Know your load capacity.

[LionLady]

As an MSF instructor, I can't leave this alone, especially since I notice how MUCH many of you all are packing on your bikes.

Please, don't assume that just because you can make it fit someplace that it is a good idea to carry everything you want to take with you. :o

Your Motorcycle Owner's Manual (ask "MOM") should have the maximum load capacity of your motorcycle. This weight limit includes people and "stuff." Ignoring that limit can result in some rather dangerous and catastrophic failures on the road. So, before heading out on that big trip, weigh your bags - individually on a bathroom scale if need be - and find out just how much you ARE carrying. Make sure you're within your bike's load capacity. Keep in mind that an unexpected pothole may be all it takes to break something important on your bike and end your trip. :con1:

If you just gotta take it all, then consider towing a trailer, or take the car. :ph1:

The worst failure would probably be failure of the frame. I know of someone to whom this happened while on vacation to Nova Scotia. Not a good thing, expen$ive to deal with - especially so far from home.

P

[Trekker]

Good point. I know that on a ride last year I had WAY too much loaded on the bike, but I'm sure within the load capacity (at least just within).

My goal this season is to take MUCH less and pack smaller/lighter.

[Mr. Guy]

Hi,

Just to continue this train of thought, how little would you take on a long weekend trip (5 days) and still be reasonable comfortable. Not posh accomodations, but not suffering either. Maybe pad, sleeping bag, tarp, pot, stove and not much else.

Thanks, Guy

[Blues Traveler]

As an MSF instructor, I can't leave this alone, especially since I notice how MUCH many of you all are packing on your bikes.

Please, don't assume that just because you can make it fit someplace that it is a good idea to carry everything you want to take with you. :o

Your Motorcycle Owner's Manual (ask "MOM") should have the maximum load capacity of your motorcycle. This weight limit includes people and "stuff." Ignoring that limit can result in some rather dangerous and catastrophic failures on the road. So, before heading out on that big trip, weigh your bags - individually on a bathroom scale if need be - and find out just how much you ARE carrying. Make sure you're within your bike's load capacity. Keep in mind that an unexpected pothole may be all it takes to break something important on your bike and end your trip. :con1:

If you just gotta take it all, then consider towing a trailer, or take the car. :ph1:
The worst failure would probably be failure of the frame. I know of someone to whom this happened while on vacation to Nova Scotia. Not a good thing, expen$ive to deal with - especially so far from home
P

I hear this all the time when people see my bike packed for a trip.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/DSCN8012.jpg

Then I hear it again when they see it all setup.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/DSCN7131.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/DSCN8327.jpg

Sure, I bring along a lot but everything has been cut down and modified to fit on the bike. Most of the weight is located over the passenger seat making my bike setup for just me. This location of the load puts it were the bike was made to carry something, the passenger seat. Off the back is just my sleeping bag and tent. The Jesse's carry everything else down low. and the topbox is food.

On a bet I brought home a digital scale from work and weighed everything I pack on the bike. This included about 4 pounds of emergency food. What wasn't weighed was the actual food brought along for a two nighter. Everything else totaled 57 lbs.:D

So my load including food is way less than carrying a passenger. Yea, I still have a tank bag abd tank panniers but thos are up front were im told is an excelent place to carry additional weight.

And that bet, I won!

[Tx White Knight]

Keith that looks great, I weighed my load before I loaded it up and it came to a bit over 62 lbs.

Then I checked to load on my bike and even before the 1,000 lb sping i put on the book says I can do 448 lbs over the bikes weight so after subtracting the gear weight I can still get up to 378 lbs before overloading :D

:tent4: :tent7:

[mongo]

I hear this all the time when people see my bike packed for a trip.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/DSCN8012.jpg

Then I hear it again when they see it all setup.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/DSCN7131.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/DSCN8327.jpg

Sure, I bring along a lot but everything has been cut down and modified to fit on the bike. Most of the weight is located over the passenger seat making my bike setup for just me. This location of the load puts it were the bike was made to carry something, the passenger seat. Off the back is just my sleeping bag and tent. The Jesse's carry everything else down low. and the topbox is food.

On a bet I brought home a digital scale from work and weighed everything I pack on the bike. This included about 4 pounds of emergency food. What wasn't weighed was the actual food brought along for a two nighter. Everything else totaled 57 lbs.:D

So my load including food is way less than carrying a passenger. Yea, I still have a tank bag abd tank panniers but thos are up front were im told is an excelent place to carry additional weight.

And that bet, I won!

Sorry for the highjack, upfront. Keith did you do any modifying to the tank paniers? I have been wanting to get some for my new KLR to carry my rainsuit and cyclepump, but everything I read says the panniers will not fit because of the fairing on the '08 klr is to big. I see they are a nice fit on your adventure and I know the tank on it is larger than my fairing. Any info will be appreciated.

[Mellow]

I know all my gear combined doesn't weigh as much as a passenger. So, shouldn't be a problem.

I can tell a big difference between an empty-go-to-work bike and an I'm-outta-here-see-ya-in-a-week bike.

[Trekker]

Keith that looks great, I weighed my load before I loaded it up and it came to a bit over 62 lbs.

Then I checked to load on my bike and even before the 1,000 lb sping i put on the book says I can do 448 lbs over the bikes weight so after subtracting the gear weight I can still get up to 378 lbs before overloading :D

Isn't the load weight the rider plus gear/passenger?

[Blues Traveler]

Sorry for the highjack, upfront. Keith did you do any modifying to the tank paniers? I have been wanting to get some for my new KLR to carry my rainsuit and cyclepump, but everything I read says the panniers will not fit because of the fairing on the '08 klr is to big. I see they are a nice fit on your adventure and I know the tank on it is larger than my fairing. Any info will be appreciated.

Mongo,

The only modification i've made to the tank panniers is I got rid of the stock straps at the bottom and replaced them with Roc-straps.

Not many know that Aerostitch make 2 different sizes. The standards are huge and didn't hang right off the Adventurer gas tank. The ones on my bike are the compitition panniers. Same bag but they are tappered at the bottom. Instead of 5" from top to bottom (STD.) They are 5" at the top and tapper at the bottom to 3". These actually hang just right on that huge tank.

[braindead0]

Sorry for the highjack, upfront. Keith did you do any modifying to the tank paniers? I have been wanting to get some for my new KLR to carry my rainsuit and cyclepump, but everything I read says the panniers will not fit because of the fairing on the '08 klr is to big. I see they are a nice fit on your adventure and I know the tank on it is larger than my fairing. Any info will be appreciated.I purchased a set of tank panniers from tractor supply (designed for ATV) they fit well enough, I've got SW-Motech crash bars so that provided a nice place to attach the bottoms. They don't fit the 2008 KLR perfect, but good enough.

[Tx White Knight]

Isn't the load weight the rider plus gear/passenger?

Yep, it says bike with fuel is 628 lbs
Max load 448 lbs (Total weight of rider, Passenger, cargo and accessories)

Of the 448 lbs 62 lbs is for grear and the rest of for me so I can gain up to 378 lbs before I have to get a new bike (not saying what I am at now) :D

:tent8:

[DAD]

Weight of my gear including all cases, gear, cameras etc. is about 175lb my bike is one up only so all the weight is over the rear wheel, same as a passenger, I crank the preload and rebound up and the bike handles and rides great!

:tent8: