DO you tour?
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,321
Likes: 12
From: Shorewood IL
All of the above, for sure. I'm on the bike as much as possible. I use it to commute, 100 mile round trip to the city, better gas milage than my SUV and can park it for free most times. My to do list suffers because if the weekend is nice, I'm on the bike solo or with buds and the wife likes to take evening rides to local watering holes as well. Also do two week tours once a year to see this great country. Best way to road trip IMHO!
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 941
Likes: 9
From: Denver, CO
Love touring. I love road trips in general...car or bike (but prefer them on the bike) and is a major reason why I bought the SG. I usually get in a couple 3-5 day trips a year as well as one 10+ day trip (no kids yet, hallelujah). Also routinely do 200-500 mile day trips alone or with riding buddies.
I work from home so not so much a commuting bike though when the weather is nice and I have to run errands in the middle of a wrok day I will usually take the bike.
I work from home so not so much a commuting bike though when the weather is nice and I have to run errands in the middle of a wrok day I will usually take the bike.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Infinite Rider on The Big Dogma
I am currently between bikes, so I guess technically I DON'T tour...at the moment.
However, I am also one who had a bike (long) before my first car. My first bike was a 1970 Yamaha 350-R5 (The R5 being what eventually grew into the RD series several years later). Tiny frame, two-stroke motor, no electric start...just a kicker). That bike not only took me to, through, and beyond university, but was my sole mode of transportation for quite awhile thereafter...regardless of season. And in central and northern Ohio, there are SEASONS (that's 'seasons' with a capital 'Oh Christ it's cold out here').
It also took me through New England and into Nova Scotia. It took me to Colorado. It even took me to the Gulf Coast once.
After all of that, when I did get a larger bike....touring didn't seem like quite the adventure that it had previously been. But, that doesn't mean I stopped. It was merely the end of one chapter and the start of another.
Some times I miss that bike. Some times I miss my old apartment where I had to sleep on the floor because I couldn't afford a bed. Sometimes I miss bashing my thumb with a hammer when I am building something.
What can I say....sometimes I am just bit maso!
.....sT
However, I am also one who had a bike (long) before my first car. My first bike was a 1970 Yamaha 350-R5 (The R5 being what eventually grew into the RD series several years later). Tiny frame, two-stroke motor, no electric start...just a kicker). That bike not only took me to, through, and beyond university, but was my sole mode of transportation for quite awhile thereafter...regardless of season. And in central and northern Ohio, there are SEASONS (that's 'seasons' with a capital 'Oh Christ it's cold out here').
It also took me through New England and into Nova Scotia. It took me to Colorado. It even took me to the Gulf Coast once.
After all of that, when I did get a larger bike....touring didn't seem like quite the adventure that it had previously been. But, that doesn't mean I stopped. It was merely the end of one chapter and the start of another.
Some times I miss that bike. Some times I miss my old apartment where I had to sleep on the floor because I couldn't afford a bed. Sometimes I miss bashing my thumb with a hammer when I am building something.
What can I say....sometimes I am just bit maso!
.....sT
Novice
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Texas
put me in the "all above" category as well, my wife and i do 3 big trips a year, numerous weekend getaways, and i use my ultra as a daily commuter, gearing up for a trip to New Mexico in 2 weeks, absolutely love this bike!
Senior Rider
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 251
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver Canada
Tour
I toured Europe and Israel on a 750 Norton Commando Fastback - married a gal I met in Rome once I found her again in Israel.
Toured a little of South Africa on a self-rebuilt ex-police Yamaha 650 twin ("Do you fall down a lot?" "Not usually, why?" "The bike had lots of practice....").
Now back home in Canada, and with little ones (foster & adopted) still in the house, not as much as I'd like, but hopefully this year, round about way to and from Cali to see some of the grandkids.
Toured a little of South Africa on a self-rebuilt ex-police Yamaha 650 twin ("Do you fall down a lot?" "Not usually, why?" "The bike had lots of practice....").
Now back home in Canada, and with little ones (foster & adopted) still in the house, not as much as I'd like, but hopefully this year, round about way to and from Cali to see some of the grandkids.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 492
Likes: 20
From: The Town of Saint Joseph of Guadalupe
I commute daily with my 2013 SG, lane splitting and all (I'm in CA, so lane splitting is not illegal).
I can't afford the time to do overnight rides due to family commitments, so each weekend I pick one day (usually Sat.) doing an 8 to 9 hour ride (typically with a 30-minute lunch+gas+bathroom break and two other in-and-out gas stops; I pack my own lunch and snacks in a soft cooler). I prefer routes with lots and lots of twisties, and I always prefer riding by myself over riding in a group. I rack up the miles and my joy on backroads, because highways just bore the hell out of me (Hwy. 101, 280, 85, 680, 87, 237, 80, 5, 99, etc., etc. all suck, even Hwy 1 sucks unless I go south of Lucia or north of Stinson Beach, becasue there are just too many tourons in cars rubbernecking).
I can't afford the time to do overnight rides due to family commitments, so each weekend I pick one day (usually Sat.) doing an 8 to 9 hour ride (typically with a 30-minute lunch+gas+bathroom break and two other in-and-out gas stops; I pack my own lunch and snacks in a soft cooler). I prefer routes with lots and lots of twisties, and I always prefer riding by myself over riding in a group. I rack up the miles and my joy on backroads, because highways just bore the hell out of me (Hwy. 101, 280, 85, 680, 87, 237, 80, 5, 99, etc., etc. all suck, even Hwy 1 sucks unless I go south of Lucia or north of Stinson Beach, becasue there are just too many tourons in cars rubbernecking).
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 863
Likes: 2
From: spain and uk
I've toured on a variety of machines from an old Z250 Kawasaki to the bikes I have now. I think you can tour on anything, but it sure is a lot nicer with a big engine and a big fairing, oh and some tunes.
Just waiting for the weather to warm up a little more for some serious miles on the RK. That screen sure does feel small after the fairing on the Kawasaki.
Mind you, having said all that, I did Spain and France top to bottom 3 times on my 103 Fatboy with no screen and that was great. Confused now..........
Just waiting for the weather to warm up a little more for some serious miles on the RK. That screen sure does feel small after the fairing on the Kawasaki.
Mind you, having said all that, I did Spain and France top to bottom 3 times on my 103 Fatboy with no screen and that was great. Confused now..........