You can get a sleeping bag, tent and pad for less than 5 pounds. I would encourage you to go to a REI (or similar) and tell them what you are looking for. I have a tent (Seedhouse), Pad, Sleeping Bag (Marmot), and Multi Day Backpack (Go Lite) that in total weigh less than 10 pounds for thru hikes (and motorcycle camping). Check out the new equipment from pocket rockets to titanium pots, etc. SJ Ron

 

I take a cheap blow up pool floaty, the kind with a pillow built in, folds up to nothing if you get the air out

 

+1 I'm using one this weekend. They do hold up allweekend if you inflate it as soon as you get to your campsite, after you get everything else setup the air you breathed into it has cooled down and shrunk, so fill it up again...just before crashing fill it one last time. works all weekend!

 

If this is your fist bike camping trip, I'd suggest buying cheap stuff until you find out if it's for you. If you like doing it, then upgrade to the good stuff!

 

O.K. I hope this picture attaches correctly. This is my long haul setup. The big round leather tube on the back seat is a PVC tube 11.5" in dia. & 20" long.It's made by Bikers Friend & holds a half helmet,tent, sleeping bag,matress,rain gear,gloves & towels/rags.Also has side pockets.Back bag on rack holds camera bag,laptop,maps,more misc.small stuff. Saddle bags have tons of room for clothes,tools,Jet Boil stove & other stuff.I try to leave extra room for stuff I may need to buy on the road.Oh Ya...on the front forks is a rain fly & jacket.

 

I go out once a year for a week, aiming for a destination spot each time. I stay in hotels on the first outbound night and the last night, coming home. Using my stock rack, I first lay all the flat stuff, single person air mattress (I like the discussion on the self- inflating sine mine always lose air), a ground tarp and a table clothe (plastic). These lay flat and rarely are thicker then 6 to 8 inches. On top of them, I put my folding chair and small 8x9 tent. Lastly, I have a bag that holds all my dried foods (not that much), one burner stove, air pump and all small misc items. In one saddle bag, I have my "kitchen"- pots (2), flat iron grill, and one place setting. In the other bag, I have my soft sided cooler (compressed) and a pair of shoes (I ride with bigger boots). I have a soft side bag that sits on the passenger seat that holds my clothes and propane bottles and other misc stuff (rain suit). My sleeping bag sit on top of this case, but flops backwards, out of my way.

It all fits and I can load it in about 45 minutes when I break camp.

 

When I ride and camp on my EG Standard (no tour pack) I utilize the rear rack and rear seat to strap two medium dry bags.

 

When I used a tent and sleeping bag I'd strap the tent to the handlebars just above the headlight since if won't pack any smaller than the tent rods and Therma-Rest pad. It was kind of bulky to travel with and uncomfortable on the ground especially in a rain storm.
Now I use a hammock and tarp. Everything will pack into one saddlebag. If it's raining when I show up to make camp I can put the tarp up in three minutes and then set up the hammock and my gear under the tarp and stay dry. Much quicker than setting up a tent as I discovered when camping with guys with tents, "ground dwellers." And when little rain rivers developed I was hanging above them sleeping while some of the other guys were flooded out of their sleeping bags. I also find the hammock more comfortable than on the ground, no need for a air mattress that may leak or clearing away rocks and sticks from beneath a tent.
The drawbacks are you need to find two trees or anchored posts to string the hammock from and I've found many commercial campsites that cater to biker rallies like Sturgis don't have trees. So I had to email a few ND campsites to explain my needs and find a good campsite before going. Getting a complete full-blown set up can get pricey but since you're traveling by bike instead of hiking you don't need the ultra light gear the backpackers use and can get away with cheaper (heavier) tarps, suspension and carabiners. It may take a night or two to get used to sleeping in a hammock, it depends how tired you are and if you sleep on your stomach normally.
So for me it was the small packing size of the hammock gear and the sleeping comfort up off the ground.

http://warbonnetoutdoors.com/

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ex large sea to summit dry bag that holds my tent, sleeping bag, self inflating bed roll, pillow and some odds and ends....that straps on my luggage rack....in my kury bag that i strap to my passenger seat is my clothes and cooking stuff....all this on my street bob and i have room left in my saddle bags

 

drop the cooler dude; you can get whatever you need nowadays with suffering high prices any where. really given the choice that is the least needed supply item.