The rib and I are going to rent a Harley in Billings in May and will be flying there. Obviously we need to pack light. We cant take a suitcase because I will have to transport everything on a bike. I have the typical Military Tactical Backpack.

We will rent helmets but will be taking rain gear and plan to do laundry at least once.

It doesn't have to be water resistant but it would be nice.

We can put stuff in the saddle bags for day trips, but when going from one location to another, the rib will have to carry the backpack - longest ride from location to location is around 4.5 hours

Recommendations?

Jealous. How do I get a wife who will let me do this?

Not sure what bike you are renting but that may help. Does it have a luggage rack or rear storage? Some backpacks are more motorcycle specific that can be more easily strapped to a rear luggage rack.

I'm sure for not much more than plane tickets and the rental cost you could find a used 90s model Goldwing 1500 with the trailer included and drive that up there. Granted, you might not look as cool but you'd have the storage so your wife doesn't have to carry a backpack. Points if it has some cool airbrushed painting on it.

Another option would be to get a tank bag to reduce some of the weight your wife would have to carry in the bag. Also, you could ride on the back with the backpack while she drives.

I got the Yeti Crossroads 35L for quick one and two night work trips so all I would have to carry is a backpack. Got it on sale last year. Works well as is. Works even better with packing cubes. Fits under the seats in front of me on the plane and in the overhead bin. Pretty durable so far.

My wife is the one who got me into really riding. To be fair, we are renting their only Tri-glide so it will have lots of room. She owns a Tri-glide and that is the one we ride when we double up.

I'm thinking a bigger backpack for both of us. Enough for 3-4 days of clothes and rain gear. If we only have the trunk, she'll have to wear the backpack when going from landing place to landing place. For example - Billings to Cody. Cody to Jackson Hole. etc.

I have the Osprey Porter 30L that I travel with. I can easily pack one-week's worth of clothes in it.

Osprey has a lot of travel bags in different sizes so it's worth a look.

"Also, you could ride on the back with the backpack while she drives."

What the...........

Patagonia black hole MLC isn't a bad one

Some thoughts:

A tri-glide should have the trunk and top case, so lots of room. Get a pic of the rental and see if the storage space is the same as your's. If so, do a trial pack to see what space you will use. Keep in mind that you don't need to pack any gear of helmets, as you will be wearing that stuff. If you have to take a backpack, just get a dry bag to put in a regular one.

I went to PA in October to buy a bike, and did an9-day ride back to College Station. I took 3 days of clothes and washed 3x. I shipped all of my gear to the seller's home 2 weeks before, so I didn't have to carry any of that. I grabbed a $10 suitcase from
a resale shop, and gave it to the seller.
I've also done trips where I go to Walmart or a resale shop and buy cheap stuff and then donate it when I leave.

If I were doing your trip, I'd trial pack, then ship everything except essentials. Let your hotel know you'll be getting a package. On your last day, ship it all back, or donate it.

We're planning a 9-day 22-state ride in May.
3 days of clothing plus 1 for what I'm wearing. If the hotel doesn't have facilities, I'll just hit a laundromat.

I can fit all of that on this, but there will be a top case by May:

Dang I am jealous of a 9 day 22 state trip!

Unemployed said:

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I have the Osprey Porter 30L that I travel with. I can easily pack one-week's worth of clothes in it.

Osprey has a lot of travel bags in different sizes so it's worth a look.

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Ospreys are some of the best, but $$$ (that lifetime warranty though...)

For great budget packs, Teton Sports is an excellent alternative.

That is what we are doing (remember I have to pack for 2 - my wife). 3 days of clothes a piece. I'm a little worried about the temperature - highs 70s lows 40s. I hadn't thought about shipping gear there and back. I just know that I can't take a normal suitcase so whatever we take will need to fit in 2 backpacks. The only time it should be an issue is when we move from on point to another. If it is like our trike, there is going to be no issues.

Ours is like this


It has the trunk, the rear saddle bag and then the little gear rack on top of that. Not all of them have the luggage rack on top. If the one we are renting does, there will be no issues. If it doesn't, we'll probably have to stuff and fold the other bag and its contents all around.

For reference, this one doesn't have the gear rack.



What states are you riding?

I would call whoever you are renting from directly and ask if they have the luggage rack on the one you will be renting. If not, ask what they would charge to add it. If not, is there any way to lash a small duffle bag on top of the side fenders if it doesn't have the rack? Maybe 2 small duffles, one for each of you so you are not fighting over space? If you go the backpack route, I would get an Osprey. I have a travel backpack and a rolling duffle from them and they are worth the higher cost. Their stuff is just built better than most of the other stuff being produced these days.

You'll look great riding b$+@h on it!

StockHorseAg said:

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I'm sure for not much more than plane tickets and the rental cost you could find a used 90s model Goldwing 1500 with the trailer included and drive that up there. Granted, you might not look as cool but you'd have the storage so your wife doesn't have to carry a backpack. Points if it has some cool airbrushed painting on it.

Another option would be to get a tank bag to reduce some of the weight your wife would have to carry in the bag. Also, you could ride on the back with the backpack while she drives.

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The year was 1977…,I was 12. Dallas to Yellowstone on the back of my brother's 350. Good life experience. Broke a chain going over the pass into Jackson Hole.

Hoosegow said:

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That is what we are doing (remember I have to pack for 2 - my wife). 3 days of clothes a piece. I'm a little worried about the temperature - highs 70s lows 40s. I hadn't thought about shipping gear there and back. I just know that I can't take a normal suitcase so whatever we take will need to fit in 2 backpacks. The only time it should be an issue is when we move from on point to another. If it is like our trike, there is going to be no issues.

Ours is like this


It has the trunk, the rear saddle bag and then the little gear rack on top of that. Not all of them have the luggage rack on top. If the one we are renting does, there will be no issues. If it doesn't, we'll probably have to stuff and fold the other bag and its contents all around.

For reference, this one doesn't have the gear rack.



What states are you riding?

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I'm not familiar with the carrying capacity. It looks like quite a bit with the upper and lower areas. That's why I suggest a trial pack on your personal trike. You aren't going to be able to wear a backpack with the backrest on the trike. I'd bet that all of your stuff will fit in both trunks combined. Remember that you don't need to pack jackets, gloves, helmets, etc since you'll be wearing that stuff.

We are trailering to north GA to my aunt's home. On the way there, a couple of guys are going to get off in MS to get MS, AL, FL and then get back on to get to the unload point. We will head out on Saturday and run all the way to Kittery, ME, getting there Sunday evening. That will get SC, NC, VA, MD, DC, PA, NY, RI, CT, NJ, DE, MA, NH, VT, ME and cover 1100 miles.

Then we head west to Niagara Falls, then work our way back to GA and pick up Canada, OH, WVA, KY, TN. That'll be 1600 miles in 6 days.

Sounds like a cool adventure. Not sure how one prepares properly for a trip like that.

I went to yellowstone in mid to late may a few years back and was thankful they had plowed the road through the park and the 50 degree highs I had packed for were in the low 30s.

That sounds like a nice trip. We are talking about buying a toy hauler and spending the summers riding the great US roadways/areas -

• Pacific coast highway
• Route 66
• Appalachian trail
• New England
• Canada one year
• Alaska one year
• The Rockies

That is 7 summers.

Yah, we will be wearing our gear EXCEPT for flying out of San Antonio. I'm not wearing my gear on the plane. I'm trying to get out of the damn heat.