Touring on a Monster?

[thruxton]

Am I a complete idiot?  (Wait - don't answer that!    )

the limited range of the tank could be a problem. good luck  [moto]

[somegirl]

the limited range of the tank could be a problem. good luck  [moto]

That's a blessing in disguise...forces you to take breaks at frequent intervals.

[al@sktc]

i am an avid backpacker and cyclist and, i don't know what i would do without proper stuff sacks for my gear. here is my recommendation.
1-find a store that sells quality backpacking equip
2-load up everything you are taking with you
3-find an employee that actually backpacks, let them know what you are planning.

let him or her help you out. they will have so much space/weight saving gear to choose from. once you have your touring gear "setup" keep it packed and ready to go. it makes spur of the moment one/two day trips possible.

ps-outdoor research products are the best! beats the hell out of leaky plastic bags, plus they will last you a lifetime. good luck and, enjoy the ride!

[El Matador]

I agree with everything that people have said and only have this to add:

Get a camelback. Seriously. Get it. Best damn way to stay hydrated. Fill it with half gatorade half water and ice. Make sure you're drinking the whole thing every 4 hours.


Good luck on your trip! I'm about to do NY - Houston pretty soon.

[NAKID]

I agree with everything that people have said and only have this to add:

Get a camelback. Seriously. Get it. Best damn way to stay hydrated. Fill it with half gatorade half water and ice. Make sure you're drinking the whole thing every 4 hours.

Definitely. Make sure you get one with a open/close valve and ensure it will fit under your chin while riding...

[Langanobob]

Am I a complete idiot?  (Wait - don't answer that!   Roll Eyes )

No, not at all and actually the opposite.  I'm kind of old school and I think bikes and our perception of them has become too specialized.  I once rode my '66 Triumph Bonneville across the US and I took the windscreen off of my Monster because I like riding into the full force of the wind all day.  Like all Marines being riflemen, I think all bikes should be capable of taking you on a trip.   Maybe not as completely comfortable as a specialized touring bike, but still reasonably comfortably and fun.

You got some great advice and I was impressed that so many other Monster riders go touring.  The only thing I can think to add, and you probably already know this, that when traveling with a group everyone has different endurance and skill levels and you should all agree in advance that no one should  push themselves when tired, or when they aren't comfortable with the speed in order to keep up with the group. The group should ride at the level of the slowest rider and there's nothing wrong with going slow.  Enjoy the scenery.

I went to great lengths to adapt some Givi pannier mounts to my Monster and I think  if I had to do it again I'd get one of those Ventura tailpacks. No FHE but they are supposed to be very good.

[maillotpois]

Wow!!  Thanks so much for all the great advice and information - keep it coming!!

I am a long distance cyclist, so I have the endurance and butt callous part pretty well in hand.  I think mostly I am concerned about (1) the moderately cramped riding position of the 696 and (2) the limitation on baggage.  Fortunately my husband's bike has good bags, so he can carry most of the stuff.  And as Somegirl noted, the small tank required frequent stops are going to be key for me for the trip.

I will look into some of the packing bags and luggage ideas.  Lots to absorb here.

THANK YOU!!!

[Langanobob]

I think mostly I am concerned about (1) the moderately cramped riding position of the 696

As Duck-Stew mentioned, you can get handlebar risers that will raise your bars by about 1-1/2" or so which makes a real difference.  For bar risers most bikes don't require longer brake, clutch or throttle cables, but you should confirm that first.

[darthmoto]

the things that really helped me do the 1k weekend were:

layers- never know when it will get really hot or really cold. When it got really cold, I wore 2 layers and wore a tshirt as a neck warmer. When hot, I took my compression longsleeve and soaked it in water to keep cool (wrung it damp).
clear and smoke visors
anti-fog visor spray
advil
tire repair kit
charged cellphone
ipod (keeps the boredom of slab riding down)

[junior varsity]

Who's done this recently? By that, I mean a long road trip on a Monster?


oh yeah, me!

rent a honda st for the ride so you aren't complaining about your bike, which wasn't made for such a task.

[Langanobob]

rent a honda st for the ride so you aren't complaining about your bike, which wasn't made for such a task.

http://www.duc.bz/POM_MonsterAs_LD_Tourer.htm

I fail to see what the drama is all about in going for a longer ride on a Monster.  Three Saturdays ago I rode from LA to Reno and it was fun.  I got a sore butt but I got over it.

[junior varsity]

That's 500 mi. one way.

Dallas to Las Vegas is around 1250 mi. one way.  My total roundtrip was just under 3,000mi in 7 days on the bike. (Would have been 6 but for rain).

The bike's ergonomics aren't set up for touring. At all. Sure it can be done. I could have ridden a bicycle I suppose. But there's no barrier between you and the wind, no good places for gear storage without additional purchases, the footpegs are in an uncomfortable position (especially if you have rearsets), and the bars don't sweep back enough to relax. Furthermore, the bike has no cruise control for the long boring stretches of slab so you can relax your right hand. The tank is small so that means every 150mi you have to get off (really, not a bad thing to do after the first day of a long ride).

[Langanobob]

^  I think I remember reading your thread on that ride - excuse me if I'm misremembering but wasn't the final conclusion that you had a great adventure?     Isn't that what it's all about?

[KnightofNi]

I am a long distance cyclist, so I have the endurance and butt callous part pretty well in hand.  I think mostly I am concerned about (1) the moderately cramped riding position of the 696 and (2) the limitation on baggage.  Fortunately my husband's bike has good bags, so he can carry most of the stuff.  And as Somegirl noted, the small tank required frequent stops are going to be key for me for the trip.

i'm 6'2" with bad knees and was comfortable enough on my long trips with stock pegs and bars on an '02 M750.
you find a variety of positions to switch around in.

[Grampa]

http://www.safetycentral.com/cospforspreb.html

space bags are a must