V-Strom at max load (Suzuki DL-650 1 up)

[Scorch]

Just went on a weekend camping trip in the Angelina Forest in East Texas with a buddy (who also has a yellow V-Strom) and decided to load up and test all the gear. The only component I left behind was the sleeping bag, it's too hot this time of year.

Suzuki V-Strom 650 loaded and ready to go
http://www.moto-dude.com/vstrom/images/vstrom6.jpg

The camp site
http://www.moto-dude.com/vstrom/images/vstrom10.jpg
http://www.moto-dude.com/vstrom/images/vstrom4.jpg


Unloaded for picture after the trip
http://www.moto-dude.com/vstrom/images/vstrom19.jpg
http://www.moto-dude.com/vstrom/images/vstrom18.jpg

I took most everything I had, enough for two campers, just to see how it would ride. The sleeping bag would go behind me and the gear bag would move back on top of the Coleman stove (which makes a great base, btw).

cheers
Scorch

[Trailace]

Cool! I don't think I could fit all that on my 650 good job.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Whoa! That's the picture I was looking for! By the way how did it handle with that load on it? I'm taking a DL650 to AK next summer and I haven't had it loaded down yet.

[Trekker]

You had all that gear strapped on???? !!!!! Wow! That's awesome.

[Mr. Guy]

Definitely not light packing. I'm guessing by that stove you like to eat good on the road.

Guy

[Scorch]

Whoa! That's the picture I was looking for! By the way how did it handle with that load on it? I'm taking a DL650 to AK next summer and I haven't had it loaded down yet.

It handled fine, actually. Before we made camp we went down some trails in the Davy Crockett National Forest, through some pretty rough terrain with gullies. I wish I had snapped some pics. The gear bag weighed about 80 pounds, not much less that a passenger, so it was manageable. The only drawback was there isn't a lot of room fore and aft in the seat to move around. I think the next time I will position the gear bag on top of the stove on the rear seat, and strap the tent and sleeping bag on the rack. That should give me a few more inches of space on the seat.

Definitely not light packing. I'm guessing by that stove you like to eat good on the road.

Yeah, I enjoy cooking simple stuff when camping--chili, fried eggs & bacon, burgers, fried potatos and any fish or squirrels I get. I could opt for a smaller one burner type stove, but the 2 burner stove is nice and flat, and makes a great platform to pack stuff on. ;) Anyway, that was a max load test, a lot of the time I just take the tent, air mattress and sleeping bag and eat in burger joints.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Scorch, that GT380 is sweeeet! You have me checking Craig's list for a nice Honda CB360T, my first "Big" bike that I got when I was 13. I still have what is left of my Honda SL-70. I wish I could also get my hands on the first Adventure Touring bike I had, a Honda SL-350. I was a Honda guy back in the day.

[Alan]

Nice pictures, you sure pack a lot.:)

The green water at the camp ground sure looks nasty though.

[motomac]

Now that's what I'm talking about!!! I'm not the only one who packs a lot of stuff!!! Way to go, and I do have room to slide back on the seat with the KLR, 'cause I have a top box.

[Scorch]

Nice pictures, you sure pack a lot.:)

The green water at the camp ground sure looks nasty though.


Lake water, it was great.:D

[Scorch]

And, V-Strom with the minimal camping gear:
http://www.moto-dude.com/vstrom/images/vstrom38.jpg

Tent and warm weather sleeping bag on the luggage rack, air mattress and the great rechargeable Wal-Mart air pump in one saddlebag, clothes, hatchet, rope, and misc in the other bag, rain gear, book, flashlights, and towel in the tank bag. All meals taken at diners.

http://www.moto-dude.com/vstrom/images/vstrom40.jpg

[BCST]

All I have to say is, bloody awesome!

Wish I had the knack to pack like that.:D


Pete.

[George]

Scorch, that GT380 is sweeeet! You have me checking Craig's list for a nice Honda CB360T, my first "Big" bike that I got when I was 13. I still have what is left of my Honda SL-70. I wish I could also get my hands on the first Adventure Touring bike I had, a Honda SL-350. I was a Honda guy back in the day.

Dang, Steve, I've been thinking about the SL-350 as an adventure bike solution. I always liked the "John Deere" paint scheme. What year was that? I was riding a CB-350 when the SL came out and couldn't justify the price back then.

Prolly too heavy to compete with today's products but the twin cylinder is smoother than the singles on the highway. I used to tour my 350 with no problems. The Kawasaki Versys seems like a "grown up" version.

[George]

Lake water, it was great.:D

The lake shot was my fav from yur album.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Dang, Steve, I've been thinking about the SL-350 as an adventure bike solution. I always liked the "John Deere" paint scheme. What year was that? I was riding a CB-350 when the SL came out and couldn't justify the price back then.

Prolly too heavy to compete with today's products but the twin cylinder is smoother than the singles on the highway. I used to tour my 350 with no problems. The Kawasaki Versys seems like a "grown up" version.

George, I think mine was a 1973, and it had that funky gold and lime green color with the brushed aluminum fenders. I ended up painting the tank and side covers black with a rattle can. I sure had some good times on that old bike, put a ton of miles on it. Those old twins were as reliable as a rock back in the day. Points, plugs, and condensers were all you needed back then, I kind of miss those times.

As far as the Versys goes, I really like that bike. The only reason I didn't pick it, was it was just a little cramped for me for the long haul. I can move around more on the Strom, as I'm one of those guys with a XXL figure. :p

[Redbeard]

[QUOTE=

As far as the Versys goes, I really like that bike. The only reason I didn't pick it, was it was just a little cramped for me for the long haul. I can move around more on the Strom, as I'm one of those guys with a XXL figure. :p[/QUOTE]

You say that like its a bad thing.

[swandog]

i think your rideing pleasure would be much better if you used hikeing type camping gear rather than car camping gear . i have a v strom 650 also and its rated for a 500 lb load limit . but i would rather give up campsite comfort in exchange for good bike handleing .

[Ripshod]

but i would rather give up campsite comfort in exchange for good bike handleing .

I contend that it's not an either-or proposition. Even with 80lb. of camping gear, you'd still have a lighter load than going 2up. Well I guess it depends on the passenger's heft, doesn't it?

But I definitely agree that there is some great backpacking-specific gear out there that works perfectly for motocamping. We get to put pack size at the highest priority. Weight is a factor only after utility.

[Ironheadziggy76]

You say that like its a bad thing.

In my case, my weight would be perfect if I was 5'22" tall! ;)

I weighed 155 when I came out of Basic Training and over the years got up to 325! :eek: I have gotten it down to 275, but would like to loose another 75. This time last year I would almost pass out when I bent over to tie my shoes! :p

[swandog]

well at 275 lbs you still have 225lbs of load availible before you reach your bikes load limit

[Ironheadziggy76]

swandog, that's good to know, now I can build a home made top case! P^