I ride a large touring bike, It can carry another 300-400 pounds of gear with me, as well as pull a trailer with another 300 pounds of gear on it. some pull campers with the bike I have. do you need a giant touring bike to travel from one side of the USA to the other and back again? Nope. I just read a story on a motorcycling website of a gentleman that rode a Honda Rebel 250 over 7500 miles. Here is his journal about the ride you dont need a big bike or special stuff. in fact many prefer motorcycle camping at the cabins or cheaper motels. Staying in a motel is not cheating. In fact at times I discover staying in a nice clean but small motel is cheaper than a campground and setting up camp. Plus having a real bed and private shower is needed on a week long ride.
Lots of people have taken really long trips of a lifetime on small, old, limited motorcycles and did it with what they had. So you dont need a new BMW adventure bike with $20,000 in special luggage for it and camping gear. you DO need to bring decent base layer and clothing, even on a 60 degree day you can ride into 35 degree weather and strong wind. I in fact did just that bringing home a bike for my wife. I was silly and did not pack long underwear, I was silly and though my chaps over jeans will be enough. It's not. I jammed several packages of hand warmers into my pockets to combat the cold and gave up with a stop at a store to buy sweats to put on under my jeans. i was still cold, but at least I was not going to get frostbite.
