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Junior Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/11/2006 12:43:36 PM
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Right on, Roamalone. Not too long ago Honda, Yamaha, etc. offered bikes in sizes. Everyone knew what a "750 Honda" was because there was only one. To tour, you'd hang a Vetter fairing on it and maybe some bags and touring saddle. Wanna road race? Put lower bars, pipe, improved suspension, and enjoy.
'02 GL1800
'99 ZRX1100
'79 RD400
'02 GL1800
'99 ZRX1100
'79 RD400
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 11/17/2008 5:01:46 PM
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Scratch, I do have a windscreen on the SV a National Cycles F-15
I also had a 94 Magna, great bike.
"Life's journey is not arriving at the gate safely in a well perserved body, but rather to skid-in-sideways, totally worn out, shouting...holy *...what a ride!"
"Life's journey is not arriving at the gate safely in a well perserved body, but rather to skid-in-sideways, totally worn out, shouting...holy *...what a ride!"
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 7/1/2007 7:51:20 PM
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there is a certain attraction to touring on a bike not really intended for that purpose.
Part of it I think is that bikes in general
have gotten so big, that by the time you get to the touring model (s) in any line you are pushing some serious weight and usually complexity. As with the back-to-basics trend seen just about everywhere else, a simplier, smaller bike can be a refreshing
change to that. Andy Goldfine & Co. put out an appropriatly little book about that a while back called "Lightweight Unsupported Travel for Terminal Cases". A nice basic reference piece on the subject:
http://www.aerostich.com/product.php?productid=16795&cat=0&page=1
Some of my most memorable trips have been on bikes that would barely crack into the middle weight class by todays standards.
Then again at 25 500 miles on a 250 didn't seem like such a big deal. In your 40's it starts to be. Still tho, despite having the big touring rig for cross-country style trips, it's an refreshing change of pace to
jump on a single like the KLR which dripping wet with 6 gal of fuel weighs in at around 400#. Lighter bikes just move more fluidly and as a result, they feel more like an extention of you. The truth is, you can tour on anything but the big rigs make serious long distance easier. Unfortuantly,
they also tend to distance you somewhat from the experience at same time.
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 2/12/2008 8:56:17 AM
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Lots of good posts on this thread.
I'd like to print it off and give it to any newbie looking to buy a first bike. Maybe if they know how most of us started out, and the fun we had on the smaller bikes, they won't feel like they have to buy the biggest, most accesorized bike to start out with. And they might learn to ride more quickly on a bike they can handle!
Good point Rider33, about age having a lot to do with how much comfort you need when doing long distance riding. Many moons ago I could take a weeklong trip without a windshield, sitting on a seat that was just a step above a piece of 2 X 8 pine. Now, I don't like to go 30 miles without a windshield. That may be a big reason why smaller bikes aren't selling well. The average age of riders keeps rising, now above 40 I believe. People who are older and have more disposable income will tend to demand more comfort and more luxuries on their bikes.
1998 Honda Aero 1100
1998 Honda Aero 1100
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 11/11/2005 6:46:23 PM
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Many moons ago I piled a ton of miles on a GS550E Suzuki with a Vetter Quicksilver sport fairing and notyhing else touring oriented. Bungee cords galore, strapped my gear on the rack and addeda tank bag, me be gone, down the road for weeks at a time.
Now I have adresser Harley and before I take off on a trip I have to clean out the accumulated junk from all those neat storage places so I have room for trip stuff.
carpetbagger
carpetbagger
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2/12/2008 8:56:17 AM
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Ah yes. Bungee cords. The greatest touring accessory ever invented.
Instantly, and inexpensively changes any bike into a long-distance hauler. And bungees can also be used to hold up a tent, as a clothesline, as an emergency substitute for a broken exhaust pipe bracket, etc. They would probably be even more popular today if someone would make them in chrome or studded leather models.
1998 Honda Aero 1100
1998 Honda Aero 1100
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Advanced Member
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 2:39:21 PM
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If you never owned a bike with a milk crate bungeed to the back then you have never really toured. LOL
Torqueman
Battle Creek, MI
Goldwing 03
Torqueman
Battle Creek, MI
V-Strom 06
Goldwing 03
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