Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050
Camping - Sponsored by bikerscampsite.co.uk => Camping Equipment & Suppliers => Topic started by: chris1200 on June 06, 2016, 09:25:32
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Before ANYONE says anything, no my bike will never see the inside of this tent. Ever. I suspect it would die of shame if I ever trundled it into the so called bike compartment. There again I will put one caveat on that statement, if its pouring down and I need to fix something on said bike I will push it in. Right, now that's taken care of I will carry on.
Main reason for buying it is because my dear girlfriend has put up with spending countless nights in a Vango Banshee 300 without complaint, but it's the getting dressed in the morning. I am just so fed up of the fight....
I got it for £100 and had convinced myself it would fit in a side pannier.....then maybe the top box. Within two seconds of opening the bag it came in I knew it would fit in neither. It was bloody huge! Just one of the groundsheets was bigger then my Banshee. Fortunately I had a waterproof 65lt holdall kicking about and it slips in there with ease along with both sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and most of our other camping gear. This then takes the place of the top box so in effect we actually have a bit more spare storage capacity.
Bearing in mind I hate faffing and my whole life is based on the concept of being a minimalist this tent is a huge departure for me. I just spent a month camping/touring Spain and Portugal and everything fitted in the top box just to give you some idea.
Anyway, the tent.
Solo it takes 15 minutes of grunting pulling and pushing to set up totally and 15 mins of the same to take down. It's a cheaper version of it's previous incarnations having fibreglass poles (heavy) and not quite as good ground sheet material. The whole tent weighs 9.5 kg but I have no intention of carrying the thing more then ten feet so that isn't really a concern. For one person it really feels like major overkill but for two on an extended tour (we are doing the Pyrenees, France, and Italy in a couple of weeks) I think it might just stop a few arguments and deliberate elbows in the groin area. And you can stand up to put your pants on! (I have always lived "Commando" so doing this outside was only rarely an option). I must admit I don't know if I would trust it in a major thunderstorm but that's what hotels are for. The main downside for me is because she flies out (she even throws up on a roundabout) I have to lug this thing over there and use it before we meet up....and on the way back. I am beginning to miss my Banshee already........sigh.
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I bought the same tent when they called it the Turini 200 in light grey.
Great tent for 2. Drinkies in the 'garage' for 4 when raining.
Overkill for one, so then I take my Spirit 200+
I find you have to mess around when pegging it down or you'll have massive gaps at the bottom that the wind blows through.
Make sure you get the footprint to protect the groundsheet a bit more. Only have to wash the footprint when home and it's in its own bag.
We've spent a few weeks at a time in the tent now and really like it.
It does fit in one of our Givi V47 top boxes.
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/d29l1s3r3n4lao5/AAByU761A2Uj40PFexLUw3dTa
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Yeah, yours is the better made one ma mate but they never had any of those. You are right about fine tuning the gaps, first time I put it up you could ride the bike through them! I can actually fit it in my top box with a bit of planning but my short term memory is awful and can imagine standing in a field one day not being able to remember how the hell to get everything back on the bike! Glad you give it the thumbs up. My impulse buys can sometimes....well most times..... be my downfall.
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Oh yeah.
The lightweight pegs are made of cheese. Buy a couple of packs of steel ones.
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Laughing, there's nothing lightweight about mine, steel pegs were included.
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Looks nice, but I thought the weight and pitch time penalty wasn't worth the hassle/extra dosh, so I bought a Vango Omega 350 (for two of us) circa 5kg with a nice big porch and sleeping area; ample room for gear and to eat in in inclement weather; together with a breathable cover for the bike.
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Regarding storage and remembering what goes where, once I've got all the stuff packed at home I then write a packing list and take it with me so I know exactly which case the stuff has to go back into.
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Good idea.
But I'd forget where I'd packed the packing list. :old:
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:grin: (Hard copy and file on phone.)
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I bought this last year: http://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=28015.0
5.65 kg, three person tent with excellent porch space. I didn't like the weight though and now have tent poles and tripod seats on the bike with only the tent fabric (2.75 kg) on the rack above the topbox. Topbox carries only airbed, lightweight sleeping bags and plastic items so not heavy.
Two up is a big puzzle of space available/'wardrobe' and personal kit/camping bits/weight of it all. Recent trips this year has prioritized airbed with pump! The rest is arranginging things elsewhere......
Good idea Rusty Nuts with the 'aides-memoires' :clap:
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So Chris 1200, are you looking to sell the tent?
:smirk: :smirk: :smirk:
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Never thought about that! It's under the bed and I had forgotten I had the thing. It really is too much for a bike my mate unless you pitch it and spend a week with it set up. I might be open to offers though if you have a use for it.