Travel far? Save your back!

[larrybuck]

Do any of you tour cross country, or do 800-900 miles a day somewhere? Or even 300-500 a day? I know sissy bars are somewhat dated, but even if you have a hard rear box behind you (solo riding of course) with or without a passenger back rest built on it; have you considered a fake load bungeeded behind you for back support? If you are 18 maybe you can "tuck" all day, but you will tire eventually. Any bike with a somewhat upright riding position will work. A piece of sytrofoam in a black garbage bag can be organized to actually look like luggage. Even if you only commute say 25 miles one way to work; you will notice how much more comfortable you are! Even on more of a sport bike, even something similar to the size of a rolled up sleeping bag set up in the passenger hand strap area will do wonders w/o looking "geeky"!

[joggerfogger]

I've done the duffel on a cruiser type bike, but I prefer a full tank bag and putting my feet on the back pegs. Totally depends on the bike, but I did that with cross country trips on my SV650 and VX800 standards. (it's also a good aerodynamic position.) My biggest day was Austin to Phoenix 1040 miles (got lost 2 times).

[kawboyCAFE]

when i had a cruiser, i put my work bag bahind me. now with my ninja, i can lean back against my trunk with a pillow bunjy corded on front. it helps a bunch.

[joggerfogger]

I just re-read my post and it doesn't make sense; sorry. I put my chest on the tank bag; kind of head first. It's harder on your neck, but with +500mi. days I alternate from prone, to reclined, to head first (is that called supine?). A throttle lock or cruise control really helps too, so you can rest your right arm for a while. I've flown hang gliders for hours this way so it might be more suited for me.

On some smooth running bikes you can rest your helmet on the bars or tank, but usually the vibrations translate through the helmet and blur your vision.

[larrybuck]

A nice full tank bag does make a nice resting position! I rode from OR. to NC. and back on an '81 Honda CB 400 w/0 fairing of any kind! The tankbag was a lifesaver! To keep hydrated, I had a 2.5 gallon collaspible water container in there. I had it full of gatoraid, and attached a clear plastic tube to the screw top valve. Then, when I was thirsty, I only had to reach into the slightly unzipped tank bag, ( maybe 2" or so ) grab the end of the tube, and suck on the roll w/o having to slow down or stop!

[bikepilot]

On sporting bikes a full, nicely padded tank bag is the way to go. I've gone cross country a few times with such a setup and have done several 1100+ mile days on sport bikes this way

[alvaro84]

Originally Posted by bikepilot

1100+ mile days

LOL, in my pace that wouldn't fit in 24 hours

[bikepilot]

Days of that length were done on a Bandit 1250S, a Honda 919 and a Suzuki TL1000S. All capable of cruising along pretty quickly. I also tend to start riding just before sunup and don't stop much during the daylight. Usually call it a day around dark, pitch the tent and relax

[alvaro84]

I don't say it can't be done, it's just impossible for me, no matter the bike

Normally riding on 2-lane roads, through villages and towns, with rare stopping, I wouldn't do much faster than 40mph in average.

It means that if I started at 00:00, and finished at 00:00, I'd be somewhere around 960 miles. And I couldn't even be much faster if I wanted to keep the speed limits

I could do more on motorways, but those are tools to do great distances quickly. They're no fun and bad for my FE

[naturalextraction]

To Joggerfogger, I have an SV650s that I've owned for about 3 years and now 65K plus miles. I didn't seem to have much problem and have the same riding positions as you it seems. Now more than ever it's the seat that kills my arss and thus now translating to some back issues. I haven't bought the Gel seat as it seems to get some mixed reviews plus drops an inch lower. I'm 6'2 and don't need to be lower. What are you using for a seat? I had mine refomed and covered and ended up being about the same. So I move around a lot now in the seat and I'm only good for ~350 miles. I can't imagine a 1000 mile day. Man, I wouldn't be able to walk! Any thoughts?