First travel
 

Hey everyone !

I'm not sure if there is a any big activity on this forum , but here it comes.

I'm a youngster you see , I like adventure :) , so I decided to go on a motorcycle trip this august. But I'm having one of the usual problems : unsificiant space.

I drive a ninja 250R. me and my girlfriend sit on it so besides being a rather small bike it is also limited in space. I got a backpack that fits my small tent so that isn't the problem. But I also need to take 2 sleeping bags with us ! :s. I have a tank bag at my disposal, But besides 2 sleeping bags and 1 tent what else do I need to start? Some drinks , small medicin bag , ?

I'm goin for X amount . Somewhere between 3 days and 1 month , As far as my money takes me. ( any tips to save money while on a trip ) ?

Cheers to anyone that might be able to give me a good answer =).

Yes, there is.

There are plenty of stories on this Forum about people riding around on small bikes like: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...d-europe-61328
Just check out the posts on this forum
I myself have been from the Netherlands to Switzerland on a small 125cc bike when I was much younger. I used saddlebags over the seat, a tankbag and a luggage rack on the back of the bike.

Sections of this forum that may have answers to your questions are:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ints-and-tips/
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/get...-stories-blogs
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-all-clothing/
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...pment-reviews/

Basic info
 

If you could give us a wee bit more info.
This is a world wide club so your posts are seen by people on all continents.
If you tell us where you are and where you hope to go, we The Hubb comunity, can give you specific advise.
Travelers have been useing smaller bikes than yours for overland trips so don't let that put you off.
Good luck on your travels.:thumbup1:

:welcome: to the Hubb.
Rory

No Backpack.
 

Just one point: I don't think a backpack of any size or weight at all is a good idea when travelling on a bike. In no time at all it'll be painful. Lindsay.

And with a backpack, the weight of your lugage is way to high. Saddlebags will put the center of gravity lower and that is much better for the handling of your bike.

Thanks a lot :) I'll certainly will read the blogs from goldhaze ! and check the other links too !

So I live in belgium , And where I'm going too I haven't decided yet.
Probably not too far, driving a bit in germany maybe? I gotta find some specific points I want to see and use as checkpoints :)

And I'll be using mainly my tankbag , backpack , that's it xD
I'm not gonna buy any fancy storing rack's for my bike to put on ( not that much money as a student ), and I'm not hoping I need that much space.

1 Disadvantage : LAck of space behind my back/. Normally I can store some goodies with straps on my second saddle ( for a passanger ) But I'm actually gonna take my GF with me :s ..

I'm not going to spend money on buying that now => I dropped my motorcycle in january with the freezing weather in belgium , need to work to get some money to actually fully fix the bike ( some fenders still dmg'd ) .. so no fancy buying stuff.

I've got a good motorcycle backpack ( not big at all ) On there I can fit my tent .. and besides that, I got a tank bag which is very spacious ..

Luggage.
 

Hi, for what it's worth I'd expect you to give up on the backpack idea out on the road pretty quickly. If so, bear in mind this. Throw-overs on the back of a small bike work their way backwards as would any lump put there, so strap it down and strap it so it won't roll back over the rear lights. I'd suggest taking straps for this incase you decide to try strapping it onto the bike.

Go for a trial ride of 5 km to see if it works as you intend it to. Have fun, Lindsay.

I'm really enjoying the fast responds ( Didn't expect the responds ot be so active ) .

Euh , I can't quite follow you?
You advice to not take a backpack but rather then using a back pack strap it on my rear saddle? My girlfriend is coming along . So I cannot strap it on my saddle? IF you ment it otherwise please clarify it a bit more .. I don't really understand fully what you ment to say... Thanks ! :)

On the backpack point, you have a small bike with a pillion. Unless the pillion is wearing the back pack then that is a no-goer.

Please listen to the advice you are getting here, backpacks are not good.

However, if you do insist on taking a backpack, have a cheap rack put on the bike (you can always find someone to cut down and fit a "scrap" one for very little cost. You can then put your tent on the rack, and then the pillion can wear the back pack and rest the weight on the rack.

But saddle bags are better option than a back pack.. Something like this ?
Leather Motorcycle Throw over Saddle Bags Saddlebags Panniers Pair | eBay

Cheap items *can* be found.

But also think about pillion comfort, they do not want to sit on straps.

And pack light. You do not need a lot of clothes, just wash often. (Max underwear IMO is 4 pairs).

My wife and I went across the USA with just a tank bag and a ventura rack/bag. (Ok, no tent for the 1st 5 weeks).

Back in '96 we went round France for 2 weeks on a GS550 with *far* more stuff (tent (back rack), tank bag, saddle bags *and* back pack).

Backpack.
 

Hi, I think your modern small bike must be smaller at the rear than the '79 Kawasaki 400 twin that I referred to. OK, if you have to use your bike with the two of you I guess you can only: Use a tank bag, girlfriend use a small bum bag and sit on a pair of soft throw-overs.

To cut down on luggage to the max you need only spare socks, undies and T shirts, washing kit and tiny towel plus money. Tents etc are out if you travel really light, then it's backpackers, youth hostels, Formula 1 hotels and CouchSurfing – The world’s largest travel community or a HU community to find help.

I suspect a small, temporary rack really would be a good idea as making a mess of loading a bike can kill. Ciao, Lindsay.

The backpack is a very light one. It will contain some small goodies like underwear a gps some socks a camera etc .. ( small capacity ). the tent will be fitted on the backpack ( 3kgs total for tent weight ) Since my Girlfriend is also riding on my bike I do not have the option of a free pillion. However , now that I know what these saddlebags are ( done some research ) I might get one of those.

Can anyone help me in what brand is good at this ? Are these saddlebags also universial on most motorcycles? Thanks by advance :)

Wow this couchsurfing seems very interesting if you ask me ! :D

Thanks for the advice I already figured I could not take a lot .. as you mentioned :)

One other thing. PLEASE tell me how to wash your clothes with on the road stuff. I read it so many times but I'm a young guy from 21 and I never done the wash at my house .. How to do it ? and does it take long ?
Or how did you do it on your journey? ( like at evening before going to sleep .. ? )

Cheers ! :)

I take quick drying travel t-shirts and a tube of travel wash like this
Travel Wash: Amazon.co.uk: Health & Beauty

hope this helps

Dave

doh:confused1::( Use the search function:thumbup1:

She will love you forever if you do not make her use a back pack !

You can get many types of throw over panniers, just make sure they do not make the seat uncomfortable for her, usually caused by straps.

I've used couchsurfing a lot, but mainly when in the USA.

Washing is something you do at night, if on a campsite just jump up and down on your things while having a shower. Then hang them on the bike the next day to dry in the air.

Larger items usually need a proper machine. That becomes the evenings entertainment.

Or if space then you can use a "dry sack" Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers' Stories - Two Pegs to Patagonia

Rack.
 

Hi, just tried a 'net search for Ninja 250 racks and it turns out Ventura make them. This is a thorough solution but not cheap. Kawasaki Ninja 250 (EX250J8F-JAF) luggage, motorcycle luggage, racks, touring | Ventura I just hope the link is live, Lindsay.

It works :) That is excellent , but I'm taking my Girlfriend on my pillion :) so with that rack stuff it won't fit her on :P.

I listened to all your advices and I obtained 2 gericke travelling sacks. Which you can put over your pillion :)

I fitted it and it comes close to my exhaust but it doesn't touch ! so lucky me :) I can attach it to the bike probably to let it hold on tightly .

but then there is the problem with that girlfriend sitting on the pillion and the bags coming close to the feet supports -_-

I think travelling with a small bike it do able , but travelling with 2 on a small bike is hard xD I'll try to make it work and I'll test it out for a full day before actually going on the journey :)

What straps are best to get to strap stuff tightly? For example a tent or my bags need some good rope thingies. Should I buy like climbing ropes? You know the colored ones that r really strong ? or ..? :)

Thanks for the replies !

strapped for straps
 

Hi,

Go to your local motorbike shop and ask them for the straps that are on the new bikes when delivered:thumbup1:

I got ten ov them from a local BMW dealer. They are great for tying down luggage:thumbup1:

And they are free:D

We got a bmw dealer around my corner lets try that out ! :P hope it works :D !

Yes it will. The Ventura racks allow a bag to fit both ways, on the seat or behind the seat.

Will she be able to see with that over her ? :-)

they go at the sides and r binded together over the pillion :) so she can sit on it and it doesn't feel awkward as you guys mentioned. Only gotta try to fit em on tightly they come close to my exhaust and if they move to much they'll burn ! :(

I'll keep you guys updated . !

Pillions.
 

Hi, I'd protect the bag on the exhaust side, expecting it to sag down in time. An alloy plate bolted on or some heat proof material strapped to the bag. Even consider putting only low value items in it incase it burns or melts. By the way, pillion, means the person on the back of the bike! Have a great time. Lindsay.

omy thanks for noting that out ! xD I thought it ment for my second saddle ! xD

Anyways I'll try indeed puttin on some kind of material. THing is if I drill and put some alloy against it which is easely done , I'd damage the waterproof cover from the bottom .. so I don't kinda like that Idea. But i'll try to fix something for it ! I'll make it work one way or an other :)

Exhaust shield
 

This is what I used for heat insulation, between a soft pannier and a silencer, for a year around Africa:

A plumber's solder mat from builder's merchant/hardware shop:
Monument plumbers soldering mat,2350x :: Toolman Yardley, tools ,bahco tools, C.K,stanley tools, estwing,stabila, marshalltown, bosch, knipex, trend, irwin,draper, fluke, monument, kamasa, fisco, silverline, rothenberger, irazola screwdrivers,

And about 2 yards of propane gas tube from plumber's shop/camping caravan shop:
13mm LPG Gas Propane Hose Pipe BBQ Camping 1 Metre | eBay

wrapped into a coil like this:

http://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/...1740_crop1.jpg


Use galvanised steel wire (from B&Q or hardware shop) to keep the coil together, and to hold the coil and mat in place between pannier and the bike's side panel. Thread it through holes drilled in the side panel, around a grab handle or other convenient bit of subframe or seat.

I also used cable ties to help keep the pannier in place, threaded through holes in the solder mat. As the bike's side panel was between the solder mat and silencer they survived.

Expect the side panel to get distorted by the heat over time.
If you want to make doubly sure, you could use two solder mats, one each side of the coil.

This is what it looks like without the pannier:

http://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/...0157_crop1.jpg


And with everything in place:

http://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/...1742_crop2.jpg


It all still survives fine, including a few low-speed drops.

Have a great trip.

that should definetely do the trick ! :) If I just put the mat against my bag will it do the same trick ? or is the isolation (the hose ) needed?

Also , the solder mat won't leave stamps on my exhaust? I don't wanna sound like a noob but I've got a full chrome exhaust .. so marks on it will kinda ruin it for me when I get back and drive normal again. I'll print your post and get to the stores and try it out ! :) thanks a lot for the well built reply !

Right, I just looked at some pictures of your bike.
The exhaust is completely different to what I had assumed.
The suggestion I made is for a bike with a high-level exhaust behind a plastic side-panel, where the silencer has metal 'stand-off' brackets attached to it to maintain space between it and the plastic cover.
So best ignore all that.....

For your bike you'll need a pannier that is always high enough so that it never gets near the silencer. Even fully loaded.
"Sports" panniers usually do this (like the Oxford sports range).
Or, fit a pannier frame (if one is made for this bike) that will do the same job. Maybe there's one that will go with the Ventura rack.

Either way, I'd suggest to get it all set up well before your trip, so you can test it out, fully loaded, on a ride of a day or so, with pillion passenger. You're bound to find luggage problems that'll need fixing, so best to give yourself time to get it right before leaving home.

If you're using panniers made of nylon or similar, there have been plenty of people that have ridden off on a journey only to find that the bottom of a pannier has melted from exhaust heat, and all the contents disappeared!

Oops!

Well there's like 5 cm space atleast. SO i wanted to buy the soldering mat like you said
make it long enough so that it covers the bottom and both sides. then buy some velcro. Attach it on there with some thread. Put it around the bike , velco on top so that it stay tightly. and that'll protect it too ? not? not sure and my bags r made of nylon :P

Yep, maybe two of those mats attached to the bottom of your pannier would give extra protection against the heat.

Worth doing as an extra safeguard. Velcro could be good or just stitch the mats directly to the pannier.