You’ve been doing this how long? [Archive]

anrfknm

03-03-2009, 11:48 PM

Well, it was supposed to be a poll, but I did something wrong so what the heck.

I’ve been riding 45 years and long distance camping since 1981. Let’s see that would be 28 years. Man has it been that long?

Ironheadziggy76

03-04-2009, 12:44 AM

I got my first bike at 10 and have been riding the last 38 years. I have probably camped for 35 years, some of it in some of the saddest gear you have ever seen! :eek:

That has changed thanks to all the fine folks here at MotoCampers and Visa! P^:D

bluepoof

03-04-2009, 01:26 AM

I got my motorcycle license in 1999 (when I was 22)...but I've ridden over 100,000 miles in that time. I've only been motocamping for about a year. P^

fredric

03-04-2009, 08:45 AM

I've been riding since 1955 (54 years), motocamping for 1 year, thanks to this site.

wwells

03-04-2009, 08:51 AM

Began riding in 1970. We started motorcycle camping about 1996. Began camping with an 86 GL1200 and a Cole cargo trailer. We had a 10X12 (or larger) Coleman tent and used an air mattress and sleeping bags. Our camp stove was the cheap Coleman one-burner that you screw onto the top of the green propane cylinder. We carried so much stuff on the first trip we had to look like we were refuges from the Dust Bowl days! The experience was great... we went to the Smokey Mountains. It was the first time we had ever seen them. What a breath taking experience! Now we "run over there" a couple of times a month.:tent1:

BTW... we have upgraded all of our camp gear, and carry much less of it (probably still carry too much when the Red-Headed Irish Princess" goes along).:D

anrfknm

03-04-2009, 08:54 AM

I've been riding since 1955 (54 years), motocamping for 1 year, thanks to this site.

My hat's off to you sir, someone who's been doing this longer then I have.

Mellow

03-04-2009, 08:55 AM

This is only my 9th year of ever putting my leg over a MC... Only started MotoCamping after meeting Trailace and him convincing me it was a cheaper route... that was in 2001 or 2002 I think so 7 maybe 8 years of camping. Never even camped before that either..

Started out as a way to cheaply ride the bike but now has turned into two great passions... The Ride... and The Camping.

motomac

03-04-2009, 09:03 AM

I started riding in 1958, did my first MC camping trip on a '71 R75 in 1971. Used two shelter halves and a Coleman sleeping bag. For those of you not in the know, shelter halves don't have floors. I have refined my gear to several different types. The Bunkhouse of course is primo. The dirt bike stuff is fun and I'm looking forward to the TAT with Rick and Slingshot.

bigTom

03-04-2009, 10:03 AM

Another month or so will make 45 years riding. Hard to call what I did when I was young 'camping' (way more like sleeping out:))

Camping about 3 years, people from here mostly at fault.

Clamper

03-04-2009, 08:09 PM

At 15 ½ and a learners permit in my pocket, my dad asked me if I wanted a motorcycle or a car? A few days later he came home with a Red Allstate Moped and said “Learn on this, and will talk later.” After an assortment of bikes, my wife and I bought a new ’74 Moto Guzzi. Road Rider Magazine was going full blast and we would read all the motorcycle camping with Cliff articles, who also was the founder of the IBMC. We learned a lot and had a lot of fun, until the first baby came along. We still used the camping equipment, but from the back of a pickup truck. I camped / went hunting by myself a lot after that until the “boys” got older then it was back to the pickup truck.
Have not gotten back out there for a while now.
I'm a year behind G Wizz, it was a good time to start riding. :D

Trailace

03-04-2009, 08:19 PM

I started riding when I was 16 on a Bultaco 250 that I had to keep at a friends house because my dad hated motorcycle. So I guess I have been riding for 32 years with a 5 year break when the kids came into my life.

As far as camping I have been doing that all my life. P^

Mr. Guy

03-04-2009, 08:28 PM

I started riding at 13 on a Yamaha DT125 and got my motorcycle licence at 14. I've been camping even longer with family. Started Motocamping a couple years ago and it's mostly this places fault. I love it. Thanks guys.

Guy

Yamifj1200

03-04-2009, 08:29 PM

I started riding in 1968 and began bike camping a few years later in 1976 on my 72 CB350 at the age of 16 in the mountains of Virginia. Geeze, has it really been 40 years? Its been a great ride so far..

Back in the early years I only had a sleeping bag and a tarp strapped to the back of the 350. Seems primitive by all the gear I have now to stay dry and warm. I remember one cool fall night I stopped for a rest on the Skyline Drive and layed down on the curb to stretch out my back, fell asleep and was woken by a Unhappy Park Ranger. "Time for you to move along" he said, stating that the pull over was not a camp spot. I tried to explain but it fell on deaf ears.

Times have changed and motorcycle riders are welcomed all over now, back in the day that was not the case.. Even a scruffy tired 16 old on his first road bike got hassled by the law. Kinda funny looking back at it now..

Eric

Trekker

03-05-2009, 10:15 AM

Been camping since I was a very young boy. Backpacked a lot of NY State & northern PA.

I started riding in '79 when I bought a new KZ650. Did some motocamping with it, but I had really bad gear.

My son came along in '82, which caused me to sell the bike and care for family. Got back into riding about six years ago when I bought an '83 GL650i Silverwing. Sold that after two years to get my current ST1100. My wife doesn't like bikes but loves to camp, canoe & fish. We compromise..... which means I sometimes will meet her there... or leave the bike home (it's a good thing I love her!)

greybeard

03-05-2009, 10:30 AM

I am a lot like Fredric started when I was 12 with a cushman and got my 1st m/c when 14 (a harley) started traveling thru the summer and to save money started camping been at it ever since still ride and still camp as much as my disabilities allow and enjoy every minute

SCBMWRIDER

03-05-2009, 04:01 PM

I've been riding for 35 years and camping (on the bike) for 34 Years. Love it!

anrfknm

03-05-2009, 04:41 PM

Yamifj1200

03-05-2009, 05:29 PM

Do you think backpacking is good training for motorcycle camping. I’ve notice a number of current and former backpackers on this forum.

I think the experiance and gear from Backpacking is a great asset when motocamping. I dont think you need the very lightest gear made as weight is not a critical consideration, but having smaller and lighter gear and a good sense of how to pack are a big plus.

Eric

Trekker

03-05-2009, 05:50 PM

I think the experiance and gear from Backpacking is a great asset when motocamping. I dont think you need the very lightest gear made as weight is not a critical consideration, but having smaller and lighter gear and a good sense of how to pack are a big plus.

Eric

Absolutely!

motomac

03-05-2009, 05:53 PM

Absolutely!
+1 more!

anrfknm

03-05-2009, 07:58 PM

sandman

03-06-2009, 08:48 PM

Bought my first bike in 1968 (Yamaha RD350) not much of a bike for travelling.
Had a Yamaha 650 twin for a couple of years before the kids came along (no camping).

Ended up with an XT250 in 1985 when the kids were teenagers.

Bought the ST1300 in 2004 and went on first ever motocamping trip to Bike Week in 2005. First real ride over 500 miles was to the initial ST-Owners CampSTOC ride, in 2005, and first real motocamping trip in my mind.

I guess that makes it nearly 5 years motocamping. Far as I'm concerned camping and riding are the only way to go. When I travel I spend the whole week outdoors and that makes the trip memorable in all respects.

msscull

03-08-2009, 09:20 PM

Been doing a lot of riding the last 4 years, prior to that sporadically for about 30 years.

jnsgardner

03-08-2009, 10:18 PM

I started in Europe with a new Triumph Bonneville ($840) in 1970 for three months. Had a pup tent then. I went back with a '76 Gold Wing and an Eddie Bauer 4 man lightweight for six months. Before we got married, the two of us did a 25,000 mile, six month camping trip to Baja, up to British Columbia, out the Nova Scotia and back.

Most recently, I did the Run for the Wall in 2008 camping all the way.

John

les1234

03-11-2009, 06:31 PM

I started riding about 1981 or so, on a CL350. Then graduated to a 650 Yamaha, that I couldn't really count on. Then I didn't ride forabout 14-15 years, untill I bought myself a nice new Vulcan 500 for a "divorce present" Moto camping began a couple years later.

[/QUOTE=anrfknm;17508]Do you think backpacking is good training for motorcycle camping. I’ve notice a number of current and former backpackers on this forum.[/QUOTE]

I haven't really done much backpacking at all, and now I'd like to, but my feet won't let me anymore.

George

03-19-2009, 09:37 PM

I started riding in 67, have been camping, off and on, since 69.

Dketchum

03-22-2009, 11:13 AM

Started riding with a license in 73..was riding mini's etc starting in 67. Did my first motocamping in 76 while in the navy and stationed in Jacksonville Florida, rode down to the Keys and camped for 4 days before deploying to Iceland for a wonderful year..Have been motocamping ever since. Camping is always preffered..Family & I have always done camping vacations in our pop up camper..

Plans are in the works to acquire a camper to pull behind bike.

DJ.

03-22-2009, 06:05 PM

Been motorcycle camping for the last five years.

bobncj

10-03-2010, 07:56 PM

Started riding in '79. I had been camping for quite a while and figured I could save a few bucks if I could manage it on the bike. Duffel bag courtesy of Uncle Sam was my luggage. Learning curve was pretty steep,still learning and still having fun.

Indianscout

10-03-2010, 09:22 PM

Took to motorcycles in 1976 when I was 15 and the neighbor wanted to sell his 80cc Suzuki enduro. Rode the dirt until I got my mc license but out grew the bike in no time. Had a number of bikes over the years but fell in love with my old 1940 Scout. Camped on an off for a number of years but motocamping for the last 4-5. I'm hooked and looking to do more!

dan1551

10-03-2010, 10:01 PM

I broke my right arm in the summer between 3rd and 4th grade on a cushman....on second thought I was not really on it when it broke.....that would have been 1960 and I already had a year under my belt then....so 2010minus 1959 that would be 51 years of riding with some time off for kid raising years....... The camping.. not so much .. first time was in 2009 But learned alot ...mostly from this site........

JohnDelivers

10-03-2010, 10:21 PM

Got my first bike in '78, a new Honda 750k.
Graduated to a new Honda Goldwing in '81.
Added a side car when our first born was a year old, in '82.
Before kids I was riding about 10k miles a year.
By the time our third child arrived I was down riding about 1000 miles a year on the bike.
In need of space and cash, sold the bike in '86.
Fast forward to summer of '05 and our two oldest kids said they wanted to drop out of college.
No longer saddled with paying for their schooling...I enrolled at Harley U. Bought my current ride 09/05.
Camped off and on for a few years as a boy scout leader from '93 - '98.
Started motocamping the summer of '06.
Graduated from tent to camper spring of '10.

kayakinbiker

10-03-2010, 10:38 PM

I wanted to get a bike in 99, then I broke my collarbone BADLY for the 2nd time on the same side while riding my mountain bike.....7 years later I had my 1st bike,a Rebel, got my 2nd bike, an Aero, and got my full M last year after riding 4 years...did 4 long distance trips before getting that M..have camped all my life and LOVED every minute of my camping experiences! Been motocamping for 3 years and hope to do that for the rest of my life! WOOHOO and now I have my lil buddy Georgia to keep me company!!

Okay so I lied!...I didn't like the night I spent with lightning and trees crashing all around me while in my tent........I am very afraid of lightning...

Clamper

10-03-2010, 10:49 PM

I have camped with my friends just taking a sleeping bag on the back of the bike and meeting others who brought up a tent and all the other stuff during the late 60's. My wife and I started moto camping in 1975 when after we bought our Moto guzzi. From Road Rider Magazine Camping Editor Cliff Boswell, we assembled our camp gear and hit the trails starting out local and slowly going out of state. This is me back when I had hair and kinda on the thin side.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b321/ClamperR/Camptrip75.jpg

Mike38

10-04-2010, 07:25 AM

Riding = 40 years
Camping = 3 months and have really enjoyed it.

Mike

bigTom

10-04-2010, 07:51 AM

I've been riding since '64, and camping off a bike since about '69 or so.

The last 3 or 4 years is when I started being somewhat organized about it, and, with all the help here, it has become a really welcome part of my motorcycle experience. Now, I find myself thinking of places to camp and ride rather than thinking of places to ride and tossing out a bag:) Huge difference.

DanceswMtns

10-04-2010, 08:25 AM

It all started when a friend of my big brothers showed up on a Harley Hummer. There he was standing there with his Lucky Strikes rolled up in his sleeve and his jeans were rolled up enough to accent those Engineer boots. The FREEDOM I sensed when I got to ride that machine around the yard in first gear. I will never forget that day for my life was changed forever. I was 13, that would be 48 years ago. I started with a Whizzer that I never got running, then my 42 Cushman. Since, to many to list.
I started motocamping in the early 70's. My first long distance trip was from FL to NC with my wife and 2 kids on a 1980 Harley FLH with matching sidecar, a small trailer and a ton of STUFF.

Dusty Boots

10-04-2010, 09:07 AM

I started 'unsupervised camping' back in 66. Started riding bikes in 68.(Honda 90) After I bought my 1st Street Bike in 73(Suzuki GT 250), I 'married' the two together, as it was the 'cheap way' to see the country.
So, been camping for 44 years and biking for 42 years, bike camping for 37 years.
Gad .... makes me sound OLD! :rolleyes:

Dusty

Yamifj1200

10-04-2010, 11:03 AM

Gad .... makes me sound OLD! :rolleyes:

Dusty, I think it says your experianced.... Old is relative and as long as your having fun your still a kid indside.....

Eric M

bobalou

10-04-2010, 11:12 AM

A passion was flared by the kids mini bikes across the street in the late 60s. By 1969 I had a Kawaski 90 picked up from the junkyard/garabage dump for nothing. Hey they couldn't bury the oil containing thing in the landfill, even back then! It was tough to get going and Dad let me to my own devices :cool: I road that thing everywhere in Memphis and the Wolf River bottoms. The cops thought I might not get the bike out of the bottoms and left me alone, I recon. :D So 2010 to 1969 is 41 years. I really can't count how many bikes there has been. Current stable an antique Harley and a 08 Wing.

Camping got started at a GWRRA Wing show in Jonesboro in Winter 1995, Chapter D. Spoke to James B. He had a Bunkhouse that was way cool! Don W and others followed suit and I began my M/C camping experience. So 2010 to 1996 is 14 years. Oh, Boy Scouts doesn't count for M/C camping experince I recon. There has been two campers. A Timeout picked up from Scotty and a Bunkhouse picked up from John B.
Latest adventure was Yellowstone, Sept. 2010.

deadhawg

10-23-2010, 02:17 AM

Been riding a little over 40 years, have camped occasionally for most of those years, more in the last 20 years. Motorcycle camped a lot in the last 15 years. I will be retiring in a few months, and plan on traveling by motorcycle around the country for the first year of retirement, and camping at least 6 nights a week. I have tent camped most of the time, but we recently bought an Aspen Classic, and it is a huge improvement over a tent.

Roadhound

10-23-2010, 03:24 PM

Started riding in 1973, first M/Cycle camping trip the same year. First Long Distance motorcycle trip in 1975, rode a Suzuki Water Buffalo from Atlanta, Ga.
to the North Rim of The Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone. I quess I got hooked cause I'm still doing it.

Timmer

10-23-2010, 06:32 PM

Started riding in 2002 and limited camping starting the following year. Since then it's been some camping every year in either a tent or our Kwik Kamp trailer. 2010 was the most days of camping. I'm projecting 2011 to be more.

trapperdick

10-30-2010, 09:37 PM

I've been riding almost 50 years. Started with a single cyl Harley then graduated to a "65" Yamaha RD250 and it's been one after another since then. Right now I ride a 2010 Goldwing. I'm fixing to by a cargo trailer real soon to carry my camping gear....I been camping all my life but not that much with the bike.......That's about to change now that I'm retired..I'm growing old but I refuse to grow up.

bandit428

10-31-2010, 02:10 AM

Ive backpacked from the time I was 7 years old. At 17 I received my motorcycle licence and started to camp out as well as still backpack. With the exception of spending time in the military, I have camped out ever since. I also have an rv which I tow my honda with. When I arrive at a campsite, I will then take time to travel to other areas with the bike and camp out. I have traveled to a lot of destination in this Great Country as well as every province in Canada, the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and Alaska. Since retierment I spend about three days a month at home. Backpacking 56 years, rv, motorcycle 46 years. And I will continue this for as long as I can.

Bruce Storts

02-11-2011, 01:38 PM

Wife and I started in '80 started camping in '81 Alot trile and error,but love it

quadancer

02-11-2011, 09:46 PM

29 years riding (2 on dirtbikes) and sporadic camping in waves. Funny thing is when I look out of my comfy 3 man tent with pockets and a loft, self inflating pads and fancy bags, stuff sacks, kitchen and cooler, and an endless host of accessories we just "have to have"...and I remember back in the day when a blanket and a bottle of wine was the whole kit - often slept on top of my bike if there was enuff booze.
Ahhh...to be young again. :rolleyes:

kdf9511

02-11-2011, 11:28 PM

Well I have been riding for about 15 years and camping for my whole life. I grew up tent camping working up through a pop-up camper to a class A motor home. Then when I moved out from my parrents went back to tent camping and have been doing it ever since. My moto camping experience is kind of slim as I usualy go camping with the family but with some major changes in the last couple of years I am really looking forward to doing a lot more motocamping this year and into the future.

lytle1gw

02-12-2011, 08:29 AM

Been riding since 57 but started camping when I was 4 months old, according to my mom and have never let up. bad knees ankles and such have cut out backpacking but will never quit, just had to switch from dirt roads to paved when on bike. Plus wife never really liked riding two up off road.

moodygne

03-29-2011, 07:39 PM

Started riding in 1963. Only had a bike no car. Transportation, fun, and a way of life.In 1972 I got a 250 Honda street and trail. I started to camp with that. Now I have moved to a camper, old age you know. Now I am going to do something I have wanted to do for a long time. I AM GOING BACK TO( ONLY A BIKE,) NO CAR. I leave the house in the rain, and cold now. So why not. My van is sold. Next week I will be Bike only, I have gone full circle. So Been riding 48 years Camping off the bike 39 years.