Travel light, or in comfort?
Going the way I did, a guided group tour, it's not such a quandary as the support vehicle carries luggage and hotels are pre-booked etc.
The hold baggage allowance on American Airlines is 23kg so more than ample for a two-week trip, even with minimal bike gear.
I took my bike boots and armoured trousers, it's a long trip and personal safety is a must. Now that I've done the ride I know that the trousers were not a problem. Thermal leggings when it's very cold, nothing when it's not so cold, or hot of course. They were not uncomfortable nor were they hot even on the warmer days. They are fabric, but waterproof, so air does filter through.
As for the jacket, I will wear my H.D. leather jacket to travel and to ride. It's got six vent zips and I have found, in the hot UK weather, that they keep it cool enough when on the move. It proved to be the case on the two or three days that we had warmer days on the trip. Some rode in T-Shirts but, for me, that is not a safe way to ride. I don't think I'd fall off, but it's possible that someone, a car/truck driver, might knock me off!
I took waterproofs, to wear over my legs and top, but didn't use them. We only had two days of rain and my bike trousers and jacket coped fine with that. I also wore my cut so that helped with the rain and cold.
And there's the obvious technical stuff like my TomTom camera, lead for charging (there's a USB connector on Low Rider already, I think), plus leads for phone and camera and US-UK adaptors with USB sockets on the UK plugs. All of which I left behind in the UK - DOH!!!! I'd packed a bag but couldn't fit the boots and trousers in so changed to a larger case, forgetting to transfer my camera, mount and phone mount, cables etc. from a pouch in the bag to the new suitcase. What an idiot!
I was thinking of taking a bag that I can carry while on the bike, this would hold my camera, phone, waterproofs and anything else small and personal that I might need. A couple of bungee cords would be useful to strap the bag to the back of the bike. I do have a magnetic tank bag but with the instruments on the tank it may not be a great idea.
However, the softail, and all of the other models used, had panniers which easily held the above items so I didn't take a bag, plus there's pockets of course.
The hold baggage allowance on American Airlines is 23kg so more than ample for a two-week trip, even with minimal bike gear.
I took my bike boots and armoured trousers, it's a long trip and personal safety is a must. Now that I've done the ride I know that the trousers were not a problem. Thermal leggings when it's very cold, nothing when it's not so cold, or hot of course. They were not uncomfortable nor were they hot even on the warmer days. They are fabric, but waterproof, so air does filter through.
As for the jacket, I will wear my H.D. leather jacket to travel and to ride. It's got six vent zips and I have found, in the hot UK weather, that they keep it cool enough when on the move. It proved to be the case on the two or three days that we had warmer days on the trip. Some rode in T-Shirts but, for me, that is not a safe way to ride. I don't think I'd fall off, but it's possible that someone, a car/truck driver, might knock me off!
I took waterproofs, to wear over my legs and top, but didn't use them. We only had two days of rain and my bike trousers and jacket coped fine with that. I also wore my cut so that helped with the rain and cold.
And there's the obvious technical stuff like my TomTom camera, lead for charging (there's a USB connector on Low Rider already, I think), plus leads for phone and camera and US-UK adaptors with USB sockets on the UK plugs. All of which I left behind in the UK - DOH!!!! I'd packed a bag but couldn't fit the boots and trousers in so changed to a larger case, forgetting to transfer my camera, mount and phone mount, cables etc. from a pouch in the bag to the new suitcase. What an idiot!
I was thinking of taking a bag that I can carry while on the bike, this would hold my camera, phone, waterproofs and anything else small and personal that I might need. A couple of bungee cords would be useful to strap the bag to the back of the bike. I do have a magnetic tank bag but with the instruments on the tank it may not be a great idea.
However, the softail, and all of the other models used, had panniers which easily held the above items so I didn't take a bag, plus there's pockets of course.
If you are prone to 'Numb Butt' syndrome it would be a good idea to take, or buy if you don't already have one, a 'Comfort Seat'.
I've seen a lot advertised on Facebook but I've had an Airhawk Comfort Seat for years and it took me on long rides on the Shadow and the Harley Sportster. Didn't really need it for the CTX1300 so much but I still used it on long runs. It certainly helped me on the longer stretches of Route 66.
Quite expensive when I bought it about 7 years ago, £56, but just looked it up and it's over £100 ! Cheaper versions are available.
I've seen a lot advertised on Facebook but I've had an Airhawk Comfort Seat for years and it took me on long rides on the Shadow and the Harley Sportster. Didn't really need it for the CTX1300 so much but I still used it on long runs. It certainly helped me on the longer stretches of Route 66.
Quite expensive when I bought it about 7 years ago, £56, but just looked it up and it's over £100 ! Cheaper versions are available.
Another thing that I did take is my cut, as in the photo on the left. That is me on the left by the way, my friend Frank was a paratrooper in the Royal Engineers Airborne hence the red beret.
I checked with C.N.A. and they said that cuts are not a problem but I understand that in some States they don't allow the wearing of motorcycle club/gang patches. My cut only has veteran badges and patches and only attracted respectful remarks rather than arrest! My cut used to have lots of pins, poppy, remembrance, RAF, Aircraft etc. but they used to get caught on anything and everything so I restricted the amount of pins. Left a lot of pinholes but I can live with that. on the list below I put 3 pairs of gloves, the idea was if one or two pairs got wet I'd have a back-up pair. Didn't need them but I did take two pairs of gloves. One is warmer than the other so that worked out well. |
List of Stuff to Take and to Remember
This list took me to 21.1kg, I'm hoping the weighing device I used is pretty accurate! (it was :-) )
This list was made in 2019, updated in 2020 & 2021 so if you are going in the future you may not need the Covid proof of vacination etc. Returning to the UK, in April 2022, there was no restriction on entering the UK so immigration/customs was very quick.
Front and back of my cut as of 16 Octover 2019
Two badges on the front next to each other are the RAF Crest and the Royal British Legion Riders Branch Crest
To the left, right and below of the RAF crest there are metal pins for the RAF Masirah (Oman) crest, Oman crossed swords and Arabic dagger (Kunja) and the double pin is RAF Masirah and RAF Salalah station crests side by side for the Association.
Two badges on the front next to each other are the RAF Crest and the Royal British Legion Riders Branch Crest
To the left, right and below of the RAF crest there are metal pins for the RAF Masirah (Oman) crest, Oman crossed swords and Arabic dagger (Kunja) and the double pin is RAF Masirah and RAF Salalah station crests side by side for the Association.