Touring Question

[speediva]

Okay, by now, most of the regulars in here know that I'm die-hard sport/sport tourer. But now it's time for me to switch gears and ask about something with which I don't have much experience: Touring, hard-core.

After I graduate, I want to do a 1 or 2 month tour of the US, but I know that after riding from Perth Amboy, NJ to Pittsburgh, PA on my b/f's Hayabusa, I REALLY don't want to tour on a sportbike. I think I might want to rent a Honda Goldwing, but I'm not sure if that's plausible. I can't expect whomever I go with to do ALL the piloting, and I've never ridden a passenger on my own bike, let alone a huge bike like a goldwing. I don't know where this is going, but do you think that a tour like this is even reasonable? I guess that was my point.

[tlchandler]

I tour is always reasonable. I live in Texas and have ridden to California, the Dakotas, and Florida. I was not even on a big touring bike. There are rental compaines that rent tourers being either a Goldwing or Electra glide or similiar. I believe a long ride is when you start to truely enjoy motorcycling. About the size of the bike...it is all relative. If you are tall enough to reach the ground flat footed with a big tourer like a Goldwing then everything is usually fine. They are pretty stable at slight angles. Now, don't tip one over as far as you think you can because you will be asking someone to help you pick it back up. If you do decide to tour find the back roads. Plot some maps over nice scenic cury roads. The interstate is not what I call enjoyable. Good luck in your decision to take a long tour. Oh, and most places that rent this bikes are pretty reasonable and usually they just require you to wear a helmet which should be standard anyways. Also, your A$$ will go numb on anything =-) Anyways, have fun...

[speediva]

Thanks. I'm 5'10" and so is my prospective cohort (my b/f) so height really isn't an issue. Highways would be no fun, like you said. My graduation isn't for another year, so I have some time to take out the road atlas and plan something. I'll have to look into rentals since that is a lot cheaper than buying one. Thanks again!