Thinking that there must be limitless ways to setup a Dyna for multi-day road trips.

Just returned from a four-day trip to Yosemite National Park using mostly two-lane blacktop through the mountains from Los Angeles. Had to get creative just to find ways to stow that gear which I felt I didn't want to do without: spare oil, water, first-aid kit, snacks, clothing, toiletries, tennies, rain/warm-cold-weather gear, tool kit, bike-cleaning supplies, bike cover, maps, sleeping bag, plastic ground cloth, camera kit...

My bike came with the sissy-bar and, since I had just blown my whole wad buying the bike, I first added an overly-large and very funky used set of cheap leather throw-over saddlebags. With stock rear turn-signals the right side fits sensationally, clearing the exhaust by just enough and snuggling up against the shock; the left side does not clear the shock, so sticks out a bit. Fortunately neither side requires a metal guard as there appears to be no danger of interference w/ anything high-speed, just a bit of rubbing which is confined mainly to the chrome shock. A giant screw-down Ty-rap around the base of each shock provides a place to secure the rawhide bag tie-downs. Most of the heavy stuff goes in the saddlebags. I wouldn't go anywhere w/o these!

To the forward end of the sissy-bar I then attached a used T-Bag containing mainly my sleeping bag (mostly for emergencies at high elevations); to the front of this I added a small old leather day-pack (which I've had for decades) containing mostly lightweight extra clothing/gloves; this allowed me to fine-tune my back-rest precisely to the level of Barcalounger! I simply cannot see travelling any other way, now.

Behind the sissy-bar I hung one of my small padded camera bags containing an old Nikon F3 manual-focus camera w/ two prime lenses and some film. And atop this I hung my small personal fanny-pack, as it is much more comfortable riding w/o it. If required, I carry a small T-Bag pouch which can be added atop the T-Bag.

Additionally I regularly used the space between the bars and my Q/R w/s to hold a fleece pull-over or gloves... This has the added advantage of completely blocking back-scatter from the headlight. Note: These windshields mount 1"+ forward of the headlight, so I have most successfully created a temporary skirt from tape and webbing to prove theory, and plan on fabricating a permanent skirt which will attach to the w/s. I have also added bits of tape to the turn-signal lenses to block unwanted back-scatter.

I have also added a worth-its-weight-in-gold GPS. This is invaluable for anyone who enjoys freely trekking in wilderness-type areas, beyond the range where it is practical to pack large-scale maps, and where finding fuel can be challenging. There is a separate thread on GPS where I'll post photos of the install.

Attached is a photo of how I packed my Super Glide. Kinda reminds me of the Oklahoma Dust Bowl exodus, in a way. How about some comments and photos of how you prepare, equip, load your Dyna for touring?

All comments welcome.

 

Here's a photo of my FXDC on the Blue Ridge Parkway last September. I carried everything I needed for a five-day, 1,800 mile ride, including most of the things you listed, in the H-D roll bag, the Dowco Iron Rider roll bag (sissy bar rack), the fork tool bag, and the windshield bag. I'll use this same rig for my weekend (3-day) ride to Rolling Thunder, on Memorial Day weekend. For future week-long trips, I plan to add a Dowco Iron Rider Overnight Bag to the sissy bar luggage rack (strapped underneath the roll bag) for additional clothing, jackets, etc.

 

At 1 mile above sea level, on the Cherohala Skyway in mid-April. 4 days, 1800 miles, in temps from 34° to 78°.



Kept gloves, neck warmer, baseball hat, various bungies and security cable in one saddlebag, camping gear - tent-stake hammer/puller, mess kit & burner, etc. - in the other. Clothes went in the case on the pillion seat and served as an excellent backrest. Tent and sleeping bag/bedroll were strapped on the luggage rack.

 

I haven't been on a tour yet with the Dyna. But one is coming at the end of June. OK to NC.

 

Week trip to N.Y. state and back on the 02 Superglide, detachable saddlebags, detachable windshield and a small bag on the luggage rack behind the sissy bar. Oh yea, the missus on the back seat. Nice to take off the saddlebags when you are doing day tripswhen on the road.

 

I attach my Saddlemen bags, my Kuryakyn Grand Tour bag on my rack and if I need another bag I set it on my pillion and bungee it to my other bag.
Don't have any pics with it loaded, just one with the saddlebags

 

Guess you're not familiar with my 'back story' ... started life as a plain Jane '05 FXDI Super Glide ... and now ... just look!

R/
'Chop

before:



after: