Interesting topic.What kind of camping gear are people managing to carry for this? When travelling solo I have my tent, Vango Ark 200+, bungeed to the pillion seat, then a topbox and a pair of Givi 36L panniers. One pannier contains sleeping bag (single, but packs down quite big), self-inflating mat and a pair of trainers - that pretty muuch fills it.
Now thinking about a 2-up trip, I am struggling to work out how to carry everything- as per post above maybe I can strap the tent on top of the topbox, then say we can get all clothes etc into one pannier (10 days worth, could be tricky...with a couple of towels etc), while the top box will have to carry 2 lots of waterproofs, travel info (maps, books etc), camera, chargers, chain spray, visor cleaner, spongebags, drink for the day, & the tat I usually manage to fairly well fill it with when riding solo, that just leaves one pannier for self-inflating mats, sleeping bags, footwear etc. Very curious how people are managing this while retaining a slight chance of domestic harmony!
Just had 5 days in France as per post above, Honfleur was stunning, gutted to be back.
I use the OE GT panniers, kit I chose when I had my GSA and it was bought in sales, for lightweight and with good reviews so
Vango Omega 350 tent, superb 3 man tent and only around 5kg. great atrium at front for sitting and cooking.
MRA pots plates and cup set for 2 persons
MRA cutlery roll, spatula etc
Vango pillow....great!
Exped 9M matresses...pricey but small 900g and very comfortable
Clothes by Craghoppers! Sale on at the mo...lightweight, anti mosquito, trousers into shorts etc.
Pack Towel..a shammy leather for humans, packs to nothing and dries so quick
Gul 50litre roll bag for bedding and clothing
Karrimor dry sacks assorted 2litre to 20litre sizes, cheap from Sports Direct, great quality and 100% waterproof
Tent in a pannier with mallet, first aid kit etc
Cooking equipment and 'emergency food, waterproofs in other pannier
Roll bag over the top with bedding and clothing secured by Rok straps
Givi XS 307 Tanklock Tank bag for sunglasses, papers, plugs, passports, tablet, phone, cash, cards...one click and it's off...great piece of kit
All the kit, other halfs kit and us on the bike...effortless cruising at circa 130 kmph...had a nice blat back to Calais along the D940 coast road, stopped for a 3 course lunch before the ferry and scraped the left peg on the twisty bits.
Very impressed with the Vstrom, we both had a cracking time and we both found the bike comfortable with a comfort break every 120miles or thereabouts.