Motorcycling camping can be a great time to explore the outdoors. It’s slightly different than regular car camping, but because you can’t carry nearly as much.
One of the great things about motorcycle camping is you can cover more ground on your bike and still get our outdoors fix by camping out at night.
However, for those who don’t have experience camping on their bike, you might need a few tips and tricks on what to bring.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to pack in our motorcycle camping gear checklist – as well as a few tips and tricks for your trip.
Motorcycle Gear Camping Checklist:
Riding Gear
- Helmet
- Bluetooth Headset
- Waterproof Jacket & Pants
- Helmet Liner (Winter)
- Heated Jacket (Winter)
- Vest (Summer)
- Gloves
- Neck Gaiter
- Hydration Pack
- Saddlebags/Panniers
- Dry Bags
Motorcycle Camping Gear
- Motorcycle Tent
- Ground Cover
- Lightweight Tent Stakes
- Sleeping Bag
- Roll Mat or Ultralight Mattress Pad
- Backpacking Pillow
- Lightweight Chair
Motorcycle Repair Gear
- Tool Kit
- Patch/Plug Kit & Spare Tubes
- Air Compressor
- Spare Bulbs/Fuses
- Jumper Cables
- Siphon Tube
General Camping Gear
- Flashlight, Lightweight Lantern, &/or Headlamp
- Paracord
- Multi-tool
- Axe or Hatchet
- Emergency Blanket
- Small Camp Shovel
- Lighter & Matches
Cooking Supplies
- Ultralight Gas Stove
- Fuel
- Cooking Kit
- Utensils & Mess Kit
- Cutting Board
- Dish Detergent & Sponge
- Cooking Oil
- Hand Towel
- Mug/Cup
- Can Opener
Food & Beverages
- Meals
- Coffee/Tea
- Bottle Opener
- Trash Bags
- Water Bottle
- Water Filtering System
Clothing & Footwear
- Underwear
- Inner Layer
- Nightwear
- Boots
- Socks
- Camp Shoes (Sandals/Flip-flops)
- Convertible Pants/Shorts
- T-shirts
- Long-sleeve Shirt
- Sweatshirts
- Waterproof Jacket/Insulated Shell
- Swimwear (Summer)
- Cold Weather Protection (Winter)
- Rain Poncho
- Sunglasses
- Dry Bags for Dirty & Clean Clothes
- Hat(s)
Toiletries
- Biodegradable Soap
- Biodegradable Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Deodorant
- Hairbrush
- Hand Sanitizer
- Wet Wipes
- Sunscreen
- Feminine Products
- Portable Shower
- Shampoo/Dry Shampoo
- Insect Repellent
- Towel/Hand Towels
- Toilet Paper
- Personal Medications
- First Aid Kit
- Contacts/Glasses
Entertainment
- Maps & Guides
- Portable Speaker
- Camera
- Card Games
- Bochi-ball, Frisbee, Football, etc.
- Drone
- Book(s)
Additional Items
- Solar Power Bank
- Chargers
- Backup Batteries
- Binoculars
- Bear Spray (if in bear country)
- Duct Tape
- Backpack
- Working Gloves
- Notepad
- Umbrella
- ID
- Money & Credit/Debit Cards
- Hammock
Missing anything? Let us know!
Tips For Off-Roading With A Motorcycle
While it’s likely the majority of your trip will be on paved roads, you may need to go off-roading on dirt or gravel roads to get to your campsite.
Most road motorbikes will deal with gravel or dirt well, but since they’re not manufactured for these conditions, it’s important to be careful.
When you’re off-roading, make sure you decrease your speed, especially around corners or uneven ground.
Additionally, if you need more leverage on uneven terrain, you can always stand up to give yourself more balance.
Above all, go slow and be careful!
How To Pack For Motorcycle Camping
When packing for motorcycle camping, it’s best to pack light.
This can sometimes take a little more practice, so be sure to keep it in mind throughout your packing process.
Only bring the clothes and gear that you absolutely need.
If you think you might have trouble with this, I recommend laying everything out that you’re planning to bring, and then taking out any repeat items.
How To Pack Your Bike With Gear
As many motorcyclists know, balance is one of the most important aspects of riding the bike.
Because of this, packing your bike with gear will take a little bit of finesse.
Pack the heaviest things on each side of your bike and make an effort to make each side similar in weight.
The lighter objects should be placed behind the seat and tied down.
This way, your body will block most of the wind coming past your bike and will prevent anything from flying away.
Packing your bike can take some practice.
I recommend packing it for a quick test drive around the block first, then adjusting to ensure that the bike feels even in weight.
Best Tent Size For Motorcycle Camping
At the end of the day, this will depend on your party’s needs.
I recommend bringing smaller, 2-person tents because they are easier to pack on your bike and lighter in weight.
If your party is larger than two people, you can divide multiple smaller tents throughout the larger biker group.
We find this is an easier approach than trying to tie down a bulky 6-person tent to the back of your bike.
Check Out: Best Tents For Motorcycle Camping
What To Eat On A Motorcycle Trip
You get to choose how simple or involved your food will be throughout the trip.
If you want the food aspect of the tip to be simpler, freeze-dried backpacking meals will suit you just fine – and will be easy to pack on your bike.
If you want to go gourmet, you can pack perishable and non-perishable ingredients on your bike in coolers.
This type of cooking will require more meal planning (and space on your bike for coolers) but can be worth it after a long day on the bike.
FAQs
What Do You Need For A Motorcycle Camping Trip?
You’ll need to bring clothing, camping gear, and food on your trip.
Make sure that you have enough gear and food to keep you warm, safe, and fed throughout your trip – without overpacking.
How Do You Carry Camping Gear On A Motorcycle?
When packing gear on a motorcycle, put the heavier items on the sides of your bike in equal amounts.
Then, place the lighter items behind the seat of your bike to prevent them from blowing away.
How Do You Pack A Sleeping Bag On A Motorcycle?
The best place for your sleeping bag is directly behind the seat of the bike.
This way, you can secure it down and it won’t be at risk of blowing away from the wind rushing past the bike.
Is It Okay To Wear A Backpacking Backpack On A Motorcycle?
I would not recommend wearing a backpacking backpack on a motorcycle.
First, you shouldn’t need the extra storage on your bike if you’re packing it correctly.
More importantly, wearing a backpacking backpack will limit your range of motion while you’re driving, block parts of the road from your view, and limit your reflexes.
What Are Two Main Things You Should Never Do On A Motorcycle?
First, never drink and drive. Drinking while you are operating the vehicle can put yourself and others in danger and can get you in legal trouble.
Secondly, never ride outside of your comfort zone.
Make sure that you feel confident with the speed and conditions you are riding in.
If you don’t feel comfortable, slow down and take it easy.
If you hit unfavorable weather, you can always pitch your camp earlier in the day and wait out the bad conditions.
How Far Can You Comfortably Ride A Motorcycle In A Day?
Most experienced motorcyclists can ride anywhere from 250-300 miles per day.
However, if you’re new to longer motorcycle trips, it’s always best to start with shorter distances that you can increase as you get more experienced.
Final Thoughts On Motorcycle Camping
I hope this article helped you learn more about motorcycle camping, and prepared you with the gear to bring – and some tips for the road!
Motorcycle camping is a great way to get into the outdoors.
And, with the wind blowing through your hair, who could want anything more?