Re: Touring advice

Posted by sgtslag on Dec 19, 2012; 4:42am
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/Touring-advice-tp4033812p4033873.html

If you are willing to purchase a touring bike (Kawasaki Voyager XII's are much less money, than a GW -- fantastic bikes for touring, hard to beat, and they come equipped with electronic cruise control, after 1986 year models), then go that route, and leave your 750C, as it is.

For such a long tour, you will most definitely want a full, frame-mounted, fairing, not a windshield, not something that mounts to the fork tubes, to act as a kite-lever to turn the front wheel for you, whichever way the wind blows...  Frame-mounted fairings transfer that force against the whole bike, not the handlebar you are trying to steer.  The 55-70 MPH winds will wear you down, if they blow on your chest all day long, so a full fairing is a must, as well as the fact that it will protect you from the wind, the rain, and debris, when cruising.  If possible, get a Windjammer, with Lowers.  You will likely need to cut a different model of Lowers, to make them fit, as the #10 you will need, are extremely rare.  Lowers save your legs from debris, rain, snow, and wind.

You will need to have either highway pegs, or better yet, floor boards.  Check these out from JC Whitney:  link.  Worth every penny.  Large enough to allow you to move your feet around a bit, unlike pegs.  Have used them on two bikes (CB750K and Voyager XII), much better than pegs, especially for touring more than a day, or two.

Saddlebags are a must, for storage.  Soft, vinyl bags can be had off of Leatherup, for reasonable prices.  Get a metal C-chaped bracket set, to keep them from getting caught in the rear tire; they also serve to offer an anchor point so that the bags won't flop in the wind.  You really want the storage space they offer.  Get a trunk, or large bag, which can be strapped behind you, but keep it as low as possible, to keep the Center of Gravity low, or else the bike will be very tippy, and balance on a razor's edge -- adds tremendous strain, even at 70 MPH, to maintain fine balance control.

Get a magnetic tank bag, large, preferably waterproof.  You will be amazed at how much you will rely on this extra storage space:  water, GPS, cell phone, maps (get one with a clear top, even if you plan to use a GPS!), chargers, snacks, etc.

Upgrade the suspension with Progressive Fork Springs, and Progressive Rear Shocks.  Not only more comfortable, but they transform the handling, making the bike steer, and track, like a modern bike.  Get the standard duty springs, unless you plan on carrying a passenger 80%+ of the time -- they're very heavy duty springs.

Switch to a full synthetic oil:  it will easily last 7,000 miles between changes.  Shell Rotella T6 is 5W-40, high detergent levels, rated SM for cars, rated for M/C use by JASO.  Runs ~$21/gallon, at Wal-Mart.

Consider wearing a florescent road crew type of vest over your riding jacket for improved visibility in traffic.  Get a decent quality vest at Mills Fleet Farm, or a similar store, they run around $25-$35.  They make a huge difference, particularly in poor visibility conditions:  rain, fog, night riding, etc.

Consider adding a brake light modulator to improve rear visibility in all conditions.  This is a great unit, and affordable:  link.  Installed them on three different bikes, never an issue, make a huge difference:  I drove/rode behind my wife, and son, riding a bike with them installed, helps attract attention in a positive way.

Consider adding a headlight modulator, again, for your personal safety.  The best unit I found, was by Amperite (link).  Had to contact the company directly to order the unit with the sensor, paid around $70, delivered from the maker.  Otherwise, JC Whitney sells a less expensive model, which needs a bypass switch to turn it off:  link (technically, illegal in the USA, but don't tell anyone you control it manually, and you will be fine).  These are perfectly legal in all 50 States, and Canada.  They make an amazing difference in cage driver's ability to notice you.

Get a riding jacket, with armor, and zipper vents, waterproof, with removable liner.  Check out Leatherup for jackets, boots, and pants/chaps.  Full gear is best, as it is your very last line of defense.  I crashed at 40 MPH, with a $100 Mossi armored jacket, and my son/passenger was wearing a $70 Leatherup jacket:  they saved both of us from serious injury, even though they were relatively inexpensive jackets.  Leather chaps may look stupid, but they work -- they saved my legs, and hips in said accident, sliding 40 feet across blacktop.  Get yourself a modular helmet for touring:  easier to put on/take off, allows you to easily drink water without removing it.  Get some neck protection, such as Zubwear -- you will wonder how you ever rode without it.  Make sure you have decent leather gloves, as well as insulated, waterproof gloves for cold, and rain (Leatherup:  decent quality, not a lot of money, and they work).

Get fitted for a custom set of ear plugs:  all-day comfort, 28 dB minimum (32 dB is best), will save your hearing -- these are a necessity!  The reduced noise will allow you to ride much more relaxed, at ease, and comfortably.  Get a seat cover to extend your seat endurance:  wooden beads are inexpensive ($20-$40), and usually work; an AirHawk is the Cadillac, but they don't work for everyone, around $160.  Cheers!