800 mile round-trip next week. Input?

[MaximPhil]

I would happily tuck in behind that "ugly" fairing if it was pouring rain and I still had 300 miles to go
If you use the windshield try making some adjustment to the angle. A very small change will move the buffeting to a different speed range. Looks very upright to me for highway speeds. 1/4 inch makes a huge difference.
Phil

[BA80]

I like the cut of your jib Sir.

Requires no comment.........

[BA80]

I was just laughing because he was saying how ugly he thought his fairing was.. then you pipe up about having one just like it, pics and all. So what else could he have said? "Umm.. yup. Still think they're ugly as sin!" lol. As long as you like it, who cares what anyone else thinks, right? I mean.. there's guys out there that think even Harleys are cool.. .

Yup.............one IS enough.

[Jerry]

Always interested in a what to bring thread. Couple comments. Back in 2000 I started carrying a tire repair kit and small compressor. Never used it, no longer carry one. I do carry extra bulbs, heavy-duty 1157s that the Windjammer, rear turn lights, and tail lights use. Seems I replace 1 or 2 per trip. (Figure 3K miles is a tip.) Extra fuses in all sizes uses in the fuse block. Tire gauge, most accurate pencil type I could find. 1/2 roll of shop towels and waterless hand cleaner. Roll of TP. Cap to wear when I take off helmet at fuel stops and breaks. Hard candy; pop a piece in my mouth and it helps me stay alert. Prefer Jolly Rancher brand. Small AA flashlight. Small selection of tools, including 8mm for bleeding brake cylinders in case of spooge problems. (No problems since I replaced OEM lines with SS lines many years ago.) Extra wire, electrical tape, wire strippers and cutters. (Mostly for times when I pull my trailer.) 1 pair of extra gloves. (One light, one heavier.) Camera. Gatoraid. Small pack of asprin. Since I wear glasses I carry an extra pair. Registration and insurance papers. Extra set of keys. Small spiral pad that doubles as a log book and notepad.Sunscreen, SPF 50. Windshield cleaner, also works on helmet visors. State map for each state I will be traveling through if I don't already know the route. They are usually free at visitor centers. Sounds like a lot but everything will fit into a relatively small package with the exception of the shop towels and TP. I put all of this in one saddle bag and have room left over for a quart of oil, rain jacket, and a first-aid kit. (Have never used the kit.) I used to carry more stuff but have moved into carrying fewer things experience has indicated I should have along with me. Some folks put this stuff into a tank bag. I've alway had saddlebags so have not used a tank bag, but the tank bag is great if you take occasional longer trips and don't want the expense / hassle of mounting saddlebags. Full fairing pockets carry some of these items when I travel.

That's it. Not really a lot of bulk and you can leave a kit like this pre-packed and ready to go on short notice if you want to take off for anything more than a day ride.

[BA80]

Still carry the tire plugs and pump. Saved my butt a couple times. The hard candy is good, I carry mints in my jacket pocket. I have a tool bag I carry on trips, short or long. Always a bottle of water. Frogg Toggs in the fairing always. First aid kit. Always Ibuprophen (helps with the pain in the butt) and stomach acid reducer. It's miserable riding along with a bad case of truck stop heart burn.

Most everything else is pretty easy to come by on the road.

I keep my personal stuff in the tank bag. ( toothbrush, hair brush, camera, ect,.ect)

[dpotter58]

I carry an extra brake and clutch lever. light weight and they seem to break when it falls over in a parking lot or on a turn...

[BA80]

Yeah, forgot to mention that. Those extra handles have come in handy for Tod before.

I have extra cables (throttle and clutch) and an extra set of pick up coils too. And some spark plugs.

[dpotter58]

Does Tod carry exhaust gaskets? How about wet wipes?

[BA80]

Obviously not. I said he probably should from now on but he said that was a freak accident.

Of course that's what he always says as he pulls a piston,a cam and a middle drive out of his topol kit.

[trbig]

Does Tod carry exhaust gaskets? How about wet wipes?

Even better.. lol. When we went to Michigan, my left hand stays out of a glove and in the open to take pics usually. The skin on my hand was getting chapped BAD.. skin peeling back from my fingernails and 20 hangnails a day. Do you know how embarrassing it is to walk into a college town convenience store with a good looking college age girl behind the counter, and buy a tube of hand lotion? Yup.. that's on the bike too.. lol.

[dpotter58]

Your story Tod. Stick to it

[BA80]

It puts the lotion on it's..................................skin?

[Diskman01]

I have created a monster with this thread...

Anywho. Great advice in here. I picked up a tube patch kit, I have a small 12v pump. I added a 10 amp fused outlet today to the 78 so I can charge my phone or use the pump.

Changed all the oils and brake fluid. Developed a leak in my rear master cyl while bleeding it. I image the pistons didn't like leaving their cozy "grooves" of the past 30 years. They went places the haven't been to in years I imagine from all the rust and crap dripping down the rod.. ugh. Kit ordered.

I also re-used my original air-box carb boots for my pods. Added about 4 inches to the runners instead of having the pods slammed onto the carbs with a spacer. That, and the new throttle cable REALLY woke it up.

Start packing tools and junk tomorrow. Got the rear rack on with the 70's tall rear seat-back. lol. Need somewhere to strap my bags.

[JeffH]

Start packing tools and junk tomorrow.

So, how was your 800 mile Ride / Trip over the 3 day weekend??
I hope you were able to ride your bike to Duluth MN as planned. Looked like the weather cooperated. Hot Friday and cool Monday.

Give us an update on your mpg and oil consumption plus some pics if you have them.

Jeff

[BA80]

Got the rear rack on with the 70's tall rear seat-back. lol. Need somewhere to strap my bags.

Yup, That tall back seat is the ticket......