Long Distance Advice

[OkState]

Just wrapped up my first true long distance motorcycle trip ever, doubled my previous longest day with one 667mile day. 2700 miles round trip "commute" for work from central OK to Western NY.

I love the S10 for my normal riding which is typically more dirt and less highway. This commute however I need to make some long days in the interstate. Given that it was quite windy most of the trip, the S10 was terrorized by the wind and turbulence on the interstate much of the way.

I've thought about looking for a used "Touring" bike for use on this trip which I would like to repeat a few times a year, and leave the S10 setup more for dirt and adventure riding. So My request for advice: Will I gain much on the interstate with a large touring bike - Electra Glide, Royal Star Venture, GW, even FJR? or something else?

I can add a giant windshield, grip heaters, fancy seat, cruise control to the S10. But i'm thinking a bigger, heavier, dedicated touring machine maybe a better investment and leave my S10 to be setup for play time.

Any advice?

 

[Firefight911]

Nope. You need to adapt YOU to this type of riding. I have done literally hundreds of thousands of miles of riding and long distance stuff. Last year I did an 8700 mile trip in 20 days starting with a trip from San Diego to Jacksonville in 44 hours ad 58 minutes.

IMO, the S10 is excellent in the wind as long as you are very relaxed and light on the bars. It involves getting the ergos right so you aren't over reaching to the bars, you are comfortable, and, most importantly, you are relaxed.

I don't think you'd do much better with another bike.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk which means there are more than likely spelling errors!

 

[BadKarmaPa]

OkState,
Do have panniers mounted?
I have noticed gusty winds push me around a bit. I have wondered if my choice of panniers maybe doesn't help in cross winds.

 

[Hungry Tiger]

I agree w/ FF911. The problem is that you are on a bike vs in a cage. With a medium V-Stream I was able to handle 60+ mph head and cross winds that tipped over 3 semi trailers on I-10 between L.A. & Phoenix. Slowed down from 75 to 65 for 90 deg cross winds though.

Sent from my A1_07 using Tapatalk 2

 

[OkState]

OkState,
Do have panniers mounted?
I have noticed gusty winds push me around a bit. I have wondered if my choice of panniers maybe doesn't help in cross winds.

Yes, I had the OEM panniers and top box and a wolf man bag on the pillion. Not quite as big of a sail as your photo, but certainly catching some cross winds.

Also, I'll note that I handled the wind ok, never felt like the bike was unsafe - although a couple of gusts knocked me out of my lane.

 

[528Hz]

Just stay ahead of everyone on the interstate and get some sailing lessons for those strong side gusts ::025:: ::003::

 

[HoebSTer]

Yes, I had the OEM panniers and top box and a wolf man bag on the pillion. Not quite as big of a sail as your photo, but certainly catching some cross winds.

Also, I'll note that I handled the wind ok, never felt like the bike was unsafe - although a couple of gusts knocked me out of my lane.

Heck, I have had my Honda ST1100 pushed well into another lane in Kentucky. It was scary. I have also been in some wind just west of Jackson hole WY where it blew a camper out of the back of a pickup with three kids in it. Not fun! I don't think he Tenere is any worse, probably better than a fully faired bike as the ST1100.
As Phil has said, light on bars, learn to stear bike with foot peg pressure in certain conditions, set bike up and enjoy your ride.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

This is how I was loaded when riding in Hurricane Irene as it hit Vermont.



I was so happy to be on the super stable S10. Side cases, no side cases, the S10 is a heavy bike with the weight down low. It holds the road dramatically better than my old DL1000 and DL650.

In anything less than a hurricane the S10 does an excellent job of standing up to wind. In a hurricane the S10 and every other vehicle gets blown all over the place. Get out of the weather, idiot.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I can switch from tour to dirt mode in a matter minutes. Pop the panniers, swap windshields, tank bag, water bottle holder,
& good to go.


No need for another bike, just a few parts to swap out.

 

[Roge]

I agree with the earlier comments its a matter of tuning yourself in and then getting on a mission, I have the Goldwing and the S10, for me I would prefer to cruch distance on the S10. If you get in tune with the ride and bike distance passes quickly if you don't oh dear..... By this I mean getting the bike as comfortable as you can and want, screen, bar hight, peg position, seat etc I have a Sena BT I/C for music, GPS, bike to bike & telephone. But I think more than any of those getting yourself sorted so that fuel, food, drink, and comfort breaks coincide and setting achievable goals to exceed.

 

[Rasher]

I have had many sport and sport-touring bikes and big fairings are much worse in the wind.

Both the ADV bikes I have had (GS + Tenere) have handled wind better than any faired bike I have owned, heavy wind on faired bikes has more affect on the front end IMO and can make it feel very uncomfortable (as if it is going to tuck) in heavy winds.

Certainly relaxing a bit and letting the bike stabilise itself helps all bikes, but unless you get something with no fairing and no panniers I don't think your gonna gain much in this department.

Maybe comfort could be better, I like the ADV bikes as they do everything very well, touring bikes have better protection from the elements and similarly comfy riding positions, but I do not think apart from better wind protection they have much more to offer (maybe better at cruising above 80mph).

The only reason I would not use the S10 would be to keep the bikes miles down, in which case I would look for a Yamaha XJ900 - big and comfy with decent fairing, shaft drive, fairly economical, not too heavy on tyres and servicing costs, will last forever, can be picked up for peanuts.

 

[OkState]

Thanks everyone for the input. I do love the bike and if there's no gain going with a full fairing I'm going to focus on making this one just a bit better on the long haul. Bigger windshield, seat upgrade, ...

 

[Doug44]

I am not down grading the S10 ability but IMHO all the 1800 Gold Wings I owned are much better on a commute you describe. They are affected less in handing interstate winds and much less buffeting. My FJR was worse in winds, however if you are looking for a smaller bike than a H.D. Or Wing, my BMW R1150RT was a great tour bike in wind, cold, etc.

 

[Xdriver]

Best bike I ever owned in wind was the BMW 1200RT. I don't know why it was better exactly, but I didn't even look at wind in the forecast when I'd ride. It was that good. The S10 is an almost naked bike. It reminds me of an FZ1, or the 1200GS I'd once had as far riding in wind. It's just something to accept and get used to. A day of crosswinds on the S10 is going to be a long day. Just how it is. Headwinds I've made much better with the MRA Xcreen adjusted straight up.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I am not down grading the S10 ability but IMHO all the 1800 Gold Wings I owned are much better on a commute you describe. They are affected less in handing interstate winds and much less buffeting. My FJR was worse in winds, however if you are looking for a smaller bike than a H.D. Or Wing, my BMW R1150RT was a great tour bike in wind, cold, etc.

Interesting, as my 2 FJRs were absolute rock solid in really nasty cross winds.

 

[creggur]

Thanks everyone for the input. I do love the bike and if there's no gain going with a full fairing I'm going to focus on making this one just a bit better on the long haul. Bigger windshield, seat upgrade, ...

That's the spirit! Coming from a fully-fared sport-tourer as my last bike, I'd say this is the best plan. Once you get the Tenere dialed in she's actually quite good at whatever mission you throw her way. Enjoy!

 

[markjenn]

I'm going to go against the "the S10 is the bestest in all conditions" grain here also.

I used to own a FJR and have ridden thousands of miles behind other big sport-tourers (RTs, ST11, ST13, K16GT, Connies) and even logged quite a few Wing miles. There is no doubt in my mind that they all are superior bikes aerodynamically. The S10 is pretty nasty in crosswinds, not any worse than other big adventure bikes, but when you have a tall bike with a relatively narrow windshield so far from the rider, there is only so much you can do.

Having said this, there are other areas where I like the S10 better for touring (e.g., legroom, heat control, etc.), so overall, I think the S10 is about as good as it gets and if I were to take off for the opposite coast tomorrow, I'd just as soon be on the S10 as a FJR. But it is not the equal of these other bikes aero-wise, so if this is your hot button, you can do better.

- Mark

 

[OkState]

Thanks for the counter opinions. I plan to give the s10 another go at this long road trip with a couple mods. I'm not convinced of the physics either way. More weight and lower CG seem like good traits for a road haul, but big fairings maybe catch more wind and blow it around too. Just gonna try for myself. My only other big bike was an FXDF, had horrible teeth rattling buffet from windshield and solid wheels caught crosswinds bad.

 

[macca]

Biggest issue I've found in blustery side winds is if I'm wearing my Shoei Hornet Lid. The wind can catch the peak and turn my head which results in an involuntary body movement/steering input. PS have you seen info on countering wind effects with knee position, I think it goes something like cross wind from the right - stick rhs knee out and vice versa. though if its gusting and swirly too you could look like your dancing the funky chicken whilst riding your bike.

 

[thfraser]

Interesting thread... I may not be as versed on long distance riding as others, but first and formost is comfort. If you are not comfortable, forget about any long distance riding.

Is the seating position good?
Is the wind protection acceptable?
Is he seat comfortable?
How often do you want to stop (i.e. how far is the bikes range)?
How much maintenance do you need on a trip (i.e. do you need to lube the chain)?
Does it carry what you need it to carry?
etc...

Those are questions you have to answer for yourself.

On a side note, all bikes get blown around some. Some more than others. I think the S10 is pretty acceptable in this regards.

IMO the S10 does well in most of the long distance riding questions.

But on the other hand, the S10 does promote the idea of:

::021::