Luggage and camping with SV?

Hi Guys,

A friend of mine owns an ER-6F and is planning a camping trip to Scotland for his birthday at the end of August.

I have a 2008 SV650S and was wondering what would be the best luggage options for such a weekend, recommend tents, sleeping bags and equipment and any other tips?

I've been camping before, but never by bike. Also, what do you guys do about power - mainly mobile phone, cardo headsets etc.? I have power on the bike for Sat Nav, Grips and Heated Clothing (no cigarette socket).

At the moment I don't have any racks or tank bags - literally sorting this out from scratch!

Many thanks in advance guys =)

[timwilky]

Whoa there, slow down

Camping in Scotland in August....... Priority purchase the world biggest tin of deet.

The Scottish midge has a voracious appetite and I still carry the holes from 11 years ago.

Definitely something I will need to consider then !

Originally Posted by timwilky

Whoa there, slow down

Camping in Scotland in August....... Priority purchase the world biggest tin of deet.

The Scottish midge has a voracious appetite and I still carry the holes from 11 years ago.

Avon 'skin so soft' keeps the little bnggers at bay, even the 'ard military types swear by it

Lol well at least I now know how to protect from whatever skin biting creatures Scotland throws at me ! What about the rest of what I need?

Buy a 12v socket (peanuts) and then go with whatever luggage you prefer.

Personally I prefer hard luggage (topbox) vs soft, but its your choice really. Take as little as possible, keep the weight evenly distributed.

Take a few extra bin liners as they will come in handy to seperate wet/dirty clothes from dry/clean ones.

Whatever you go for, encase it all in some kind of waterproof bag (aka bin liner) - top boxes etc are NOT waterproof and things will get wet if it rains hard enough...condensation also plays a role.

[MisterTommyH]

You should be able to do that with a set of soft panniers and a few bungie chords.

Tent, roll mat bungied to the pillion seat, clothes waterproofed in the panniers. If your struggling for space you could probably also waterproof your sleeping bag (rubble sack or similar) and bungie it to the seat, but it would be rammed full then.

Also it kind of depends if you're planning on being self sufficient, or near somewhere where you can get cooked food etc.... gas burners etc are all extra carriage.

[MisterTommyH]

Originally Posted by hongman

Buy a 12v socket (peanuts) and then go with whatever luggage you prefer.

Personally I prefer hard luggage (topbox) vs soft, but its your choice really. Take as little as possible, keep the weight evenly distributed.

Yup - the hardest thing about installing my 12v socket was making the hole in the fairing.

I also prefer hard luggage, but if it's just the weekend trip and you aren't planning on doing it a lot then it wouldn't be worth it.

+1 on everything else Hong said.

Well I have done European trips before with the missus, but stayed in hotels - I was thinking hard luggage, perhaps a pair of Givi panniers (what would be recommended) - for the ease of 2-up in the future? And by 12v, that's the cigarette socket right? Where do you put whatever you are charging/running through that connector whilst on the move? I think we will need to be self sufficient, so cooking stuff etc. would be a must. Has anyone got any pictures of a setup they have done in the past? Also, what tents/sleeping bags would be good and easy to transport? Plus - any recommendations on waterproofs that pack up small?

Thanks for the suggestions !

Consider the many nice, cheap hostels Scotland has to offer. Then you need not the deet, camping gear etc and all are within wobbling distance of a pub .