Compact and light are the trends in adventure motorcycle travel. Since cargo space is limited when you overland with a 2-wheel vehicle as compared with a 4-wheel vehicle, you keep everything simple but without sacrificing the thrill you’re seeking in the first place.
But with lots of motorcycle tent options on the market, which one should you choose? Here are our three picks for adventure motorcycle tents depending on how you want to travel.
The Top 3 Adventure Motorcycle Tents
- Lone Rider MotoTent V2- The best motorcycle tent overall
- MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Motorcycle Tent- The best lightweight motorcycle tent
- Coleman Hooligan Motorcycle Tent- The best budget motorcycle tent
Let’s take a closer look.
1. Lone Rider MotoTent V2
For many adventure motorcycle riders, the Lone Rider MotoTent V2 is the number one motorcycle tent available on the market today. Lone Rider MotoTent was released in 2019, and since then, this motorcycle tent has been the talk of the town.
Lone Rider is a company made up of people sharing the same passion for traveling the world on a motorcycle. Because the founder and other members all have a background in adventure motorcycle travel, you can be sure that their adventure gears are all customized for motorcycle riders so that you can have a comfortable, safe, and fun camping experience off-road.
The Moto Tent is so worth the hype.
About the Lone Rider MotoTent
The first thing you’ll notice about the Lone Rider MotoTent is its tunnel design, which to most will look simple and common. However, this design is a strategy that enables the tent to provide you with enough, even large space to be able to store all your travel gear, even your adventure motorcycle with panniers.
The tent has nearly 6 feet of headroom, so you don’t hurt your back from too much crouching. Inside the tent are two separate spaces. One acts as a garage, so your adventure motorcycle stays safe from any elements and from being stolen.
When you decide to park your motorcycle outside, this space can be your cooking, seating, or resting area that is big enough to accommodate two people.
Half of the tent is a large sleeping area that can sleep 2 people inside and can still offer some space for your luggage. The tent is made of only high-quality materials that are tough and waterproof, so it will really last a long time.
The Moto Tent is built by bikers for bikers. This means that, because those who built this tent know your struggles as a biker, the tent was designed to make your life easier and more comfortable anywhere you set up your camp.
Unique Features
The Moto Tent is notable for being the most lightweight tent with a motorcycle canopy. It only weighs 12 lbs. The carry bag that it comes with won’t take much space, for it only measures 24″ by 8″.
One problem with ground tents is the hassle that comes with assembling them, but with the Moto Tent, which is easy to set up, this is not a problem. The tent only takes 7 minutes to assemble, and the color-coded pole system will make the job much easier.
The tent will surely last a long time because it’s made of only high-quality materials. Some owners have even had their Moto Tents for 6 years or more now. The fly, inner tent, and floor fabric are UV resistant, fire-retardant, and waterproof. Even the zippers are waterproof.
The most amazing feature of the Moto Tent is its detachable inner tent that will allow you to use the whole tent as your garage if your motorcycle needs some repair. The tent also has great ventilation because you can open the front and back of the sleeping area for better airflow.
Pros
- with motorcycle canopy
- comfortable
- lightweight
- easy to set up
Cons
- a bit pricey
- bulky
- not free-standing
2. MSR Hubba Hubba NX Motorcycle Tent
You know very well that being lightweight is important in motorcycle traveling. The more camping gear and travel accessories you carry, the more off-road capabilities you sacrifice. It has become the norm in motorcycle adventure travel to pack simply and light.
You only bring necessary items that are compact, so you also save space because you only have the passenger seat and rear rack as your storage system. Being lightweight is the main reason why many adventure motorcycle riders prefer the MSR Hubba Hubba NX motorcycle tent, among others.
The MSR Hubba Hubba NX is the best lightweight motorcycle on the market. MSR is a well-known brand when it comes to camping equipment, and that includes tents. A strong reputation means that you can rely on MSR Hubba Hubba NX to give you the best motorcycle camping experience.
About the Motorcycle Tent
The Hubba Hubba NX tents are the best-sellers at MSR, and if you want the perfect tent for motorcycle riders, go with the 2-person tent.
This tent offers enough space for you to comfortably rest inside. The Hubba Hubba NX motorcycle tent is a dome-style tent with a headroom of 4 feet and a rectangular floor measuring 7 feet by 4 feet.
The tent comes with a carry bag that won’t take up much space since it only measures 6 inches by 18 inches. The Hubba Hubba tent has 2 doors, 2 vestibules, and 2 interior pockets.
Although Hubba Hubba NX may appear smaller as compared to other motorcycle tents, it is a tough one. The tent is made of high-quality fabric materials, which makes it durable. The floor is made from 30-denier ripstop nylon, while the rainfly is made from 20-denier ripstop nylon.
One sad thing about this tent is that it can only accommodate you and your travel accessories. You might want to secure your motorcycle before you peacefully sleep inside the tent.
Unique Features
The Hubba Hubba tent from MSR is packed with unique features.
First, it’s a 3-season tent. This means that the tent is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions during spring, summer, and fall. Rain and wind won’t do any damage to the tent, and you’ll be safe and secure inside despite heavy rain and strong wind outside because the Hubba Hubba NX tent is sturdy.
The tent is also freestanding, so you can set it up on any terrain. If the campground is on snow, desert, or rocky terrain, the Hubba Hubba NX is able to stand on its own without having to peg it into the ground.
The removable fly is also worth mentioning. In times like heavy rain, you can use the waterproof rainfly to prevent water from entering your sleeping area. When the sky is clear at night, you can remove the fly if you want to gaze at the stars before you go to sleep and for more airflow.
Can you imagine all these features contained in a tent that only weighs 3 lbs? Yes! You’ve read that right. The Hubba Hubba NX only weighs 3 lbs, which is great because it will not negatively affect your adventure motorcycle’s off-road capabilities.
Pros
- freestanding
- lightweight
- excellent ventilation
- compact
Cons
- not enough headroom
- no garage for motorcycle
- slightly overpriced
3. Coleman Hooligan Motorcycle Tent
Adventure travel doesn’t have to be expensive. Make use of what you have and make vehicle modifications if needed. You don’t need to spend too much on travel accessories and gear because there are affordable yet high-quality options available on the market.
If you’re looking for the best budget motorcycle tent, go for the Coleman Hooligan motorcycle tent. You will only need a hundred dollars in order to have this tent for your motorcycle camping.
Actually, the Coleman Hooligan motorcycle tent is 300 to 400 dollars cheaper than the previously mentioned motorcycle tents. A cheap price doesn’t mean low quality. At least not with Coleman.
We all know that when it comes to quality yet affordable camping gear, Coleman is a company that you can rely on. They specialize in camping gear, and all the items in their collection are built to make camping more enjoyable and convenient.
You can also easily find the Coleman Hooligan motorcycle tent because it’s made in the USA and is available on Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
About the Motorcycle Tent
The Coleman Hooligan motorcycle tent is a dome-style tent that offers a huge space inside. It can accommodate 2 people and some of your travel gear.
The sleeping area is 8 ft by 6 ft and has a center height or headroom of 5 feet. This space is large enough to move freely and sleep comfortably, even if you bring a companion on your adventure trip.
The tent also comes with a large vestibule, which adds another 6 square feet of space to store your other biking gear. Unfortunately, this vestibule is too small to accommodate your bike, but still, it is a space you can take advantage of.
The vestibule is fully covered with the waterproof rainfly that the tent comes with. You can easily remove this rainfly when the sky is clear. This will allow you to sleep in a mesh shell and let the beautiful night sky, along with the bright stars and cool night breeze, lull you to sleep.
Unique Features
The reason why the Coleman Hooligan is the best value motorcycle tent is that you get more than what you pay for. This tent is able to provide what the expensive tents can provide you.
Let’s start with the weight. The Coleman Hooligan is lightweight, weighing only 8.8 lbs. It comes with a carry bag that is compact, small, and easy to carry.
Coleman is known for its WeatherTec System, which ensures that the gear stays dry even during heavy rain. The fabric material used to construct this tent is waterproof. The full-length fly has a 450 mm waterproof rating, and the floor is bathtub style to reduce dampness.
The Coleman Hooligan motorcycle tent is a 3-season tent, which means that it can survive spring, summer, and fall. The sturdy frame of the tent will also ensure you that it will remain standing despite a windy day.
Lastly, the tent is easy to set up with its snag-free, continuous pole sleeves. A 10-minute is enough to get this tent fully functioning.
Pros
- affordable
- fully-covered vestibule
- compact
- lightweight
Cons
- no motorbike storage
- not free-standing
- bulky
How Do You Mount Or Carry A Tent On Your Motorcycle?
Motorcycle tents come with a carry bag that is small, lightweight, compact, and soft. This carry bag is easy to mount at the back of your adventure motorcycle with just the help of straps, bungee cords, or cargo nets.
Or if you want, since motorcycle tents are just small in size, you can just put them inside your luggage bag. Most riders pack their tents in the roll bag at the back of their motorcycles.
Since the tent or the carry bag is a bulky item, it is packed along with the other bulky camping gear such as sleeping bags, mattresses, etc. Secure and tighten the roll bag with straps, bungee cords, or a cargo net.
Final Thoughts
Motorcycle camping is a must-try experience. Many have this conception that when you travel with a 2-wheel vehicle, like a motorcycle, you cannot have a comfortable camping experience since you lack the cargo space to carry with you the necessary camping gear to do it. Adventure motorcycle riders have already proven this wrong.
You can have a fun, safe, and comfortable motorcycle camping experience with the right motorcycle tent.
If you’re looking for the most affordable motorcycle tent, you can go with the Coleman Hooligan. If high-quality and garage for your motorcycle are your top priorities, then the Lone Rider Moto Tent is for you. If being lightweight appeals to you more, then the MSR Hubba Hubba NX is your kind of motorcycle tent. In short, you have lots of options and the best among the best is for you to decide.