Touring on a Softail VS a Bagger
Вставка
- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- Nick shows his gear and how he packed it for our recent ride into Death Valley. After several road trips on 3 different Softails, Nick gives some tips for packing his gear. He always gives some criteria to evaluate yourself to help determine if you'd be better off on a touring chassis Harley-Davidson. If you're looking to do some over-nighters involving camping or hotel rooms and laying down some mileage on the open road then you might be some useful "take-aways" from this video.
Like my Videos? Buy a bike at Laidlaw's Harley-Davidson.
Never Any Added Dealer Mark-Up! No Dealer Fees!
www.laidlawshar...
Follow and Message me on Instagram @matt_laidlaw
/ matt_laidlaw
All the Gear I Use to Film(Amazon Affiliate Store Front)
www.amazon.com/...
#Motocamping #HarleyDavidson #Softailtouring
I been touring near million mile mark on softail. Starting 1984 when they came out. And still on one about 35k miles a Yr.
A lifetime of memories
I really like those bikes
That’s impressive. Congratulations.
I'm 67 years old. When toured from Wisconsin to California, all I had was a Dyna, a sleeping bad, bottle of booze and some smokes. Times sure have changed lol!!
Softail fer me . Baggers too bulky and heavy -
✊🏻👍👌
Those saddlebags look really nice on that low rider. I toured for two years on my 2018 Heritage and loved every minute of it. Now I've added a Street Glide and prefer it for touring with the extra storage, GPS etc., but I'm really glad I kept the Heritage.
I ride a 2020 Slim with a quick detach sissy bar, and medium sized sissy bar bag, single Mustang seat with backrest, no pillion but a quick connect rack attached to the sissy bar. I prefer not to ride around with any saddle bags but like a medium sized quick detachable sissy bar bag. I'm 6'1", 175 lbs and the Slim fits my needs perfectly. I also added a quick detachable windshield. If I want to take an extended trip, I have a large dry bag that I can easily attach to the sissy bar rack. The softail fits my style perfectly and I have no problem taking long trips. 90% of the time, I use the bike locally. For me, I prefer the softail style over the bagger but that's just personal preference.
I think the new Harley-Davidson launch/teaser shows the rumours on a new low rider S with a 117 and FXRT fairing is correct…
I toured on my fxlrs last summer. Leatherpros, sissy bar bag and bung king crash bar made it very easy to be relaxed. . The best part was getting to my destination and being able to remove the bags and have a light bike again.
Same reason I took my Street bob 114 to Sturgis from NY over the goldwing. Wanted a nimble bike to throw around
It is amazing what one can fit on ANY Harley, if you really want to. Heck, I have a friend that did Run For The Wall all the way... on a Sporty...
Sometimes its all about being creative!
I have toured many, many times on a Harley over the last 40 years. Let me break it down to the 3 most important things,
1. Having what you need for each particular trip is more important than what you ride. 2. Make sure that what you ride will be comfortable for the distance you're planning to travel. 3. Make the necessary cargo adjustments/modifications to the bike you've chosen to carry all items in rule #1.
Can definitely relate. I’ve done 2- one week long trips on my SportGlide. Next year (god willing) will be a 2 week trip on it out towards your neck of the woods (at least if SoCal isn’t being still decimated by the Rona).
Noice! In 2024, 5 of us are looking to do Sturgis from PA, it's about 1,700 miles one way. Definitely looking forward to it. Stay safe out there bud 🙏.
@@AkaBull sweet. Well if it works in your itinerary where I can meet you guys for a bite, then awesome. I’m on the south shore of Lake Michigan
@@bigj200016 We'll definitely meet up if all goes according to plan 🙏. Sounds like a blast ✌. I don't know the area and it will be my first time over there, but I'm sure we can work something out.....
I’ve got an FXRS, and it’s going to tour for sure if I don’t get my FLTCU up and running! I Put an FXRP handlebar on it…and it has the original bags and I’ll scare up a tail bag…I’m sure I have one somewhere…..
A taller windshield really helps on the softail 1/4 fairing. Of course it breaks the factory one. The Denton performance one is a great repop. Higher quality IMO
Would love for Harley to build a softail with the street glide fairing and bags, the chassis is plenty big enough
The fat bob had a Sharknado fairing.
Your wish came true 😅
great video guys! was nice to meet all of you yesterday, wish i couldve stayed longer and talked more but had to head back up north. look forward to the next video
Great meeting you too! Thanks for saying hello!
I do one trip of two weeks and averaging 3K miles once a year, plus numerous 3 to 5 day trips. I have done these for several years now on a Dyna (Fat Bob), softail (two Slims) and now I am on a Road King Special. Saddle bags, even if they are throw overs, are a huge improvement. I also use a good rear rack and a rear back rest ( for securing cargo). Since I am usually solo, the passenger portion of the seat is also a good place to put cargo. I use the rear rack for cargo bags. Backpacks are great storage, too. Lastly, I use ratchet straps to secure everything. They are much better than bungees, rope or web straps. Enjoyed your video. I always like seeing how others do it their way.
Thanks for the comment. Always good to hear other riders setup. Thanks.
Great vid Nick....I tour on an 07 Sport Glide....love it....can take it anywhere, did a couple of 10-12 hour one ways this past summer....as close to old school I want to get lol.
Thanks for watching!
07 Sport Glide? They came out in 2018 1/2.
@@jimbert50 Good catch....busy week for some reason...07 Dyna Super Glide....Merry Christmas!
I had 2 RK’s and decided to switch to a brand new Sport Glide this year. After 4 months i traded it in for a RK again. A Special from ‘18. The Softail was to small for me and i got a lot of backpain!! I did travel not so far to Germany and Luxemburg (due to Kajona it was not possible to travel far!!) and it goes fine with tht SG. But now I’am happy again with the RK, with backrest and all. I’am from Holland and 198pds/6.2ft
On my current commute bike I have a 56 litre Givi Topbox. If I was going touring I’d get a large tank bag for small items like my phone,visor wipes etc. To that I’d add lockable panniers to keep my gear dry and secure.
First up I’d trade in the Softail on a Pan American- perfect touring bike.
It would appear Upper Management listened and emulated your Coast Glide with a Lowrider S platform. I can't wait to see her.
Did a 11 day trip, (first trip on the deluxe) hitting all the national parks from Oregon to Utah on my 2020 deluxe. No saddle bags but I did put a emo box on the side for my camera being the emo box are waterproof. I had no problem bungees are my friends and a tall sissy bar. I just love the handling on the deluxe and it had the power I needed. For 2 long trips Sturgis and Grand Canyon I actually used an 2017 883. Lol. So you can imagine the difference. They weren’t bad trips but I definitely felt the difference with my deluxe.
Are you referring to a soft tail deluxe sir? I'm new to riding
@@nelsongn9 yes
Laidlaw’s getting us ready for the new LRS/FXRT model being released next month.
Great review. Totally nailed it with the individual rider’s size and if you ride solo or not.
Looks like an awesome time, thanks for sharing. The dark cherry color is really great too. Also the ribbed seat.
For someone who puts miles on my Night rod ive always considered a road king or sportglide. That being said the VRod does well, sure I stop more frequently but its also nice to take quick water and stretch breaks. Would still love to add another bike to the garage tho
I've toured on my v rod, Softail street bob and a 1800 gold wing. I prefer the street bob.
You guys do an awesome job of bringing the riding life to everyone.
Whatever keeps the "bears" away 😂 Cheers!
🤘⚡️🤘✨✨ fxrt fairing on lowrider s is perfect for touring.
Lol at Pepto Bismol! A must!
I used to tour on my Dyna super glide I added a windshield, saddlebags and highway pegs! 600 mile days were common. But these days I'll stick to my Road Glide Special! I'm not as young as I used to be! But great video!
As a reintroduced rider, these videos are invaluable! Thank you Nick and Laidlaw Harley for continuing to educate on gear and ideas for touring. I have a ‘17 Road King and always happy to see Andrew and his Road King set up(s). Not sure that honey - bear tip will pan out in mountainous areas but anyway. Merry Christmas Matt and the Laidlaw crew!
I have been on many a trip with my Superglide and my wife! I had a sissy bar bag and Saddleman soft saddle bags. Just have to be smart on what you bring and how to pack. One thing though, we do not camp, so I do not need those items.
The camping added an extra layer of complexity for me, but it was worth it! You should try it if you like camping!
Your motorcycle is set up real nice. The saddle bags look great and hold a lot of stuff with the in line bags. Thank you for the video. Merry Christmas to all at Laidlaws!
Common, do u really need a how to video for this? Just pack your bags and go. You are all so fancy. I've traveled the Europe on A Sportster 883 with a backpack.
Haha, of course you can just pack and go! Sometimes the best trips are taken with that spontaneous mind set and no planning! But I'm an OCD type of guy so I like to be efficient and think things through, often more than I really need to think about them.
@@TH3G0ODGUY Well said Nick 👍🏻
I think the new color in the low rider s is great
I tour on my fat Bob 114. And I love it. Of course I had to make some modifications for comfort. My one major drawback is gas tank. I truly wish there was a 5 gallon option. If anyone knows of any please let me know.
I’ve seen a fat Bob with an FXDR tank, didn’t look too bad, not sure if it’s bolt on or not
@@TH3G0ODGUY thanks for the tip Nick. I’m gonna start digging.
your tour gear is very different than mine. first where is your dog? i ride with a 90# pitbull and we camp every night. we circumnavigated the U.S this past spring/ summer/ fall. now to be far i rid a roadking but there is a dog in my top box spot so we have the same pack space. im broke but that cool because we did the whole trip for like 4k. when your traveling with a dog on the cheap. i dehydrate about a months worth of food, cook stuff is a rocket stove and something to boil water in and water that goes in my left bag. my right i like to keep pretty empty but its got more water, sun glasses/ screen. all my leathers/ rain gear for me and Izzi go in a duffle on the forks/ triple tree. all our camp gear tent two expeds two sleeping bags tarp fire stuff axe saw and tarp go in a big duffel on the back seat on top of thatcis a small dry bag with two changes of clothes and sandles. we have to travel light but we've been everywhere we wanted to go and if you look you might see us out there again this year although i plan on spending a lot more time in the northwest this year. being here in ohio itll have to wait till march. in the mean time we still ride every day snow or not. tip: if you ride in 0° degrees put 10w 40 in your bike. especially if your only riding 20 or 30 miles at a time.
Love that bike...and I love the R5 with RF lens. That's a serious rig my friend!
Great video Nick! You guys definitely make me want to get out there. It's also important to go about in the way you do with, Amazon and items from outside the dealership, spending wisely. THANKS!
I do a lot of traveling on my low rider was thinking about getting hard bags it looks like I probably have to do a two into one ex
I have a sport glide with a givi 56 top case and a givi 85L dry bag for the passenger seat. Work great in 2021 went to Tennessee for tail of the dragon and Sturgis and Cody Wyoming for Yellowstone and Beartoolh Highway, I have a road glide 2020 that got delivered in January but feel I new the softail better so I took it. Next year the road glide will be my touring bike. Take a look at givi top case for your softail. From a old guy on a motorcycle enjoy and ride safe
Good video!! Please tell us how many miles/day you travelled and the comfort! PS: You have a good style...Please do a review on your camera and that big lens!!
Very cool. Very nice trip ... I did a lot of road work on my FX, and the only thing that really became undesirable, of all things, were the forward pegs. I would have rather had regular mid-low mount pegs. The FX's standard fwd's were up too high and mounted too close to be comfortable to me. Lots of miles with my boots resting on top and poking out ...
A regular, plain black Electra Glide is a bike I hope I can get at some point in the future. I've always wanted one and the people I rode with never got tired out beat up by wind or road. Just great bikes. Thanks for posting this adventure!
The Heritage is a Swiss Army knife and also a sleeper.
Great video and very meaningful content- these are the very questions that many of us face- even for dawn to dusk “day trips”. Love the video- keep up the great work!
Thank you mr Nick Culver for these informative videos and waiting for more vlogs , trip adventure videos
Nice video, excellent production.
Watching this vid after the release of the 2022 ST and having placed an order, Im lovin that bag liner tip and will look at getting some ASAP.
Fuel range is a concern on longer trips too.
Great video Nick.
The quality of this video is excellent!!
Merry Christmas Nick
The Lowrider ST is in my opinion the best all around bike. For some reason people including myself I thought that you have to have a bagger in order to say that you have arrived at the pinnacle of Harley Davidson Life … but I do not believe that’s true anymore, you only need one bike to achieve all writing styles, if you’re too tall for the Lowrider Estey you can always put forward controls on it problem solvedThen you can always get the tour pack Hardshell from advanblack
I took an electra glide basic out for a test today, just too big for me and I do long distance trips
Thanks once again for this nicely done video! Very good filming and editing. Oh, and thumbs up to Nick! He really has a talent for this and a great on screen presence.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
So, 2022 LRS Touring it is.
👍🏻
useful ! farrewell, 🤟
For me anything less than a 3 star motel is camping. Where is your first aid kit.
My first aid kit needs to be purchased! I stole Tylenol from Brandon’s kit on that trip! Definitely going to need on with my dirt skills and my pan am.
Would be nice if the 2018 and on heritage had better saddle bags like those. The heritage is a great bike but they cheaped out a bit on those bags. Good video
I just didn’t feel a road king was any better than heritage softail. The heritage had a better feel to me. More comfortable riding position as I felt I sat down IN the bike rather than on it. Sure an Ultra would be better for long tours but for non fairing bikes I didn’t feel the road king was superior to the heritage. Just a matter of taste. I could have bought either one of them with cash…I chose the heritage
Great video as always from the team at Laidlaw's. What seat are you running on your Low Rider?
That’s a LePera kick flip
Best Harley Channel
Riding in Europe, Softails are the only choice if you only have one bike. Lane splitting and filtering through traffic with a bagger is a nightmare. Also wondering wether or not huge, 6 speed,1500+cc bikes are fit for touring is comical. With minor modifications I tour around on my Honda Rebel 500 at 6ft 2" and 215 pounds at ease.
Nick, what year is your Low Rider? Can you talk to us 2021+ California owners about Stage upgrades? Have 2021 FXFBS and 2021 FLHR and still can't tune them or install the Screamin' Eagle parts.
If you could only have one do it all bike would it be the Pan America or the LRS? I saw the new 2022 colors and Harley has me considering a trade
Where are your tools, puncture kit, and air compressor? Just a thought.
They were in Jamie's bag haha
I didn't catch the saddlebag name. I might want a set. thanks
I have a 2019 Sports Glide, which I love BTW and am hoping to take a few overnighter in 2022 now that I am retired. ANy chance you could post the part # for those saddlebag liners? Thanks for the great video.
Are the sport glide bags for sale on their own from harley? Or do I have to hunt for them in the used market?
You can buy them from Harley bolt by bolt, there is no kit. Makes it expensive and a bit of a pain but you don’t have to buy them used
8:15 I was wondering why you bothered to take a basketball with you until you pointed out that it is in fact your helmet hahaha
I kind of struggle with the idea that a softail isn’t big enough to tour on. I used to tour Europe on an FZR thousand back in the day. I’m looking at a 6 week trip around the Med this summer I want a soft tail slim set up for two as the rest of the year (summer) it’s just me rather than me and squeeze. I’m 5’10” and 84kg my squeeze is 5’2” and 51kg surely a softail is big enough?
I have a 2022 softail standard and I’m looking for bags for it. I would like some hard bags like the ones on your bike. How can I find those?
I got a 2018 iron any suggestions just kidding. I'm good bar hopping. Love this channel. My ? Is where do you get your hair cut
Can you add links to the sleeping bags, tent etc. gear Nick used?
As always a great pro video, thanks
Nick, what made you choose the sport glide bags over Leatherpros?
I like the leather pros but locking hard bags were a must for me with all my camera equipment. That and I think the hard bags have a cleaner aesthetic.
@@TH3G0ODGUY I hear you, my concern is water getting into the bags. I found a company who makes a rain cover for Leatherpros and T-sport bags.
Anyone know that song that’s in the background from 5:31-7:00?
It must suck having to make Death Valley be 80% of your destination content. I’ve been to California once and seen the ass crack of the world called Death Valley and will never have a need to go near it again
??? People dislike California for a variety of reasons, but lack of good riding destinations is not one of those reasons my man. We’ve been to Death Valley on rides twice in the last 5 years, and I don’t want to alarm you but we’ve had plenty of destination ride videos posted in between.
Which kuryakyn bag are you using with the sissy bar?
Hi Nick. Thanks so much for this very helpful video! But my question is off topic: Why did you give up the Slim after a relatively short time with it? You seemed so happy with it when you got it. I'm really curious so really hope you'll answer. Thanks.
I sold it to buy a Pan Am, but the Pan Am ended up with a million preorders and then once most of those were delivered the factory stopped shipping the Pan Ams with adaptive ride height, so I thought I would have to wait until 2022 to buy a Harley and I couldn’t go nearly a year without a bike so I got the low rider s.
My question is did he have to fuel up as often as the tourers?
It’s about the same actually because of his fuel economy it makes up for the 1 less gallon
@@MattLaidlaw Hey Matt, does a stage 1 (Air cleaner and exhaust upgrade with fuel remap like V&H) affect fuel economy greatly? What about stage 2 effect? Some people say stage 2 is all you need and I want to buy a road king standard, but don't think I'll modify it, but I'll want to buy a low ryder s and will probably do either stage 1 or 2.
Your camping gear did you load them into a duffel bag and attach it to your sissy bar? Did you have a bag on your handle bar. How big was your sissy bar?
I had the taller factory sissy bar, and the camping gear was all packed into the duffel bag yes. I had no bag on my handle bars as I’ve seen too many rubbing on stuff and ruining power coated and anodized finishes.
@@TH3G0ODGUY Hey Nick thanks for your response and your response to the bag on the handle bars. Definitely something to remember and not do.
Rip Nick’s Low Rider S :(
Wow Danielle your one cool chick🥺love your bike. You look so cool on it. Smoking!!👌Hi from the uk. ❤
Deep voice for a tiny feller.
LOL , No your not putting anything in my bagger because your riding a softail. 🤣🤣🤣
What if I’m doing photography for you for free? 🤣
I forget men are small sometimes.
I’m not just small sometimes, I’m small all the time.
Same here, but I don’t let it identify me!
@@TH3G0ODGUY I’m sorry for your dilemma. I shall pray for better genes for your offspring.