Touring monster

[pitbull]

What do you do when you have the perfect sport touring bike and you're getting ready to take off on a two week trip from Ontario, Canada to Colorado and New Mexico?



Why you leave it in the garage of course and load up the monster instead.



I love the ST4 and it would have been the better bike for the 2 1/2 days of interstate each way, but the monster is so much better through the canyons and over the passes, I had to take it.

With a seat pad on the sargent seat and some jury rigged hwy pegs, it was far more comfortable than other long trips I've done on it.

If it weren't for occasional two-up trips with my woman, the ST4 would be up for sale.

[koko64]

That ST4 is classy. . " A Gran Touring Sport machine for the discerning gentleman and his beautiful companion."

The Monster is for tearing around with your mates.

Get a track bike and you got it covered.

[the_Journeyman]

I've got risers and a Moose ATV bar on my M750 that makes it a pretty swell touring rig.  Plenty of luggage too, 4-piece Tourmaster set.  They're actually pretty good touring bikes. 

JM

[Speeddog]

You guys need to learn how to pack some stuff! 

[koko64]

 

[Mhanis]

Here is mine fitted for a week in the Appalachians.




Mark

[pitbull]

I used to do the soft saddle bags, but I found them a pain in the ass to carry around and pack. I found a top box on ebay that's been the best touring feature ever for the monster. A dry bag over the seat is much more handy for me than saddle bags.

Everything I don't need to take into the hotel room at night gets locked in the top box. Walking into a hotel room now is simply throwing the dry bag shoulder strap over one shoulder and carrying in the tank bag in hand. Packing up in the morning takes me a couple minutes.

[koko64]

+1. I have some DP Monster saddle bags that I throw over the Hyper's seat and a tail bag holding them down.

[the_Journeyman]

You guys need to learn how to pack some stuff! 

That's pretty similar to my setup, only my tail bag isn't quite as big, same side bags though.

JM

[Moronic]

I love the ST4 and it would have been the better bike for the 2 1/2 days of interstate each way, but the monster is so much better through the canyons and over the passes, I had to take it.

If it weren't for occasional two-up trips with my woman, the ST4 would be up for sale.

That's interesting. I've had only a brief ride on an ST but given they share frame dimensions with my Monster I had assumed they would feel much the same through the passes.

So I have often felt a bit misguided in having chosen the Monster, given how much touring-type work I have forced it to do over the years.

But it seems to like it - and I certainly do. Sounds like I can put the second-guessing behind me. 

[d3vi@nt]

That's interesting. I've had only a brief ride on an ST but given they share frame dimensions with my Monster I had assumed they would feel much the same through the passes.

I swapped my M695 for an ST2. At around 100 pounds lighter, I found the Monster was definitely more flickable through the twisties. The better suspension on the ST coupled with adjustable ride height helped narrow the gap a bit, though...

[the_Journeyman]

I do like the handling characteristics of the Monster over a lot of other bikes I've ridden, even better than the 900SS I had. Adding the ATV bars and risers made it all-day touring capable without feeling cramped.  I've done several near dawn to dusk rides on it.

JM

[Blackout]

Can't ride the monster worth shiit with a tank bag on there. Something about it just throws me way off.

[koko64]

Same here.

[the_Journeyman]

I've got a smaller tank bag (it's really just big enough for my D90 and a bottle of water & pack of crackers) than that in the picture and the risers keep my chest far enough away it doesn't interfere with my body movements when I decide to get speedy in the twisty parts.

JM