Touring on a Monster?

[Raux]

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.

maybe the issue with the pegs for my was my boots which are a bit softer soled than most.

[KnightofNi]

maybe the issue with the pegs for my was my boots which are a bit softer soled than most.

if i'm cruising on the hwy i'm rarely on the balls of my feet. i just hook the heels of my boots over the pegs.

[junior varsity]

Yeah, I did have a good trip in the end, but was not happy with my choice of rides. I would have been far more comfortable and been able to do more in Vegas and at night out on the road had I picked a cushier ride.

Its just plain cheap to rent a honda for such tasks, keep the miles off your duc and ride the duc the way you like to ride it when you get back. I like to ride my duc in a sporty, curvy-road, exciting fashion. super slab is not that.

i like to think of it like horses. there are different ones for different jobs. sometimes you need a mule. other times you need a draft horse. sometimes its quarter horse time.

[Raux]

if i'm cruising on the hwy i'm rarely on the balls of my feet. i just hook the heels of my boots over the pegs.

yeah i kept switching back and forth like that.
i do agree on the different horses for different rides theory, but the adventure was to take the Ducati to the Ducati factory. would have sucked to show up on a rented Honda with a Ducati in the garage.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Its just plain cheap to rent a honda for such tasks, keep the miles off your duc and ride the duc the way you like to ride it when you get back. I like to ride my duc in a sporty, curvy-road, exciting fashion. super slab is not that.

There's something to be said about staying on a bike you're used to and comfy on for an extended trip. I'd much rather be on something I rode often in case I found myself in a situation which required me to know the limits of my bike.

[somegirl]

I have friends who rode from Vancouver to San Diego and back, she on an F650cs, he on a Ninja 250. 

I think you two will be fine.

[maillotpois]

I have friends who rode from Vancouver to San Diego and back, she on an F650cs, he on a Ninja 250. 

I think you two will be fine.

Thanks!

And I would love to do a ride with you at some point when I get back.  Either bike.     Now that Death Ride season is over I have a little more flexibility in my weekends...  I love running that team for TNT but it is a HUGE time commitment.

[al@sktc]

ride your monster! bikes need a working vacation sometimes.

[somegirl]

Definitely up for a ride, send me a PM when you get back.

[GraGra]

I say do it.

Here's a link to a ride report from a fellow rider - who was on an 848 by the way - of a trip he and I did through the north of Thailand a few months back.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Northern-Thailand-Tour-2-Ducatis-t267600.html

I was on my S2R1K (he on the 848) - and did the trip with just a backpack tied down to the passenger seat area.

I now have an RKA tailpack - fortunately here we don't have to worry too much about bulky warm weather gear.

2 week trip. The riding position on my bike is standard.

It's nice to have the monster for when the roads become twisty and fun.

You may need to register for the site to get access to the photos and route that my friend posted there. (edit: - no you don't - just click on the URL and they'll come right up).

Good luck and enjoy your trip...

[maillotpois]

ride your monster! bikes need a working vacation sometimes.

I like that.   

[sugarcrook]

+1 on the waterproof bags from OR.  I'm taking off for a 7 day ride shortly and picked up a few dry bags from Outdoor Research as well as some Exofficio underwear - figured I'd give it a shot and see how well it works.  Not camping on this trip because I didn't feel like buying all the gear, but I will in the future. 

The other thing I'll suggest is an old fashioned, treeware road atlas.  Costco has them cheap.  The atlas will still work when the GPS won't. 

Good luck on the trip.  You might get some additional Monster-specific advice on advrider.com.  Those weirdos will tour on anything with two wheels and an engine, so a Monster isn't uncommon. 

[tfmktm]

Throttle rockers (wrist-rest thingies(tm)) help me a lot when touring on any bike.

+1 on the fluids intake. I travel with a camelback.

I also find that I can travel longer distances, or for longer periods of time, if I'm off the freeway. Taking twisty roads keeps my mind in the game, and I have to move around the bike more, so I don't get stiff from sitting in one place for very long.

Enjoy the ride!

[pitbull]

I've gone coast to coast on my m900 a number of times with a number of trips over 10,000 kms and many days over 1000kms.

the first thing you should do is gather together everything you plan to take with you on your trip..........then put half of it away because you won't use it.

The most important item is a credit card.
Next to that, cold gear and rain gear, including a  neck warmer (as someone mentioned).
Someone also mentioned a camel back.......they are excellent.
Someone also mentioned a tank bag to carry stuff and lean on........a must for me.
A cell phone and charger.
A small tool kit is a good idea as is a small can of chain wax.
A small channel lock (vice grip) wrench makes a great break lever or shifter if either break.
A throttle lock gives the wrist a break on long, flat stretches.
duct tape and zip ties.
wet wipes for helmet screen.
sunscreen stick for lips and nose. (at least I need one)

As for a monster being a good touring mount........it's more than adequate for the job, it's just a matter of whether the rider is or not.

Have fun!!!!!

[ghostface]

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.

One quick note, get a helmet that will allow you to slip the mouth piece under it. My Suomy Extreme flower joint won't allow it.