| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Loaded for bear at the recent Celtic Kick-Ass Rally in Hudson, NY:  | ||
| Irideabuell |
Were you dragging pipe?!!!!!  | ||
| Diablobrian |
There's a bike under there?  | ||
| Jaimec |
It only looks low because it's parked in MUD. My friend's Ulysses did far better than my Lightning Long navigating around the rally site. Tires that work great on pavement do an awful lot of spinning on wet grass and mud. The red thing across the seat is my Aerostich Roadcrafter suit. I have the Dowco Sportbike saddlebags and Buell tank bag. Across the back of the saddle is a BMW boating-style waterproof duffel. The set up works real well and didn't really slow me down in the mountains at all. | ||
| Xbeau12s |
You can't slow down a Buell in the mountains no matter what you have strapped on (within limits) That's what I love about my 04XB12S. Loaded down she still can pull stumps up those mountain roads! I'll have to look into those Dowco Sportbike bags. How do you like them? With all that gear you probably have a little trouble seeing behind you with those stock mirrors. I replaced mine with those Napoleon style bar end mirrors from American Sportbike, Inexpensive and I don't have to yank my head around with my fulll face helmet on. I highly recommend them for loaded down trips. VEry easy to install and they come with plugs for your old mirror holes. (Message edited by xbeau12s on September 18, 2006) | ||
| Jaimec |
Actually, no problem at all with the stock mirrors. They're up high enough that I could clearly see over the duffel. It was also good to be able to check and see that the duffel was still back there, too! The Dowco bags were dirt cheap at this year's Americade. I got impatient waiting for Buell to come out with saddle bags for the Lightning Long so I bought a set there after seeing them mounted on a Suzuki SV1000S. Very roomy and well constructed. I'd posted about them on BadWeb back in June when I bought them. Here's a link for information: http://tinyurl.com/zk6de Or, for a hundred dollars more, you can get the saddlebags Buell makes for the Lightning Long. I just noticed you have a regular Lightning, not a Lightning Long. I saw the Buell bags for that model and they're downright TINY. I think you'll be better served by the Dowco bags. (Message edited by jaimec on September 18, 2006) | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
I second that......man does that bike look heavy. Looks like a lot of fun. | ||
| Irideabuell |
Jaime, How do you like the speed shield? I just put one on my xb12s and haven't had it out for a long, open road ride yet. | ||
| Jaimec |
I've had the Speed Shield for awhile now. It makes a big difference on the highway as I'm not as tired as I used to be before I put it there. The difference is subtle, but it IS a difference. I like it a lot. Found out about it here shortly after I joined. I knew joining this group would be hard on my wallet and I was right! | ||
| Mikemax |
I have the Cortech Sport side and tail bags for my Ss on trips, plus the Buell tank bag. I usually end up with my computer bag and jacket liners strapped on top of the tailbag with one of those mini bungee cargo nets. That duffel probably adds a lot of capacity. How do you strap it on so it stays solid? I just ordered the Ulysses screen like EJiii posted here a couple of days ago. If you really tour I think that with the 4" taller windshield would be sweet. I just couldn't get into the double sided tape mounting of the Lip. | ||
| Xbeau12s |
I commute everyday with my bike 60 miles round trip 95% interstate on I-90. I love that Laminar lip. It moved the buffer zone right over the top of my full face helmet (so it seems) and I have noticed also that I am not tired. The Laminar is the way to go in my opinion as it is cost effective and I've had mine on for 4000 miles and the velcro pieces are very un-noticeable and work great. No problems at all. I think I will go with those Dowco bags. Looks like a great deal. | ||
| Jaimec |
Strapping the duffel: Pretty easy, actually. I have two nylon straps with locking buckles. I got them from my local dealer after he uncrated a bike a long time ago. I lay them under the saddle bag straps (the straps that cross over the top of the saddle) with the buckles in front. After everything is secure, I lay the duffel across the top of the passenger portion of the saddle and the saddlebags, pull the nylon straps I positioned earlier around the duffel and snug the straps down hard. Holds everything in place and doesn't move. It worked with the Buell saddlebags on my Cyclone and it works with the Dowco bags on my Lightning! If you look at the photo above you can see the two straps I mentioned cinched around the duffel quite clearly. | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
Sounds like a good setup. I'm finally getting tired of jerry rigging stuff on my bike and of wearing a backpack. I've looked at the Dowcos but not seen them in person. Do they keep their shape when empty? Thanks. | ||
| Jaimec |
Mortarmanmike120: Yes, they keep their shape when empty. They come with nylon stiffeners that are a bit tricky to install into the bags. I bought mine up at Americade, so the salesman installed them for me. Looked like it takes a little patience. If you order them from the company, you'll have to install them yourself. |
