I received an email here from someone looking for information on peoples experiences with different touring bikes. Post up your thoughts and/or contact me to get their phone number to chat with them directly.

QUOTE:
My husband and I are looking for a good touring bike that will take us through the mountains next summer to Vancouver Island and onto Halifax the summer after.

With all the information out there and a host of opinions, I was looking to speak with someone that has taken a few long road trips and would be able to give us some advice. Is there anyone [on SMA] that could help me out?

I can be reached at work 492-2XXX ext 4377 (this is in Dundurn and not long distance from Saskatoon) or at home at 955-8XXX any time after 5 and most Fridays.

Many thanks

Lets help these guys out

I bought a Suzuki V-Strom 650 this year because of it's touring capabilities (some people call it an "adventure tourer". This is my 1st summer riding, though, so I've not tested the bike's capabilities to any real extent. Here's 2 magazine articles that describes it pretty well:

<http://www.motorcyclemojo.com/articles/2008-vstrom-650/>

<http://www.motorcyclemojo.com/articles/web-glenns-alaska-adventure/>

Send me a PM and we can talk about the bike by phone if you want.

Rod.

Done a fair amount of touring in the last several years. ie: Daytona for 4 hours of Bike Week, Texas for steak and eggs, Mexico for a beer, Victoria to see if it was raining, a couple of spins to Sturges for the spectacle and Vegas just to see some t$tties. Here's a few hints for touring:

1. Pack light. Leave as much room in your luggage as you can for all those t-shirts and tourist crap you will just have to have.
2. Take all your old and ratty socks and underware and throw them away as you use them. Saves doing laundry and somewhere along the way you will be stopping at a Walmart to get the things you forgot anyway.
3. If you are an early riser, it's a bonus. Clear out of the city you are staying in before the morning traffic and that breakfast you have an hour down the road will taste twice as good after a little chilly morning air.
4. Take some binoculars so you can try to find Waldo on the side of the mountian at that rest stop. (or a billygoat) If you forget them, you can get some cheap at Waldoworld.
5. If you aren't booking rooms ahead, plan on shutting down between 4 -5 in the afternoon. It sucks when the town you planned to stay in has an annual rodeo going on, all the rooms are booked, it starts to rain and you have to go another 50 miles to the next available room. Quiting early also gives you time to look for the local rider bar, (note: didn't say biker bar), have a cold one and meet some new friends.
6. Beware of bar stools. If you are alone, sitting at the bar is a great way to meet people but you will pay for it in the end, litteraly. Bar stools and bike seats both chafe the same areas.
7. Don't forget the sunscreen with some kind of moisturizer cus windburn hurts just as much.
8. If the convenience store across from your motel is being robbed, go to the one down the street for your morning coffee.
Just some ideas, I'm sure there are more out there.

As for touring bikes, here is my list in order of preference:

1. Honda Goldwing - comfort, reliability, luggage space, dealer network
2. BMW 1200 Something - comfort, power, electric kickstand and other gadgets
3. Kawi Venturer - same same as the honda but it's not a honda
4. Harley E Glide - some people just have to have a Harley.

If you and momma are a little younger and are willing to give up some comfort and luggage space, there are several Metric 1000 & 1300cc machines out there that will do the trick.

Just my 2 cents. &2&2&2

Scott

Nice to see that 417 people viewed the above post. Totally disappointed that after my 2 hour endeavor to post something informative and humorous, (totally loaded at the time), elicited no response, even if it was only a hearty BULL PUCKEY.

And what kind crappy spell check gives an alternative to a misspelled "elicited" as complicated, triplicated, duplicated, reduplicated or complicatedly. I think this spell check is dyslexic. Even though it helped to spell dyslexic.
Scott

BULL PUCKEY

Thank you

You about summed it up except for the underwear, commando works just as well