What is Your Bike, Rider and Camping Equipment for Serious Off Roading?

Boyd

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Joined
Feb 4, 2012
Messages
106
Location
Oregon
For 2019 we're planning on doing the O.B.C.D.R. ( Oregon Back Country Discovery Route )
https://www.oohva.org/OBCDR/route5.html
I've done a few sections of route 5 already but those were just single day trips. This time we are wanting to complete route 5 from bottom to top.

The second adventure we are considering is doing the Dalton Highway all the way up to Prudhoe Bay Alaska.

At this point, there will be two of us on the O.B.C.D.R. trip. I'll be on my 2012 Tenere and the other rider will be on a 2018 Honda African Twin. He is currently dressing up his bike with tons of equipment. Much of his equipment is the same as what i have.
A third rider might join us for some, if not all, of the ride.
Also, we might have someone who would be willing to be a "Chase Vehicle" that would carry extra food, parts & equipment. We would plan each day with a starting and finishing point. The chase vehicle would meet us at each cross section where the off road meets the paved roads.

Items that I have "On" my bike thus far:
* Garmin 595 GPS
* Altrider Skid Plate
* Altrider Crash Bars
* PIAA Driving Lights
* Headlight Guard ( stainless steel mesh )
* Yamaha Side & Top Cases
* Heated Grips
* Extra Duffle Bad (Doubles as my backrest)
* Extra Power Outlet (USB) for Phone or Hand Held GPS
* Spark Arrested Two Brothers Exhaust
* Custom Seat ( By Mr. Ed's Moto https://www.mredsmoto.com )
* GoPro Mount

I'm have 90/10 (street / dirt) dual sport tires now but I will put on 10/90's on before leaving.

My personal protection equipment is:
* Helmet ( Bell Moto 9 ) With Sena SMH-10 Bluetooth
* Gloves (Wet Weather & Dry)
* Olympia Jacket with removable liner
* First Gear Pants with removable liner
* Full Rain Gear ( top & bottom )
* Safety Glasses ( with 2.0 readers )
* SIDI X-3 Boots

As a long time archery hunter I have TONS of camping equipment. Some for roadside camping, some for wilderness camping.

Any input I can get from the experts here would be very appreciated.
Besides, I know I haven't thought of everything.
 

Bryce

Ya, Whatever!
Joined
Apr 14, 2015
Messages
429
Location
Acworth, GA
I would upgrade the cases to something that can withstand multiple tip overs.
My Yamaha cases are fine after multiple off road tip-overs. Mind you... tip overs. Not fling the bike over a ravine or throw it down the highway. It not like you dump the bike and you are guaranteed a yard sale where all your junk spills out.
 

Blind Squirrel

Active Member
Joined
May 14, 2016
Messages
289
Location
Chesapeake Va
I had a tip over when I had my Yamaha OEM side cases. Tweeked the case and let water in. I was able to tweek it back, but, like you, it was a tip over, not a hard down. I hit a rock in a stream and stopped me dead. I helped the bike down. I think if he goes down in sand doing more than a couple miles per hour it might do significant damage to the case.
 

Ramseybella

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Joined
Jun 27, 2013
Messages
2,924
Location
Los Alamos, new Mexico
Pack like you are backpacking small and light.
Water bladders and a filter, my choice not the smallest but pumps a lot of water fast built like a tank one of the best filters all filters IMO, First Need filter system. https://www.amazon.com/First-Need-Xle-Elite-Purifier/dp/B00AI91958#customerReviews
This bike is heavy and when it go's down it does it hard, soft sided bags would be my choice.
But that's me not for an argument just saying you can tape a hole but you can't fix Cattywampus once it happens.
 

Cycledude

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Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
3,998
Location
Rib lake wi
You might already be carrying all this stuff but just Incase
Decent flashlight
Tire plug kit
Air compressor
Extendable ratchet from harbor freight along with the proper sockets for removing both wheels.
A decent tie strap to secure center stand so it can’t fold up while your working on your bike.
Duct tape.
Wire ties.
I’ve never used any of the tools in the stock Yamaha tool kit but I always try to carry all the aftermarket tools I suspect I might need someday.
 

Boyd

Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2012
Messages
106
Location
Oregon
You mention a good jacket and liner, can you do below freezing, either direct or wind chill.
Yes. I've done several miles this year (around 200) with below freezing temperatures. The rest of my 475 mile day was slightly above freezing.
Not that I liked it, but I managed it very well.
 

Bighuck

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Joined
Feb 20, 2019
Messages
87
Location
Atlanta, GA
I used to think all the talk about guys breaking their legs on hard cases was crazy, then on a pretty serious off-road ride I managed to dab each leg in the course of a mile only to have it slide back and slam in to the cases. I thought 1 was broken. The next day I bought soft bags.

This is my set up for 1 or 2-day off road riding, Wolfman Rocky Mountain 36L saddlebags and a Wolfman Rainier tank bag.Dirty_ST.jpg
 

jeckyll

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Joined
May 11, 2016
Messages
651
Location
Lotusland
I used to think all the talk about guys breaking their legs on hard cases was crazy, then on a pretty serious off-road ride I managed to dab each leg in the course of a mile only to have it slide back and slam in to the cases. I thought 1 was broken. The next day I bought soft bags.

This is my set up for 1 or 2-day off road riding, Wolfman Rocky Mountain 36L saddlebags and a Wolfman Rainier tank bag.View attachment 56459
Yeah, I did that last weekend when I was tired and sat. So for serious offroading I'd got soft bags. But for long distance riding (I'm thinking of going North to the end of the road in August) hardbags are also nice.

My setup is pretty much standard:
1561301673127.png

This year I added an InReach Mini, just to let my wife know where I got to when there is no cell signal, which there may not be for larger parts of my trip.



It all fits into the stock Yamaha cases and a 65 litre drybag. The tankbag I use for ìncidentals` such as my camera, some snacks during the day, hat in case I stop so I don`t burn my noggin, often a map in the see-through pocket to use along with the GPS.
There`s nothing as useful as a decent map for giving you an overview of distances and areas. My GPS doesn`t do nearly as good a job, it`s just not big enough :) None are. I tend to use AAA maps, detailed for the area if available.

Backpack holds spare stuff like an extra credit card and cash in case my wallet goes missing. And my glasses. I try to keep it light, except for the water bladder, I find that without it I can`t hydrate enough.

There are probably one or two things not on the list above because I some things just live in my bag:
- Mora bushcraft knife
- heavy duty emergency blanket - the kind with the rubberized coating on one side (i.e. the $20 one, not the $3 one) - use it as an extra liner inside my tent
- mosquito repellent (lives in my backpack year round)

But I think that`s pretty close.
 

Don in Lodi

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Y'all aught to read some of Eemsreno's travel stories. That man rides light.
 
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