Yeah I was wondering the same thing. It would also be pretty easy to make something comparable and fairly cheap.

 

I'll head to Sturgis, SD for 4-5 days then probably up into Washington State to visit a friend. After that? Most likely will head east back across Montana, North Dakota etc into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, then across the Mackinac Bridge towards home.

 

Nice!!! Rode all way upther from Lexington Park, MD back in 2009 on a carb Sportster 883. Was a hell of a ride, loved every minute of it.

This is me, a friend and my father in the front



We also rode to yellowstone park, spent there a day before going back home.

Enjoy your trip a bit for me too

 

Man .... seeing some of this stuff you guys load is .. interesting.

I would only take the Softail for trips inside weekend range. Otherwise I'm taking the Wing. I haven't done much traveling with the Softail .. but the VTX 1800 it replaced had the same space challenges.

But .. I check the bike thoroughly before taking off. Service and run over the bike doing the wiggle test.
In all cases I bring a small tool set. Pliers, Screwdrivers, torx/allens metric and standard, tape .. other common stuff.
For my clothes .. I pre load large zip lock bags with a shirt, underwear, socks. Push all the air out. I do the same for my Frog Toggs.
Wont help on the Softail, but I took a plug kit and six CO2 canisters. A flat on the Softail puts me out of business.
The only other bulky items is an extra pair of pants and my cpap machine. Ill wash once or twice along the way... clothes that is ...
I always bring a charging brick that I make sure gets recharged at the hotel every night in case my cell phone battery is worn down during a road side problem.

Of course the Wing is a bottomless pit.

Any other issues I'm calling a tow truck that is covered by my bike insurance and my extended warranty. If there is any difficulty on the road that my small tool kit cant fix, it will need attention by a mechanic. So; at least the way I think, why carry alot of unnecessary junk. This approached worked on rides from NC into Canada around the lakes, to Arkansas, Sturgis, and a 4 state tour of NE. Not to mention countless weekend trips. If going with a group of guys .. we will talk together and basically collectively carry only one "thing". For example .. one guy carries the tire plug kit, another guy carries the pump method, another guy carries a tools set.

 

This is what we do with my father. But we are just in two. ehehehe Of course in larger groups is way more effective

 

Not only pack rain gear on top but in right case as well. Safer to be pulling it out from curbside than roadside.

 

That's a good point actually. I have always packed mine in the left saddlebag,. Although I usually put rain gear on before I start riding if I think I need it, there have been a few times when I have done it roadside, and why not try and do it just a little bit more safely.

 

I love taking trips and though I have yet to do an extended cross country trip, I take at least two 4-6 day trips a year and a few 1-2 nighters. I have traveled as a salesman for many years so I typically use hotel points and stay in hotels where I can wash clothes if necessary. I live in the Houston area and like to go to Texas Hill Country (Three Sisters, Bandera, etc.) and when I do I like to say in cabins. Some have laundry capability but typically not.

What I take clothing-wise depends greatly on time of year. Summer trips I am usually going someplace hot, so wearing the same pants and shirt without a wash is a no-go. Certainly not undies and socks. Just can't avoid sweating no matter how fast I ride!

Standard gear that is always on my bike that never gets removed trip or no trip:

*Rain Gear - Living along the Gulf Coast THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE FOR RAIN!

*2 or more pair of gloves - related to the above. Even waterproof gloves get wet sometimes. I like to have a dry pair for when it stops raining

*Extra pair of riding glasses

* A couple of microfiber towels for wiping glasses, helmet visors and windshields

*Tire plug kit with CO2 cartridge

*Spare Bulbs

*Tool Bag- When I got my Harley I got the one below. Cruztools SAE for Harley. Rolls up nice and small.

*Bungie cords and Rox straps.

*Flashlight

*Knife

*Firearm and Ammo. I conceal carry, but I have a holster that I velcro to the inside of my saddlebag so I can put it there on long rides for comfort. When I stop, I put it on.

*Sunscreen

*Bug Spray- we get skeeters bad down here.


For a trip:

Again, depends on time of year. The most challenging time of year is actually the fall and string, when it can go from 40* to 75* in the span of a day.

Fall and Spring:

*Overpants that I can remove and put on without having to take off my boots.These go over my pants. Zipper and velcro on the sides, kinda like chaps. They are also waterproof and have a liner for when it is really cold.

*Riding jacket that has a liner and vents. Liner for when it is really cold, no liner for medium cold, and open vents for when it warms up.

*Glove liners - the Freezeout from Cycle Gear




Winter-(I don't do winter trips typically but occasionally):

*The above plus Freezeout long johns and top.



Summer:

*Just multiple pairs (2-3) of gloves in case of rain. Again I like dry gloves for when the rain stops.





For any trip:

*Plenty of underwear and socks. If I go for 5 days, I try to take 5 or 6 pairs of socks and underwear. If I am situationally forced to wear the same pair of pants after full day of summer sweating, er...riding, and God forbid the same shirt too, I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO WEAR THE SAME UNDIES AND SOCKS at any time during the trip.


*Toiletries - as mentioned I have been a traveling salesman for quite some time so I got the toiletry travel thing down pat. This includes bandaids, nose spray, earplugs, etc. everything fits in a shaving bag. Travel size toothpaste and shaving cream, etc.

*Riding jeans - the number depends, but typically up to 3 depending on length of trip

*Long sleeve shirts - I have both cotton T-shirts and Dry-fit and a couple of Harley long sleeve fishing type shirts (these are awesome). Keeping the sun off my arms in the hot summer when I am not wearing the riding jacket makes a huge difference. This is what I typically wear for the long travel days.

*Sun Sleeves - those white dry-fit type sleeves you pull on like you see the basketball players wearing. I like these in the summer if I am doing some day riding on a trip and will be stopping several times. I can wear short sleeve shirts and pull these off when I go in a restaurant for lunch or something. Then slip them back on when I get back on the bike. Again, the sun is the nemesis in the summer.

*Short sleeve shirts - see sunsleeves above

*1 pair of shorts and one shirt for sleeping- Of course always shower before bed so as not so stink up the jammies.

*1 pair of shorts for wearing in public. Like for doing laundry at the hotel and getting a snack at the front desk.

*1 pair of jeans for whatever- dinner, going out on the town (take an Uber or Lyft of course).

*Cash - usually several hundred bucks, (see firearm and ammo above). I have had my debit and credit card declined occasionally due to fraud prevention. Nowadays, I get an email alert and can make sure it gets turned back on, but having the cash handy is paramount if you are in the hills somewhere with no signal and can't get the hold lifted.

*I used to hide a spare key in the bike somewhere, but the new Harleys are key fob.







I used to use a Saddleman large sissy bar bag with my V-Star 1300 Tourer (the bike had saddlebags for the stuff that never comes out). I also have a Givi waterproof fold-up/roll up bag. So this way it would be as big or small as I needed to carry what may not get in the Saddleman bag.




I now have the RG Ultra so I have no use for the sissy bar bag, but the Givi bag can still get used. Since my wife will not get on the back (or front) of a motorcycle, I am always solo riding. I typically have no issues with taking whatever I need. The trunk and saddlebags are waterproof and so is the Givi bag so no issues there when it comes to rain. I also always ride with waterproof boots, so no need for boot covers.







The aforementioned tool bag:

 

Teach your wife how to ride and you’ll have plenty of room. The round bag on the tour pak holds leathers when it gets hot and a soft sided cooler.

 

Great picture! I know that pull-out very well. There are usually tour buses and vans there, so really cool to see that great shot without the 'other friends'.