I would suggest a back packing tent from a dealer handling quality merchandise. You can get extremely small and light tents that function really well. They're pricey but for packing on a motorcycle I think size and weight are important.

 

I've had mine for 5 years. It has held up great. As with most tents, you should apply seam sealer to the seems before you use it and then on occaison. If you do not know what seem sealer is, it is a liquid sealer than you put on like roll on deodorant. You can find it at Walmart. I also sprayed the whole tent with Camp Dry before the first use. Camp Dry is another thing you can get a WalMart. I've used it in some torrential downpours and have stayed dry.

One of the reasons that I chose this tent is due to it's low weight and the fact that it will fit in a saddlebag with room to spare.

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Go to Sears...anything with Hillary on it is terrific......Hillary stuff ismade by Sir Edmond's company....top notch stuff for cheap

Rev. George......Chattanooga, Tn

 

Get backpackers equipment. It is made to be durable and light, and doesn't have to be small. My days of crawling into a two man tent are over, I need to be able to walkin and standup. Last time I went to Laconia I had a 6 man tent, cot, sleeping bag folding chair, wife stayed home. Wasn't on a sportster, but a metric crusier. Don't think you have to be uncomfortable, Backpacker equipment can get pricy however, just shop around.

 

This is how I like to camp: Load the bike inside, tow it out to the campground, unload the bike and you have a fully equipped RV trailer and can take day rides on the bike.
Part of the reason is we are on a bald *** prairie here and have to drive on boring straight flat roads 4 hours to the mountains, but once there it is some of the best riding in North America in the Rocky Mountains.

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Check out REI if there's one in your area. Not only do they have Quality camping equipment (another word for higher priced, but ya get what ya pay for in the end) but you can also rent tents and other equipment reasonably for your trips.

 

check out campmor.com. i have several differnt tents i like eureka

 

I pack a two-man eureka tent on the bike for overnight camping on the way to and from final destination. If I'm going to be in one place more than a few days, I UPS a big tent and cots and lawn chairs.... to the campground so the stay is more comfortable. When it's time to go home, UPS the stuff back home. You will have to coordinate with the campground in advance, but many will accomodate this arrangement.

 

Thanks for the info on seam sealer and camp dry.
UPS just dropped the tent off today, shipping doc stated 6lbs shipping weight.

I'll setup and let you know how things go!