2-UP Camping on 1200GS

[brucewayne]

So I've had my GS for 3 months now and am planning next years 2-up camping trips. Slowly researching the sort of kit I want and the luggage to carry it all.

I've read enough about the Vario panniers on here to make me want the BMW Aluminium Adventure side panniers. A Touratech rear rack extender to take the Ortlieb roll bag (with the tent gear inside).

I weigh 14st, the other half weighs just under that and we can pack light when necessary. Apart from upping the tyre pressures and whacking up the rear shock to MAX/adjusting the front too....is there is anything else I should be considering? We're only looking to do a 4-5 day trip round Europe and back first of all. But it's the first time I've done camping on a loaded bike, plus pillion.

I've read about the standard rear shock not really being up to 2-up fully loaded and you should go aftermarket?

Thoughts pls

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Sounds like you have it covered TBH other than that it's all personal preferences. Don't get bogged down in kit, JFDI

Can't imagine the standard shocks won't be up to carrying you two and your gear, you should see the size of some of the guys on here

Maybe give the damping a half turn increase as well as more preload, oh, and I don't know what pressures you run but if you're going by the handbook I wouldn't bother. Go by the tyre manufacturers reccomendations which, for most tyres, are 36/42 - this works solo and two up (for me).

Andres

 

[stanley]

Me 11.5st + the Mrs. 10.5st + camping kit = 07GS handling like a chopper.

Didn't have that much on it either; the vario's weren't even expanded, but did have a 50l roll on the rack. The bike's handling was awful.
On our return, I fitted a Hyperpro spring kit (harder rear, softer front). The bike was much better when loaded after that. Too hard when I was solo though.... used to make my kidneys ache!!

Maybe look out for a used rear shock and put a stronger spring on it. Use one shock for tours, and one for everyday stuff?

I fixed the issue by buying an RT

 

[Dellis]

Me 11.5st + the Mrs. 10.5st + camping kit = 07GS handling like a chopper.

Didn't have that much on it either; the vario's weren't even expanded, but did have a 50l roll on the rack. The bike's handling was awful.
On our return, I fitted a Hyperpro spring kit (harder rear, softer front). The bike was much better when loaded after that. Too hard when I was solo though.... used to make my kidneys ache!!

Maybe look out for a used rear shock and put a stronger spring on it. Use one shock for tours, and one for everyday stuff?

I fixed the issue by buying an RT

Must be something amiss - me 16.5 st + Blondie 9 st + enough clothes and camping gear for a two week holiday saw me wearing out the sides of my rear tyre before the middle. You can easily adjust the suspension on a GS to make it handle with luggage. That was on an 09 Adventure but the same applied to my previous 1200 and two 1150's before that.

No need to change anything unless it's knackered.

Dave

 

[Dellis]

So I've had my GS for 3 months now and am planning next years 2-up camping trips. Slowly researching the sort of kit I want and the luggage to carry it all.

I've read enough about the Vario panniers on here to make me want the BMW Aluminium Adventure side panniers. A Touratech rear rack extender to take the Ortlieb roll bag (with the tent gear inside).

I weigh 14st, the other half weighs just under that and we can pack light when necessary. Apart from upping the tyre pressures and whacking up the rear shock to MAX/adjusting the front too....is there is anything else I should be considering? We're only looking to do a 4-5 day trip round Europe and back first of all. But it's the first time I've done camping on a loaded bike, plus pillion.

I've read about the standard rear shock not really being up to 2-up fully loaded and you should go aftermarket?

Thoughts pls

I would recommend BMW, TT or any other top loading panniers, replace the rear rack with a BMW adventure item rather than bolt on a larger plate (the adv item is much stronger and is lower than the standard item),the shock will be fine - wind the rear preload & damping up and as Outtomunch says JFDI

Dave

 

[Farmer Palmer]

2010 GSA Me 16st. Blondie 8st. Full alloy luggage with camping gear including topbox and tankbag aswell as two roll top bags one on the top of each pannier.

Non ESA bike and front on standard setting and rear preload on max.(ok so it handled like a fully loaded bike but that's what it is)

Handled well enough on tarmac aswell as gravel roads up to 120kph.

Get a good intercom so you can 'discuss' things and don't spend too long on the bike

Maybe the GSA handles the weight better than the standard GS

FP.

 

[Nutty]

I'm 11st, my wife is 9st and we have no issues on a standard GS, but it does have ESA II, so that may make a difference.

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

just make sure you get some weight forward...
it will help hugely to the 'chopper' feel mentioned earlier.

I use wine bottles, the bike chain wrapped around the tank bag (perfect fit) and the disc lock there too.

Makes it drive proper like and you can be as heavy as you like then.
Me and my better half regularly do the big two up camping thing abroad and we have never had any handling probs (even with a duff rear shock one year!)

i thank you

 

[Bobbin-Man]

Just my two-penneth ......
Before you start spending a fortune on the bike ...... you're only planning to go for 4-5 days!!!
Stiffen up the rear, maybe a little on the front but maybe nothing - most of the extra weight will be over the rear wheel and you don't want to create the chopper effect - but beware you put a lot of weight over the front when you hit the brakes fully laden. Then stuff all the weight you can in your existing panniers and box/bag and go for a pre-trip blast .... an hour on the bike and you should feel pretty comfy. If not then make a few changes, but do it all in advance of your trip
When it comes down to it you should be able to survive with the 2 panniers plus "something" on the rear rack, either top box or roll bag - I hate tank bags but some people love them. Advantage of taking the top box rather than a bag is you can secure both helmets in boxes when you're away from the tent and bike - tents don't have much security. And the only big bit of the tent is likely to be the poles - fasten them on separate to the tent and put the rest of the tent in one of the boxes bearing in mind it might need to be stowed wet.
Oh, and give her a shoe box .... whatever she can't get in she can't take

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

tank bags reduce buffeting

 

[brucewayne]

Sorry I should have pointed out that I don't have any panniers at all, so I'm starting from scratch with luggage.

Seeings how Lind Motorrad are offering 0% over £750 I thought I'd go for the two side Adventure panniers, and figured they were good enough for nearly any trip I might have in mind.

Good advice re a test trip. Might head to the Peak District for a night or two from Norfolk as a lil run first.

What about these "winglets"? Do they help at all?

 

[twig]

I would recommend BMW, TT or any other top loading panniers, replace the rear rack with a BMW adventure item rather than bolt on a larger plate (the adv item is much stronger and is lower than the standard item),the shock will be fine - wind the rear preload & damping up and as Outtomunch says JFDI

Dave

listen to this man, he has taught me a lot over the years.

i have done a fair bit of camping on my 1200, which has also been 2 up with my fair lady.
if i can offer my 2 penneth worth, keep your roll bag on the rack as light as possible, it makes a huge difference to the handling. we only pack tent and sleeping bags in ours, everything else is in the panniers and tank bag. i have a standard gs with the adventure panniers and rack and they are a massive inprovement over the varios and std rack for camping, mainly as they are top loading and as dellis says the load is lower on the adventure rack
the gs carries weight very well if it is loaded properly
atb to you

 

[Backmarker]

For what it is worth my kit on my 1150 GS was:

Al Jesse Panniers with Otleib Dry sacs strapped on top. Givi E52 Top box (for the coolbox when riding, and helmets when parked up), Baglux Alpha tank bag (a pain, but carried heavy essentials inc. 3 litre box of wine), Aerostich Tank panniers (for other heavy essentials) and Ohlins front and rear to stop it handling like a chopper.

I was 105kg, the missus 75kg and the whole shebang weighed in right on the limits specified by BMW.

Incidentally, it was the deciding factor when I bought the GS instead of an RT was both had exactly the same max weight specified, but the GS weighed 50kg less, so that meant 50kg's more luggage.

Ooppss 4-5 DAYS, above was for 4-5 WEEKS.

 

[Dahoum]

Thoughts pls

Diet?

 

[oyster]

Two weeks of camping in France.

We had a great time in France Camping & touring for two weeks !
2010 GS set up as per manual( rear shock 10 clicks, 1/2 turn at bottom,
tyre pressure for 2 people). Bmw Tank bag to carry big bike chain plus
water bottles & tourist guide books,second hand varios, as your bound to drop it on them back roads getting to the best campsites the large pannier for her the small one for you!
Givi E52 top box ideal for carrying the very small sleeping bags & three man tent & small stove & cooking tack. Thats it, enjoy your holiday.
4-5 days has got to be a trip to the volcanos via Loire

 

[brucewayne]

rear shock 10 clicks, 1/2 turn at bottom

Sorry for being a numpt but is that 10 clicks onwards from standard (in the middle) ?

 

[Backmarker]

We had a great time in France Camping & touring for two weeks !
Givi E52 top box ideal for carrying the very small sleeping bags & three man tent & small stove & cooking tack.

May I ask what make & model of sleeping bag/tent/cooker/cooking kit you took?

 

[Oldrat]

The hardest bit is getting on the thing once its loaded

A bit of a sideways shuffle, right leg up at right angles, approach from the nearside and hop side ways until horizontal leg clears the seat.

Great fun

 

[oyster]

Black Knob

Screw the black knob all the way in, then unscrew 10 clicks, screw at the bottom,turn it all the way in then unscrew half a turn. cushty

 

[rodders]

Get the butler to follow with the luggage in the Limo