route 66 on a sportster 883?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,289
Likes: 22
From: Beautiful Downtown Burbank
RE: route 66 on a sportster 883?
If you're serious about taking the sporty, try a long "short" hop first.
If you can handle 200 miles out, and 200 back in the same day, you can handle the trip.
The bike will do it, thats not an issue.
If you can handle 200 miles out, and 200 back in the same day, you can handle the trip.
The bike will do it, thats not an issue.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 913
Likes: 1
From: Canary Islands
RE: route 66 on a sportster 883?
You can do that no problem. You just need some saddle bags and a bag to bungee on the back. Crash bars and Highway pegs are good too.
If you got a month you'll be fine. Do the 66 one way and then on the way back do the highway, I think it's the I 40. You won't have time to do the 66 both ways if you wanna enjoy it.
If you got a month you'll be fine. Do the 66 one way and then on the way back do the highway, I think it's the I 40. You won't have time to do the 66 both ways if you wanna enjoy it.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
From: Lake Arrowhead, ca
RE: route 66 on a sportster 883?
Route 66? \\; It's not what it used to be. \\; There is some spots that will trash your bike! \\; As for the Sporty, well, at 60, you'll prbably be trading it in for a touring model before you get back. \\; Lots of luck!!!!
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 3
From: Inland Empire, So Cal
RE: route 66 on a sportster 883?
ORIGINAL: old95
Well you must have concerns or you would not have posted. I'm not much of what you would call a "day" or "weekend rider". \\;\\\\\\; We Take two trips a year, one in May &\\;\\\\\\; one in July that always ends up @ Strugis, each trip is about 8,000 miles. \\;\\\\\\;Being about your age I think you need to ask yourself this question, Is this the only long trip I believe I'll take, or do I have the time $$$ etc. to take others, if the answer is "no" then \\;\\\\\\;hack it out with the bike ya got, but be prepared for a really tired butt every night. If the answer is "yes" then trade the bike get get a touring bike, trust me, about 1/4 of the way though RT66 you had wished you had. \\;\\\\\\;PS be sure not to miss Oatman, AZ, wonderful riding, have a good time no matter what you decide.
 \\;\\\\\\;
Well you must have concerns or you would not have posted. I'm not much of what you would call a "day" or "weekend rider". \\;\\\\\\; We Take two trips a year, one in May &\\;\\\\\\; one in July that always ends up @ Strugis, each trip is about 8,000 miles. \\;\\\\\\;Being about your age I think you need to ask yourself this question, Is this the only long trip I believe I'll take, or do I have the time $$$ etc. to take others, if the answer is "no" then \\;\\\\\\;hack it out with the bike ya got, but be prepared for a really tired butt every night. If the answer is "yes" then trade the bike get get a touring bike, trust me, about 1/4 of the way though RT66 you had wished you had. \\;\\\\\\;PS be sure not to miss Oatman, AZ, wonderful riding, have a good time no matter what you decide.
 \\;\\\\\\;
Yep. \\; Some good advice here.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 29,598
Likes: 19
From: Oregon
RE: route 66 on a sportster 883?
I didn't check it out but isn't that about 4k miles in 30 days? Did I miss something? That's only maybe 130 miles per day average plus side trips. Doesn't sound too bad to me. $.02.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
RE: route 66 on a sportster 883?
Only issue I can see is your age. Not knocking you, just saying. If you were younger, I'd say roll up some clothes in a sleeping bag, strap it to the handle bars, and head out. That's the way it used to be done. Don't need no stinkin' bags.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Central Ohio
RE: route 66 on a sportster 883?
Bigger is usually cushier, but i'm a less-is-more guy. The only reason I have a Dyna is for my wife to have a little more room, a little softer for her tailbone broken many years ago. Otherwise i'd have a base 883. Handy everyday, big enough for crosscountry. Seats are much cheaper than trading.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 3
From: Bel Air Md
RE: route 66 on a sportster 883?
I just traded my 05 883 in on a Cross Bones in Feb. Always did at least one big trip a year. The guys I ride with all had bigger bikes and never had an issue, the 883 will go at 85+ all day long. The sundowner seat and windshield were a must for me and to be honest it rode just as good as my Bones.
Go for it you will have a blast.
Go for it you will have a blast.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 3
From:
RE: route 66 on a sportster 883?
People have done it on Honda 305's, 550/4's, various small 2-strokes, a sporty will be just fine. A small barndoor is highly recommended as is maybe a more comfortable seat or gel insert. Take a smaller road trip in the meantime to see how long you last in the saddle. You might need more than 1 month to go there and back. Or contact Amtrak and find out about the train bringing it back.