Back Ground:
as many of you guys know I deploy in a little less than one week. what some of you don't know that upon my return I will be hitting the unemployment lines thanks to Oboma's plan to discharge almost 50,000 active duty service members. Now I don't want any discussion on this. I am actually looking at this as an opportunity to go explore the world between Upstate new York and Colorado Springs Colorado.
The trip is a little under 2000 miles. I am going to be embarking on the journey in late spring to early summer of 2012.
I am looking for ideas on equipent for the bike, myself, and simple road side emergency equipment.
Before I leave, I am going to Lube the splines, Replace my tires (thinking about the Metzer 880's), oil change, replace my stator with a TPE (doing the stator cover mod at this time, even though I am going to pull the engine at teh same time to fix a couple of leaks), Shindegen Rectifier, new clutch, New Breaks all the way around, lube the steering bearings, and new NGK Plugs. Any other maintenance things I am over looking?
New equipment for the bike is going to include a luggage rack, saddle bag supports, Hard Bags(?), Trunk (?), a shield or fairing (I want a HD Batwing if I can find one cheap enough), a GPS, Power Accessory Block, Retrofitted Fat Bob Tanks (already been working on this project for a while), Volt Meter, Custom Dash (to house the Volt Meter, stock gauges, ash tray, and drink holder), Floor Boards, and Highway Pegs. Any other ideas?
My current riding gear includes steel toed boots, jeans, leather Jacket, heavy leather duster (for the brisk mornings and cool nights and any other time it might get too chilly for just my jacket), Icon reflective vest, Icon Riding Gloves, and half helmet. I plan on upgrading to a FF Helmet, chaps, riding pants, rain gear (weather isn't going to stop me unless it gets unsafe to ride), and possibly new gloves and gauntlets (maybe heated?) Comments and ideas welcome.
Items to Pack/carry are going to be a sleeping bag, small tool kit, small tarp, rope, spare cloths, water, oil, a couple of MRE's, cell phone, lap top, and a small back packing stove. I am not sure what else to pack yet.
As the title says this is going to be an ongoing thread to be used not only for my self, but for helpful tips and ideas for those planning on doing some long bike trips. So feel free to post comments, links to gear that has worked for you and any thing else that might be relevant to this subject.
HERE is a map of my anticipated rout, if I might be in your area, feel free to send me an email and I will see if updating my rout will work out. A riding buddy, meal stop, night stop, rest stop, must see places along the way ect would be great. This trip isn't about getting to the destination but about enjoying the adventure.
as many of you guys know I deploy in a little less than one week. what some of you don't know that upon my return I will be hitting the unemployment lines thanks to Oboma's plan to discharge almost 50,000 active duty service members. Now I don't want any discussion on this. I am actually looking at this as an opportunity to go explore the world between Upstate new York and Colorado Springs Colorado.
The trip is a little under 2000 miles. I am going to be embarking on the journey in late spring to early summer of 2012.
I am looking for ideas on equipent for the bike, myself, and simple road side emergency equipment.
Before I leave, I am going to Lube the splines, Replace my tires (thinking about the Metzer 880's), oil change, replace my stator with a TPE (doing the stator cover mod at this time, even though I am going to pull the engine at teh same time to fix a couple of leaks), Shindegen Rectifier, new clutch, New Breaks all the way around, lube the steering bearings, and new NGK Plugs. Any other maintenance things I am over looking?
New equipment for the bike is going to include a luggage rack, saddle bag supports, Hard Bags(?), Trunk (?), a shield or fairing (I want a HD Batwing if I can find one cheap enough), a GPS, Power Accessory Block, Retrofitted Fat Bob Tanks (already been working on this project for a while), Volt Meter, Custom Dash (to house the Volt Meter, stock gauges, ash tray, and drink holder), Floor Boards, and Highway Pegs. Any other ideas?
My current riding gear includes steel toed boots, jeans, leather Jacket, heavy leather duster (for the brisk mornings and cool nights and any other time it might get too chilly for just my jacket), Icon reflective vest, Icon Riding Gloves, and half helmet. I plan on upgrading to a FF Helmet, chaps, riding pants, rain gear (weather isn't going to stop me unless it gets unsafe to ride), and possibly new gloves and gauntlets (maybe heated?) Comments and ideas welcome.
Items to Pack/carry are going to be a sleeping bag, small tool kit, small tarp, rope, spare cloths, water, oil, a couple of MRE's, cell phone, lap top, and a small back packing stove. I am not sure what else to pack yet.
As the title says this is going to be an ongoing thread to be used not only for my self, but for helpful tips and ideas for those planning on doing some long bike trips. So feel free to post comments, links to gear that has worked for you and any thing else that might be relevant to this subject.
HERE is a map of my anticipated rout, if I might be in your area, feel free to send me an email and I will see if updating my rout will work out. A riding buddy, meal stop, night stop, rest stop, must see places along the way ect would be great. This trip isn't about getting to the destination but about enjoying the adventure.