[sking404]

I just did a 1K trip on my rc51 over 3 days in the Sierra Navada range. I need to find some bags, got a tail bag - cortech , kept slipping down onto my two-brothers.

Any ideas guys?

[alulyo]

Year ago with the mate had nice voyague ocassionaly doing 1000km a day
I was glad having a tank bag (~big one) which you can lay on and give the rest for your shoulders.
Also had an issue with the tail bags covering the side markers+slip-ons.
So, this year went with the back pack (afterwords I weight it: 10+kg) and tank bag. Check the straps of the back pack (for a proper pading) and you should't have a problems carring your stuff on you.
Cheers!

[sking404]

Yeah - good idea, the tank bag.

My friend with a Haybusa got to lay on his tank, which you can't really do with a rc - but with a bag, then you can lay on it. Thanks again!

[playwme]

I've got a Ventura rack on mine. Carries enough gear for 4 or 5 days, including shoes, camera's and plenty of spare clothes and gear as well as a pretty comprehensive tool kit and air compressor.

[slickwill]

My tank bag is on the small side but it is enough that it makes a big difference on a long trip. I just lay down right on it and it is a nice rest. The most I have ever done in one day is 360 miles. The seat on my F4i doesn't allow my butt to go any more than that.

[Motophoria]

Enough room for 3 days worth of stuff...

FRONT:
Joe Rocket Manta XL magnetic tank bag. Small enough to still allow you too lean over in the twisties.

REAR:
Oxford Hump Back expandable magnetic tank bag strapped to the tail with adjustable bungees...blue painter's tape beneath to protect the plastic.

Works well enough for comfortable 350 mile days.

Use those little, travel-size toiletries packed in a zip lock bag.

Hardest thing to pack is size 10.5 shoes!

If traveling longer than 3 days, simply stop at Walmart for replacement underwear, tshirts and toiletries...

[chazzman_bm]

This year, I went from Scotland to the Isle of Man for the TT on my RC51. I bought Ofxord Humpback expandable panniers and tail bag. It worked very, very well, clearing the exahusts and carrying all my gear for the 10 days I was there. On the way back, it rained most of the 5 hour journey home but everything stayed dry. The only thing I needed to to was to tape up the tail section of the bike to protect the paint.

Certainly worth the cash.

Chazz.

[lewisman]

Hi, If it helps this is what I used when I went for a two week, 4000 mile trip, to Barcelona this summer on the bike. I used a medium size Ortlieb rack pack bag, which was very sturdy, expandable to 32 litres, room for clothing, travelwash, shoes, tools, chainwax, and was completely watertight. To fix it securely to the seat hump I placed Oxford Wonder Web loosley over the hump (its a thin, rubberised, non-slip sheet) and strapped the bag down tight using two ratchet straps. No problems with movement or damage to the bike paint. I used the under seat hooks at the back, and the pillion footrest brackets. No problem riding the bike at speed or in the twisties Next year I'm going to take less clothing as the travelwash worked so well and simply.

[skwyd]

What is a travelwash?

[lewisman]

Hi, "Travelwash" is a tube of washing liquid, about the size of a toothpaste tube. A little bit in a sink of warm water and your underware, T-shirt and socks are fresh enough to wear the next day. Useful for me and my prostate problems Of course getting them dry overnight may be difficult. I go for the base-layer type materials like Helly Hansen stuff, which dries really quick. Our local CO-OP supermarket sells the Travelwash, should be something similar in the US.

[skwyd]

That is Awesome! I am going to look for it since I am going to the AMA races in California next year and going to ride my 'super comfy' RC51 all the way....(can you say blood clot?)

[rokitt51]

I would consitently enjoy my voyage from Ga, to Tx on mine. I would send my clothes in the mail via Express so that they would meet me there. Ride str8 through in about 7-8 hours.

[skwyd]

That is a gret idea! might do that too.

[sking404]

Well did the tail bag and the tank bag on my latest trip. Tail bag messed up the tail section a good bit - jut got another on on ebay. It was a great ride from SF to LA, 634 miles in one day If you live in CA, you need to checkout California Motorcycle Roads - Pashnit Motorcycle Tours Maps, Passionate Scenic Rides Photos details on all the twisties in the state!

[mastashake72]

I rode up the CA coast Labor Day weekend. San Diego to the Bay Area. 650 miles each way. I took some side trips along the way to get off the freeway. If you ever have a chance to ride the 1 between San Luis Obisbo and Santa Cruz, do it. Preferably on a weekday. The weekend lookie loos in cars will darn near stop on the roadway. I have Helibars and a stock seat. My arse was pretty sore toward the ends of the routes, as the last few hundred miles each way were on concrete freeways. Overall I was glad to have been on a sportbike, especially on the Coast Highway. I stopped off at Laguna Seca hoping to sneak in, but there was a 24 hour mountain bike race that weekend, so there was no getting on the track.

I used a tank bag and Cortech saddle bags. It was plenty for the 4 days I was there.

Overall, for longer trips I am looking at a Triumph ST or a VFR (non vtec)

[jg27]

You guys are really great !!!. I don't know about the ergonomics of the Rc51,but until I changed the clip ons to a Spiegler on my F4i ;45 minutes was about the longest I could ride. With the mods 500 mile days are OK.
I'ms hort and old so that probably makes a difference
I use a Nelson Rigg Expandable Tank bag and some great soft extendable sport bags that I found on J.C. Whitneys catalog for around $100. The space with quick dry underwear is more than enough for a week or so on the road.
For the "quick need" stuff like rain gear I strap it to the Pinion rolled up in my Tank bag rain cover.

[sking404]

Yeah - I was looking at an ST, really nice but I didn't quite have the cash. I just bought a Kawasaki z1000 off ebay, low miles and cheap. I'm going to throw some GIVI hard bags and a larger windscreen. I'll never get rid of the RC. I'll be getting new plastic for it soon.

[skwyd]

Originally Posted by sking404

Well did the tail bag and the tank bag on my latest trip. Tail bag messed up the tail section a good bit - jut got another on on ebay. It was a great ride from SF to LA, 634 miles in one day If you live in CA, you need to checkout California Motorcycle Roads - Pashnit Motorcycle Tours Maps, Passionate Scenic Rides Photos details on all the twisties in the state!

Thanks for the link to Pashnit!

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by sking404

Yeah - I was looking at an ST, really nice but I didn't quite have the cash. I just bought a Kawasaki z1000 off ebay, low miles and cheap. I'm going to throw some GIVI hard bags and a larger windscreen. I'll never get rid of the RC. I'll be getting new plastic for it soon.

+1 for never getting rid of the beast

[J-Pip]

I've used a Kriega R35 for my trips, a 3 day 1000 mile ride. I had plenty of room for clothes, some tools an extra face shield a 1 liter bladder and some food. It's a bit spendy though $157, however it's money well spent, the pack is made for sportbikes, I forgot it was there several times throughout the trip.

[skwyd]

I wish I had a one liter bladder....

[J-Pip]

Yeah, it's pretty convienient for those long trips, pluse long movies....

[J-Pip]

Skwyd, you wouldn't happen to know the guy selling an 04 Rc51 on KSL would you? He's also in Sandy. Somebody buy my Triple....Please

[skwyd]

No I dont know him, but that looks like a nice bike! I would have bought it if it had been available when I was looking.