Anyone ever do Burningman on a motorcycle?

Random_Cola · Post by **Random_Cola** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:29 am

This year I am trying to ride a motorcycle to the playa, I was wondering if any past burners could offer me some advice?

My main concerns are dust and my bike (not good?) but maybe easily remedied with a cover?

And how do I get all my water out there! thats the big one...

Post by **AntiM** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:34 am

A cover would trap the dust under it and rub away at the finish. Better to leave it uncovered and clean it up later.

You may be able to find someone to haul water for you, it is early enough to make arrangements with local burners or through contacts here. Where are you located?

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:41 am

Can be done, but involves converting ice from arctica to drinking water. figure 1 1/4 bags of cube ice per gallon of water, and 24/48 hours to melt to usable, depending on your "melter". One of those fold-up water containers for storage once it's melted.

Food? t's not easy to have 7 days worth of food on a scoot. MRE's help, but are... well... MRE's. Yeech. After 7 days you may decide not to do that again!

Shade? Your tent alone won't cut it - you need an over-shade structure (like camp net) to keep your tent cool.

Dust? The better you can cover your bike the better, but if possible include it as space under your shade structure as well. Your bike won't like being subjected to being in a Dakar-esque Paris-Dakar environment in a HOT, sweaty, nasty dust-resistant cover. It WILL get dusty anyway, so plan for it.

Other than that it's like any 10 day desolate desert camping trip, and if you plan ahead you'll do fine. IF you're fortunate to get in cahoots with a theme camp, it will be relatively easier... tho not a walk in the park by any means.

Good Luck,
bb

Random_Cola · Post by **Random_Cola** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:41 am

I'm in Jacksonville, Florida.

Post by **AntiM** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:50 am

You should look up the regional contact for Florida, and post in the regionals forum here.

phil · Post by **phil** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:17 pm

I see lots of people going to the burn on their motorcycles, but I have no idea how they plan it.

If you find others, please let me know, and I'll set up a page on my Web site for exchanging contact information and such. There are bicycle groups and wheelchair groups, and I don't know why there wouldn't be a motorcycle group.

For general information that includes references to motorcycles, see the Burning Man page at
http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/ ... iving.html

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:36 pm

Try the Bavarian Illuminati M/C.

hunter S · Post by **hunter S** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:52 pm

Random, I too prefer my mode of transport via scooter! Bay bridge sue gives great advise! And if I were you I'd hook up with a camp. You can work things out in advance for your talents/skills on the playa... you have to make up for your unavailability to..help haul out trash, bring in water. Key is just make the ride, buy the ticket and get there!
As far as taking care of the scoot, plan on a fresh oil change, filter change in Reno before heading home. If the bike is vintage? then go on-line order parts, set up service if needed before your ride east. You will not keep the dust out or off so! Ride in park it and don't start it again until you leave. Baby wipe the paint & remember Raumal had scoots cross the
Sahara before he took tanks in!
Your going to need a oil change anyway after doing 3,700 miles cross country! so it's part of the ride! If you need a bike friendly camp PM me!

Desert Duck · Post by **Desert Duck** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:56 pm

The Bavarians all use support vehicles.

My first 4 years out to the Playa were on a motorcycle, 3 of those years I made arrangements for water. One year (my third) I decided to be completely self-sufficient. This is what I had on the bike- no trailer, no sidecar. BTW, the bike was a 99 SV650 .
Two person tent
12'x20' shade
2 frame packs
food for 3 weeks
8 gals water
2 gals gatorade
booze
sleeping bag
2 blankets
3 pillows
chair (folding stool)
table(stool w/cutting board on top)
stove (single burner triple fuel so I could run it on super same as the bike)
assorted kitchen items(pots pans knives coffee filter mug plate etc.)
costumey stuff (including swim fins)
bicycle (20" kids bike with extralong seatpost)

If you think this is B.S., someone somewhere has pictures, and I can show you how I packed it.

This was in 2002, and it was the swimfins and bicycle antics that earned me my playaname.

I have to say that it was a bit crowded, and I only had a 750 mile ride (from Seattle) but I know for a fact that it can be done.

Oh, and I actually waited till Empire to fill my water containers and once I'd done that it was extremely hard to keep the front end on the ground.

This isn't me, imagine more than this, but this shows it is possible.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:34 am

Brings back memories of my carnival days... >grins<
That was one of the reasons I got a used cop bike - good suspension, the solo seat, and the racks, bags, and tie down points. I had half of one sidebag converted to an icebox, even... amazing what one can do with a bit of imagination (and rope!)...

Oh - lesson learned from those days - do NOT trust bungee cords - when packing heavy they *will* fail you leaving your stuff strewn all over the most inconvenient place possible (middle of the freeway, highway 34, whereever). I used milspec parachute cord (strong, light, and cheap) and layered everything. It takes a while to pack, but it works.

BTW - did that for 2 years... all over Calofirnia (Ferndale to Hemet was the longest pull) and the west, and as long as you know the rules about truckstops and whatnot (I had a class 1 (now class A) license so I could buy things like shower tokens and use their lounges, etc.) they make damn good layover spots.

bb

Post by **mdmf007** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:20 pm

You could always buy the cheapest and smalest tralier at Home depot in reno. Make your rounds and get all of your food stuffs. Any of the large building supply stores have super small trailers. Go to your local one and see what size hitch you need and fab it for your bike beforehand.

Hell dont beat it up and take it back when done., tell them you changed your mind.

later

insane · Post by **insane** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 12:34 am

here's how i showed up last year...
http://photos.yahoo.com/visvadas
or maybe like this...

http://photos.yahoo.com/visvadas