Touring
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,289
Likes: 3
From: Rowlett, Texas
RE: Touring
My 883c I rode to Austin and back. The worst conditions possible.437 miles. My last run was 760 miles round trip to Arkansas with riding around while I was there. It did fine. I'm happy. Wouldn't ride cross country until I get a new seat.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 4
From: Payson, AZ
RE: Touring
I did a 1600 mile road trip in 10 days last September. With my 4.5 gal tank and 50 mpg I could get 200 miles out of a tank of gas, but I like to make a fuel stop about every 100 miles just to get off my *** and stretch for a minute. I found that for me 300 miles a day is quite doable. Any more than that gets painful. Keep in mind that I have a stock seat and no windshield. Getting a more comfortable seat and a windshield would make a big difference but I want to keep my Sportster sporty looking! That's why I bought a Sportster! Anyway, my point is that even a stock Sportster can do road trips, so go for it!
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Touring
I made a 700 mile weekend trip with a friend a couple of weeks ago (he was on a ultra). No problem - I have a sundowner seat and windshield, and highway pegs - all three are a big help! If you want to go two up, then you should consider a bigger ride for longer trips, but my sportster, with these add ons, did pretty well.
If you will be doing alot of highway riding, the sportster can handle it, but you would be more comfortable on a touring bike. If you will be hitting the twisties and traveling on a lot of local rodes, the sportster will be more fun.
(I am thinking of buying a road king or heritage classic for the longer trips so I can have the flexibility of riding two up - but will keep the sportster in any event for local riding and solo trips that don't focus on the highways).
If you will be doing alot of highway riding, the sportster can handle it, but you would be more comfortable on a touring bike. If you will be hitting the twisties and traveling on a lot of local rodes, the sportster will be more fun.
(I am thinking of buying a road king or heritage classic for the longer trips so I can have the flexibility of riding two up - but will keep the sportster in any event for local riding and solo trips that don't focus on the highways).
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 891
Likes: 1
RE: Touring
I also did an extended weekend run recently (about 900 miles). I've got a Mustang seat, but other than that I went with no windshield or highway pegs. The biggest problem I had was numb throttle hand, but other than that I actually came out of the trip with less complaints than my friend that is 10 years younger and riding a BMW touring bike. 
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
RE: Touring
Any Harley will handle long distance touring just fine, with the limiting factor determined on how much comfort the rider requires.
As you will see in most posts, it's not the bike that complains, it's the rider, with suggestions about different seats, windshields, pegs, etc., etc...
I use to travel around the country on a rigid frame chopped '49 Panhead, no front brake and no rear suspension. As you can imagine, it was very rough riding, but the bike itself was perfectly happy traveling from coast to coast.
People travel to the Artic Circle, down to South America and everywhere else on what I would consider very uncomfortable dual sport Kawasaki KLR 650's. I rode one for a few weeks, and about 100 miles was about all I could handle.
A Sportster rides like a luxury car compared to the KLR 650's, yet those guys ride them hundreds of miles a day without complaining....
But, like I mentioned, rider comfort (and not the bike) is the only factor you need to consider.
And as we all know, "required rider comfort" will vary from individual to individual...
As you will see in most posts, it's not the bike that complains, it's the rider, with suggestions about different seats, windshields, pegs, etc., etc...
I use to travel around the country on a rigid frame chopped '49 Panhead, no front brake and no rear suspension. As you can imagine, it was very rough riding, but the bike itself was perfectly happy traveling from coast to coast.
People travel to the Artic Circle, down to South America and everywhere else on what I would consider very uncomfortable dual sport Kawasaki KLR 650's. I rode one for a few weeks, and about 100 miles was about all I could handle.
A Sportster rides like a luxury car compared to the KLR 650's, yet those guys ride them hundreds of miles a day without complaining....
But, like I mentioned, rider comfort (and not the bike) is the only factor you need to consider.
And as we all know, "required rider comfort" will vary from individual to individual...
Banned
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,813
Likes: 4
RE: Touring
When I had my Sporty I put tons of miles on it..like 300 miles a ride on the weekends. Never had a problem except for when I would get on the interstate. That's why I havea Street Glide now - for more long distance travel since I want to take trips to Fl. and out west. Aside from that i would take my XL1200 anywhere and it never let down.
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