Some of the world’s best adventures are done by motorbike!
From the Pacific Coast Highway through California, to The Great Ocean Road in Australia, there are many incredible stretches of roads that are best explored by motorbike. I’ve been lucky enough to hit the road on several motorcycle adventures and was bought up by a die-hard motorbike enthusiast.
When I was a teen, me and my pop would hit the road on two-week long adventures through Europe, camping out under the stars with our trusty bikes kept safe in a motorcycle tent.
Being gear nerds, we tested out a few backpacking tents, stoves and motorcycle camping tents and bivvys on our journeys, keen to keep our gear and motorcycles in tip-top condition but also trying to pack light. We then quickly realised that normal backpacking tents weren’t going to cut it and we needed a specialist motorcycle camping tent instead…
There’s something about driving a motorbike that screams ADVENTURE! The first time I hit the road on a motorcycle, a battered 350cc Honda, I felt liberated being in charge of my own destiny, direction and destination! I also felt pretty damn bad-ass, driving down the highway passing through small villages and towns, soaking in the sun and the local culture while motorcycling across Vietnam.
You will probably get lost and may run into some motorbike dramas along the way. But hey, it’s all part of the adventure, something I wouldn’t change for the world.
Quick Answer: The Best Motorcycle Camping Tent
- Lone Rider Mototent V2 – Best Overall Motorcycle Camping Tent
- Catoma Switchback – Best Lightweight Motorcycle Tent
- Coleman Hooligan – Best Value For Money Motorcycle Tent
- Teepee Tent – The Best Mid-Range Motorcycle Tent
- Harley Davidson Roadhouse – Sexiest Motorcycle Tent
- Jump to –> Motorcycle Tent Reviews
If my phone didn’t die, I wouldn’t have taken the wrong turn down a little dirt road leading me deep into the Yen Bai mountain range in Northern Vietnam. The dirt, rocky road was slowly deteriorating the further I endeavoured into the foothills of the mountains but I was mesmerised by the phenomenal scenery of cascading rice terraces, small hill tribe communities, wearing their ethnic clothing and postcard-picture views.
While the sun was setting I hit a big rock, which knocked off my motorcycle exhaust. Quickly, I was joined by some locals who came out laughing at me and began hysterically laughing when I pointed and asked “Sapa”? There were no hostels, hotels, homestays or guesthouses and I wished that I had a motorcycle tent with me to camp out with and keep my motorbike out of sight. Luckily a sweet family took me in for the night, fed me dinner, charged my phone and helped me find my way back.
Personally, I think travelling by motorcycle is one of the best ways to explore a place or country. You can venture off the beaten path and discover your own secret, hidden gems. Get lost, find your own adventure and experience a new place at your own pace. At the end of your journey, you’ll have your own unbelievably crazy stories to share. But maybe wait till you’re finished, before telling mum and dad.
Adventure is everywhere, but it’s a hell of a lot easier to discover on a motorbike and if you are hitting the road for any real length of time, or with an expensive bike, it makes sense to protect your transport, and give yourself somewhere chill to sleep, with a motorcycle camping tent.
Motorcycle camping will sort you out when you’re travelling by Motorbike. It’s far more convenient than finding a hostel or hotel and checking in plus it means you can drive as far as you want and then simply camp out. If you’re anything like me, you are always in search of remote stretches of roads with incredible views. Coincidentally, these roads often lead to awesome places to camp, whether it be by the beach, or up in the mountain amongst the clouds. So you may as well pack a motorcycle tent next time you zoom off on your next adventure. Alright, I hear ya, you’re not 100% sure if you even need a motorcycle camping tent, won’t a normal tent do the job? Let me run you through it…
The main concern when choosing the best motorcycle tent for your adventure is finding one that fits your needs and onto your motorbike. You need something big enough to protect your bike and still provide you with plenty of space to crash out in. Boom! We’ve done the hard work for you and found the best motorbike camping tent of 2017, check out the details below for a full breakdown…
Lone Rider MotoTent V2
- Capacity: > 2 people
- Weight: > 5.44 kg
- Type: > Tunnel
- Fabric: > 210T Polyester
Coleman Hooligan
- Capacity: > 2 people
- Weight: > 3.5kg
- Type: > Dome
- Fabric: > Polyester
Catoma
- Capacity: > 2 people
- Weight: > 4.54kg
- Type: > Speed Dome
- Fabric: > Polyurethane
Teepee Tent Waterproof Motorcycle Tent
- Capacity: > 2 people
- Weight: > 6.3kg
- Type: > Dome
- Fabric: > Polyester
ALPS Mountaineering Compact Tent
- Capacity: > 1 person
- Weight: > 1.56kg
- Type: > Free Standing
- Fabric: > Polyester
6 Best Motorcycle Camping Tents
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Join REI Today!1. Lone Rider Mototent V2 – Best Overall Motorcycle Camping Tent
If you ask any Biker who has hit the road with a Lone Rider Mototent V2, the responses are universally the same across the board. This motorcycle camping tent is the cream of the crop.
The Lone Rider Mototent features a large sleeping area where weary travelers can rest comfortably with all of the gear inside as well. The roomy vestibule area is perfect for keeping your bike safe and away from prying eyes. When the bike is kept outside, two adults can comfortably use the vestibule as a seating area.
The fabric of the tent is made from tough, waterproof material that will keep you dry day after day. A groundsheet is included for extra protection. This entire tent was built with the motorcyclist in mind; from the reflective bands on the carrying bag to the small and portable dimensions of the tent.
When it comes to the best motorcycle camping tent on the market, the jury is out. The Lone Rider Mototent is the perfect companion for any serious motorcyclist hitting the road for an extended journey.
Our team loved this tent with a motorcycle garage because it just ticks all the boxes when it comes to what you want when you’re touring with a tent. They loved the super spacious garage section and how easily it fits in even some pretty big touring bikes. Another neat feature of the garage area is that if you decide not to put your bike in there then it’s a great area to hang out in whilst keeping your sleeping area separate as you can stand up in this area.
Vuz Motorcycle Tent – Runner Up for Best Overall Motorcycle Tent
If you are looking for something a bit more spacious than the top pick listed above, then check out the Vuz Moto 12-Foot Integrated Waterproof Motorcycle Tent. This tent has 4 openings so getting in and out is never a problem. In fact, it’s one of the best motorcycle camping tents out there if you’re looking for something with a bit more room.
The vestibule is also considerably bigger on the Vuz tent than the above-mentioned Lone Rider MotoTent. Our biggest qualm with most moto tents tends to center around lack of space for the bike AND your other gear. When the weather gets bad, having decent dry-storage space is a must.
Our team might have rated this their second-best moto camping tent, but it was a narrow loss and they still loved this beast. They just loved how spacious this thing was, like, it was borderline too big for some of the team. However, for those travelling as a couple with a decent amount of gear it was perfect.
2. Catoma Switchback Motorcycle Tent – Best Lightweight Motorcycle Camping Tent
The Catoma Switchback Motorcycle Tent is the best lightweight two-person motorcycle tent, weighing only 454g! It performs well in all seasons, with mesh ventilation for the hot summer months, bathtub flooring and waterproof fabric coating to keep out any water. It’s a perfect motorcycle tent to take on the road as it sets up in less than sixty seconds, thanks to its speed dome integrated frame. There’s a small vestibule area but it is too small to store and protect your motorbike while you’re out on the open road. For a minimalist this is a great option.
Our team felt this was the best tent for motorcycle camping if weight is an issue, for example, if you’re on a smaller bike like when we toured Vietnam. Most of the team felt not being able to put their bikes inside the tent wasn’t a deal breaker if they were travelling with minimal baggage they could easily remove from their bike.
3. Coleman Hooligan Motorcycle Tent – Best Value For Money Motorcycle Tent
The Coleman Hooligan 2 person motorcycle tent is the best choice if you are on a budget. It’s not only the cheapest option but is also produced by Coleman and most of their stuff is pretty good.
This motorcycle tent can endure and protect you from the harshest weather. There’s a small front vestibule for you to store your bike, which comes in handy when it’s raining. Its floor is made from polythene and wraps up the sides like a bathtub, for extreme weather protection.
If the weather’s great and you feel like stargazing, just pull off the waterproof layer to reveal the night sky, without getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. The Coleman’s motorcycle tent is great with ventilation, so you won’t feel like you’re being cooked in the oven when it’s hot.
Best of all, the Coleman motorcycle tent is very lightweight and will only add 3.5kg onto your load, which is nothing! It’s quick and easy to set up this motorcycle tent and take it down. Included in the price is a one year warranty, so you’re guaranteed to get a good durable product for $74.99. Overall it has everything you could need for most types of motorcycle adventures. Hand’s down, this is the best value for money motorcycle tent we tested but it is bulky AF and if money isn’t an issue, there are better motorcycle tent options on the market.
Our team felt this was the best tent for a motorcycle trip if you’re on a budget for a few reasons. Firstly they felt it offered a superb amount of space for the price and actually they found it super easy to put up and pack back down which is often a big issue with cheaper tents.
4. Teepee Tent Waterproof Motorcycle Tent – Best Mid-Range Motorcycle Tent
For a step up from the Coleman, the Teepee Tent motorcycle tent is a solid choice. It’s a spacious tent built with bikers in mind so there’s plenty of room for you to crash and for you to store your motorcycle.
This tent is made from durable, long-lasting material. Ensuring your protection from the weather, rain, hail or shine. Teepee Tent clearly put a lot of thought into the design to make it as functional and comfortable as possible. This is not the lightest tent on our list by any means (14 pounds), but it is one of the best value buys of any motorcyle tent I have seen.
This particular tent is compact and portable if you have a large bike, but can fit two people in here, plus a bike within the “garage” section It’s super easy to set up and use, likewise when packing it down. This motorcycle camping tent is the perfect balance of affordability, comfort and usability.
Our team loved the set up for the bike garage section of the tent which allowed an extra area for storing things like leathers, helmets, boots and other bulky/ dirty items you might want to keep out of your main sleeping area. Another feature they loved what that you could enter the tent from the bag as well so your bike isn’t in the way when you need a pee at 2am!
5. ALPS Mountaineering Compact Tent – Best One-Person Motorcycle Tent
The Lynx 1 is a high value one person tent which can withstand even the toughest conditions. We tested this tent out on a recent trip across Europe and were impressed – it’s quick to set up and the mostly mesh walls greatly increase ventilation meaning it was pretty comfortable to sleep in. One man tents are often pretty compact but this is one of the more spacious options that I myself have had a chance to take for a spin. Although this model doesn’t include a vestibule area to store your motorbike, just pair it with a motorbike tarp and you’re sorted!
Our minimalist team members loved this tent for backpacking motorcycle trips. There are plenty of people who like to bring along a tent to use more occasionally on their trip alongside staying in hostels and guest houses. With this tent taking up hardly any space at all it’s easy to throw on your bike and bring along. It also doubles as a great backpacking tent even if you’re not on a motorcycle trip.
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6. Harley Davidson Roadhouse Motorcycle Camping Tent – Sexiest Motorcycle Camping Tent
You know Harley Davidson makes the sexiest motorbikes, so it’s a given that they also have the sexiest motorcycle camping tents. The Roadhouse model is perfect motorcycle camping tent for a small group travelling on two bikes, as it sleeps up to four people and provides protection for your Harley. It’s breathable in the heat with mesh roof panels, protects you from the rough weather with it’s inside zipper storm flaps and rain fly. Unlike most other tents, the Harley Davidson Roadhouse model was specifically designed to store your motorcycle and fits snug on the back of your bike. You’ll be the envy of the campsite with this sexy looking motorcycle camping tent!
Our team just loved how this thing looked, I mean, you’re already the coolest cat on the campsite if you’re rolling in on a Harley but why not complete the look? Looks aside they loved how well even big bikes fit in, that’s right, plural! They found it was perfect for mates or partners with a bike each and offered great storage for heaps of gear too.
More Worthy Motorcycle Tents
High Peak Outdoors Motorcycle Tent
- Mesh ventilation
- CHEAP
- Water and wind resistant
- Ultra lightweight
- Bathtub floor
- Set up in 3 minutes
Bellamore Motorcycle Tent
- Double separate sleeping area
- Large vestibule area for potentially two motorbikes
- Water resistant ground sheet & cover
- Sleeps 4 people
- Limited ventilation
Coleman Evanston Motorcycle Tent
- Sleeps 6 people
- Front vestibule area to store small motorbike but limited protection from the rain.
- Vestibule floor has holes to drain water
- 4 large windows allowing for maximum ventilation
- Wind and water resistant
- Vestibule floor has holes to drain water
Lone Rider Mototent V2
- Sleeps 1-2 riders
- Separate chambers for riders and bikes
- Extra vestibule for cooking, hanging gear, etc
- Built from flame-retardent materials
- Protective canopy
- 12 lbs/1.9 meters high
- 7-minute setup time
- Inner tent may be removed to increase space
Now, you could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.
So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card! REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉
Buy on REI!What to consider when purchasing a motorcycle tent?
- Size
- Storage Space
- Sleeping Arrangements
- Price
- Weight & Size
- Water & Wind Resistance
- Ventilation
Size
The required size of your motorcycle tent depends on a few things:
- Motorbike size: To protect your motorbike from damage, store it in the vestibule area. You need to compare the dimensions of your motorbike with the vestibule area in your motorcycle tent, to ensure that it will fit.
- Storage space: Take into consideration how much storage space you will need for your belongings inside the motorcycle tent. You can always opt to keep your stuff stored on your bike or on the ground between the two wheels.
- Sleeping arrangements: Even though your motorcycle tent claims that it sleeps 4, it’s probably not true unless you like to sleep packed like sardines in a can. Based on experience, I’d say that a 4-person tent, sleeps two people comfortably with a little wiggle room.
Price
The best motorcycle tent is one that’s good value for money, especially if you’re on a backpacker budget! But don’t compromise price for quality, you need to find the perfect balance between quality and price when it comes to purchasing a motorcycle tent.
Weight & Size
Since you’ll be carrying your motorcycle tent on your bike, you’ll want one that’s not too heavy or bulky. Less than 8kg is an ideal weight for your motorcycle tent and it’s possible to get something much much lighter if you spend a bit more. Check your motorcycles estimated available load and weigh your gear, to ensure that you don’t overload the bike with your motorcycle camping equipment. If you do intend on packing a lot of stuff, consider investing in some panniers to evenly distribute the load.
Water and Wind Resistance
To prevent waking up in a puddle of water, ensure that your tent is water resistant. Most motorcycle tents are waterproof, but if you’re worried test it out first. The weather can be unpredictable, with storms appearing out of nowhere. That’s why it’s good to have a motorcycle tent with wind protection as the wind chill is what can make you seriously uncomfortable.
Ventilation
Ventilation is important to have in a motorcycle tent, especially in a hot climate. There is nothing worse than waking up dripping in your own sweat and gasping for fresh air. A mesh body and vents are great for ventilation and stargazing on nights when the weather is clear.
| Name | Capacity (People) | Weight (KG) | Type (ie, Dome) | Fabric (ie polyester) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lone Rider MotoTent V2 | 2 | 5.44 | Tunnel | 210T Polyester |
| Coleman Hooligan | 2 | 3.5 | Dome | Polyester |
| Catoma | 2 | 4.54 | Speed Dome | Polyurethane |
| Teepee Tent Waterproof Motorcycle Tent | 2 | 6.3 | Dome | Polyester |
| ALPS Mountaineering Compact Tent | 1 | 1.56 | Free Standing | Polyester |
| Vuz Motorcycle Tent | 3 | 13.7 | – | Mesh |
| Harley Davidson Roadhouse Motorcycle Camping Tent | 4 | 5.4 | Dome | – |
| High Peak Outdoors Motorcycle Tent | 1 | 2.3 | – | Mesh |
| Bellamore Motorcycle Tent | 4 | 8.5 | – | – |
| Coleman Evanston Motorcycle Tent | 6 | 9.5 | Dome | Polyester Taffeta 75D |
How and Where We Tested To Find The best motorcycle camping tent
The only way to really test a tent out is to take it out camping for a few nights and so that is exactly what we did. In this case, we did a bit more than that and made sure to test out how these tents specifically held up to the challenges of motorbike camping.
In order to fairly and consistently assess and compare them to one another, our testers looked specifically at the following areas:
Packed Weight
When it comes to packed weight it’s important to know how much you’ll be loading on to the back of your bike. Whilst having an ultralight tent isn’t as important when motorcycle camping as when you’re on foot, it’s still a consideration.
A lighter tent means a more manoeuvrable bike and also means you can easily carry it if needs be.
Packability (Packing and Unpacking!)
No two tents are the same. Some are nice and easy to pitch and un-pitch, and others pretty much require a degree in engineering. So, in order for a tent to be considered one of the best tents for motorcycle camping it had to be easy to put up and pack away too.
Our testers awarded a tent points for being easy to pack and unpack and deducted points for being difficult. Fair enough right?
Warmth, Waterproof and Ventilation
When you spend a night sleeping in a tent, you really get to know it. No one wants to spend the night freezing their ass off, especially when you’ve got a long day of riding ahead of you. Equally, spending the night in a sweatbox of a tent isn’t conducive to a comfortable night’s sleep either!
Obviously, when assessing the warmth and ventilation capabilities of a tent our testers took into account the weather alongside the sleeping bag they were using inside each tent.
When it comes to testing out the waterproofing of each tent, we went old school and poured a bucket of water over each one if we were lucky enough to avoid wet weather whilst out in the field.
Spaciousness and Comfort
Tents are not exactly designed for throwing parties (ok, some are) but still, when it comes to motorcycle tents, we were keen to see how well they handled all our gear as well as those designed for storing our bikes.
Again, this is something you only really get a feel for after spending a night inside a tent and actually trying to get your bike inside it!
Build Quality and Durability
All of our testers were instructed to subject each tent to a good bit of “rigorous” testing! This meant zipping and unzipping, putting some pressure on the tent poles, and analysing the seam sewing as well as the thickness of the fly sheets and the general durability of the materials. A bikers tent goes through some abuse so it’s got to be durable!
FAQ about the Best Motorcycle Tent
Still have some questions about the best motorcycle tents? No problem! We’ve listed and answered the most commonly asked questions below. Here’s what people usually want to know:
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Conclusion
Motorcycle tents are well worth packing if you’re serious about your motorcycling adventures. Traveling with a tent, in general, comes in handy in so many situations and it’s worth splashing out a few extra bucks to protect your motorbike at night.
If you want to travel with the lowest weight possible, I recommend simply packing a tarp and bivvy style tent. Make sure you consider the size of your motorcycle camping tent, storage space, sleeping arrangements, weight and size, ventilation and water/wind resistance when determining what is the best motorcycle tent for you – but I’ll give you a hint, it’s the Lone Rider if you want the best of the best. Check out the Coleman Hooligan if you are on a budget.
Either way, we hope you found this post useful and found the best motorcycling tent for your needs.
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
You left out one of the best motorcycle tents made – the Redverz Altacama. It’s the gold standard for serious motorcycle travelers. Just check out how many of them you see at any rally campsite. I travel solo and 14lb weight is not problem on my BMW motorbike. At 6’2″, I love having lots of room and being able to stand up inside to get gear on, etc. The large enclosed garage area has made many rainy days bearable.
Thanks for the tips! I am hoping to be more of an adventurer. I do believe a good night’s sleep is very important, esp when motorcycling. That means having the right gear to keep you dry, and at a fair temp; not too hot nor cold.
Great info! Especially good tips on choosing the right gear for the size of your bike. Really enjoyed the article!
-Cheers!
This is such an amazing post. I never thought that this is how camping could go far. I just find it really awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Guys
Clearly he never thought about scooterists ,lol
Seriously though a great read
As someone who has travelled all over Europe on a Vespa I have lived and learned .
I did at first consider a bivy for the sake of weight but decided on a pop up tent as my first (almost 10 years ago now ),,this year in the summer i used the “Quechua brand “ form decathlon (uk) and i can say that it never let me down ,,in fact it was amazing ,,,although in warm weather mostly (Italy and Spain ) it stood up well in really bad rain and storms ..
This year i will try the new one man slumit tent brand (uk company ) its also in the sense a pop up tent ,,hopefully it will be as good as my Quechua ..so for me and your a scooterist or biker try one of these ,,saves a lot of hassle and they are also light .
Cheers
Motorcycle camping seems very interesting, I’ve seen other people do it. But of course to do this you would need to know how to use a motorcycle and have a licence, so if I wanted to do that it wouldn’t be any time soon.
Hi, Will! This is a great review! You really did an amazing job providing all of the important pieces of information, so choosing a right tent is so much easier. I was wondering, what do you think is the biggest mistake one can make with motorcycle camping tent?
I wonder how many people are camping with their motorcycles.
Thank you for the heads up on the best Motorcycle tent.
Love biking and camping under the stars. This will really make my days and nights a lot better now.
Cheers Sharon…
I’m digging that lone rider motorcycle tent.
I’ve been on quite a few motorbike adventures myself but never done it with a tent. You’re really tempting me here man. Looks like you had a blast.
I have tried out several tents and did a bunch of research on more tents before choosing my current sleep system (tarp & bivy style tent). The Bellamore tent you describe was not one of them.
My recommendation is to travel like a back packer (minimalist style) paying special attention to what you will do in inclement weather and how quickly you can set up and break camp.
Larger tents with vestibules weigh a bunch (my bivy tent only weighs two pounds) and are a pain to pack up in the rain. I have one but seldom use it unless I am sharing the tent with others.
Thank you Bob.
I’m trying to find reviews for the Bellamore tent but can’t find any. Amazon doesn’t have any and it seems that the internet is good of any knowledge of this tent. I know it’s a good price but I’m skeptical. Can you offer any assistance? Thanks
You are much better off with backpacking gear; a bivy tent with good ventilation and a backpacker’s tarp for inclement conditions rather than hauling a heavy tent around. Especially in inclement weather you have the option of packing up under the tarp and using a variety of tarp set ups for different situations or not at all if the weather permits. Lone Rider Minitent with a Big Agnes Deep Creek Tarp is the combination that I use – a very flexible sleep system.