nklr hd humor

[Ronald Criswell]

The best thing about a down bag with motorcycles or backpacking is how small they squeeze down in size but synthetics are getting better and are the way to go in wet weather. My next tent is going to be a side entry one as they look easier to get in and out of. Buy a tent that is free standing as this is mucho goodo in rocky terrain. I found that out once with one of my tents which is a great tent except in rock terrain. I was at Phantom Ranch in Grand Canyon and people were laughing at how my tent sagged using rocks instead of pegs to hold it up. Criswell

On Mar 18, 2007, at 12:51 AM, ken.wheeler@... wrote: > If you are in the Pacific Northwest it is far better to use a > synthetic sleeping bag than a down one. In humid and cold weather > down accumulates moisture and can become dangerous. Synthetics are > hollow fibers like polar bear fur and stay warm even when soaking > wet. Test the quality of the synthetic material by putting your arm > inside the bag at the store. If it immediately starts feeling warm > it's the right stuff. I usually use a medium stuff sack with my pad > inserted rolled up and then spread, a heavy space blanket in the > bottom (becomes a ground sheet & reflective), the bag stuffed in, > and a poncho folded over the top. This provides an extra layer of > protection all over with the bag in the middle and has a wind and > rain proof cover right on top in case you are stuck in the elements. > Ken > > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > From: Blake Sobiloff > > On Mar 17, 2007, at 5:23 PM, Ross Lindberg wrote: > > > Any advice on > > > camping gear for motorcycle trips? > > > > You can probably get away with the stuff from Wal-Mart for a few > > trips, just understand that it'll be heavier, larger, and less > > durable than the stuff you can get at Campmor, Cabelas, REI, etc. It > > works fine for car camping and fair weather camping, so a few easy > > motorcycle trips should be OK, too. > > > > Make sure you have a tent, synthetic or down sleeping bag (not > > cotton!), air mattress, small stove and some cookware. Hot food, or > > even just a hot drink, really pick the spirits up. I recommend a > > headlamp, too, as they free your hands so you can cook, setup the > > tent, work on the bike, read, or whatever. The suggestion for a camp > > chair's a good one if you are going to an "unimproved" campsite. > > > > Oh, and practice setting up your new tent before you head out for > > your first overnighter--you don't want to get to the campsite and > not > > be able to figure it out, or be missing a pole! > > -- > > Blake Sobiloff > > http://sobiloff.typepad.com/blakeblog/> > > http://sobiloff.typepad.com/klr_adventure/> > > San Jose, CA (USA) > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[wiselp]

I am fairly new to the wonderful world of KLR's, but I have spent a fair share of my time camping. Here are some of the things I find indispensable: 1) Tent with Rain Fly. I cannot stress enough that you should get a reliable name-brand tent. Campmor is a great source. I have a Eureka! 2-man tent that I use for backpacking. It is 14 years old and hasn't even needed the seems re-sealed. This tent is large enough for me my wife, but not a lot more. One feature I wish I had was a vestibule attachment to put my gear in. Good brands include Eureka!, Sierra Designs, North Face, Mountain Gear, Mammoth. 2) Sleeping pad. I use a foam pad that is non-inflatable, but an inflatable pad is more comfortable-it weighs a lot more, two. EZ Rest is the most popular company here. To save weight, you can go to a 3/4 length pad. 2a) Sleeping bag. You might have to drop some bucks on this item, but remember that we spend 1/3 of our lives asleep. Do yourself a favor and be comfortable. I think that a synthetic fill 3 season mummy bag is the best way to go. Down is lighter and more compact, but if it gets wet it won't insulate. Stay away from cotton. Unless you are going to be camping on Mt. Everest, a 3-season bag is a good jack of all trades. Make sure the bag is long enough and wide enough at the shoulders for you. Bags come in a wide variety of fanciness. I happen to like REI because of their experience in this area. 3) Stove. A man's gotta eat. I think the MSR Whisperlight Multi-fuel stove is king. I have been using mine for nearly 15 years without a single problem. It runs on anything, but prefers white gas. You will also need to get a fuel bottle with the stove. 4) Cooking gear. Doesn't need to be fancy, but the lighter the better, I guess. I think you could easily go to K-Mart and pick up something like Coleman. All you really need is a small pot, plate, utensils and cup. 5) Light. I like headlamps for around camp. I use the poor man's headlamp...a mini-mag light with a velcro harness that straps it to my head. Works like a charm. Hands free is the key. 6) Stuff sacks. These are cheap and an easy way to organize your gear and when full can be used as a pillow, seat, etc. 7) Rope. I use this for things ranging from clothesline to hanging food to deter pesky critters like raccoons and bears. 8) Of course, you should always have a first aid kit. However, I am assuming that this would be with you on your bike, along with a leatherman (or equivalent). 9)Extras: These are not critical, but make life a little sweeter: a)camp chair. You can buy one of these that lets you fold your sleeping pad into a chair!! Modern science is great. b)comfortable camp shoes. slip on if possible. you will thank me when you have to get up and pee in the middle of the night. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Michael Silverstein" wrote:

> > I use an REI half-dome tent for hiking and MC camping (www.rei.com). It > is a two-person tent which means it is not as ultra-light for long > distance hiking as some one-person tents but carrying the extra few > ounces is worth while to me for the extra room to move around. It packs > small, has great ventilation, is not very expensive and the best part is > that you can assemble it in the dark in about two minutes without need > for pegs or strings. > > > Mike A18 > > -----Original Message----- > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On > Behalf Of Ross Lindberg > Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2007 8:24 PM > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] NKLR Camping Gear > > > > Here's a question for you guys. I've been thinking about taking some > overnight trips on my KLR. I've been looking at tents. I'm not in the > market for an expensice Aerostich tent, my budget runs more to the > Wally-World, Kame Apart, Target line of products. Any advice on > camping gear for motorcycle trips? What all should I bring with, and > what to leave home. I'm planning on one or two night stays away from > home so it's not like I'm going to Alaska. I wish I could though, > sounds like a fun trip. Any input is appreciated. > > Ross Lindberg > Fertile, MN > Oakdale, CA > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Arden Kysely]

I'll second the REI Half Dome as a fine tent. If you don't mind pounding in pegs, the Sierra Designs clip flashlight is smaller and lighter. Some folks dis air mattresses, but I love my Big Agnes and it packs a lot smaller than a ThermaRest. __Arden --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Michael Silverstein" wrote:

> > I use an REI half-dome tent for hiking and MC camping

(www.rei.com). It

> is a two-person tent which means it is not as ultra-light for long > distance hiking as some one-person tents but carrying the extra few > ounces is worth while to me for the extra room to move around. It

packs

> small, has great ventilation, is not very expensive and the best

part is

> that you can assemble it in the dark in about two minutes without

need

> for pegs or strings. > > > Mike A18 > > -----Original Message----- > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com

[mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On

> Behalf Of Ross Lindberg > Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2007 8:24 PM > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] NKLR Camping Gear > > > > Here's a question for you guys. I've been thinking about taking

some

> overnight trips on my KLR. I've been looking at tents. I'm not in

the

> market for an expensice Aerostich tent, my budget runs more to the > Wally-World, Kame Apart, Target line of products. Any advice on > camping gear for motorcycle trips? What all should I bring with,

and

> what to leave home. I'm planning on one or two night stays away

from

> home so it's not like I'm going to Alaska. I wish I could though, > sounds like a fun trip. Any input is appreciated. > > Ross Lindberg > Fertile, MN > Oakdale, CA > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Jeff Saline]

On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 00:23:35 -0000 "Ross Lindberg" writes:

> Here's a question for you guys. I've been thinking about taking some > > overnight trips on my KLR. I've been looking at tents. I'm not in > the > market for an expensice Aerostich tent, my budget runs more to the > Wally-World, Kame Apart, Target line of products. Any advice on > camping gear for motorcycle trips? What all should I bring with, > and > what to leave home. I'm planning on one or two night stays away > from > home so it's not like I'm going to Alaska. I wish I could though, > sounds like a fun trip. Any input is appreciated. > > Ross Lindberg > Fertile, MN > Oakdale, CA

<><><><><><><> <><><><><><><> Ross, Here are some quick ramblings on camping gear that come to mind from the Great Divide Ride (Canada to Mexico on the continental divide) in 2004 and De Tour (six states in 17 days) 2006. My best advice is to get the best you can afford for now but to get something. Use it and learn from it and then get better when you need to. But don't wait for a year to get something just to get the very best if it'll keep you from camping this year. I've been soaking wet in a Korean War Marine pup tent with my Dad and brother. (I still have that tent by the way but don't use it any more) We were pretty wet but laugh about it now. If we didn't have that tent we wouldn't have been camping. Oh, and that was also using cotton sleeping bags. So get something to use and figure out what works or doesn't work for you and get better when and if you need better. An overnight camping trip is much different than a three week ride-about. In no particular order... - sleeping bag. I used a synthetic bag but would/will probably change to a Wiggys summer bag for my next trip. It's nice/best if it packs small and you can carry a light fleece blanket to use as extra covering. Use a compression sack to keep it small and make sure it's carried in a waterproof bag. - air mattress. I've been using one from Eddie Bauer for a few years. Comes with a self contained air pump and uses 4 D batteries. Takes up a bit of space but I've never slept as good camping as when using this air mattress. I got mine at Target a few years ago for about $45. I saw the same mattress for sale at Sears for a similar price last summer. I think it has what looks like a swiss flag emblem on the box. It's probably heavier than bulkier than a thermorest but I know it's way more comfortable until you get into cold temps. Carry a tube of GOOP and or a patch kit and make sure you really have it with you. On De Tour my mattress got two leaks after three years of use. Once patched it worked great again. - tent. Mine is a four season dome tent I've own for over 22 years and originally got when I was doing a lot of mountaineering in the alps. It's for 2-3 persons and works great for me and all my gear including the inflated air mattress. Last year I looked at tents and got one that was a monster and ended up giving it to my brother. It just packed way too big. Then Steve and I looked for a tent for me at REI in NM at the end of De Tour. I didn't find one with a foot print I liked and since it was at the end of De Tour it wasn't a priority. But I suggest you consider a 3 person, 3 season tent that packs small and weighs less than 9 pounds. That's what I'll be going with probably when it becomes important to me again. Steve uses a 3 season tent and has never had an issue with water intrusion and we've been in some pretty good wind and rain situations. - chair. I use a Kermit chair. It costs about $130 or so and I got it at a great deal used. It packs fairly small and is really comfortable. I only used it maybe 3 times on the GDR but on De Tour Steve and I made a point of stopping early enough most evenings to enjoy a sit and visit. The inexpensive folding fabric and aluminum tube chairs you can get at places like Wally World seem to work well too but I'd make sure it packed short enough so it didn't stick way out on the sides when on the bike. - stove. I used a stove I've had for about 28 years. It's white gas only but I'm pretty sure I could make it work with gasoline. It's like an old friend and has never let me down so it's not on the replacement list. It packs small and the fuel container is part of the stove. I don't carry extra fuel with me as you can almost always find a camping store with an open container where they'll sell you as much fuel as you need. In Moab last summer the shop let me top off the stove and then said I didn't take enough to make it worth selling to me. If you're in a camp ground you can probably buy/mooch some fuel off of the family that's using white gas for their family stove. They'll like a bit of a story as you top off the little container. Even if it costs you a buck it seems better to me than to drag along an extra bottle of fuel you'll probably never really need. - water container. Steve and I both drag along a hydration system like a camelback. They are strapped on the bikes and we drink regularly during the day. We also pay attention to where we're going and make sure they stay topped off. Along with the hydration system we both carry a bottle or two of water. I have a quart size wide mouth bottle that really works well at dinner time for cooking chores. We also usually have a bottle from some gatorade or similar drink that we fill with water after we've emptied the original contents. Water isn't much of an issue on some trips but we've gone a full day in hot weather without seeing any place to get water or fuel. I'd rather carry extra water than wish I did. Steve and I were never refuse water for our bags or bottles at stores where we got fuel, restaurants or fast food joints where we ate or at campgrounds. We did make it a point to not make a mess with our filling procedures. - waterproof luggage. I use Ortlieb dry saddlebags for storing most of my junk. They are easy on and off and are very durable and waterproof if properly closed (which is easy). I tried an Ortlieb waterproof duffel but the zipper doesn't seem to work very well when it's packed full. So last year I bought a different waterproof duffel from that company in Cheyenne WY. I don't remember the name of the company or the item number. But it was posted on the list here so search for duffel maybe 15 months ago might get you the info. It works well and I keep my sleeping bag and air mattress in it. They are always dry. - clothes pins. I carry a few clothes pins on my bike luggage to hold an airhead flag and also to use when drying socks or underwear over night. They're handy and don't seem to take up much room. - flashlight. I use a mini mag flashlight that uses two AA batteries. I keep one in my tent in a side pocket and one in my tank bag. I know right where they are so they are handy and easy to use. They use the same size batteries as my GPS. - camp shoes. Someone mentioned camp shoes. On De Tour I brought some old beat up slip on docker type shoes. They're comfortable and take up little room. And at night they are really handy when you need to find a bush at 3 in the morning. - zip lock type storage bags. I like to pack a lot of my stuff in gallon size zip lock storage type bags. Not so much for the waterproofness but for the ease of locating stuff. This is from my military days when I was packed to move on a moments notice. I can easily reach into a saddlebag and pull out bags of stuff until I find what I'm looking for. I usually put stuff I use a lot in my left saddlebag and stuff not used so much in my right saddlebag. And if I have both open I'll transfer stuff back and forth for a good balance. By the end of a 2-3 week trip I usually have a pretty good system figured out. : ) - straps. I use some nylon strapping with two D type rings on one end for most of my securing stuff to my bike. They are probably 5-6 feet long. Ends can be tucked away after the straps are tightened. I also use a few bungee cords (number one cause of eye loss in the US so be careful. ok, maybe not the number one cause of eye loss but still be careful) to secure stuff and as a belt and suspenders approach. And I put a bungee net over the entire load just cause I have one. The bungee net also gives Steve a place to tie wrappers from his snacks when I'm not watching him. Guess that's it for now. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT

[Arden Kysely]

Jeff, You'll carry a 9-pound tent and a pump with 4 D batteries, but balk at bringing your own stove fuel? I look at the the 500ml fuel bottle for my MSR Whisperlite as my 'final reserve tank' for the KLR. Modern, spacious 2-man tents that weigh less than 6 pounds can be had for $100-$200, and a little lung power fills my air mattress. I guess we all have our own ways to assemble a compact, lightweight, comfortable, bug-and-rain-free camp that lets us heat up soup at night and make coffee in the morning. One thing I've been experimenting with for basic water heating is an alcohol stove. You can make your own (Google 'cat stove' or 'alcohol backpack stove' or buy one from eBay). They weigh only an ounce or two and work pretty well if your keep your cooking simple. Happy Camping! __Arden

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jeff Saline wrote: > > On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 00:23:35 -0000 "Ross Lindberg" > writes: > > Here's a question for you guys. I've been thinking about taking some > > > > overnight trips on my KLR. I've been looking at tents. I'm not in > > the > > market for an expensice Aerostich tent, my budget runs more to the > > Wally-World, Kame Apart, Target line of products. Any advice on > > camping gear for motorcycle trips? What all should I bring with, > > and > > what to leave home. I'm planning on one or two night stays away > > from > > home so it's not like I'm going to Alaska. I wish I could though, > > sounds like a fun trip. Any input is appreciated. > > > > Ross Lindberg > > Fertile, MN > > Oakdale, CA > <><><><><><><> > <><><><><><><> > > Ross, > > Here are some quick ramblings on camping gear that come to mind from the > Great Divide Ride (Canada to Mexico on the continental divide) in 2004 > and De Tour (six states in 17 days) 2006. > > My best advice is to get the best you can afford for now but to get > something. Use it and learn from it and then get better when you need > to. But don't wait for a year to get something just to get the very best > if it'll keep you from camping this year. I've been soaking wet in a > Korean War Marine pup tent with my Dad and brother. (I still have that > tent by the way but don't use it any more) We were pretty wet but laugh > about it now. If we didn't have that tent we wouldn't have been camping. > Oh, and that was also using cotton sleeping bags. So get something to > use and figure out what works or doesn't work for you and get better when > and if you need better. An overnight camping trip is much different than > a three week ride-about. > > In no particular order... > > - sleeping bag. I used a synthetic bag but would/will probably change to > a Wiggys summer bag for my next trip. It's nice/best if it packs small > and you can carry a light fleece blanket to use as extra covering. Use a > compression sack to keep it small and make sure it's carried in a > waterproof bag. > > - air mattress. I've been using one from Eddie Bauer for a few years. > Comes with a self contained air pump and uses 4 D batteries. Takes up a > bit of space but I've never slept as good camping as when using this air > mattress. I got mine at Target a few years ago for about $45. I saw the > same mattress for sale at Sears for a similar price last summer. I think > it has what looks like a swiss flag emblem on the box. It's probably > heavier than bulkier than a thermorest but I know it's way more > comfortable until you get into cold temps. Carry a tube of GOOP and or a > patch kit and make sure you really have it with you. On De Tour my > mattress got two leaks after three years of use. Once patched it worked > great again. > > - tent. Mine is a four season dome tent I've own for over 22 years and > originally got when I was doing a lot of mountaineering in the alps. > It's for 2-3 persons and works great for me and all my gear including the > inflated air mattress. Last year I looked at tents and got one that was > a monster and ended up giving it to my brother. It just packed way too > big. Then Steve and I looked for a tent for me at REI in NM at the end > of De Tour. I didn't find one with a foot print I liked and since it was > at the end of De Tour it wasn't a priority. But I suggest you consider a > 3 person, 3 season tent that packs small and weighs less than 9 pounds. > That's what I'll be going with probably when it becomes important to me > again. Steve uses a 3 season tent and has never had an issue with water > intrusion and we've been in some pretty good wind and rain situations. > > - chair. I use a Kermit chair. It costs about $130 or so and I got it > at a great deal used. It packs fairly small and is really comfortable. > I only used it maybe 3 times on the GDR but on De Tour Steve and I made a > point of stopping early enough most evenings to enjoy a sit and visit. > The inexpensive folding fabric and aluminum tube chairs you can get at > places like Wally World seem to work well too but I'd make sure it packed > short enough so it didn't stick way out on the sides when on the bike. > > - stove. I used a stove I've had for about 28 years. It's white gas > only but I'm pretty sure I could make it work with gasoline. It's like > an old friend and has never let me down so it's not on the replacement > list. It packs small and the fuel container is part of the stove. I > don't carry extra fuel with me as you can almost always find a camping > store with an open container where they'll sell you as much fuel as you > need. In Moab last summer the shop let me top off the stove and then > said I didn't take enough to make it worth selling to me. If you're in a > camp ground you can probably buy/mooch some fuel off of the family that's > using white gas for their family stove. They'll like a bit of a story as > you top off the little container. Even if it costs you a buck it seems > better to me than to drag along an extra bottle of fuel you'll probably > never really need. > > - water container. Steve and I both drag along a hydration system like a > camelback. They are strapped on the bikes and we drink regularly during > the day. We also pay attention to where we're going and make sure they > stay topped off. Along with the hydration system we both carry a bottle > or two of water. I have a quart size wide mouth bottle that really works > well at dinner time for cooking chores. We also usually have a bottle > from some gatorade or similar drink that we fill with water after we've > emptied the original contents. Water isn't much of an issue on some > trips but we've gone a full day in hot weather without seeing any place > to get water or fuel. I'd rather carry extra water than wish I did. > Steve and I were never refuse water for our bags or bottles at stores > where we got fuel, restaurants or fast food joints where we ate or at > campgrounds. We did make it a point to not make a mess with our filling > procedures. > > - waterproof luggage. I use Ortlieb dry saddlebags for storing most of > my junk. They are easy on and off and are very durable and waterproof if > properly closed (which is easy). I tried an Ortlieb waterproof duffel > but the zipper doesn't seem to work very well when it's packed full. So > last year I bought a different waterproof duffel from that company in > Cheyenne WY. I don't remember the name of the company or the item > number. But it was posted on the list here so search for duffel maybe 15 > months ago might get you the info. It works well and I keep my sleeping > bag and air mattress in it. They are always dry. > > - clothes pins. I carry a few clothes pins on my bike luggage to hold an > airhead flag and also to use when drying socks or underwear over night. > They're handy and don't seem to take up much room. > > - flashlight. I use a mini mag flashlight that uses two AA batteries. I > keep one in my tent in a side pocket and one in my tank bag. I know > right where they are so they are handy and easy to use. They use the > same size batteries as my GPS. > > - camp shoes. Someone mentioned camp shoes. On De Tour I brought some > old beat up slip on docker type shoes. They're comfortable and take up > little room. And at night they are really handy when you need to find a > bush at 3 in the morning. > > - zip lock type storage bags. I like to pack a lot of my stuff in gallon > size zip lock storage type bags. Not so much for the waterproofness but > for the ease of locating stuff. This is from my military days when I was > packed to move on a moments notice. I can easily reach into a saddlebag > and pull out bags of stuff until I find what I'm looking for. I usually > put stuff I use a lot in my left saddlebag and stuff not used so much in > my right saddlebag. And if I have both open I'll transfer stuff back and > forth for a good balance. By the end of a 2-3 week trip I usually have a > pretty good system figured out. : ) > > - straps. I use some nylon strapping with two D type rings on one end > for most of my securing stuff to my bike. They are probably 5-6 feet > long. Ends can be tucked away after the straps are tightened. I also > use a few bungee cords (number one cause of eye loss in the US so be > careful. ok, maybe not the number one cause of eye loss but still be > careful) to secure stuff and as a belt and suspenders approach. And I > put a bungee net over the entire load just cause I have one. The bungee > net also gives Steve a place to tie wrappers from his snacks when I'm not > watching him. > > Guess that's it for now. > > Best, > > Jeff Saline > ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal > Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org > The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota > 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT >

[Neil Doane]

* wiselp (lo@...), on [03-19-07 05:27], wrote:

> 4) Cooking gear. Doesn't need to be fancy, but the lighter the > better, I guess. I think you could easily go to K-Mart and pick up > something like Coleman. All you really need is a small pot, plate, > utensils and cup.

Two words: titanium spork. http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=4884577 Neil

[ken.wheeler@comcast.net]

Excellent list! To this I would think of adding the equivalent of what my son's Scout Troop called a "walkabout kit". The idea is that it is built and kept with you, hopefully to never be used, whenever you are at the edge of intense civilization or beyond. I'm thinking of a small Pel case, Velcroed to the bike very securely, packed tight with items I'd want if stranded. This would vary by area, of course, but some items, I would think, would be universal like a space blanket, waterproof matches, a pocket knife, high energy & storable compact food (honey, well sealed & washed to remove smell?), a fish line & hooks in a film cannister, water purification provision, signal mirror(?) and sunblock. Maybe a polypro watch cap; small, warm & good padding during storage. Any thoughts? Ken -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "wiselp"

> I am fairly new to the wonderful world of KLR's, but I have spent a > fair share of my time camping. Here are some of the things I find > indispensable: >

Etc. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jim Priest]

On 3/19/07, ken.wheeler@... wrote:

> Excellent list! > To this I would think of adding the equivalent of what my son's Scout Troop called a "walkabout kit". The idea is that it is built and kept with you, hopefully to never be used,

This has been floating around the web for the last few days: http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago104.html Jim

[Jeff Saline]

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:09:20 -0000 "Arden Kysely" writes:

> Jeff, > You'll carry a 9-pound tent and a pump with 4 D batteries, but balk > > at bringing your own stove fuel? I look at the the 500ml fuel bottle > > for my MSR Whisperlite as my 'final reserve tank' for the KLR. > Modern, spacious 2-man tents that weigh less than 6 pounds can be > had > for $100-$200, and a little lung power fills my air mattress. I > guess > we all have our own ways to assemble a compact, lightweight, > comfortable, bug-and-rain-free camp that lets us heat up soup at > night and make coffee in the morning. One thing I've been > experimenting with for basic water heating is an alcohol stove. You > > can make your own (Google 'cat stove' or 'alcohol backpack stove' or > > buy one from eBay). They weigh only an ounce or two and work pretty > > well if your keep your cooking simple. > > Happy Camping! > > __Arden

<><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><> Arden, I started laughing at your opening comment. : ) I'm not making a compact or light camp when using the KLR. It's a lot more compact and lightweight than if I'm using my Jeep... but I decided I don't need to make it like I would if I was carrying it on my back. And it works great for me in the environment I take my KLR. The reason I don't want to carry extra fuel is I don't use much fuel so I can usually get some easily and never run out. On the GDR Bill filled my stove when he had to leave so he carried the extra fuel. On De Tour I got fuel at Moab. In both cases that was enough for the entire trip. I don't cook a lot but did enjoy tea and a few hot meals. I kind of decided that that takes up room I'd rather use for a tent, air mattress with compressor and batteries etc. If I was going to need fuel I'd buy a small MSR??? type container that I suppose holds about 2 cups of fuel. And I'd wrap it in two zip lock bags lined with a paper towel. I don't like fuel spills and speak from experience. On a side note: I really monitor my fuel situation for the environment I'm in. I can't imagine letting myself get in a situation where I was willing to run white gas in my engine especially when it wouldn't be diluted by a bit of regular fuel. Now I'd probably let you have my stove fuel for your bike if you wanted it but not if you were riding with me. Fuel consumption is pretty easy to calculate so I don't have much pity on folks that run out. I have even less empathy for folks that put inappropriate chemicals in machines causing damage. Oh, my tent doesn't weigh 9 pounds but I think that's the upper limit I'd use for shopping for a tent. I put packed and set up size higher on my list than weight. Since the tent would be used for more than just motorcycle adventures it would have to be comfortable enough when housing two on an adventure and that means lots more stuff if it's housing two. : ) And the air mattress. Well, the air mattress is so comfortable I'd probably give up some clothes if needed just to have it along. And since I don't take much in the way of clothes that would just about mean taking only the clothes I was wearing while riding. One item I forgot to add to the camping gear list is a towel. I use a towel bought in the automotive section of Wally World. It's pretty small (maybe 15" x 24"), comes in a plastic tube and is used for drying vehicles after washing them. I don't wash or dry vehicles very often but it's great at a campground shower for getting me really really dry. And when you do laundry like underwear and socks you can roll them in the towel and suck most of the moisture from them. When you wring that towel dry it's very very dry. It also is pretty light and doesn't take up much room. That's another item I wouldn't want to travel without. So... yup, nice tent and air mattress before extra fuel in most cases. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT

[Jim Priest]

On 3/19/07, Jeff Saline wrote:

> > at bringing your own stove fuel? I look at the the 500ml fuel bottle

Don't they make stoves that run of unleaded gas? That would seem ideal on the KLR since you usually have gas to spare... That said - I haven't done much bike camping but would like to do more... Does anyone use a cot or hammock to sleep in? Last few times I slept on the ground - even with a Thermarest - my bones were creakin the next morning I've seen some neat hammock/tents but they of course depend on trees being present... Jim