Cold Weather Camping by Motorcycle: Ultimate Guide

Riding a motorcycle is a way of life, and so is camping via motorcycle. However, when you’re just getting into it, or if you’re a new rider, it can be pretty daunting when the cold weather creeps in! In some cases, the rider may have had a really busy summer, and they may not have had time to crack out the camping gear.

The temperatures may be dropping, but it’s not over yet. Just look at places like Iceland and Norway for example; the cold weather isn’t stopping them! Here is We Buy Any Bike’s guide to camping by motorcycle in cold weather.

How to Prepare your Bike for Camping

Preparing your bike for a camping trip, especially in cold weather is the most important thing of all. It is vital that you plan for the worst, so make sure to pack the following:

• Spare Parts (including bulbs)
• Extra Oil/Break Fluids (just in case)
• Spare Petrol – Depending on how far you’re going
• Extra Bulbs
• Portable Air Compressor
• These are just to name a few! – Head on over to ‘Pack Up and Ride’ for a full list.

Aside from this, you also want to make sure that you make sure your bike itself is in top condition. You can do this by going on a test ride and checking the bike when you get back in the garage. Make sure to check the tyres for any wear and tear, as well as the pressure levels. As well as this it is also important to observe the brakes and clutch cables along with checking that the oils and fluids are topped up.

The Gear

Thankfully for UK residents, finding riding gear that is suitable for cold weather isn’t impossible in the slightest.

Alongside this, it’s a good idea to pack some bubble wrap inside your jacket for insulation! We recommend packing it just in the front of your jacket for easy access, but feel free to experiment your own way!

The Tent

If you’re die hard, deadly serious about camping in the winter, and you want to make it a regular thing, then we highly recommend a Lavvu. This is a tipi style tent that the Norwegians use for camping. It’s pretty tall, has plenty of room, and you can even set up your own camp fire inside the ones that come accompanied with smoke vents – just like that one here!

Alternatively, there are lots of options on the market for motorcycle tents these days. A company called NTK provide our favourite; the 12x7ft 4 person waterproof camping tent – treat yourself to one here!

Inside, you will need:

• An insulating carpet is a great option to have, and a heated one is even better! Here is our favourite.
• Our favourite camping sleeping bag is Hyperlamina Spark Sleeping Bag by Mountain Hardwear. If you’re opting for a cheaper option sleeping bag, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get a thermal liner for peace of mind.
• A lantern is always a handy little thing, especially in the winter when the nights are practically pitch black. One we’ve found on the internet that looks class is the Biolite BaseLantern XL, this also doubles up as a power bank for your phone!

Here are some other things to pack!

• Pain Killers
• Toilet Roll
• Head Lamp
• Portable Air Compressor
• Wet Fire Starter
• First Aid Kit
• WD40 (to avoid corrosion – a tip for a few nights on the road)

Where to camp?!

As a nation, the UK is filled with happy campers, motorcycle or no motorcycle. There are a whole collection of registered campsites in the UK – here are a few! If you’d like to see the UK’s regulations on ‘wild camping’, check out Trespass’s notice here!

Also, don’t forget to share with us your cold weather camping tips in the comments section below!