Trip with a hiking pack
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
I did a 2K round trip to Sturgis last year using a REI backpack. The reason was to ride a 750 Street at 75 miles an hour and going in excess of 750 miles the first day. Stopped at a DQ because it was it's 75th anniversary. Finally to celebrate my 75th year.
I adjusted the straps so that the weight of the back pack load (45 lbs) rested on the passenger seat. No windshield so there was a lot of drag as the bed roll was strapped on one side of the pack and the tent on the other side.
I would go 120 to 130 miles stop for gas, restroom and hydrate while walking around. Repeated until I arrived at Elkview Campgrounds outside of Sturgis on exit 37 of west bound I-90 in just over 12 hours.
Proper adjustment of the straps and a windshield is about all that I can offer. It did not seem to be all that difficult. I may try the Vrod to Sturgis this year and use the back pack method again.
In the past I toured and camped with cruisers and just bungee corded the heck out of a couple of duffel bags. All in all that was a little easier than a big back pack.
I adjusted the straps so that the weight of the back pack load (45 lbs) rested on the passenger seat. No windshield so there was a lot of drag as the bed roll was strapped on one side of the pack and the tent on the other side.
I would go 120 to 130 miles stop for gas, restroom and hydrate while walking around. Repeated until I arrived at Elkview Campgrounds outside of Sturgis on exit 37 of west bound I-90 in just over 12 hours.
Proper adjustment of the straps and a windshield is about all that I can offer. It did not seem to be all that difficult. I may try the Vrod to Sturgis this year and use the back pack method again.
In the past I toured and camped with cruisers and just bungee corded the heck out of a couple of duffel bags. All in all that was a little easier than a big back pack.
Last edited by lh4x4; Apr 19, 2016 at 12:05 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 195
Likes: 21
From: Upstate New York
Sounds like a blast. I do a lot of backpacking in addition to riding. My standard pack is 70L which I used to hike the John Muir Trail (220 miles) in 2014 and other trips. I'm debating on including a week+ backpacking trip on a cross country ride this summer.
lh4x4 shows that wearing a pack works, maybe that is the best for you. If it was me, however, I'd find a duffle that could fit my bag and gear, and strap that across the pillion or to a backrest, whatever works. I use a XL North Face duffle to transport my backpackng gear.
Not much different than other suggestions, but stuffing everything into a duffle avoids concerns about dangling straps. Just my 2 cents.
Cheers,
Doc V
lh4x4 shows that wearing a pack works, maybe that is the best for you. If it was me, however, I'd find a duffle that could fit my bag and gear, and strap that across the pillion or to a backrest, whatever works. I use a XL North Face duffle to transport my backpackng gear.
Not much different than other suggestions, but stuffing everything into a duffle avoids concerns about dangling straps. Just my 2 cents.
Cheers,
Doc V
Last edited by Doc V; Apr 19, 2016 at 10:51 PM.
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