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Long distance two up hauling

PapaGeno21

PapaGeno21

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Alright so I am wondering about something. Last year me and my GF took our bikes to my friends house in PA, and honestly the ride killed her. She just cannot handle a ride like that on her Ninja 500. Now I was a LOT better off on my bike. I think half of the reason I was fried mentally was just constantly worrying about her behind me.

So this time around I am thinking about having her ride on the back of mine and just doing it two up. That will mentally be a LOT better for me, I can zip through traffic and not have to worry about what shes doing. From experience I know she is a great passenger. I just don't want her on my bike all the time so I got her the Ninja LOL.

I am wondering about a few things.

Windscreen. I am using the CopperDawg screen, and while I love it I don't think it was designed for the long distance running. Then again I haven't used anything other than it really from the getgo so who knows. The CD Screen there is no buffeting for me, but it directs mostly all the air at my face. Wondering if a big like Puig screen would block a lot of wind? I am 5'6" tall if that matters. Do any of you guys use the CD Screen for long distance? Is that something I should just not be concerned about?

Saddlebags. I am using Nelson Riggs bags currently. Great stuff and they hold a TON. What sucks is they tilt inwards towards the tires. Is there ANYTHING out there that is a metal frame of some sort that can go behind them to keep them outright like how hard givi cases would be mounted? I use them with a tail/tank bag. I have the mounting kit for both options, so last year it was a tail bag attached to the saddle bags. I have used that as only a tank bag though and it works great with the suction cup attachments.

I already have a 12v outlet, highway pegs, my seat has been redone by Spencer in FL,

Thanks for any advice you guys have for something like this!
 
I bet she was fried because she barely ever rides.

It would be like going out and sprinting 5 miles when before all you did before was jog on the spot. Anyone would quit after that, you have to build up to it

Why not just help her get used to it with more shorter rides rather than giving up? It would certainly make your ride more pleasant!

A Ninja 500 is a friendly, comfortable bike and easy as pie for a trip like that. That's the whole reason you got it for her, right?

Show her the video of the guy crossing the country coast to coast on a $250 Ninja 500 :)
 
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Dustin said:
I bet she was fried because she barely ever rides.

It would be like going out and sprinting 5 miles when before all you did before was jog on the spot. Anyone would quit after that, you have to build up to it

Why not just help her get used to it with more shorter rides rather than giving up? It would certainly make your ride more pleasant!

A Ninja 500 is a friendly, comfortable bike and easy as pie for a trip like that. That's the whole reason you got it for her, right?

Show her the video of the guy crossing the country coast to coast on a $250 Ninja 500 :)
Click to expand...

I am interested in your post, as it is based on an assumption she had no previous experience with longer rides prior to our ride out to PA.

We did build up to it, she did log a good bit of miles for her first season, and she was ready for it. The bike did fine but it is not comfortable. We are not giving up, and she is still riding. But for this specific trip I am using the bike as just transportation. We are not going down there to enjoy the scenery or anything, just strictly going down to hang out at a buddies house and use the bike to save on this ridiculously priced gasoline.

It is just a LOT easier having her on the back so I don't have to worry when I want to pass a line of cars and to make sure she is still back there. That bike just does not have the pickup and sometimes is annoying.

So for this in particular ride I would prefer her on the back. I feel as though if setup correctly the FZ1 is a great touring bike I am just looking for some pointers for setting it up like that.

AS far as the dude doing the country on the 250, well he can have his 250. I will stick with my 1 Liter bike ;)
 
Why don't you get a set of G4 headsets so you can talk to each other while you ride? It made my wife much more comfortable. We could discuss if we wanted to pas and when. I could warn her if cars were ready to pull out or there was debris on the road.

They work on separate bikes or 2 up. I think they make the trip way more fun and easy to tolerate. I have to stop for gas about every 100 miles anyway.

Just a thought.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
This guy has a simple fix for your saddle bags. http://www.998cc.org/forum/gen-ii-mods/12497-soft-saddlebag-supports-rev.html

CD screen... well Papa, it's a personal choice. I've ridden behind some pretty tall screens and still have buffeting issues although I am 4" taller than you. The C Bailey is about the best at blocking wind. It's like a billboard. But, I like the CD screen and the full-on wind. I've come to rely on that wind at speed and I use it as a cushion to "lean" on and take all the weight off my arms.

Troy had the best idea too... headsets. Michele and I use them every ride. It's so much easier to take a trip with these. Like Troy said, you can discuss passing, life in general, danger ahead, pothole to the left, sand on the corner, make fun of cagers, gotta stop and pee, need fuel, just need to stretch.

Two more things. Stop more often and stretch but more important, remain hydrated! That brings up #2, get two quality camelbacks to keep water in. You can drink while riding. Yes, you'll need more bathroom breaks but that is the idea. Move around, stretch, etc... Never simply push to get the most miles out of a day on a bike. That's for cages.

Michele and I rode from NH to MI and back. We had an awesome time and she'd only had her (at that time) FZ6R for 3 months. It was an awesome trip, lots of stops over two days and the Scala headsets were a total blessing. that was a round trip of 1500 miles. We stopped overnight halfway each direction.
 
PapaGeno21 said:
I am interested in your post, as it is based on an assumption she had no previous experience with longer rides prior to our ride out to PA.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily no prior experience but I just based it on how little you ride as a comparison. Larger trips need to be built up to, that's all I was saying.

It was just surprised that she had so much trouble on a very smooth, soft and comfortable bike with lots of wind protection.

I shouldn't have assumed though, my bad. You will enjoy your trip with her on the back I'm sure and it will be easier without needing to worry about her on the other bike :)

It wasn't a 250, it was a 500 that he bought for $250 and rode on a shoe string budget. You should show her the video as an inspiration to go out and seek adventure on her 500 too :) It's quite a fun story
 
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I like the Scala idea as well. Maybe hit up a Kawi forum and see if anyone has a seat recommendation. Though better than a sport bike I think after 100 miles with her on the back you both are going to regret the miles in front of you.
 
PapaGeno21 said:
Alright so I am wondering about something. Last year me and my GF took our bikes to my friends house in PA, and honestly the ride killed her. She just cannot handle a ride like that on her Ninja 500. Now I was a LOT better off on my bike. I think half of the reason I was fried mentally was just constantly worrying about her behind me.

So this time around I am thinking about having her ride on the back of mine and just doing it two up. That will mentally be a LOT better for me, I can zip through traffic and not have to worry about what shes doing. From experience I know she is a great passenger. I just don't want her on my bike all the time so I got her the Ninja LOL.

I am wondering about a few things.

Windscreen. I am using the CopperDawg screen, and while I love it I don't think it was designed for the long distance running. Then again I haven't used anything other than it really from the getgo so who knows. The CD Screen there is no buffeting for me, but it directs mostly all the air at my face. Wondering if a big like Puig screen would block a lot of wind? I am 5'6" tall if that matters. Do any of you guys use the CD Screen for long distance? Is that something I should just not be concerned about?

Saddlebags. I am using Nelson Riggs bags currently. Great stuff and they hold a TON. What sucks is they tilt inwards towards the tires. Is there ANYTHING out there that is a metal frame of some sort that can go behind them to keep them outright like how hard givi cases would be mounted? I use them with a tail/tank bag. I have the mounting kit for both options, so last year it was a tail bag attached to the saddle bags. I have used that as only a tank bag though and it works great with the suction cup attachments.

I already have a 12v outlet, highway pegs, my seat has been redone by Spencer in FL,

Thanks for any advice you guys have for something like this!
Click to expand...

I guess what it should come down to is what is she more comfortable doing. If it is just for an occaisional trip and she is happier riding pilon with you then do it. Make sure that before hand she is comfortable on the rear seat. It still comes down to making sure that enough leg stretching/ butt breaks are scheduled in. Making sure that the saddlebags are not flopping around will help with reducing your fatigue factor as well.

I have done (back in the day) long two up trips, including my honeymoon trip with my wife. As long as we stopped enough my wife was happy on the back. If the weather is mitigated by proper gear and you plan a relaxed pace it should be fine.

The key is making her comfortable, and knowing what she is willing to tolerate for an enjoyable ride. Everyone's different when it comes to what they will tolerate for a good ride. Knowing the other rider's wants and needs can make or break a ride wether it is two up or on individual machines.
 
If you don't want to make your own softbag supports these Givi ones should work just fine even with a FE kit as they don't bolt on to the stock fender.

GIVI SOFT LUGGAGE SIDE HOLDER YAMAHA FZ1 T271 | eBay

Personally I don't think the FZ1 has great pillion accommodations, but 2 hour stints are definitely doable. Just take a nice 15-20 minute break when you stop for gas to stretch those legs. The biggest issue I find is that the passenger tends to slide too much into the rider...
 
OK guys, thanks for all the suggestions!

One question for Dustin. What exactly is how little I ride? If 8-10K a year is not a lot in your book, then that's fine. But in RI weather that is pretty damn good in mine!

I should have been a little more clear, but I was falling asleep while writing my first two posts.

We are using the Sena SMH10's. I actually bought them before she ever even drove her bike, and let me tell you those things are a life saver! She told me end of last season that if I had not of bought them she would have given up as I wouldn't have been there to instruct her.

As far as her driving her bike down there, its not happening. She was unbelievbly sore from the ride and refuses to do it again and I don't blame her. I hate her bike after 45 mins on the thing, I cannot imagine 6 hours.

We do stop for breaks, about once an hour or so. Works well as we can use restrooms and just stretch.

Let me just get this set in stone here guys. This is for maybe 1-5 times this year going to my friends house. She will be riding her bike otherwise, as she loves it. Just did not like this specific ride.

I cannot afford to take my truck down there this year as the gas is around 120-140 bucks for the trip. Her car is not reliable so that's not an option. This is why I would like to take my bike. If my truck got 25-30mpg this would never have been a question. I took my truck end of last year and it was the most enjoyable ride down to his house but it was very costly.

Looks like I will stick with my CD Screen for it, as due to no buffeting I am most likely better off with that. Anyone know if aftermarket rear seats make a difference?

Thanks for all the input guys! Oh and NJ, thank you SO MUCH for that link! That is EXACTLY what I am looking for!
 
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PapaGeno21 said:
One question for Dustin. What exactly is how little I ride? If 8-10K a year is not a lot in your book, then that's fine. But in RI weather that is pretty damn good in mine!
Click to expand...

Fair enough! But how much does she ride? If she can't handle it, then you're probably right to have her on the back instead
 
Geno,

I had those exact brackets when I first had my FZ and they work great! When I bought the hard bag set up I sold them to a fellow member and he liked them as well. They are fairly unobtrusive and don't spoil the look of the bike and are sturdy enough to do the job.

Personally, I think rear sets would make for a tighter bend at the knees and be less comfortable.

Any time you can ride the bike vs. take the car/truck is a good thing in my books. It tends to be a bit more intimate for two up as well.;)
 
I have the Corbin front, rear and backrest. I'm sure the backrest would be a comfort on a long ride. The cost is a bit crazy. Of course, I've never ridden on the back and my wife has only done it once or twice (she loves her Ninja 250 too much), but my 10 year old daughter and 12 year old son seem to like it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
One of the things that I did to help my wife be more comfortable as a passenger is to use MFW Vario adjustable foot pegs. She is only 5'4", but her knees bugged her on longer rides. She loves the pegs. She isn't liking the Corbin passenger seat that much. Looks like the stocker is going to get worked over.
 
Dustin said:
Fair enough! But how much does she ride? If she can't handle it, then you're probably right to have her on the back instead
Click to expand...

She did around 3K last year. We went to PA in July I believe, and after that ride she basically did not want to touch the bike for a long time. It literally like disgusted her. She is riding again now, but that ride was just too much for her and I may have pushed it or maybe I just did not prepare her enough for it. Either way, we feel her on mine will be fine. Just got to figure out the best way to setup for it.

If the weekend is nice, we are going to do a test run of around 150 ish miles to see what we would like to change up.

I am currently looking around at saddle bags. I was looking at the top cases, but they are not quick and easy to remove like the Blaze Sport Saddlebags and I think I should just get those. Making my own supports for the bags is not going to happen as making the proper bends requires a nice vice which I don't own. As far as the Givi support system, I was looking at that in depth this morning and it will not work with my style of FE.

I love the blaze sport bags though and their support system. It is just such an epic design and seems so stupid easy to use. I think if I get those, and in conjunction with my tank bag we would have enough room for stuff to last the few days that I go out there for.

Plus, they aren't that bad looking either. I have a feeling I would use them often as they are so easy to go on and off.

The camel-backs was a great idea. I got to look into that.

All I got to do now is get in touch with Lee and ask him how much I should adjust the shock for the extra person and luggage.
 
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I am kind of wondering how this setup would work.

This Shad Top case mount, Yamaha FZ1 Accessories, Yamaha FZ1 Top Case Mounting Kits by SHAD

And then use this knockoff Givi bag. The Shad cases are nice but they are pricey and Givi is just way out of my price range.

Motorcycle Scooter X Large Trunk Top Case fits 2 Helmet | eBay

Been reading and a lot of people have been happy with that case.

If I used that Shad mounting system, I could leave the part that mounts under the tail on there all the time, and just install and remove the main arms as needed. I would only use the big top case for long hauls.

So between that top case, the Blaze Sport saddle bags, and my Nelson Riggs tank bag I think I would be pretty much able to carry anything I wanted.

Would that be a good setup?
 
That would be a GREAT setup. The only recommendation I have would be to get a top case that has an available back rest for her. If you are riding two-up AND she has a soft back rest, she'll be forever grateful.

Another thing that would help her as no one makes a great pillion seat would be an Airhawk pillion cushion or something similar. The rear seat on an FZ1 absolutely sucks and it doesn't matter if it is OEM, Sargent, Corbin, Top Saddlery, etc...
 
What is an Airhawk pillion cushion? I kind of assumed there will be no aftermarket seat that will make it better so I am interested in that.
 
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