYC to LA I'll beat him without effort.
This translates to camping as well. I can carry on my bike 10X more stuff than he can. This means I get a sleeping pad, warmer and thicker sleeping bag, and a larger tent as well as some extra things. He has to pack very minimal only what fits in his backpack and what fits on the tiny tail bag he can strap behind him. This raises his center of gravity DRASTICALLY causing a serious unbalance in his bike. When we discover some twisties he can not enjoy them. I have it easier than he dies even when riding 2 up and carrying stuff for two.
This does not doom you to riding a geezer glide if you love to camp. Far from it. there are plenty of options in bikes out there you just need to shop smarter. When shopping for a bike take your needs and wants into consideration. Also please take into account reliability. RESEARCH on the internet the bike you want to buy, find the forums, find the people that have had problems and try to discover the common issues. I want to buy a Yamaha FJR1300. It's a sport touring bike. and I know it has a problem with the valve guides wearing out and making the bikes engine complete junk within 50,000 miles. Yamaha will not warranty it, and I cant tell if they fixed the issue yet in the newer bikes. It only affects some bikes ,but enough that I have a good chance of getting one that will fail. MY 1983 Yamaha Venture has a 2nd gear going bad. I knew this was a problem going in and I was lucky enough to get a bike that has it's 2nd gear blowing out. It's going to cost me $2000.00 to get it fixed.
The best low cost bike for touring/camping is the new Honda NT700V. It's got the power to carry 2 and a lot of gear. It's very comfortable, and rides well in all weather including heavy rain. That's an important thing. You might look cool on your naked Harley Vrod cruising down the road in your leather and nut helmet looking like a bad biker... but you look like a drowned rat in the rain and will be miserable. A bike with a windshield keeps you riding in the rain and a lot dryer and comfortable. Many new bikes have adjustable windshields so they can be down for dry weather and up for rain or cold. My big lumbering geezer glide lets me ride comfortably in 30 degree weather with rain because of it's fairing and huge windshield. It does NOT let me enjoy the wind on a hot summer day. the vents on my helmet are ineffective because of the windshield...
ind a bike that you like and can do what you want as well as be comfortable for you.
