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that's a good looking setup there.

Maybe I'll see what I can do with the bonneville for a few more years...
like I said - preliminary research.

I voted GW, my grandfather has put several hundred thousand miles on several Goldwings. He now has an '04 GL1800, and still rides it on long trips, and around town. My Dad has an '05 GL1800 which has been his primary transportation since he decided to take his car apart in the garage back in Feb. He is sitting at about 18k miles on the factory tires, it is looking about time to change them out though.

Having ridden it myself, full of luggage, and two up, I can say that it handles like it is much smaller than it is. While the bike is very nearly 3x as heavy as my SV650S, I can make the same uturns even with a passenger and luggage. As for the centerstand, the bike IS heavy, make no mistake about that, but even my light 120lb self can put the GL1800 up on the centerstand. When the GL1800 is upright, it requires nothing to stay that way, it pretty much holds itself up. The greatest thing on the long haul is the gobs and gobs of torque. There is no need to downshift to pass an 18wheeler. Just roll on man, roll on. You'll be going faster than you thought was possible (or sane) before you know it, and the big rig will be a dot in the mirrors.

tex1230 wrote:that's a good looking setup there.

Maybe I'll see what I can do with the bonneville for a few more years...
like I said - preliminary research.

Thanks. I had the top case left over from my old FJ and when I negotiated the price on the FZ, I had them throw in the rack set up for the top and side cases. I ordered the side cases about a month or two ago and have used them more than the top case. With just the side cases on, it looks a little less bulky. I keep the top case for those days when I have to haul a lot... like last weekend.



I like the fact I can pop off the bags and the bike is returned to a more normal look... then it's off to have fun.

liablemtl wrote:I'm a big fan of buying a bike you like and then outfitting it for touring.

Similar tastes.....

I agree with both Liable and High_Side. Any bike can be a capable touring bike, if you set it up.

As an example, I just got back from a trip to Mexico on my bike, and I covered over 1600miles in the first 35hrs of my trip, with 1200 of that in the first 23hrs. took a more leisurely 4 days to make the return of over 1700 miles (took a little more scenic route).

Oh, here's the bike I did it on, as it looked when I left home.

High_Side wrote:

liablemtl wrote:I'm a big fan of buying a bike you like and then outfitting it for touring.

Similar tastes.....

Dig that Superhawk. I've always loved those things. The blue is nice... as is the blonde in the background (no offence intended).

liablemtl wrote:I'm a big fan of buying a bike you like and then outfitting it for touring.

I agree, and you get a more intimate knowledge of your bike, not to mention the satisfaction of doing it your self and customizing it the way you like. But buying a bike that was designed for long trips, saddlebags, extra weight, etc. is fun too. (like that goldwing) Plus it's safer i think.

well here's my coach horse.

Gadjet wrote:I agree with both Liable and High_Side. Any bike can be a capable touring bike, if you set it up.

As an example, I just got back from a trip to Mexico on my bike, and I covered over 1600miles in the first 35hrs of my trip, with 1200 of that in the first 23hrs. took a more leisurely 4 days to make the return of over 1700 miles (took a little more scenic route).

Oh, here's the bike I did it on, as it looked when I left home.

Absolutely amazing.

Heck, I toured on my 650 V-Star. It's amazing what you can pack into a milk crate.



Don't forget the Yamaha Royal Star Venture. It's a touring bike and is a bit less costly than the Goldwing.

I've done a couple of 670(+) mile days and many 500-600 miles days on my Sporty. This photo os my bike, and my brother-in-law's SV650 departing from KC to Arkansas and then to TN/NC to do the dragon. (My BIL rode 1300 miles more than I did, coming from Denver to KC just to start the trip.



I am looking to trade the Sporty in on a better long distance bike. Hard luggage, cruise control, electrically adjustable windshield are on my list (BMW RT).

I suffer great nausea from helmet buffeting shaking my glasses behind a windshield on the H-D. I tried deflectors, and Laminar Lip, all to no avail. So I had to get rid of the windshield. I ride with no protection from the cold or rain or tidal waves of water from on-coming 18-wheelers(My last road trip!).

If I could find a windshield that would work for me, I'd keep the current bike even if it is a tad light for 1,000 mile days on bad roads.