When travelling, I get a styrofoam cup and fill it with ice and water or gatorade, I will reuse the cup all day. It will keep it until the next gas stop. They keep it cold much better than plastic.

 

The best container I have found is the new Under Armor insulated stainless ones. They cost 25.00 and are worth EVERY penny. They will keep ice all day in Mississippi summer heat. Best test there is...As far as where to store it, I used to put it on top of my soft bags but I took them off...Not so sure what I will do on my next long ride. I have to have water to drink while riding...

 

longrides; I hope your not serious the HD cup holder mounted next to the cylinders is a working solution?... Like putting your insulated cup next to a furnace with the temp set to 200 degF. Funny!

 

Here's another drink holder to consider. Can be coffee-type (with travel mug) or for water bottles (with insert), you can both either or both: http://www.leadermotorcycle.com/CTGY/drink.html

 

Best one I found so far is this camelbak.
http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recre...ulated-5L.aspx

Did a 3500 mile 6 day ride last year and everytime we stopped for gas, filled it up with ice and water or gatorade. Everytime I stopped, it still had ice in it, even the trek from Utah to Las Vegas....Fit in my leather water bottle pouch on my bag guards.

 

We use the 16 oz SS ones by Thermos. They have a easy open push botton pop top. Keeps the water good and cold. Store it in the left lower compartment. Easy to get at and return.

 

In warm weather I carry a large highly insulated cooler on the passenger seat with plenty of water sport drinks to last us more then a day both of our cooling vests and neck cooling bandannas and it has easy pop up door for easy water access and wife has a insulated sport bottle on the glove door on her UC . She doesn't ride much in excessive heat but I'm unstoppable and I can handle heat better then her and in fair weather I carry small ice cooler with few drinks.I try not use all my supplies I have packed instead I always buy at every gas stop.

 

I use the Hog Trough. Some of the best money I've spent on my ultra. Comes with a BIG water bottle with an insulated cover, and a BIG insulated coffee mug that both fit perfect in the cup holder itself. Additionally it comes with a koozie that fits inside the cup holder so that you can hold a normal size soda/water bottle in there if your not using the one it comes with. Not to mention now I have two locking glove boxes for gear.

http://www.hogtrough.com/portfolio/standard-package/

 

Do what us dirtbike guys do. Get a camelbak and thread the drinking tube to near your mouth. Take a sip whenever you want.

I did this on a ride from NC to Big Bend, TX. Worked great.

http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recre...2012-Lobo.aspx

 

I installed a bicycle water bottle cage inside my left saddlebag and so I always have 30 oz of water, although I gotta stop to get to it. Cage also carries my big thermal coffee, but coffee is bad for hydration. I have 2-1 exhaust, so left bag not cooked by muffler. In big heat and/or long trips I carry an insulated Coleman drink thing in saddle :bag. It's good for nearly a gallon of ice water. My ride buddies love it (I will share).

Dehydration is very dangerous,and very easy to beat. In big heat on bikes, especially with exposed arms, we loose volumes of water. Drink like a fish. In my opinion, bikers ignore this issue.