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Posted by Gredwar
- June 03, 2016, 23:24:38 PMI'm making the trip for the first time also and looking to ride along with others
Posted by tj
- March 12, 2016, 10:12:15 AMyes it's rigid and it can be used as a backrest!
google "bikers friend bag" and it will come up. i found them to be expensive...located this one on kijiji for $75.
Posted by greenbarn
- March 12, 2016, 09:05:55 AMQuote from: tj on March 11, 2016, 19:22:12 PMNice looking bag. Do you have any contact info for us? Is the liner PVC? looks like it would be rigid, even when empty,and water proof....new bag for the rally. holds about 30 litres of stuff.
Posted by tj
- March 12, 2016, 05:38:31 AMQuote from: CDNRatMan on March 11, 2016, 19:47:47 PMmakes you wonder about people sometimes.tj just to let you know........I had a sissy bar pack with a roll pack on top. This was super cool and packed a lot of stuff, and I had my throw over saddle bags. Last minute I bought a modular helmet for bad weather. had all this cargo netted on the back of my bike. In the state of Maryland, had to stop for a pit stop......came out and someone seems they had more need to the modular helmet then I did and removed it off my bike, never noticed it gone till that night at the motel........but did notice the bike looked funny after the pit stop but not sure why......so bought a new sissy bar pack that will fit a modular helmet inside it.....bit higher then I like but it will carry all my gear for my 2 trips this summer......
Posted by CDNRatMan
- March 11, 2016, 19:47:47 PMtj just to let you know........I had a sissy bar pack with a roll pack on top. This was super cool and packed a lot of stuff, and I had my throw over saddle bags. Last minute I bought a modular helmet for bad weather. had all this cargo netted on the back of my bike. In the state of Maryland, had to stop for a pit stop......came out and someone seems they had more need to the modular helmet then I did and removed it off my bike, never noticed it gone till that night at the motel........but did notice the bike looked funny after the pit stop but not sure why......so bought a new sissy bar pack that will fit a modular helmet inside it.....bit higher then I like but it will carry all my gear for my 2 trips this summer......
Posted by tj
- March 11, 2016, 19:22:12 PMnew bag for the rally. holds about 30 litres of stuff.
Posted by tj
- February 28, 2016, 18:10:41 PMJust checked out the Ludington/Manitowoc ferry, thanks...food for thought.
Posted by Troll
- February 28, 2016, 07:55:12 AMPersonally, I think you'd be better served by the Ludington/Manitowoc ferry....getting out of Milwaukee is almost as bad as Chicago....If it were me, I'd go around the lake at the UP, and in by Green Bay...but that's just me. The ferries are ok, done that...
Posted by tj
- February 28, 2016, 06:40:50 AMA couple years ago we went to the tail of the dragon. That was 2 days of riding each way...great experience, although on the way back I was thinking how nice a trailer would be!
From Ontario, we figure Sturgis is 3 days of riding each way...roughly 2200kms or about 1400 miles. We will be taking the ferry from Michigan to Milwaukee...trying to stay out of the mess they call Chicago.
A different route on the way back is a good idea...have to look at the map.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- February 24, 2016, 18:29:59 PM 
like I did for Drift In, was an awesome experience.......and stop along the way and met Drifter riders in all of the states......
Posted by Troll
- February 24, 2016, 18:24:17 PMThe long ride, there AND back is the best part of the whole experience! Make it a loop so you don't have to go back the same way!
Posted by bambam0099
- February 24, 2016, 13:17:11 PMQuote from: tj on February 22, 2016, 10:23:52 AMPart of the fun for us was to ride among hundreds of others bike. There were a few instances where you could feel the ground shake at a stop light. It was a really great experience and one that we are looking forward to again. The only downside is that certain areas like Devils Tower, etc., took forever to get into.I've heard that the riding should be done before or after the rally because of all the traffic...don't know how true that is...
You're riding from Ontario? We thought of riding from our area, Utica NY, but one guy kept telling me, "The problem with that long of a ride is that you have to ride back!". Needless to say, we trailered our bikes and make the 26hr drive driving straight through both ways. Have to admit, glad we did, especially when we ran into a few big rain storms.
Remember, last year was the 75th Anniversary with over a million bikers; I doubt there will be that many this year but who knows.
Posted by tj
- February 22, 2016, 10:23:52 AMQuote from: gdrudd13 on February 22, 2016, 08:05:05 AMI've heard that the riding should be done before or after the rally because of all the traffic...don't know how true that is...The riding around Sturgis is fantastic. Part of what there is to do depends on how far away you want to ride. There is great riding in the badlands. If you want to go farther away, Beartooth highway is fantastic to ride, so is Chief Joseph Highway. Ride beartooth second as it is a much better ride and nothing seems as good after you ride it. Also a little bit of ride is Cody wyoming. If you're into firearms at all, you'll want to go to the buffalo bill museum. One entire wing is firearms. You have to go to the basement though, phenomenal gun collection. Both those might be a little far to ride during the day, but if you have time on either side of your trip they're worth a stop.
Can't help much with the Sturgis part. I went there last summer, but not during the rally. There were still a ton of motorcycles there.
Posted by tj
- February 22, 2016, 10:22:05 AMOne suggestion, never let your tank get under 1/2 if you can if you ride out of the state like we did. There were a couple times that we thought we were going to run out of gas and barely made it to a filling station. In fact, the next time, we are each bringing an extra 2 gallons of gas to keep on our bike. Obviously, common sense things like water, rain gear, tools and battery jump (yes, our friends ride Harleys! LOL!) were important.
We'll be staying in Rapid City also. Counting the days!
Here's a link to a few pictures we took last year
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7dDzA_iCGZJfm1HM2JLY3paR3pUalVNUklIZGJBQUhXR3k5cmp5UG5xbERUMzB4UTBVY1E
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2 gallons...wow. I was thinking to put an extra litre in the bag. I'll have to rethink that.
Alot of nice pics! Love the customs. Nice trailer and a sharp looking drifter you have there. We talked about trailering the bikes, but we're riding instead...still not sure if that's a good idea lol.
We'll be at the econolodge. Not sure if we're booking hotels on the way there and back yet.
Posted by gdrudd13
- February 22, 2016, 08:05:05 AMThe riding around Sturgis is fantastic. Part of what there is to do depends on how far away you want to ride. There is great riding in the badlands. If you want to go farther away, Beartooth highway is fantastic to ride, so is Chief Joseph Highway. Ride beartooth second as it is a much better ride and nothing seems as good after you ride it. Also a little bit of ride is Cody wyoming. If you're into firearms at all, you'll want to go to the buffalo bill museum. One entire wing is firearms. You have to go to the basement though, phenomenal gun collection. Both those might be a little far to ride during the day, but if you have time on either side of your trip they're worth a stop.
Can't help much with the Sturgis part. I went there last summer, but not during the rally. There were still a ton of motorcycles there.