There is a lot of if’s to answering this question. Of course it can be done. It is a matter of personal choice. IMHO, it is not something the FJR does well. Most couples struggle to ride two up and hotel it let alone camp. There are other bikes that carry more weight and do it better than a FJR and I knew that going in. I figured the wife would not ride with me much - I was right, so for me the FJR is a great mount.
For the RTE I would hotel it, but I hear hotels in LaPine are booked – bummer if it is true.
I used to camp when motorcycling but I gave it up this year. I am at a place now where I can afford a room for the night. I like a climate controlled room, no bugs, a hot shower and a soft bed. Finding a place to camp, unpack, live in a tent and get up and repack just got old. The bike handles better without the gear – and my gear was light weight. I am 56 years old and it is time to enjoy life while I can.
The RTE is in the middle of September when there is about 12 hours of day light so it is likely you will spend 10 or so hours on the sleep pad on the hard ground in the tent. My old bod aches after 6 to 8 hours in a tent, even with a nice sleeping bag pad like the Exped Airmat 7.5. And with a mummy bag you can’t separate your legs – for me this very uncomfortable, especially after 10 hours.
My wife takes a curling iron when we travel and we stay in hotels. Helmet hair being what it is – I simply can’t fathom why bring a curling iron on a motorcycle trip. Now if you girlfriend is wired different than my wife you are in luck.
First you can't bring much of anything – the FJR saddle bags are woefully misshaped – a function follows form thing - grrrrr. I don’t like the diamond cut of the saddle bags – it waste space.
If your girlfriend is one to bring a lot of stuff then game over side out. Each of you gets one pair of shoes, your riding shoes (shoes take up a lot of space), two under wear, 2 shirts each, etc etc. One wallet shared, no purse. You must to think in terms of ounces, not pounds and be on the same page with her. Everything matters. Hey does this sound like fun now? Just hauling basic textile gear and finding a place for the inner liners for two people on a warm day will be a challenge, not to mention rain gear.
I have done a lot of backpacking and like me you will have to have some very lightweight camping gear. Lash the sleeping bags in stuff sacks on top of your saddle bags with half the tent in each side. Lashing the stuff sacks will mare/scratch to the top of your saddle bags unless you have protective film installed on the bags.
An empty Givi G46 exceeds the FJR’s recommended tail weight capacity, so loading it up puts the sub-frame under excessive stress. (ask DCarver about that.) Leave the Givi half empty for stashing gear when it is warm out. You can lash sleeping pads to your Givi G46 if it has a top rack. Try hard to not over-load the tail whether by trunk or tail bag – the sub-frame is the FJR Achilles heel when it comes to loading it up.
Eat on the road – forget trying to bring food or even a lightweight stove for coffee in the morning.
As you live in Sacramento you are near some of the best motorcycle roads on the planet. Go to LaPine solo then take your girlfriend on a nice trip to the Sierras take in Yosemite and stay in rooms along the way. Alternatively go to Fort Bragg, use it as a base for a day or two and enjoy loop rides on some of the great roads in Northern California. She will love the ocean! Last idea; go ride some of the great roads in Napa Valley, go on a wine tour in a bus for the day, again staying in hotels along the way. She will love it and when the honey is happy everybody is happy!
If I was to travel two up on the FJR for longer periods I would strongly consider getting a trailer like AuburnFJR and others.
