Long trip accessories?

[scott7024]

This summer I plan on taking a long trip from lower Michigan across the ferry over to Wisconsin then up to Michigan Upper Peninsula and back down again on my 03 r1150r. I currently have the BWM touring windshield and side bags. Im 6'3 and wondering if anyone has had any luck with a taller windshield, preferably using the same mount? Also Im in need of a good tail and tank bag any suggestions? This will be my first long trip on the bike any thing else I should look at while Im bored and there is 5 inches of snow on the ground?

thanks
Scott

[pebmr]

I have an 04 with the touring windshield, but I'm a few inches shorter I did add the factory R tankbag last year and am very happy with that. It is big enough and fits the bike well. Can't comment on tail bags, I have the JC Whitney top case which also works well for me. Good luck and have a nice trip!

[tlwood28]

The largest windscreen appears to be from Aeroflow (http://aeroflowscreens.com/R1150R.htm). I think Cee Bailey also makes screens that are larger than BMW's touring screen but use the same hardware. I am 5' 10" and the touring screen is ok thanks to ear plugs.

For bags, in addition to the system cases, I also have a medium motofizz bag. It holds all my camping gear, and the side bags hold everything else. This one bag will add huge amounts of storage space. Aerostich have the large Motofizz bags on sale right now.

another thing I will try for my next long trip will be a "crampbuster" which gives you some relief from twisting the trottle all the time (you use your wrist to press down on the device instead).

Finally, I use a Bags Connection "Engage" bag that I am pretty happy with. I am in the process of adding a GPS and a map case to the bag. With that, I think I will be pretty set for my long rides.

Hope this helps.

Tom W.

[AirForceDirt]

I'm 6'2.5" and have better luck with the shorter sportster shield, but to each their own.

The duration of your trip and where you plan on sleeping at night will affect how much you actually need to carry.

When I took my month-long camping/hoteling roadtrip to the Pac-wet, I just had the bmw hardbags with 2 bungie buddies on each one. I bungied my tent, sleeping bag and therma-rest across the luggage rack and strapped a back-pack to the passenger seat. I ended up carrying far more than I ever needed (except dry underwear and socks. can never have enough dry underwear and socks).

You might find that a water-proofed duffle bungied across the passenger seat will give you much more flexibility with packing than any tail-case will. But that's my never to be humble opinion.

[Sunbeemer]

Since everybody travels differently and everbody's travel's needs are different, not all shared tips will work on your trip, but I think some things are generally good to have, including:
->Water to drink (carried in a hip flask, bota bag, or camel back depending on solar insolation and your isolation).
->A Tire Repair Kit with a means of inflating tires (CO2 cartridges, mountain-bike pump, small air compressor)
->Spares (bulbs, fuses, spark plugs, etc.)
->Tools (inc. tape)
->Flashlight (or hands-free headlamps)
->Extra Oil
->First Aid Kit
->A small spray bottle of lens cleaner (for glasses) and a clean, soft cloth in a Zip-lock bag to clean a visor.

Here are some links to information you might find useful:
A quick primer on motorcycle touring: http://motorcycles.about.com/od/touring ... gTrips.htm
A good list of trip tips for long distance (Iron Butt) riders: http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/aowprintout.cfm
Some checklists for motorcycle touring, camping: http://micapeak.com/checklists/

Sounds like a great trip.
Here's my tip: keep a weather eye!

[Airman]

This summer I plan on taking a long trip from lower Michigan across the ferry over to Wisconsin then up to Michigan Upper Peninsula and back down again on my 03 r1150r. I currently have the BWM touring windshield and side bags. Im 6'3 and wondering if anyone has had any luck with a taller windshield, preferably using the same mount? Also Im in need of a good tail and tank bag any suggestions? This will be my first long trip on the bike any thing else I should look at while Im bored and there is 5 inches of snow on the ground?

thanks
Scott

Scott,

I am 5'10 and was looking for some better protection and less buffeting than the touring shield gave me. I had previously tried the BMW touring shield, the sport screen, (more power to those who love the sport shield, but it beats me up after about 30 minutes) I bought the Cee Bailys 21.5 touring shield with the "euro" cut. I also bought the full dark tint just because I thought it looked cool. The CB shield is 3" taller than the BMW touring shield. It's a little wider. If you already had the BMW touring shield I'm not sure I would advise you to spend an additional $220 on the CB shield. Sure, there's a little less buffeting, a little more protection, but it's not dramatic at my height. Finding a windshield that works well for you is an expensive gamble and the BMW shield is actually pretty good.

GypsyRR used to tour with a First Gear tail bag that I thought looked real useful. My tail bag it a 15 ltr Marsee that slides on the rack behind my Pirate''s backrest. I have a Marsee teardrop tankbag that worls well, but I have to go with the herd on this, that gas cap ring mounted bag that KneeDragger sells looks like the way to go.

Other stuff? I got a Gerbings heated jacket liner for Christmas and decided I'd never leave home without it. If you got up in the mountains on some cold night....it'd save your life. The thing is really good.

[bikermeow]

In addition to the tool kit, I'll bring a batt charger and mini-compressor, with a BMW plug. A Length of fuel hose is always handy too.

Cheers

[Boxer]

[The Velvet Monkey]

Scott, I've always been amazed on my long trips at the diversity of the natural elements that I end up experiencing, even in Summer.

On one trip in late May, early June, I experienced 90 to 36 degree weather. And it seems that I never avoid rain. I took a trip from Southern Florida to the South Carolina coast and back a few months ago, thinking that I'd have hot weather all the way, and ended up freezing my butt off on the return trip. Looking back it was a dangerous situation.

Since then, I've upgraded the rain and warm weather aspects of my kit lately with some quality items and they've really made a huge difference in my comfort. I took a long ride yesterday--which was in the low 40s--and was perfectly comfortable.

So my advice is to make sure your kit is top-notch and ready for a variety of weather eventualities (it will rain!!), drink lots of water on the road, and take your time--my best trip are always the ones in which I'm traveling less daily miles rather than more.

BTW, I have a 24 inch windscreen that I really love to use. I'm 6'4" and it's a little overkill. I swear I could light candles on the gas tank while in motion. I enjoy taking trips without it to, particularly if it's hot, although without it there are days were my neck will feel it.

Good luck--I wish I was joining you.

[Sunbeemer]

The Velvet Monkey wrote:

...ended up freezing my butt off on the return trip. Looking back it was a dangerous situation.

Been there...so I bought an electric vest and won't leave home without it!
Wore it under fleece and a riding jacket 3 hours yesterday in the same (cool) temps and enjoyed the ride!

[jacksgp]

I don't know about you but I absolutely, positively MUST have a fresh cup of coffee in the A.M. When camping I always pack my "jetboil" which is a self-contained cup/stove unit which will boil water or soup in about a minute. Works for me!

[jfbarron]

Hi Scott,

All of the above are great suggestions. I would add one more though...

Once you get off the ferry on the Milwaukee side do yourself a real favour and check out the Harley Davidson Museum. It's like 20 bucks to get in with the audio tour and totally worth while.

There is also a great new art museum on the shore which looks like a great big seagull and is quite the place.

You may find Milwaukee to be the highlight of the trip!

[mcollect]

I ride with a Parabellum scout on my R1150R and couldn't be happier. I allows three different heights and changing takes minutes. I also have the standard side bags with bungee buddies to which I strap a Seattle sports dry bag. I have used these for seakayaking for years and they are not expensive and last for ever even after being crammed into hatches. I use a Big Mac tank bag and couldn't be happier. I keep my Anonymous book in there! Don't go with the CO2 inflators I have tried many of those out and I find a cheap compressor much better at filling tires. For instance sometimes I let air out to go through gnarly stuff and let out a bunch of air, then just re-inflate to street pressure.

[TicTac50]

If I have to choose a windscreen today, I would go with an aeroflow and the tank wings. I am 6’0 and it worked fine for me for the last 6 years. Since you already have the side cases, then the top case would be a nice addition for this trip. The cheap once on the market are JCWhintey or Bestem Top cases for about 70 bucks.I would not spend top dollar on the BMW tank bag. Any Cortech 7 to 12 litters will do fine on the road. Any waterproof duffel bag 30-32 inches or so, will go across the back seat. With the tent and the sleeping bag, and a simple twin size air mattress inside, will give you a nice backrest. I don’t remove Slime compressor or “Stop and Go” pocket tire plugger from my bike, ever. Also take a small chair, like from Target and put it in the duffel bag too. If you have to wait for a tow (hope you won’t) for a couple of hours, it will come in handy.
Good Luck.

[snelson200]

tt

[Airman]

I don’t remove Slime compressor or “Stop and Go” pocket tire plugger from my bike, ever. Also take a small chair, like from Target and put it in the duffel bag too. If you have to wait for a tow (hope you won’t) for a couple of hours, it will come in handy.
Good Luck.

This might be a good place to talk about roadside assistance, but first a word about Stop and Go. I liked the tire plug idea and also bought the kit. I found myself having to defend it from other bikers who had a bad experience or two with those plugs, and we're talking long dstance BMW touring types. They had multiple failures with the plugs, one barely getting out of sight of the place where the first repair was made. It has shaken my confidence in the plug kit.

Roadside assistance: I never used the BMW plan when the bike was new, infact I have never been stranded. In planning the MOA trip though, I decided it might be a good idea to buy some, so I added coverage to my GMAC plan. I'd like to know what the rest of you use, and whether you've ever had to get a tow.

[Sunbeemer]

As noted in earlier posts, I also have had trouble with the Stop'nGo Tire Plugger (shameless plug -> mine is for sale in the classifieds if you want to try it!), and have gotten a string type patch kit from JC Whitney made by Tech Tire, which I have much more confidence in (I saw a salesman punch a hole in the sidewall of his truck tire (carrying 85psi) and seal it in an instant with one of these things, and he did this regularly as he had 40-50 of the strings sicking out of the side of the tire!), so I hope it will work better.

As for roadside assistance, My progressive Insurance motorcycle policy provides 24/7 nationwide towing to the nearest motorcycle repair facility capable of handling the repair for $10/ year when paid with the premium...and this is to be provided by a motorcycle towing company...much better than having a car carrier try to load your bike up a ramp. Fortunately I have not had to try this out yet, so can't attest to how it actually works, but it does provide a warm and fuzzy feeling on the road.

[TicTac50]

About BMW road side assistance, it is actually “Cross Country” company. I got my bike in 2001 and had the first 3 years free. I used it only one time during first 3 years, just to tow the bike to a local dealer for the QD fuel leak. After 3 years I received a renewal policy from BMW for 35 dollars a year. I just gave them my credit card and signed up for an automatic renewal. About a few years later I got stock in SC and spent a total of 6 hours waiting on the side of the road. But I did not complain and was happy to be back on the road 2 days later. Every year they charged my credit card 35 bucks and it gave me some security. Last November I received a new card and renewal policy. As always, I just put the card in my wallet and never thought about it until I started to prepare for a trip to the Winter Rally, North Florida. I realized that I switched the bikes, same model, from 2002 to 2004 and needed to change the VIN number on the card. So, I called BMW road side assistance in order to do the change. To my surprise, I was told that they can not change the VIN number on the policy and they are not writing any new policies for BMW bikes. So, I was out of luck and only was able to receive a refund. I have 3 bikes but I was paying only for the one that I purchased new. So, I called GEICO and got roadside assistance for all of my 3 bikes for the same price that I paid for one bike. The towing distance is only 75 miles Vs 100 miles, but they do pay for the firs hour of labor.
Now about “Stop and Go”: I used it 5 or 6 times for myself and the rest of the plugs went to help guys on the road and I never had any problems. I don’t know how many plugs come in the kit, but I have only 4 plugs left. Just last weekend at the Rally I got a nail in my rear tire. In 15 minutes I was back on the road and made it home safely riding 400 miles on the plugged rear tire, fully loaded. Last summer I rode from NJ to FL, two up on the plugged tire. If I have to choose between the BMW kit and “Stop and Go” kit, I will take “Stop and Go”, no questions asked. When the plug is put in correctly, you can go with that tire for a long time. I know it is not recommended, but for the last 8 years I only bought ONE tire from the BMW dealer in SC, because at that time I didn’t know any better.
So, when I get a flat, I plug it and I ride my bikes home to avoid buying the new tires at the Rallies or on the road. I buy all of my tires over the web and I do not need a BMW dealer to install them. I know that all of the above information is very controversial, but I am a controversial guy and like to do it
“My Way”
Good Luck.

[Mollygrubber]

I purchased a BMW specific tool roll from Cruz-Tools which I find pretty good, not entirely complete but worth a look...

They even include a roll of mechanics wire, and a little tube of thread locker.

Haven't needed it yet, but better safe than sorry.

[Dr. Strangelove]

two different credit cards, just in case