Downsizing. Please dont faint.

Coyote Chris

Coyote Chris

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Joined
Aug 25, 2011
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Location
Spokane
Bike
10 Red NT 14 FJR, 17 XT
Now that I have returned from Spearfish and Oshkosh, I am off to Cody WY. on Monday for five days. 4 Motels and a NF camp site.
Mostly, I just want to ride the roads around Cody, hang out, see the Concentration Camp museum updates, etc.
Seeing Jungle Jim's tent made me think about moving to a two man Kelty tent and doing away with one of my SWMotec bags for short stays at camp grounds. Kelty and others have some very easy to set up 2 man tents that are light yet have enough room for one old man and a bit of gear. And one or two vestibules. So I am going through my gear and seeing what I dont reaally need as I will be glamping at my fav Cody motel...I have ordered a Kelty but will take one of my old generic 7x7 tents for the one night at Red Rocks campground. There is a pic of the FJR load out but I will take the VFR this trip. I will post a pic of my new short trip no cooking load out. I am really impressed with the Wild Heart 66 liter bag and bought another after testing it on the way to Spearfish. Same design as the SW motec 35. I looked at a bunch of 2 man tents but decided to try the Kelty Discovery trail 2. If I need two door and vestibules, there are other tents. I like the way the poles just go into pockets. But one may get better ventilation with the two door/vestibule tents, Like the Kelty Wireless 2. Its amazing how much crap you really dont need.....(edit: Kelty website had a 15 percent discount cupon so I also bought the Wireless 2)

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When downsizing from the V-Storm to the Honda NX500 this summer, I basically only had room for clothes and toiletries. No tenting, just motels. It still was a lot, surprisingly.

One BIG 55 liter dry bag strapped to the pillion seat. Oh, and a 5 liter tank bag. And the Aerostich tank panniers for water, snacks and tools. A very sparse tool kit.

I probably left 50 pounds of tenting and cooking gear behind. That weight savings, plus the new bike being 90 pounds lighter makes a HUGE difference. Definitely easier to handle in gravel, dirt or sand.

Very pleased with the NX500. It’s a better bike by far than my CB500X. After 3200 miles in the first 30 days, it’s averaging 64 mpg in all conditions. Highly recommend.
 
Yoda said:
When downsizing from the V-Storm to the Honda NX500 this summer, I basically only had room for clothes and toiletries. No tenting, just motels. It still was a lot, surprisingly.

One BIG 55 liter dry bag strapped to the pillion seat. Oh, and a 5 liter tank bag. And the Aerostich tank panniers for water, snacks and tools. A very sparse tool kit.

I probably left 50 pounds of tenting and cooking gear behind. That weight savings, plus the new bike being 90 pounds lighter makes a HUGE difference. Definitely easier to handle in gravel, dirt or sand.

Very pleased with the NX500. It’s a better bike by far than my CB500X. After 3200 miles in the first 30 days, it’s averaging 64 mpg in all conditions. Highly recommend.
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Yeah...I am watching my weight....bet I can cut out 40 lbs easy. Tank bag is a must.
 
one of my friend who does moto camping recommended this: waterproof 1-person cot tent combo gives you a stable, elevated sleeping setup with extra room and durability for your next camping trip.

https://a.co/d/cOZjJQO

Image on how it fits on his rear seat of his Harley , the green bag is the tent cot.
 

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Sunny said:
one of my friend who does moto camping recommended this: waterproof 1-person cot tent combo gives you a stable, elevated sleeping setup with extra room and durability for your next camping trip.

https://a.co/d/cOZjJQO

Image on how it fits on his rear seat of his Harley , the green bag is the tent cot.
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Does that cot tent have enough room for riding gear and other stuff one needs handy while camping? Looks to not have enough space other than sleeping.
 
Manfred said:
Does that cot tent have enough room for riding gear and other stuff one needs handy while camping? Looks to not have enough space other than sleeping.
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A cot tent would never work for me.
1. I hate cots.
2. I sprawl. and I want room for gear. Coat, pants, helmet, bag.
Sorry, but its the answer to a question no one asked. If you are a small person, maybe you can sprawl on a cot. But you still loose lots of room.
When I camp, I have a routine. And I have camped many hundreds of nights. .Near my pillow, I have 2 flashlights, Kleenex, a pee bottle, drugs, and a pistol as well as a water bottle. All have to be quickly accessable and in their place. Next to my head. Never tried a cot that fit me.
 
Manfred said:
Does that cot tent have enough room for riding gear and other stuff one needs handy while camping? Looks to not have enough space other than sleeping.
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I don't think so. But my friend camps light and he likes it, he says it easy to put up and take down , like 10min tops. He likes to camp a day and then move on to next site, so this thing works for him as he doesn't carry or pack/unpack a lot.

He is also a lot younger than many youngsters here :)
 
Sunny said:
I don't think so. But my friend camps light and he likes it, he says it easy to put up and take down , like 10min tops. He likes to camp a day and then move on to next site, so this thing works for him as he doesn't carry or pack/unpack a lot.

He is also a lot younger than many youngsters here :)
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That is one thing I like about the new Kelty Series with pole pockets.. If you cant put one up in 10 minutes, you are missing an arm. Stay tuned for my test of the single vestibule vs the double vetibule. With pics. One good thing about the web is it has independant reviews of real people putting up these tents and then checking how long they stay dry in a rain.
The wireless 2 really looks promising. Once you start shoving poles in pockets and lift the hook for the center, it that takes more than 2 minutes, a shark has bit your hand off.
One corner is color coded for the fly but I code all them with diffeent colors of electrical tape. Weight is the enemy as well as size, if you have balance issues. The cheep chineese Ozark line had a great tent. Double vestubles, pull back fly for ventilation....but fiberglass poles that fit in grommets....$50. I took mine back to Walmart as I hate fiberglass poles. And the 2 lb weight penalty.
With the wireless 2, you extent the poles, shove them in the pockets, which unlike gromets, wont come out...hook the center hook, and snap the 8 side clips. There is also a center short ridge pole that is no trick. I like two exits and two vestibules but we shall see the size difference when I get back from Cody.....
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Mellow said:
Any 2 person tent should be fine, free standing and side access w/2 vestibules are my preferences.
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I have 10 tents now but have owned over 50 in the last 60 years. Aluminum poles and vestibules and now pole pockets have been a game changer. Ventilation is much better in this century. Overloaded bikes at my age are no fun. Light bikes and light gear are my future. I must say the light weight small camp chair has also improved my camping life, in an outside the tent.
 
Coyote Chris said:
I have 10 tents now but have owned over 50 in the last 60 years. Aluminum poles and vestibules and now pole pockets have been a game changer. Ventilation is much better in this century. Overloaded bikes at my age are no fun. Light bikes and light gear are my future. I must say the light weight small camp chair has also improved my camping life, in an outside the tent.
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Also... take a look at the Nemo Aurora - I know.. not cheap but

- comes with footprint
- spacious
- pole structure allows for vertical walls so your feet/head don't touch
- offset doors/fly - big deal to me - so the fly always fits no matter how you put it on

 
Mellow said:
Also... take a look at the Nemo Aurora - I know.. not cheap but

- comes with footprint
- spacious
- pole structure allows for vertical walls so your feet/head don't touch
- offset doors/fly - big deal to me - so the fly always fits no matter how you put it on

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Its not a bad tent at all and a great one for the sale price of $200. I have used footprints and they are good for rocky camp sites. Nemo makes good stuff. While light weight, the actuall pack weight and size is unclear. Time for them to ditch the funky pole system and use pole pockets. Not rulling it out. All tents will be rated against the old but esxquisit Kelty Midori 3.
 
Trying something new. Visual representation. Under seat is Stop and Go, Dyna plug, and gummies plus wrenches. Trying to avoid doubleing up. How many enema bottles do you really need vs glass repair/ cleaning kit? You can't have too many diarrhea pills.
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Some day you will be old and you will know..... . spasming puborectalis muscle the inability to stop or start Pee. Getting 20 seconds warning of an impending BM. Or no warning. A prostate the size of a grape fruit....plus you have to carry all these chill pills so you dont start shooting everyone with no manners...
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mikesim said:
<sigh>.... weak moment, I guess....
Mike
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The devil made you do it!!!!
If you saw my drug list and my medical issue list, you would cry big crockidile tears.... :rofl1: Wanna see pics of my colonoscopy? :thumb:
 
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