Motorcycle Touring January 07, 2012, 01:35:01 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127695Thought I'd start a new thread on this. Terry wrote: "Last summer, instead of taking off in the LD we spent a month motorcycle touring, to Jasper and back, a big loop around the NW. I did the math and things work out about the same. You know the drill in the LD, so no need to explain that. But for about the same cost on the motorcycle (50 mpg) we did a bit of camping (mostly weekends at some motorcycle rallies) and also stayed in some very nice B&Bs, lodges, motels and hotels. We dined out the whole way, sometimes fast food, but often much nicer. I used to say that travel was better on the motorcycle, camping better in the LD. But if the motorcycle leads to a nice B&B, things change. The LD starts to look best for, say, going down the road 50 miles from home and spending a week in a forest service campground. But this coming summer's 4-6 week trip to Quebec may well be on the bike again." Terry, would you mind sharing your cost comparison? We've kept pretty good cost records of our LD trips and would be interested in your lodging and food costs for a cycle trip, something that I've been thinking about as well. What were you riding?Jon (&, I hope, Loni)
Re: Motorcycle Touring (OT and long) Reply #1 – January 07, 2012, 04:34:52 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127698Hi Jon, I have a 2007 BMW R1200RT and a 1991 BMW R100GS. We use the RT for two-up touring, when alone I usually use the GS. If you're going to tour with your wife, get a proper touring bike. Don't ask her to perch on some little pillion seat with no comfort. There are really only three choices: BMW, Honda Gold Wing and the large Harley touring bikes. Those are what you see on the road far from home. All have their charms. It's a soft market now, so lots of used bargains. The cost comparison is admittedly rough and I don't have any records, but basically the savings from gas go into lodgings and meals, though of course you still have those costs
Re: Motorcycle Touring (OT and long) Reply #2 – January 07, 2012, 06:45:29 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127700Everyone has different ways of doing things. We toured for 17 years on several Honda GoldWings. We usually traveled with a group of friends, and all of us pulled Bushtec trailers that matched our GoldWings. The Bushtecs could carry all the camping gear we needed, and our modus operandi was to camp six days, then stay in a motel on the seventh day to sleep in a nice bed and have a good shower. Our trips were typically 3,000 to 4,000 miles in length, and basically covered the western U.S. out to the Rockies, and B.C. and Alberta in Canada. All of us also had motorhomes, and we would alternate taking the motorhomes with the motorcycle trips. Our SOB 37' motorhome gave us about 7-1/2 MPG, whereas the Hondas pulling trailers would provide 45 MPG. There was a HUGE difference in cost between traveling by motorcycle and camping in our RV's. Of course it had a lot to do with how we did it. If you stay in a motel every night, and eat all your meals out, you will quickly eat up the cost advantage of the bikes. I had a ride-on motorcycle trailer, and sometimes we drove the motorhome, and then toured on the GoldWing.I will second the suggestions about the seats and clothing. You want your significant other to be as comfortable as you are. For travel in all kinds of weather, including snow, there is nothing better than electric heated clothing for a motorcycle. Some of our group had electric jackets, while others used electric vests. We all had electric pants. I really miss those days.Dick
Re: Motorcycle Touring (OT and long) Reply #3 – January 09, 2012, 09:16:58 am Yahoo Message Number: 127719I was wondering if anyone has considered using a motorcycle trailer? Originally I thought that I would never put my bike, ('96 Honda ST-1100), on a trailer, but now I'm not so sure. I've been trying to combine motorcycling with the Lazy Daze for the past few years and haven't figured it out yet. I wanted the rear trailer hitch approach to work, (even with triple receivers), but a theoretical KLR-650 would weigh 400#+ and I wasn't comfortable with the stresses. A 250 would weigh less, but would be a little small for me. I'm on the east coast, so before we get to the fun stuff it's usually 3+ days... (Still maybe I should just take the bike, since that's what I bought it for??) Anyway, on paper, an Aluma MC-10 trailer might be the answer. However, I've never towed anything with the Lazy Daze and know that I would give up a lot in maneuverability that my 26.5 has. If this is too far off-topic and someone would like to advise me directly you can use the contact form at http://www.cross-country-trips.comThanks,Herb
Re: Motorcycle Touring (OT and long) Reply #4 – January 09, 2012, 01:02:19 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127724I tow a 650 lb motorcycle on a 4 x 8' fold up trailer, or a 1000 lbs of waverunner, either is easy, assuming you have trailer back up skills. A camera is a nice help, so is a back window prism. Your tongue weight should be low enough that if you get into a tight spot, you can unhitch and move the trailer by hand. You will still be shorter and more maneuverable than someone towing a 20' travel trailer with a 4 door truck. For a trip of the length you are considering, you should have a better trailer than what I use for my local trips. Enclosed trailers are really nice, the bike is out of the weather, you can put other stuff
Re: Motorcycle Touring (OT and long) Reply #5 – January 09, 2012, 04:25:39 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127728some motorcycle trailer observations: We use a 14ft enclosed trailer to tow a Gold Wing. Towing mileage is a bit worse than with a Jeep Wrangler, which is heavier. There is no room inside a 26ft. LD for all the motorcycle gear for two people. You can imagine where you would put two helmets to start with. Add cold weather and ra
Re: Motorcycle Touring (OT and long) Reply #6 – January 10, 2012, 11:42:48 am Yahoo Message Number: 127735Thanks Eddie and Harry, I added a backup camera, and a TireTrakker system which I thought would make sense on the trailer tires too. The short open trailer is cheaper and lighter, and is the only thing that I could actually store in my backyard so I'm kind of stuck. I would be able to unhitch the Aluma trailer and move it by hand so that should help if I get into a tight spot. I think you're right about maneurevability.. I tow a boat on a 26' long trailer using an 18' suburban so that would be a bit longer than the combined mid-bath and trailer but the pivot point would be a lot different so I'd practice in a parking lot at first. Harry has a good point about the storage challenges. I would probably use the cabover mattress to store gear since it would only be Lolo and me, and we use the rear couches to sleep. Regarding Martha's Vineyard, it's really a unique place to visit. I've got to get Lolo to update the site. We've been vacationing/camping there for almost 30 years and I was hoping we could generate some sort of composite trip report to give me an excuse to post our photos. We usually go on the shoulder season, (when the fishing is best and crowds are thinned out), and never have a problem in the only campground on the Island. It's a bit pricey, (but less than Key West), and with the 27' we never spend any time in the campground other than sleeping. We usually pull up to one of 6+ beach parking lots for the day and then hang there till it gets dark. Visiting the narrow streets of Edgartown is a challenge with the RV, so bikes are highly recommended. There are multiple boat ramps on the Island, (we used to bring our 20' cuddy with the Suburban but now bring Kayaks with the Lazy Daze). It's been "discovered" over the past 30 years, but you still can get a ferry reservation on relatively short notice and there are plenty of places to escape the crowds.Herb
Re: Motorcycle Touring (OT and long) Reply #7 – January 10, 2012, 02:37:06 pm Yahoo Message Number: 127737QuoteThere is no room inside a 26ft. LD for all the motorcycle gear for two people. You can imagine where you would put two helmets to start with. Add cold weather and rain gear and maybe camping gear and you become too crowded. An enclosed trailer solves that problem. Harry 2006 RB Well, I dunno, Harry. We haul a 250cc Vespa (350 lbs) on a custom rack on the back of our '06 23.5 TK, and we carry our helmets in an outside compartment and our rain gear, etc. in an inside cabinet along with the rest of our clothes, enough for two-month trips. No problem. YMMV of course, but it's certainly doable without a trailer. -- Jon
Topic: Motorcycle Touring (Read 6 times)
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Topic: Motorcycle Touring (Read 6 times)
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