Topic: TAKING A ROAD TRIP NEED ADVICE

[Shtonecb500]

Hey everyone, Ive been working on my 750 rebuild and was going to heavily modify it but a group of friends and I have decided to ride from Michigan to Idaho for Rainbow gathering taking place in one of the national forests. Im going to just purchase a brand new stock seat for the trip and use stock luggage racks and cases...I have a harley fairing that mounted to another 750 that I plan on using.
 We will be traveling in late june early July.
Im looking for info on loading and carrying wait, carrying extra fuel, load capacity....and anything i might not be thinking of.
The longest trips Ive taken are 5-6 hour trips from michigan to Chicago. There is a slight chance that I might continue to the west coast, ride that down and come back across the country and come through the south back up to the mitten.

Ive been told I should replace the chain once I get out as far west as im going and use a new chain each way.

[jakec]

why replace the chain? also a new chain will stretch a lot so you'd have to make 2 adjustments on the first day if you're riding over 100 miles. probably good to adjust the chain on a trip that long anyways, but now you need the big socket and your 75 lb. torque wrench. what's the deal with the gathering?

[Bankerdanny]

I had to change the newish chain on my 550 about half way through a 4700 mles ride, but that was because I foolishly bought a generic chain.

Buy a good quality 0-ring chain and you shouldn't need to change it. I carry a can of chain lube with me and check for adjustment every morning when on a long ride. I did a 1200 mile ride on my 750 last summer and never needed to adjust the chain.

[754]

Learn to take care of a good chain and you should get over 10 K out of it touring, and that is non o ring..
 What are you getting for mileage ? Stock tank should be fine. I carry tire changing and flat fixing stuff when on the road..

[jakec]

Yeah, just get a DID chain and get the initial stretch out (1,000 miles or so) before the trip. then you would likely not need to adjust it, or maybe just once on the trip. Depending on model adjusting the chain sucks (if exhaust is in the way)

[andy750]

As others have said you really dont need to change the chain if its new when you start. I did a coast-to-coast ride (Boston to San Francisco) and a tour of Mexico on one chain ~16,000 miles. Another trip was around Europe on the same 750 - 3000 miles on one chain...nothing to worry about!

Good quality o-ring and you will be fine The 750 is a great touring bike. Basic maintenance and as Frank said carry some tire changing stuff/patches and you will be fine. Write a ride report when you go!
good luck!
Andy

[BomberMann650]

The givi recommended safe weight of a pannier is 22lbs.  My fjr panniers were 28.  Balanced left and right through some tedious comparing of small and large items. 

The dry bag across the pillion was full up and probably 40-50# itself.  Not as heavy as an adult human so that was good to go.

The fj has a neat feature of a selectable "hard mode" for the rear spring.  Obviously not available on a 70's CB but upgrading or respringing a decent pair of shocks will keep the bike from wallowing excessively.

Tank bags are awesome.  Happy with my dowco fastrax. 

As for extra fuel.  There are a few 1.5gallon containers out there.  My new favorite is basically a tube that is designed to clamp on the roll cage of a side by side.  But could easily get strapped to a sissy bar, tucked in with the tents and bedrolls.  If it were a little shorter, could probably get a pair stuffed in the crevice between the seat and saddlebags.

The front end is a thing to consider.  Stuffing some washers under the fork caps might be a cheap way to up the preload.

What you take on the road is entirely up to you.

My most used item were batteries.   Both AA for the flashlight and my powerbanks for phones and stuff.  A folding solar panel is a godsend.  A rechargeable flashlight is on my 2020 get it list.

Socks and Underwear were a precious resource as well.

Surprisingly enough, I did not need my tools or tire repair kit while underway.  But i had them.  And foolishly bought a rear axle wrench from cyclegear when I had to get a tire changed.  Forgetting that my big crescent was in the bottom crack of the tank bag.

A good tire gauge is a must have accessory.

Now that i look back at last summers riding.  I packed a whole lot of stuff for the "just in case" scenarios, that never got used.

Didn't use my camp stove or mess kit at all.
Rarely pitched the tent when making long distance runs.

Hell, even packed an entire evening dinner suit but never got invited to formal affairs.

[Bankerdanny]

CycleGear sells a USB port that is really useful, I was able to keep my phone charged while riding. I installed on one my 750 before my trip last year. It's wired directly to the battery and has an inline fuse and the wire to the port has a connector in the middle that is compatible with most battery maintainers. So I unplugged the cord when I put the bike away for the winter and periodically hook my maintainer to it to top off the battery.

https://www.cyclegear.com/accessories/trackside-usb-outlet

I run vintage hard bags from Shoei. If you opt for hard bags make yourself a connector out of steel flat stock to tie the bags together. It makes them much more stable and adds some load capacity. I didn't do this with my bags and had to constantly tighten them. I will be making up one this spring as part of my planning for trips when the weather is nicer.

[754]

For internet and battery charging , I take breaks at McDonald's and Starbux. Do some reading,  check messages , get hyped on coffee, then make some miles..
 Try to not lug heavy crescent wrench, for 750 axle nut, get the stock toolkit wrench.. lighter.
 I pack a bicycle pump for air, always works.

[Kevin D]

a group of friends and I have decided to ride from Michigan to Idaho

How big is the group?
Are you going to stick together?
What is the condition of the other bikes?
What's the fuel range of each bike?

[BomberMann650]

Frank, ya gotta get with the times; dutch bros coffee co is where the action is happening!

[754]

 I am to Trad to be Hip... too old to change..
 Kickstart only...