| Just how much do you take along on a motorcycle | | | | weighed down by a lot of stuff. |
| tour? Some people travel with a toothbrush and a | | | | That responsiveness is also enhanced if the weight is |
| bar of soap. Others fill the saddle bags, the top case | | | | carried lower. Taking a top-heavy motorcycle through |
| and pull a small trailer behind their motorcycles. | | | | the twisties can be hard work. That's one of my |
| The vast majority of us are somewhere in the | | | | reasons for not liking top cases as much as I do |
| middle of those two extremes. I, personally, am not | | | | saddle bags. |
| a big fan of top cases. On the other hand, I do like a | | | | Tank bags allow you to have stuff close at hand |
| small to medium-sized tank bag and saddle bags. If it | | | | without having to park the bike and dig it out. I |
| doesn't fit there, it doesn't go with me. The one | | | | particularly like having a map of the area right there |
| exception might be a rolled up sleeping bag or a tent | | | | where I can stop, look at the map and take off |
| bungied to the luggage rack. | | | | again. While I have used a large tank bag, I prefer |
| How much do you take? How much stuff do you | | | | the small to medium ones. I feel restricted by the |
| absolutely have to have along to survive? It's always | | | | bigger ones. |
| a compromise. More comfort means more weight. | | | | Another cool feature of most tank bags is a shoulder |
| More weight affects the handling of the bike. Too | | | | strap that allows you to take it with you when you |
| much weight can affect your safety - not a good | | | | park the motorcycle. That's another reason for using |
| thing! | | | | a smaller tank bag! Along that same line, I have seen |
| One deciding point is, where are you staying? If | | | | a small soft bag that you mount on the luggage rack |
| you're going to hotels or motels, they have soap, | | | | instead of a hard top case. This bag also has a |
| washcloths and towels in the rooms. You don't need | | | | shoulder strap like the tank bags which means you |
| to carry any of that stuff. | | | | can conveniently take it with you. |
| If you're camping along the way, you'll have to carry | | | | The possibilities are endless and everything is a |
| everything you'll need. You can avoid hauling food | | | | compromise. Light vs. heavy, large vs. small, handling |
| with you by buying what you need each day. If you | | | | like a sports car vs. a bus. There is, unfortunately, no |
| want to do your own cooking, you'll need a stove | | | | equipment or riding style that has it all. You have to |
| and cooking utensils. You may want to look into | | | | pick and choose what pleases you most. |
| camping stuff designed for backpacking because it's | | | | At the same time, that's part of the fun, too. If you |
| small, light and packs well. | | | | stop at a restaurant or some other place where |
| If you enjoy more comfort with your camping, some | | | | there's a bunch of motorcycles parked in one area, |
| of the small trailers designed to be pulled behind a | | | | it's fun to look around to see what choices others |
| motorcycle fold out into a miniature camper you can | | | | have made. You will be amazed at the variety! |
| actually sleep in! It's amazing how much comfort you | | | | The coolest thing about that is if you happen to see |
| can create by selecting the right equipment. | | | | something you like. Most of the improvements we |
| Again, it really depends on how you like to travel. | | | | make come after we've seen someone else do it |
| Most of us thoroughly enjoy the scenic back roads | | | | that way. If I were to leave you one last piece of |
| with lots of interesting curves. The interstate | | | | advice, it would be: don't postpone that first |
| highways just aren't as much fun. If that's your style | | | | motorcycle tour until you think everything's perfect! |
| of motorcycle travel, lighter is better. The bike | | | | Just go, and have a blast! |
| handles better and is more responsive when it's not | | | | |