I'm curious how others pack their backpacks. I ride either my Honda 350 CL or my Honda 450 CL up to either mountain lakes or rivers to fish, usually on old logging roads or forest service roads. I'm willing to travel two states away. The stuff that doesn't go into my backpack includes my sleeping bag (It sits on the luggage rack), air mattress, canteen, and a tarp (no tent) plus one of those miniature "gas cans" (just in case). I ride with my Model 60 slung over my shoulder although that may change as my new, heavier, scope has thrown off the center of gravity as it's mounted too far forward. I have a "sissy bar" and it might find itself on that if I can find a way to keep the scope from being jarred to death.
The bike's tool box contains extra fuses, the factory tool set, and two spare plugs. That's all you can get in it.
I wear a vest with thirteen pockets, ranging from huge to small. This holds my .22 ammo but, mostly, it carries fishing tackle and bait. I don't fill all the pockets up (Really, very few.).
Underneath the vest I carry my Ruger Mark II in a shoulder holster but it's unloaded with no clip. The clip is in the vest. It's loaded with velociters now but I'd like to add Aguila "snipers" to every other round. I think the only reason I carry it is because I own it. I haven't fired a single shot out of it yet on a trip. I've a permit for it in my state and the SP in neighboring states either honor it or take no interest in a .22. They just wave me on (I'm not riding a harley). I'm not sure how they'll respond to the Marlin now with the bigger scope though. It looks like a deer rifle now.
Also under the vest and on my right hip is a 13.5" survival knife which would be the envy of Jim Bowie. It's surgical stainless steel so I only have to sharpen it once before the trip and that's it. There's a rather useless compass in the bottom of the handle (It does point North) which unscrews to reveal a sewing kit and about 20 "strike anywhere" matches. The threads are waterproof and the hollow handle won't break off from the blade. This blade has everything from saw teeth to a tomato dicer. Oh! And it scales fish - Not to mention that it scares the crappola out of anyone you were to draw it on (Those of you who remember "Cockodile Dundee's" famous line, "You call that a knife? This is a knife," knows what I'm talking about.).
OK. We've covered what's not in the pack. Now for what's in it. It's got a cell phone holder on the left shoulder strap and an external water bottle holder but that's now holding my alcohol stove fuel. It has two small upper side pockets, one of which holds my camera and the other my contact lens stuff. The top flap has a zippered 12x6 pouch. The only thing in it right now is sun screen and bug repellent but that's REAL IMPORTANT. I keep it mostly empty so that I can add new items for specific trips.
Below the two top side side pockets is my alcohol stove fuel bottle and, on the side, a 5x8x4 zippered pocket, also currently empty.
On the very back side of the pack are three large pockets, one on top of the other. The last one is pretty thin with velcro snaps. It holds my identification documents (including B/C), licenses, my maps, and any computer printouts I made in advance relative to finding those hidden logging roads or cooking/skinning instructions of unfamiliar game or travel point reminders.
The pocket behind that is zippered, also document sized, and currently empty. This is deliberate on my part in case I add or buy anything I need along the way, I have 2-3 empty pockets available to instantly store it in without having to unpack the main pack and repack it.
The next pocket behind that is about 11x8x4, also currenntly empty.
The main pack is a fairly big sucker. I think it's 19x11x22. It holds a Boy Scout aluminum cookware set with six dehydrated bags of flavored oatmeal inside it and 2-3 SOS soap pads. There's a small plastic fishing box that contains extra hooks and leader (pretied) and bobs mostly, as all the rest is in my vest. There's an incredibly small alcohol stove and stand, the two together weighing a total of one ounce, with a 20 minute cooking time. There's also a very large, flat, zip lock bag that I put my dirty laundry in. That goes near the bottom. There's another just like it for storing fish/game. There's a really nice telescoping casting rod and reel in the pack too. There's also a medical kit at the very bottom too, one used for treating sports injuries by sideline coaches. It includes antiseptics, ace bandages, bandaids, etc but I can't set a broken leg or stich myself up (Unless it's with my sewing kit.). The reason for the medical kit is that I don't wear motorcycle leathers except on my feet (leather boots) and hands (leather gauntlet gloves) as the exposed extremities take the worst beating in an accident. Otherwise, I wear denim due to it's being much cooler. It's good but second best to leather in an accident. However, most motorcyle accidents occur at intersections, not freeways, and my biggest threat is dumping it on a gravel road 30 mph or less. Since, I could be picking gravel out of my leg, hence, the need for the medical kit.
At the very bottom of the pack is 100 feet of nylon rope and a can of "flat repair" and one quart of motorcycle oil.
I'll usually pack socks and underwear for five days, a couple of T shirts, and an extra pair of jeans.
I have a magnifying lens to start fires with so I have yet to use the matches (Which are covered in candle wax in case the advertised "waterproof" threads aren't.)
This doesn't even come close to filling the pack.
I don't carry much for food, normally two apples and a sandwhich bag or two of "hard tack" or smoked fish. For snacks, I have acorn nuts and beef jerky. I either plan to catch or shoot what I eat or buy it along the way (With the new scope the Model 60 is good for 75-100 yards). For the first day out though, I always take along a steak. They taste SO GOOD outdoors.
I don't bring a pillow. My packpack is of super soft, fine corinthian leather and works fine for a pillow. I set my sleeping bag on the tarp and pull the excess over me in case it rains. I can wear my helmet while sleeping if I want, it's super cushioned, ventilated, and insulated against temperatures and I can close the visor against rain. I doubt NASA has a better helmet.
Travel wise, I average about 200 miles a day, very little of it freeway riding and seldom riding for more than four hours before I call it quits and hit a lake, creek, or some farmer's pasture for the great outdoors. Somewhere in those four hours, I'll find a cafe or bait shop/sporting goods store to inquire where I can "stock up" on the local wildlife. Half don't know but they can usually direct you to who does.
Any suggestions on what else I should pack? I got lots of room. I figure this is the place to ask.
This year I'm determined to hit "virgin timber". There's a massive woodland with a huge lake on the other side of my state that are both inaccessible by road by all accounts. But, by using satellite photography, I found a way in and confirmed it first hand last summer. You can't get in with a car or 4x4 but you can with a CL. I doubt anyone's been in here but maybe 2-3 times since Columbus. Once I get in, there will be NO HELP. It will be me and the wild outdoors - period. I could fire three shots (SOS) all day and never be heard and getting back out is all uphill. If I don't make it back, it will be 100+ years before they find my body.
There is no dangerous wildlife in my state but there are grizzlies on my out of state trips.
it sounds like your pretty well set up. but the one thing i would do if i were all by myself in a secluded area that had bears would be to purchase a .44 mag, .460, or .454, .480 ect.. your not gonna stop a charge with a .22. ohh, and i dont believe you mentioned coffee. instant would pack well, and you can youse a tin cup to heat the water.
Nice to find another MC rider who's in to "Adventure Motorcycling". I enjoy motoring into the forest, and finding quiet secluded places to camp. I've done some multi-state road trips too - rode from sunny north Florida to Tellico Plains, Tennessee the first time, up to Pisgah Nat'l Forest in NC the second time, and to the Barber Motrsports Museum in Leeds, Alabama last year.
On the trips, I usually stay at MC-only campgrounds, or State campgrounds (noisier with more families).
I have my KLR650 Dual Sport bike eqipped with larger cargo rack and "fat fifty" ammocans for side boxes. I use a 'soft cooler' as my rack bag, and it holds my sleeping bag, bivy tent, air matress and some clothes. It also carries the two fuel bottles for my Coleman Dual Fuel stove (can use gas from the bike too).
On side box holds tools and 'road emergency' stuff, the other carries the camping gear and food (I favor Mountain House freeze-dried). Most clothes are in a dry-sack strapped onto the top of the rackbag. Additional large pouches are on the sides of the rack bag.
I always have two tank pannier bags on the bike, carrying two GI canteens, fixed-blade knife and larger 'survival' items. Two smaller pouches (PSK and FAK) are mounted on the sides of the fairing, on quick-detach mounts.
I can usually strap on a compact folding chair too - at 52 years old and with a quirky back, having a chair in camp really helps!
I'm still constantly trying new ideas for carrying things, so nothing is written in stone.
Arrival at camp (old Forest Green paintjob and plastic sideboxes):
Detail of small pouches and tank panniers:
Currently back to original red plastics, and new side boxes:
I noticed you said you carried a can of fix a flat. Unless you have tubeless tired it will do no good to reinflate a tire. you would be better off carrying a set of tire spoons and a spare tube or a patch kit. I do alot of traveling on a motorcycle as well. I carry a small tent and a sleeping bag. I use a set of soft saddle bags, an Eclipse 22 liter tank bag, and an Eclipse 22 liter tail pack. the tank bag has a set of back pack straps so I can use it as a pack if needed.
I did not do The Dragon. But we have another meet in May, and a buddy and I are trailering our bikes up. I won't be as tired once getting there, so do hope to ride The Dragon's Tail this time. There is also a "Dirt Dragon", but my off-road skills aren't quite to that level yet.
One thing I like to do, is to suddenly declare "Emergency Bugout!"
Toss the gear on the bike and head into the boonies - no prep, just GO NOW!
Good way to test the BO gear. Stay in the woods overnight - learn what I need to add or remove from the BO gear.
Nice to find another MC rider who's in to "Adventure Motorcycling". I enjoy motoring into the forest, and finding quiet secluded places to camp. I've done some multi-state road trips too - rode from sunny north Florida to Tellico Plains, Tennessee the first time, up to Pisgah Nat'l Forest in NC the second time, and to the Barber Motrsports Museum in Leeds, Alabama last year.
On the trips, I usually stay at MC-only campgrounds, or State campgrounds (noisier with more families).
I have my KLR650 Dual Sport bike eqipped with larger cargo rack and "fat fifty" ammocans for side boxes. I use a 'soft cooler' as my rack bag, and it holds my sleeping bag, bivy tent, air matress and some clothes. It also carries the two fuel bottles for my Coleman Dual Fuel stove (can use gas from the bike too).
On side box holds tools and 'road emergency' stuff, the other carries the camping gear and food (I favor Mountain House freeze-dried). Most clothes are in a dry-sack strapped onto the top of the rackbag. Additional large pouches are on the sides of the rack bag.
I always have two tank pannier bags on the bike, carrying two GI canteens, fixed-blade knife and larger 'survival' items. Two smaller pouches (PSK and FAK) are mounted on the sides of the fairing, on quick-detach mounts.
I can usually strap on a compact folding chair too - at 52 years old and with a quirky back, having a chair in camp really helps!
I'm still constantly trying new ideas for carrying things, so nothing is written in stone.
Arrival at camp (old Forest Green paintjob and plastic sideboxes):
Detail of small pouches and tank panniers:
Currently back to original red plastics, and new side boxes:
Wow! You are cleanly packed. When I was reading your post I thought you were riding a hog from your description. Then I saw the pics and I think my bikes are about your size! The ammo cans look like a great idea. I have two horse saddlebags but I didn't mention them because they hold so little. Pockets on the side of the bike are something else I haven't seen before. Can I ask where you got them?
I noticed you said you carried a can of fix a flat. Unless you have tubeless tired it will do no good to reinflate a tire. you would be better off carrying a set of tire spoons and a spare tube or a patch kit. I do alot of traveling on a motorcycle as well. I carry a small tent and a sleeping bag. I use a set of soft saddle bags, an Eclipse 22 liter tank bag, and an Eclipse 22 liter tail pack. the tank bag has a set of back pack straps so I can use it as a pack if needed.
My tires do have tubes. And I did get a flat once and inflated the tube with a can of "Flat repair". It held air long enough to get me back but went flat again by the next day. Did I just get lucky? Carrying a spare tube means carrying a spare pump too, doesn't it?
Changing a flat rear tire tube could be a lengthy job.
You got lucky if that tube held air. You can get emergency tire inflaters, they are small and take up lil room. They basically have a cartridge like a Co2 BB gun uses and a small device to connect it to the valve stem. The time it takes to change a tube varies with your skill, you should have the tools you need to remove the wheel in your tool kit. With practice you can change a tube in less than an hour.
You can get emergency tire inflaters, they are small and take up lil room. They basically have a cartridge like a Co2 BB gun uses and a small device to connect it to the valve stem.
Thanks for the tip. I was unaware of these.
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The time it takes to change a tube varies with your skill, you should have the tools you need to remove the wheel in your tool kit. With practice you can change a tube in less than an hour.
In an extra 5 minutes I could change the brake pads...
Sam, the small pouches are from WallyMart's sporting goods, came on a fanny pack for hunters. They attach via a quarter-turn plastic fastener, and I bolted the 'belt' half onto the bike. Both the FAK and the PSK have come in handy out in the woods.
The tank pannier is from Kolpin, the gun case company - designed for ATV use. Very tough and rugged - far better than the cheaper WallyMart bags I did have on it. I have a tire tube patch kit and other goodies in there.
One ammocan carries the Slime brand electric pump (I have a 12V socket on the bike) - great for airing down and back up between highway and dirt riding. I also carry an extended toolkit and two MC tire spoons. On a longer trip, I carry a spare front tube, which can be used in the smaller diameter rear tire in emergency.
On an all-day ride in the boonies, I have a 2-liter hydration bladder pack I wear - small and light, and can carry a small amount of gear.
My current grey seat cover is a modified car seat cover - as I repadded the seat and the old vinyl cover no longer fits. Bad thing is, in rain, it gets soaked! Yuck. Gotta get some upholstery vinyl material!
Got to do a sort of "bad weather test ride" Monday - left work and it was pouring! Some roads had several inches of standing water - bad juju for small cars - the KLR just cut through it like a knife! I modified the tank and carb venting, so wet weather doesn't bother my motor. Rain isn't too bad - it's strong gusting wind that plays havoc with these top-heavy dual-sport bikes!
My tires do have tubes. And I did get a flat once and inflated the tube with a can of "Flat repair". It held air long enough to get me back but went flat again by the next day. Did I just get lucky? Carrying a spare tube means carrying a spare pump too, doesn't it?
Changing a flat rear tire tube could be a lengthy job.
I haven't seen a tubed tyre on a bike in many a moon, didn't know they still made em.
Nicely kitted out bike though, how's the seat? I had a KLE500 for a while and the seat was like a plank, I couldn't sit on it for much more than 100 miles.
i dont MC at all not even a quad... but as for gear:
-extra glasses and one of those small repair kits all in a hard case... this is just in case you lose a contact...
-water purification? i didnt see anything mentioned so do you carry a canteen or do you have a filtration system or h2o purification tabs? if you have a military canteen get the cup that goes with it.
-pack some instant coffee in the single pouches, tea bags whatever flavor or plain, powdered drink mixes in the singles pouches, buillion cubes for added flavoring for cooking or for soups.
__________________ 12-21-2012: Party like theres no tomorrow!!!
Wun, the KLR650 has a pretty wide and well-padded seat as dual sport bikes go - most comfy bike in it's class. I also repadded it with better foam, and added a gel-seat pad under the cover. I'm good for about 300 miles at a time.
Stop every hundred or so to ease the "Monkey Butt".
I carry a couple small bottles of water purification tablets with the canteens in the tank panniers. But I usually don't use all my water when riding.
When camping, I carry additional water in flat 1.25 gallon jugs or use a camp site with piped water.
My current hiking/camping/BO backpack has the pocket inside for a two-liter bladder, and I carry a couple GI canteens with it too. It would be very clumsy to carry on the bike though - the external frame would be in the way.
The small pouches on the bike have belt loops, so if I had to abandon the bike and hoof it, I put them on my belt.
-extra glasses and one of those small repair kits all in a hard case... this is just in case you lose a contact...
Good plan. I wasn't carrying an extra set of contacts. That's now on my list.
Quote:
-water purification? i didnt see anything mentioned so do you carry a canteen or do you have a filtration system or h2o purification tabs? if you have a military canteen get the cup that goes with it.
I have an old "cowboy" canteen (I picke up a lot of my stuff from pack animal equipment) and a waterbag. Both are excellent but both occupy a lot of space and water ain't light. So, truth be told, I leave them at home or pack the canteen empty and fill it as I go. And - No - no water purification tablets either. That may sound odd but I'm out in the dingle weeds riding creeks that are snow melt offs. There's no town above me or dairy farms dumping sewage in the water. I'm not one for drinking runoff water but, when I do, I avoid standing water and fill from rapids. Mostly, I use creek water to clean my cookware. Otherwise, I keep what I boil for making oatmeal.
I figure if the water didn't kill my ancestors, it shouldn't kill me.
Wun, the KLR650 has a pretty wide and well-padded seat as dual sport bikes go - most comfy bike in it's class. I also repadded it with better foam, and added a gel-seat pad under the cover. I'm good for about 300 miles at a time.
Stop every hundred or so to ease the "Monkey Butt".
I'm good for about 4 hours (stock seat) but that's at about 50 mph as I seldom ride freeway. So I do about 200 miles to your 300.
If I was you I'd hunt with my .22 pistol and swap that Marlin for a 12gauge loaded with slugs, bears kinda laugh at .22s and big-bore pistols are harder to shoot accurately than a shottie, plus they cost alot more!
troll.....itsa great ride .... if the crotch rockets would quit passing you in the curves!!!! i spit quite regularly in the hair pins so they kinda hold back till theres a small straight!( bike riders and skoal dippers are prolly the only ones that can appreciate it)
troll.....itsa great ride .... if the crotch rockets would quit passing you in the curves!!!! i spit quite regularly in the hair pins so they kinda hold back till theres a small straight!( bike riders and skoal dippers are prolly the only ones that can appreciate it)
I wear a full face helmet with visor; if I spit, I just get my own back!
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How can I 'Soar with the Eagles' when I'm working with such 'Turkeys'!
The Survivalist's backpack 
