2-up camping......on a cruiser?

[les1234]

I've been reading some of the posts here, and have a question for 2-up I haven't seen...does anybody have any suggestions for trying 2-up camping....with a cruiser? I know I will for sure have to upgrade from the bulky wal mart stuff, to some better gear from the bacpacking outlets, but any other advice? I've got a set of oversized soft saddlebags, but it seems everything else will have to be tied behind the sissy bar.

[Chief]

Yep, you gotta have a luggage rack and some kind of big bag to fit on it and tie to your sissy bar. We've done it several times and it sure is a hassle to pack but it is do-able.

[HarpoF6]

Got a Valkyrie Tourer. Done it with a T-bag on the luggage rack... like Chief said, pain in the rear... ended up with a trailer. Makes it so much easier and a happier wife!

[Ironheadziggy76]

I think you can do it no problem. Here is a picture of how not to do it! :o

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w294/Ironheadziggy76/Dsc00012.jpg

The bag I have on the rack is a Nelson Rigg bag that is a roll top bag that has been 100% waterproof in many of the frog stranglers I have ridden in, I think it's called their Survivor bag. It had a weeks worth of clothes and extra shoes. The blue bag on the seat where your wife would set has a huge Coleman blow up air bed and a full size pillow and some other stuff in there that I could have lived without. I have a small bag on top of that with a change of clothes for when we stopped for the night so I wouldn't have to unload all the other stuff. I was on a trip to Daytona and it was 30 degrees the morning we left out, so I had to make room for all of the "Hunting clothes" that I was wearing on the way south in the saddle bags.

That being said, with the gear I have now I could probably fit most of it on the bike with this bag and still have room for the wife.

Another option would be to use a large topcase like the ones Givi makes. They claim they will hold two full face helmets so you would have lots of room and you would have a backrest for the wife. I think you can also get a rack for the top of them so you could strap on some lighter weight things on top. You can also get a large expandable tank bag that would hold a lot of stuff. It can be done, you just have to think small and plan well. What cruiser are you riding?

I have learned a lot from the fine folks on this site, now I don't look like Jed Clampett from the Beverly Hillbillies when I travel! :p

[les1234]

It would probably be my '89 FXR, with a CB750 Honda as second choice. The Harley actually gets 10 MPG better than the Honda, and doesn't put my hands to sleep as bad.1228

Here it is loaded for my New Mexico-Colorado trip last year, but it was a solo trip.Those are some huge soft saddlebags I bought just for trips. Tent, sleeping bag and some clothes are in the army waterproof bag, more clothes and tools in one side bag, rain gear, jacket, some clod weather stuff, and odds and ends in the other one.Eggshell foam sleeping pad and a tarp behind the sissy bar, on that little 6"square "luggage rack"that is between the license plate and the seat. So what I need is more compact gear, so the passenger seat can be used for a seat, instead of a place to stow gear. Did you ever try a tank bag on your Harley? On the FXR, the only thing on the tank dash is the gas guage, speedo is up on the handlebars.

[Ironheadziggy76]

les, I saw a tankbag in a catalog the other day that was made just for the Harley tanks with the center console. It may take me a while but I will try to find it for you. Good looking FXR you have! I use an accelerator that compresses my pictures till they are all nice and fuzzy, but it looks like you have a Fat Boy front end on your bike. I like that look.

[les1234]

Yeah, it has a wide glide type front end, I'm not really sure where all the parts were gathered from. I have seen kits advertized for it, but they usually have a 19" tire and the small fender, while this one has a 16" wheel, and the dresser type fender. It was pretty much like the pic when it came to me, except I tossed the head high ape hangers that came with it, and added the mini floorboards in place of pegs on the forward controles that were already on it.

[Ironheadziggy76]

les, this isn't the one I had seen before but I'll keep looking. I did find this one from Dennis Kirk but it's a little pricey. It has the cutout for the center console as well.

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp?skuId=&store=Main&catId=205&productId=p506473&leafCatId=20511&mmyId=

I have never been able to ride a bike with Ape Hangers on it more than about 15 minutes. My hands and arms start going to sleep after about 5 minutes. I don't see how people do it.

[les1234]

Same here with the ape hangers. I rode it about 2 miles with them when i got it, probably looked like a kid riding a bicycle for the first time. I just felt like i was wobbleing constantly.Also the Rotator cuffs and carpal tunnels don't like it much. I replaced them with a $5 used handlebar, the big wide ones in the picture. Mounted them on the 6" risers that were already on it, and angled the ends downward, untill I could ride it with my wrists completely straight. Shoulders and wrists are MUCH happier with that arrangement.

[Ripshod]

Hey Les, I'm catching up on old threads and I just wondered if you've got your packing situation sorted out yet. Ironheadziggy's bag is a good one. I have one which I used on my previous bike. The one I have is the largest in the series, the Jumbo Weekender (http://www.nelsonrigg.com/pages/Cruiser-Products/Survivor-Series/SVT1000-Big.htm), can't tell which one Ziggy uses from the picture. I got it because I have some gear that packs 22" long and I could get it in there. Like he said, it's 100% waterproof and it's also very rugged and very well designed. Here's a picture of the way I used to use it:

http://www.funhouserock.com/funhouse/blab/picture.php?albumid=13&pictureid=408

I'm a big fan of using large luggage instead of strapping on lots of smaller packages. It's neater, easier to secure, and in this case, since it's waterproof, you never have to worry about wrapping every piece of luggage to keep your stuff dry.

Of course, you can see that I put it forward of the rack, sitting on the rear seat and I know you're trying to leave that clear, but it's really made to mount behind the rack and it'd probably work just fine for you. I don't use it anymore and it's just sitting out in the shed collecting dust so if you could use it, you're welcome to have it for postage. As you can see, I used bungees to strap it down. It came with some nifty frame-loop tiedown buckles and I'm not sure I can find them but Nelson-Rigg is really good about replacing that kind of thing if you need them. The only thing I'd warn you about - it's possible to pack the thing up to 50 lbs. or more and if you do that, you should be very careful about having a lot of weight bouncing around way back there. It would put a lot of strain on your frame and over time it could even cause cracks in the frame. If you keep it as light as possible that shouldn't be a problem. I packed it with lots of heavy gear, that's why I put it on the seat for more support.

If you're still looking for a bag and would like to give it a try, just PM me here and we can arrange that.

[les1234]

That's a really big bag!

But for an update on my "2-up" camping, well.....

In just a few months period I went from solo......to married......then married and expecting, so I guess 2-up camping will be sometime a few years down the road! No "3-up" allowed here, although 3,4,or more is common on a motorcycle in Philippines, where my wife is from. Seems that the authorities here frown on that sort of thing....

Maybe have to start looking for a side car?:rolleyes:

[Ironheadziggy76]

Congrats les! So that's where you've been! :D

Don't let the size of the bag worry you, it rolls down smaller. That is one of the things I really like about it. I also like that it's 100% waterproof, so you don't have to mess with a rain cover. The only negative thing with the roll top is, if you have to get something out of the bottom of the bag. Zippers are easier in this case, but then you have to deal with hoping the rain cover keeps everything dry. I would replace it with the same if I ever needed to, I like it that much.

[HarpoF6]

Uh Oh! Married with kids on the way already! Guess that means a toy hauler / camper for the time being so you can still get some riding done on a campout... better than having to wait till the family is settled.

[quadancer]

We have synthetic down bags that will dry quickly if wet, but the covers are fairly waterproof. My trick is to put the T-bag on the luggage rack in back, bags over the saddlebags, then the pads and ground cloth can strap to the back of the T-bag, and another bag sits on top of it, which leaves the back seat for the ol' lady.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb223/quadancer/BIKE/Runs/Morganton003.jpg http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb223/quadancer/BIKE/Runs/Morganton001.jpg
There was no other way to do it, really.

[Walkure]

Got a Valkyrie Tourer. Done it with a T-bag on the luggage rack... like Chief said, pain in the rear... ended up with a trailer. Makes it so much easier and a happier wife!

I second that! had my Valkyrie about 2 weeks, when I started building my trailer - used to ride with tank bags, throw-over bags, large trash bags - whatever I could find, but have since, decided I do MUCH better, as a creature of comfort:

http://crbest.com/trailer/01.jpg

http://crbest.com/trailer/02.jpg

http://crbest.com/trailer/03.jpg

http://crbest.com/trailer/06.jpg

http://crbest.com/trailer/07.jpg

http://crbest.com/trailer/08.jpg

http://crbest.com/valkyrie/combo01.jpg

Roger and Karen Phillips
2000 honda Valkyrie
Home-built trailer

Oxford, Indiana

[lytle1gw]

Very nice , you did a good job.



http://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=137&pictureid=1875&thumb=1 ('http://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=137&pictureid=1875')

[Ironheadziggy76]

Looks good Roger, I need to figure out a cooler rack for mine.

[Walkure]

Looks good Roger, I need to figure out a cooler rack for mine.

Thanks.

I used to have a trailer I pulled behind the 1100 and 1200 Wings, and the tongue was too short - got some "sway" out of the rear of the bike. Decided to make the tongue longer, and that allowed room for the cooler. The tubing was "donated" by several of those weight machines, that live alongside the curb, on town clean-up days. So many people figure out how hard those things are, to keep dusted! I was adamant that my next trailer would have torsion suspension, and 12" wheels. The easiest, cheapest way was to build it myself. Found the cartop carrier on craigslist, the tubing was free, and I bought the rest either on ebay, or Northern Tool. Being able to stand it up, for storage, just "happened" by sheer luck. I intend to figure out some casters/wheels, so I can move it around the shop, as I am restoring a '51 Ford truck in there, also, and room gets a little tight sometimes...

http://crbest.com/bodywork/pageeight/03.jpg

[lytle1gw]

In just a few months period I went from solo......to married......then married and expecting, so I guess 2-up camping will be sometime a few years down the road! No "3-up" allowed here, although 3,4,or more is common on a motorcycle in Philippines, where my wife is from. Seems that the authorities here frown on that sort of thing....

Well you could always get a side car and take the whole family.P^

[SidecarMike]

Well you could always get a side car and take the whole family.P^
That's how it starts. My son grew up in a sidecar. Back in the days before car seat laws he used to sleep on the floor with the seat as a pillow. He liked it so much that 25 years later he's building a sidecar for himself. His sister already has one.
When he got too old to be seen with dad, I sold the sidecar and discovered 2 wheels get really boring real fast. I've been back on three for about 6 years now and enjoying it more every day.




http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/SidecarMike/1996%20Aspencade/100_2546.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/SidecarMike/Guzzi/DSCF0179.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/thelake/images/Motorcycles/98%20Valkyrie.JPG
http://webpages.charter.net/thelake/images/Motorcycles/DSCF0924[1].jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/thelake/images/Motorcycles/Mike_and_the_Wing.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/thelake/images/Motorcycles/yamahaDneprRig%200011.jpg

They kind of grow on you after a while. P^

[Flashdog]

Did it! I took the rack out of my unused oven and extended my stock luggage rack. Ah hell, it was chrome anyway! Man I miss that bike. A cruiser that didn't drag parts unless you really pushed it. Awesome Brembo linked brakes. Custom Corbin saddle. Too bad some illegal alien pulled out in front of us and totalled it

[lytle1gw]

That was a very nice looking setup, looks like its time to start all over. Good luck.

[alekkas]

Here is what my son and I pack for 1 or 2 nights. This year, we are going on a 6 day through all the TN/ NC stops to go see grandma and grandpa in Charlotte.

Our bed roll has gotten smaller due to a new sleeping bag and will be put into a wolfman dry duffel. That will be strapped to the top of the luggage trunk instead of what you see here. The side bags are just throw overs, but can fit a decent amount as well.

All we carry are the basics with a small eureka tent. Carry and make some food - restaurant one meal a day.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af267/alekkas/Motorcycle/Evan%20Iowa%20Ride%20Camping%202010/IMG_0876.jpg

This may be a better view:


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af267/alekkas/Motorcycle/Evan%20Iowa%20Ride%20Camping%202010/IMG_0873.jpg

[dray]

the way i used to do it