ROAD TRIP! (new luggage)

[krid80]

So my wife and I are leaving this afternoon for a 800+ mile road trip. We are leaving from Festus, MO and making our way to Chicago, IL while trying to find as much of Route 66 as is left along the way. We will likely be stopping around either Bloomington or Springfield depending on how much sight seeing we do between here and there. After Staying Saturday night in Chicago, we are heading to Iowa to ride 61 back home through the flooded areas. We will likely spend Sunday night somewhere along the Missouri/Iowa border and finish our trip on Monday. If anyone here has any good places to stay in Bloomington, IL, Springfield, IL or somewhere near Keokuk, IA or thereabouts, please PLEASE let me know.

Wish us luck! This is our first long trip pillion up from our 300 mile trip Memorial Day.

Got some new bags for the trip: Nelson Rigg CL-900 Mini Saddlebags.

Here's pics:

[bikerider]

Sounds like a fun trip. Ride safe

[grommit]

Good luck.

Bring us back some pictures.

[reiobard]

nice bike, sounds like a good time and a good luggage setup.

Keep the pics coming!!!

[Scott]

Next time go the other way on Route 66

[Davop]

Nice bags! Are you riding 2 up or on seperate bikes? Good luck and riding on your trip.

[reiobard]

Originally Posted by Davop

Nice bags! Are you riding 2 up or on seperate bikes? Good luck and riding on your trip.

good point, be sure to let us know how the bags work 2-up!!!

it is a frequent question here, but never really answered...

[bmccrary]

If you take the two straps for the saddle bags and run them between the grab rails you can move the bags towards the back of the bike more. The passanger pegs will be easily accesable. My girlfriend didnt mind the bags at all on my bike when we rode to Fla. and back.

Also when you start runing straps under the seat it might be tough to get the seat to latch and unlatch easily. I took the bracket the the latch catches and made the opening larger by grinding on the bottom side of the hole. With those straps it was making it difficult to get the latch to release. I was starting to bend the key and I did not want to break it off on the trip.

Just something to keep in mind.

-bryan

[krid80]

An update from the road.

We have been to Chicago after quite a nice scenic route 66 ride and this evening finds us just south of Davenport, IA. So far we are at around 550 or so miles total. I gotta say, Woof, the bugs are as bad as you insinuated. I cleaned my visor thoroughly when we left my buddy's house in Naperville and here, almost 200 miles later, I can hardly see through it. Today was a short day due to time spent with my college buddy, Jarod and the late start that followed. We weaved our way through backroads and state highways across Illinois until my wife decided she wanted me to put the hammer down a bit so we hopped on I-80. I was running 65-70 generally on the backroads but her tushie is not loving my seat. Tomorrow I am gonna use my cargo net to hold an additional cushion to the rear seat so maybe that will help her.
Tomorrow we will head back to Festus but likely use all day making the trip. We may stop off and see lover's leap swinging bridge, but who knows.
Gotta go, my Jacuzzi tub beacons.

Dirk

[steveindenmark]

Sounds like good fun.

I am riding from Denmark to Normandy in France next month 2 up. Its about 830 miles. We will then tour Normandy for a week and ride back.

I have put on a pic of our setup.

The topbox is great because she can lean back against it. I have just fitted passenger extention pegs which extends the pegs a couple of inches down but further away from the boxes. I will let you all know her opinion after France. They are not in the picture.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the trip and post some pics.

Steve