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Riding with Luggage for the first time....adivce?

Dubbington

Dubbington

Slamdunk Champion
Joined
Jul 15, 2007
Location
East Yay
Moto(s)
EX Street Triple ;(
Name
Dubs
I am planning on riding to Monterey tomorrow morning for the weekend. It will be my firs time riding with full luggage...tank, seat, and saddle bags and my first time riding to Monterey.

I plan on taking HWY 1 down, not sure if I want to do 92w, 35s, 9s to 1. I was thinking about taking the freeway to 17 and then hitting 1. I'm not familiar with 92, 35, and 9.

What should I expect with the luggage? It will just be clothes/shoes for the few days I am down there. Maybe a dewalt 18v screw gun...haha. Im helping a friend move into to CSUMB and so far dont want to drive my '87 Doge Ram 50.

Thanks
Ryan
 
Feel it out easy and slow, from the get-go to see how it effects your responses. Build as you find out, so you can handle whatever comes up, when it comes up.

17 is pretty hairball, at times, wouldn't 92 all the way to 1, and then south be lower key?
 
On a recent trip in the Sierras I didn't notice any noticeable problems with carrying soft luggage (seat and saddle bags). Only packed a few clothes, the usual tools, a sleeping bag, and some electronic gear. And we rode into the wind coming and going. Or so it seemed like it.
 
Add some preload on the rear shock...:nerd
 
Doubt you'll notice much difference.

Getting on and off the bike can be a bit more challenging though.
 
Given how little stuff you're talking about, you shouldn't really notice it, 'cept for the tank bag (which gets in the way). Just make sure that you stop and check it after your initial start. You'll want to make sure that nothing is loose, nothing is catching and that you're not melting anything. Make a habit of looking it over at stops until you're sure that your rig is secure.
 
monstermonster said:
Given how little stuff you're talking about, you shouldn't really notice it, 'cept for the tank bag (which gets in the way). Just make sure that you stop and check it after your initial start. You'll want to make sure that nothing is loose, nothing is catching and that you're not melting anything. Make a habit of looking it over at stops until you're sure that your rig is secure.
Click to expand...


This is really good advice. Until you are very familiar with your setup, make a couple of stops at short intervals to check everything out.

Even ""experienced"" luggage-toting riders have been known to add some melty character to new luggage.

:blush
 
I ride pretty much everyday and in the mountains with a case.

I've had my givi case pop open when I forget to lock it. Not so fun.

I also loaded 15-20# battery charger in my case once and tried to pop a really little 1st gear power wheelie (forgot about all the weight) and the bike came way up very unexpectedly.

Other than that I don't usually notice it.
 
Good ol' Cal State Monterey Bay....I miss going to school there...Fort Ord was a nice playground.
 
If you've got a top case and saddlebags, get on the bike while it is still on the kickstand. Left foot on the left peg and step your right leg over the top... Sit, kick up the kickstand and then take off.

Unless you've got a ton of weight back there, you shouldn't be able to notice it too much. Not anywhere near enough to worry about it. Can make picking the bike up a bitch though... ask me how I know that.
 
I would avoid 17 - too many crazy cars, and nowhere to get out of the way - mainly just a concrete divider.

9 is a challenging road to ride, but if you take it easy it is fine and a lot of fun.

You could just take 1 all the way from SF too, or take 280->85->101->152(I think). That way you avoid the worst stretch of 101 down the peninsula. It would be the fastest way too, but substantially less enjoyable than going on 9...
 
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Usually I would recommend 1 from SF but it has been foggy so you might want to avoid the coast until late morning. On Fridays you want to get the hell out of Dodge ASAP. Try 101 South, 152 West, 1 South and be prepared for some fog.

Carry a bandanna within easy reach. Be extra careful with the tank bag. They are pretty secure if anchored correctly and not overloaded, but they can shift around and it can distract you.

+100 For checking the luggage. Do it every time you stop--it only takes a minute. I refuse to use bungie cords and use NSR straps, the kind used to hold down canoes. At least double secure everything, i.e. have a back-up for each piece. Take your time loading the bags for even weight.

The goal is:
1. Even weight distribution, heavier stuff low and nearer to you.
2. All luggage securely fastened with at least one back-up in place, better two.
3. No loose straps etc. to get entangled or distract you.
4. Items you may need on the ride easy to get to.
5. Luggage secure from heat or gasoline, i.e. don't get gas on tank bag.


Have fun. Once you start using luggage you've essentially expanded your range by thousands of miles! Woo! Hoo!
 
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Soft luggage- check for flapping straps damaging bodywork, dangling shit to get caught in drivetrain, shifting, and make sure zippers R closed.

Hard luggage- You'll most likely need TONNAGE to even notice, just close the cases and go.
 
Be careful getting off the bike, it's easy to forget that you might need to get a leg up a bit higher to clear your bags.
Put your side stand down before dismounting.
As for riding, you may not notice much difference after the initial take off.
 
your fuel millage may be less than what you are used to unladen. Don't ask me how I know.

--S
 
Taking 92 all the way to the coast (Half Moon Bay) is WAY more enjoyable than 17! :thumbup
 
you won't notice a difference till you start leaning hard, 30lbs of stuff doesn't really change the handling till your in some tight corners then having wieght in saddle bags and a tail bag will make the bike feel different becuase the added weight is further back on the bike. You may find this disconcerting if your riding at a "spirited" pace so take it easy and don't expect to ride the way you would without the extra weight over or behind the rear axle.
try and put the heaviest stuff on the passenger seat in a tail bag or in the tank bag.
 
I just remembered something.

When I packed my saddle bags with clothes, I first put my clothes in plastic space bags -- the kind that you're supposed to vacuum out all of the air. Didn't do the air suckage thing. Just folded the bags over until they compacted. Did it to keep the clothes separated and to keep the clothes dry if my water bottles started leaking. Then I read on Pashnit that putting clothes in plastic bags was the way to go -- just in case somebody forget to zipper the bag or the zipper burst, all the clothes would still stay inside the saddle bags. Some people may think doing so is anal. But I also wanted to keep my clothes separated in case somebody decided to rummage through my bags while I was momentarily away. They'd have to dig around to find anything, was my way of thinking.
 
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