2 Week Touring Trip- 2 up

[drew231506]

Hello all,

I'm preparing for a two week touring trip, two up on the west coast. I wanted to know from those who have done it, how you packed? What kind of tail bag, clothing situation, cargo weight issues, etc.? I have been looking at the recent tailbag threads and they dont seem large enough for two people's clothes...I have a huge duffel bag ive used on camping trips but I would like something waterproof and made more for a bike. I remember reading Rider Magazine when they had their camping report and they all had these red rubbery looking duffel bags that looked pretty decent for lugging a lot of gear, what do you think? Also any general comments about preparing for the trip would be helpful!

Thanks!

 

[James]

A question first- are you camping or moteling it? It's pretty easy if you're using a motel at night. And if camping are you cooking yourselves or hitting the restaurants for food? If camping & cooking space gets pretty tight. I would plan on hitting a laundromat every 3-4 days to save space on clothes if you've got sleeping bags, a tent & stove (if not using a campfire).

James

 

[warsw]

Hello all,
I'm preparing for a two week touring trip, two up on the west coast. I wanted to know from those who have done it, how you packed? What kind of tail bag, clothing situation, cargo weight issues, etc.? I have been looking at the recent tailbag threads and they dont seem large enough for two people's clothes...I have a huge duffel bag ive used on camping trips but I would like something waterproof and made more for a bike. I remember reading Rider Magazine when they had their camping report and they all had these red rubbery looking duffel bags that looked pretty decent for lugging a lot of gear, what do you think? Also any general comments about preparing for the trip would be helpful!

Thanks!

For two-up touring I use a Kuryakyn Grandtour bag strapped to a garauld rack. We put my wife’s clothes in one saddlebag and mine in the other. We use the Grandtour for all the other stuff (shoes, slippers, heated gear, wife’s make-up stuff, etc.) I have a tank bag for all the riding stuff (ex gloves, wallet, flashlight, maps, etc) I keep my tools, tire repair kit and air compressor under the seat.

We always plan on doing laundry about every three or four days. We carry juice, water and coffee on the bike but we buy food as we go. We always stay at motels or friends as we go. We don't try to camp out when traveling two-up, too much to try to carry. When we are traveling two-up we stop more often, got to keep the wife happy, so we don't plan too many long mileage days.

I know I have left out a bunch but I hope there is some help in there somewhere.

 

[skyway]

Here's what I use for myself, or 2-up. Their called Mesh Cubes and their made by Eagle Creek and come in various sizes. Whats really neat about this design is that there's 2 compartments in each cube. One that's mesh for clean clothes and the other side is sealed for dirty laundry. Pack all your clean clothes in the mesh side before you leave, then there's always enough room for all your clothing, clean or dirty.

Also helps big-time in keeping your side bags and top box completely organised for your entire trip. Get different colors for you and your loverly, so you can spot your stuff in a jiffy on the bike or in your room!!

I have 1 large size for clothing and 1 smaller for socks etc. I also have one of their sealed shoe bags and bathroom bag so nothing gets contaminated. Use this setup and everything you need for 2 weeks will fit including all necessary riding gear. Pack a little Woolite for in room washing and a Lewis N. Clark travel clothes line and your good for 6 months.

This system forces you to pack according to available space.

www.eaglecreek.com/accessories/packing_cubes

www.eaglecreek.com/accessories/accessories_packing_solutions/Pack-It--Shoe-Sac-Sac

www.eaglecreek.com/accessories/packing_toiletry_kits/Pack-It-Koala

Good prices here: www.ebags.com

Their also available at www.rei.com if you want to swing by the store for a test drive.

 

[drew231506]

warsw and skyway,

thats exactly the info i was looking for. we cant do the camping thing for the reasons you said...its just too much cargo. so that Grantour bag, would you happen to have a picture of it on your fjr? I have garys rack as well, just curious to see the size on the back of a feejer.

those packing cubes sound like a great idea too...which size do you use or would you recommend? theres a bunch, but it makes sense for the clean and dirty clothes.

 

[Fairlaner]

warsw and skyway,
thats exactly the info i was looking for. we cant do the camping thing for the reasons you said...its just too much cargo. so that Grantour bag, would you happen to have a picture of it on your fjr? I have garys rack as well, just curious to see the size on the back of a feejer.

those packing cubes sound like a great idea too...which size do you use or would you recommend? theres a bunch, but it makes sense for the clean and dirty clothes.

I was have the same problem this morning.

this is what i came up with. this was packing for one though.

Richard

 

[skyway]

those packing cubes sound like a great idea too...which size do you use or would you recommend? theres a bunch, but it makes sense for the clean and dirty clothes.

1 pack-it cube (14x10x3) and 1 pack-it half cube (10x7x3), 1 pack-it Koala for toiletries and 1 pack-it shoe sac sac

If you have the room, you might also consider the pack-it folder storage system. Wifey will especially like this, as it will keep at least 1 nice out to dinner etc outfit uncreased and tip-top.

 

[S76]

We did ok with just the side bags, the Yamaha top trunk, and a tank bag. The tank bag had our rain gear, maps, and misc. stuff. The top trunk had riding gear not worn like warmer gloves, jacket linners not being worn, sweatshirts, camera, and sneakers etc. I get a side bag and she gets a side bag.

You can get alot in a side bag if you pack it good. 1 - jeans, shorts. 4 - shirts, socks, underware. 1 small toiletries bag and still have room left over for sunscreen, bug juice etc.

Every 4 or 5 days find a hotel with a laundry or do some in your room sink and hang over the air conditioner. The best part of this set up is there is no room for buying souveneirs. Well, at least that worked for a while until she learned to say "Ship it please." Because that gets expensive, I then made the mistake of saying "I don't care, as long as you can fit it in the back" Well, when we got home and I took that trunk off it almost dislocated my arm trying to keep it from hitting the ground! She managed to bring home from Maine, a pint of beach glass, a half gallon of smooth rocks, ocean sticks and shells, blueberry beer, blueberry jam, blueberry candles and more.

No wonder everybody kept flashing their lights at me. I was probably blinding them.

 

[weekend rider]

Drew : here are a couple of tips that I use, I travel 1up.

This is mostly for us. Save all your old socks. tee shirts. underwear even jeans that you can Throw away, on your first few days or until you run out of old clothes, do the following: when you stop at a motel for the night just throw away the clothes that I mentioned. Do this until all are thrown away that you had planned to get rid of and your bag becomes less full.

When all the clothes are thrown away that you chose to throw now it is time to use and wash in your room each night the clothes you plan on keeping. I have certain clothes that I ride long distance with for traveling. I buy tee shirts socks underwear that are performance wear that are made for this type of activity. they are made of lycra. nylon are two of the materials they are madew to wick away the moisture and dry real fast when washed in your room . saves a lot of room when you do this. weekend rider

 

[nusman68]

All good information, for sure. As a reminder though, whatever you decide, don't be this guy: :dribble:

Yeah, I posted this months ago...still cracks me up.....

 

[weekend rider]

He is going to the beach he is only half dressed :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

weekend rider

 

[skyway]

I was have the same problem this morning.this is what i came up with. this was packing for one though.

Richard

So that's how you plan to bring my beer to me. Where you putting your stuff, chase car?

The photo of the Vmax guy is so wrong in so many ways!?! I wouldn't be caught dead in them shoes. :huh: There's too much crap on that bike for an RV for crying out loud. :dribble: Homeless biker maybe?

 

[bikerskier]

In the early 70's I had the good sense (???) to purchase a new 73 H2 Kawasaki 750 triple (much like the photo below but with different cans, a small windscreen and a sissy bar for the lady. It scared the bejeesus out of me for weeks until I finally figured it out and then I really had some fun with its scary handling and insane acceleration. The really good part is that my wife and I spent 3 weeks in 2 successive summers on camping / touring trips from Alberta down the west coast to the Bay area and back with this bike. We had a set of canvas saddle backs that hung over the rear half of the seat and a medium sized climbing backpack stapped on behind the sissy bar. It took a bit of load juggling the first day to keep the front whell on the ground but I eventually figured out some semblance of load balance. We had 2 sets of clothes, rain gear, backpacking style camping gear (tent, bags, matts, etc) cooking gear and not much else. Bought food and drink as we needed it and every couple days we had breakfast in a restaurant. We stayed in a motel every 5 or 6 days to luxuriate in style otherwise we camped in State campgrounds all up and down the CA, OR, WA coast and thru BC. We had an incredible time. When I think of the comfort we now need, it requires every bit of space in the FJR hard bags, tank bag and small tail bag and WE STAY IN MOTELS! What has happened to us? After 3 years on the H2, I traded it for a 1975 Kawasaki 900 Z1 which was like switching to a Mercedes sedan.

I wish I had kept the H2 for nostalgia reasons.

 

[TruWrecks]

Damn that V-Max pic is scary. Funny at the same time.

:lol:

 

[TheAxeman]

This LINK might be of help also.

 

[okmac]

You might want to consider , if you haven't already, purchasing a pair of Microfiber pants to wear instead of Jeans. They pack smaller , wash out and dry overnight and weigh almost nothing. I have a pair of Supplex twill pants ,with zipper legs to make them into shorts ,that I got from Rider Wear House that I love. When I stop for the evening I take off my riding pants and wear them , they are really confortable.

Mac

 

[warsw]

warsw and skyway,thats exactly the info i was looking for. we cant do the camping thing for the reasons you said...its just too much cargo. so that Grantour bag, would you happen to have a picture of it on your fjr? I have garys rack as well, just curious to see the size on the back of a feejer.

Here are a few pics. I tried to get pictures that would show how the bag fits Gary's rack. I hope they help.

 

[luvtoride]

My advice: All of the good packing in the world isn't going to do you much good if you lose your only set of keys. Be sure to pack an extra set where you can get to them in an emergency.

 

[drew231506]

warsw and skyway,thats exactly the info i was looking for. we cant do the camping thing for the reasons you said...its just too much cargo. so that Grantour bag, would you happen to have a picture of it on your fjr? I have garys rack as well, just curious to see the size on the back of a feejer.

Here are a few pics. I tried to get pictures that would show how the bag fits Gary's rack. I hope they help.

The bag looks good on the rack, fits it nicely. Thanks for the pics! How come your cans are covered? Dust or??

-Drew