Dragonfly
 

We've used a Dragonfly for about 9 years including two year-long trips. It has been durable and easy to service in the field when necessary using an MSR kit. It simmers well and boils water quickly. It takes a bit of fiddling to get started and is generally fussier than other stoves we've owned, all in all just what a BMW Airhead rider would own.

Coleman
 

Thomas,

I have one of those Coleman exponets, worked great for about a year, then you had to just keep pumping all the time just to hold a flame, the seal had gone then the other 2 both went, but before that it did not like the bad fuel in Ethiopia I was waiting for my F650gs twin to give me grief but it turned out the bloody stove instead. I tried to get parts for it in Nairobi to no avail, so when I returned to Australia was told they don't make them anymore, so I would be a little cautious with them.

Cheers
Paul

Theres no choice for me. It will always be a petrol stove. I've had my Optimus 8R since '92 and it has always worked. It's been dowsed in fuel and set alight bashed bruised and totally abused. Makes no difference t still works. Parts are still available ( think came into being in the 50's).
Unfortunately no longer made but you can still pick them up second hand and good cheep copies can be found. Fits in its on Big Mac container.

Optimus SVEA is still around and works same way (came out back in the ice age.).
Hiker is like the 8R but a little bigger but comes with a pressure pump. Better if you're cooking for more..

Downside.... It's an on off stove. Simmering can be achieved though if you suspend the pan above it. Its a simple solution to a common problem with most petrol stoves, though things like soaking rice before hand and swishing it around massively reduces the cook time also.

If I can I'll cook my evening meal on a 3 Stone fire so any simmering sauces aren't a problem. A stoves for boiling water, eggs and pancakes...

Mate, I have the Coleman multifuel stove! Unreal stove and comes setup for unleaded and other similar fuels, but also comes with adaptor for kero.

Just remember that if you intend to take it overseas, don´t use it before you do, or if you have, wash it out so it has no smell of fuel whatsoever, using either cooking oil or detergent or other. Otherwise you will need a dangerous goods certificate...quite a hastle unless you´re also shipping a bike.

Hi, this months issue (3) of Adventure Bike Rider has a stove review. Andy

stove
 

have always used a meths stove cant fault them but last year in the uk, i did have a problem getting meths, so bought a coleman feather lite petrol stove it is a very good stove and i would recomend it.

denny.

I like a combination of stoves. A meths or alcohol stove for boiling water and the little MSR Pocket rocket for simmering stuff. Both stoves are super tiny and light, and take up hardly any space.
Sometimes you have to buy a gallon of methylated spirits and carrying that can be cumbersome.
It's often very handy to be able to have two stoves going at the same time.

As for multi fuel stoves I've found them quirky and difficult to use unless they have an exclusive diet of coleman fuel.

I bought a small gas stove in Nouakchott for €6 but it was stolen in Mali. Then now I found a very similar stove for €11 here in Dakhla and I can't fault it. Cartridges cost about 20 cents and last quite a while. I have seen gas bottles being sold all over the place here in North Africa.

I've used these types of stove all over Europe and the Middle East, and they're great (light, fast, controllable, though wind-susceptible) provided you have a ready source of cartridges. Which type are common in N Africa? Camping Gaz or Coleman? If CG, which type? Pierced or resealable?

Thanks once again for all the info; very helpful and lots to consider!

As an aside, when's the next issue out? I thought it was going to be January?

Probably only applicable for us guys who stay out in the cold, but gas cartridges start to fail in a typical European winter. Stick a full one up your jumper for half an hour and you'll mostly get it going, but they really aren't the sort of thing you want to sleep with night after night just so you can have a cuppa in the morning. 90% of riders will probably never notice or care, but something to think about if your trip will include cold places.

Andy

Ditto Exactly what I have & you only ever run out of fuel if your petrol tank is empty, it donst take that much space as far as i can see

The re sealable cv270 and cv470 type are a mix of propane and butane so will run well below freezing. not in -40 of course, but you are right, I don't often camp above the snowline.

I used the MSR multifuel stove. Strapped a litre of fuel to the fender... used it as backup fuel and for the Chili at night.

By the way, I did test it and I got 14km out of my camp fuel.

:rofl: That's some pretty poor economy, how many meals does 14kms worth of fuel equate to I wonder? beer