First big trip and maybe a dumb question...
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
First big trip and maybe a dumb question...
...but better to ask the dumb question and get a smart answer than be too ashamed to ask and regret it later, eh?
A little background first.
I've got a family reunion coming up (not soon, in August) and it looks to be just under 2000 miles round trip from Washington through Idaho, Montana, back into Idaho, round through Oregon, and back to Washington. I'm estimating I'll be away from home for a week total.
I've gone back and forth from Los Angeles to New Orleans three or four times, which is about the same distance, but that was always in a car. I've never done a trip like this on the bike before and my big concern at the moment is packing.
I'm on an '07 Fatboy with no passengers. I've got leather saddlebags that I know will hold my normal clothes for a week. I was thinking about getting a tail bag for miscellaneous things (toilet paper, random other essentials) and a sleeping bag, but I've got no sissybar and was wondering if anyone could offer a good suggestion to keep these from flying everywhere along the way.
I've been looking around online and tried to read through as many posts as I could here before asking, so if this has been answered before I apologize.
The obvious answer is bungee cords, but I figured there's got to be other, more experienced folk out there who've packed up their bikes with no bars for bracing, so I thought I'd ask if anyone had a better idea or if this is indeed the way to go.
Thanks in advance for any insight.
A little background first.
I've got a family reunion coming up (not soon, in August) and it looks to be just under 2000 miles round trip from Washington through Idaho, Montana, back into Idaho, round through Oregon, and back to Washington. I'm estimating I'll be away from home for a week total.
I've gone back and forth from Los Angeles to New Orleans three or four times, which is about the same distance, but that was always in a car. I've never done a trip like this on the bike before and my big concern at the moment is packing.
I'm on an '07 Fatboy with no passengers. I've got leather saddlebags that I know will hold my normal clothes for a week. I was thinking about getting a tail bag for miscellaneous things (toilet paper, random other essentials) and a sleeping bag, but I've got no sissybar and was wondering if anyone could offer a good suggestion to keep these from flying everywhere along the way.
I've been looking around online and tried to read through as many posts as I could here before asking, so if this has been answered before I apologize.
The obvious answer is bungee cords, but I figured there's got to be other, more experienced folk out there who've packed up their bikes with no bars for bracing, so I thought I'd ask if anyone had a better idea or if this is indeed the way to go.
Thanks in advance for any insight.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 752
Likes: 0
From: nc mountains
I would stay away from the typical motorcycle bags for the rest of your gear and buy a waterproof bag . Go to cabelia's or basspro web sites or mabe some outdoor store that water water guys would use. That will keep goods that need to stay dry in good shape and can be cross strapped to the rear. Remember you can have planed pick up idems you might need at mail drop stores and ship dirty stuff back home or just throw out undies socks and the like as you go. Might be a good tank bag for up front for quick to need idems from glasses to meds,maps extra gloves to hold a cell phone for charge'nor ipod. May not look cool but do come in handy. If the seat you have is not the greatest for day in and day out, as in support get one with a removeable back rest. That does help a long day go by and will also give a place to help tie off any gear.
Last edited by hardluk1; Feb 6, 2009 at 07:15 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Monett, MO
...but better to ask the dumb question and get a smart answer than be too ashamed to ask and regret it later, eh?
A little background first.
I've got a family reunion coming up (not soon, in August) and it looks to be just under 2000 miles round trip from Washington through Idaho, Montana, back into Idaho, round through Oregon, and back to Washington. I'm estimating I'll be away from home for a week total.
I've gone back and forth from Los Angeles to New Orleans three or four times, which is about the same distance, but that was always in a car. I've never done a trip like this on the bike before and my big concern at the moment is packing.
I'm on an '07 Fatboy with no passengers. I've got leather saddlebags that I know will hold my normal clothes for a week. I was thinking about getting a tail bag for miscellaneous things (toilet paper, random other essentials) and a sleeping bag, but I've got no sissybar and was wondering if anyone could offer a good suggestion to keep these from flying everywhere along the way.
I've been looking around online and tried to read through as many posts as I could here before asking, so if this has been answered before I apologize.
The obvious answer is bungee cords, but I figured there's got to be other, more experienced folk out there who've packed up their bikes with no bars for bracing, so I thought I'd ask if anyone had a better idea or if this is indeed the way to go.
Thanks in advance for any insight.
A little background first.
I've got a family reunion coming up (not soon, in August) and it looks to be just under 2000 miles round trip from Washington through Idaho, Montana, back into Idaho, round through Oregon, and back to Washington. I'm estimating I'll be away from home for a week total.
I've gone back and forth from Los Angeles to New Orleans three or four times, which is about the same distance, but that was always in a car. I've never done a trip like this on the bike before and my big concern at the moment is packing.
I'm on an '07 Fatboy with no passengers. I've got leather saddlebags that I know will hold my normal clothes for a week. I was thinking about getting a tail bag for miscellaneous things (toilet paper, random other essentials) and a sleeping bag, but I've got no sissybar and was wondering if anyone could offer a good suggestion to keep these from flying everywhere along the way.
I've been looking around online and tried to read through as many posts as I could here before asking, so if this has been answered before I apologize.
The obvious answer is bungee cords, but I figured there's got to be other, more experienced folk out there who've packed up their bikes with no bars for bracing, so I thought I'd ask if anyone had a better idea or if this is indeed the way to go.
Thanks in advance for any insight.
As far as your trip goes---I say go for it!! I try to do at 2000+ miler every summer, and you'll love it!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,280
Likes: 3
From: Portland Oregon
Kind of off the subject but not really if you're coming through oregon you should tkae the columbia gorge scenic route...either on the washington side or the oregon side excellent run...also do the crater lake run too if you are in that area
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 894
Likes: 3
From: Wyalusing, PA
I've got a Kuryakyn Ultra Tour Pack and have found it pretty easy to pack a week's worth of clothes and necessities in that, saving one saddlebag for rain gear and the other for tools and cold-weather gear.
I ust a quick detach backrest on my Road King but when I did my 4,000+ trip in '06 on my Heritage Springer I just strapped the tour bag down on the passenger pillion. It never shifted and made an excellent backrest!!!
I ust a quick detach backrest on my Road King but when I did my 4,000+ trip in '06 on my Heritage Springer I just strapped the tour bag down on the passenger pillion. It never shifted and made an excellent backrest!!!
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 894
Likes: 3
From: Wyalusing, PA
I've got a Kuryakyn Ultra Tour Pack and have found it pretty easy to pack a week's worth of clothes and necessities in that, saving one saddlebag for rain gear and the other for tools and cold-weather gear.
I ust a quick detach backrest on my Road King but when I did my 4,000+ trip in '06 on my Heritage Springer I just strapped the tour bag down on the passenger pillion. It never shifted and made an excellent backrest!!!
I ust a quick detach backrest on my Road King but when I did my 4,000+ trip in '06 on my Heritage Springer I just strapped the tour bag down on the passenger pillion. It never shifted and made an excellent backrest!!!
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: Lexington, SC
One other option is just put your clothes to wear when you get there in a box and ship them to the address. Then when you leave ship them back. that way you dn't have to carry them onthe bike all the way across country!
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Stage III
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Bungee cords worked ok for me, but I just bought a small spider-web style bungee that works nicely on the back of my sportster. I can throw a duffle bag and a helmet on the back and everything stays put, even with no sissy bar.
Banned
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 2
Check out the t bag site:
http://www.tbags.com/products.aspx?CategoryID=4
The bags come with clasp type attachments and size categories to the left of the site. With regards to moisture protection mine came with an elastic banded cover that fit firmly and snuggly over the bag
http://www.tbags.com/products.aspx?CategoryID=4
The bags come with clasp type attachments and size categories to the left of the site. With regards to moisture protection mine came with an elastic banded cover that fit firmly and snuggly over the bag