if you are not used to distance riding.... take breaks. A quick break every hour or so from the beginning helps me a LOT!! Even if you just get off, straighten your back, move some blood through your legs. Stop, walk around the bike once or twice, bend, breathe, short as a minute or two. Won't really change your travel time. Because once you get stiff and or hurting, it is hard to make that better. Longer break with bathroom stop maybe every other one or third. And drink. Whatever works for you.

I do a quick break after an hour and a longer one with gas stop the next or every other hour. Adjust this to you. Your style and the area you are going through.

Second the duffel bag or some type serving as a backrest also. Big difference.

 

You're not going very far. Just a little over 500 miles one way. You will never be very far from help, and there will be lots of bikers passing by if you are stuck on the side of the road. Your route is more important that what you take.

Take your oldest underwear and wear them several days then toss them.

Get some quick dry long sleeved t-shirts, wear one then wash it out and wear it again the next day. Only need to carry two, plus one nice short sleeved for evening at the pub. Same with socks, get some quick drying socks and only carry two pair.

One pair jeans just in case, and a pair of lounging shorts and flip flops for running back out to the bike for something you forgot.

Your BiPaP ASV device. LoL Medications, and a spare set of eye glasses. A hygiene kit, and if it is larger that a paperback book you're packing too much. Sunblock.

A good 2-piece rain gear set. A warm wool or thermolite sweater to wear under it (or electric). This is all you will need for a coat. If you wear a jacket for safety like leather or textile, make sure it is ventilated, and you can wear your insulation under it and rain jacket over it. A hat for when you're not on the bike.

Tools. A AAA card (even if you have the Harley and Insurance Company Roadside Assist.) A very simple toolkit, don't go crazy here. Maye a tire repair plugger, but I have found these nearly impossible to use beside a busy highway on a heavy bike. Okay for the hotel parking lot. Tool Kit:
Butler Motorcycle Maps.
Your Cell phone and GPS and all charging cables. A small camera.

All of these things should fit into the two saddlebags on a Harley Touring bike. Leave your trunk and tail bag and backseat bag at home on sch a short trip. Or if you carry a passenger, she or he gets the trunk. A trunk rack and rack bag can be used two up for all the rain gear and jackets and such, but keep it light.

A riding buddy, either passenger or on their own bike. Since you are asking what to pack on a short trip, I'm assuming you are a relative new rider. Go with an experience rider. Lots more fun.

A good mental attitude. If you have never been to Deals Gap, it is just one road in an area full of great riding. The Tail (US 129) is very unforgiving of riders who think they can ride well, no matter your experience level. Even at moderate speeds, the corners are so close together that it is very easy to enter one turn ok, exit it ok, then enter the next turn a little out of the line, and exit it way out of the line only to find another turn right there and no room for escape, and the Corvette coming at you is also way out of line. Say away from the Tail on Thursday through Sunday. Lots of other rides around there. Lodging in Townsend TN and it's a great little village (I used to live there).

If it were me, this is the 1300 mile round trip route I would follow:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Orla...28.5383355!3e0

 

Great ride, already wish I was riding ....

By the way, this route and map does not include Tail of the Dragon, but It starts at Deals Gap and goes north, just ride it both ways.

 

A better map including riding the Tail.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Orla...28.5383355!3e0

 

I was going to suggest 441. Better than 75 and Atlanta. Only hot spot would be Athens GA.
Helen, GA is always a good time and being you'll be there in October the place will be rocking.

 

This is my advice, Don't use exofficio but I use the synthetic Jockey or UA and they dry out nicely.

 

Not to be redundant with all the great suggestions above, don't forget one of these. I did a Miami to NY and couldn't find mine on day 1. I was miserable. During my first night, I tore apart my luggage and found mine - day 2 was a pleasure.

https://www.jpcycles.com/product/501...AaAnV_EALw_wcB

 

Don't take this much

 

The only thing that I would add Is eye drops. Getting hit in the glasses by a bug or anything and not having anything to wash it out is hell.

kenk

 

https://www.americanmotorcyclist.com...mart-touring-1