Overloaded?

[grennels]

Opinions please.

Getting ready for western trip.

Me & wife = 420 lbs (In the interest of my health I won't allocate
those pounds)

saddlebags = 20 lbs (clothes and toiletries)

tank bag = 30 lbs (raingear, pullovers, tank bag misc.)

duffle bag = 40 lbs (tent, sleeping bags, thermorests, etc)

misc bag = 20 lbs (camera, tennis shoes, canteen, etc)

total = 530 lbs.


Valkyrie factory rated for 400 lbs of cargo and passengers.

Dunlop Elite 3 load ratings

front = 783 lbs
rear = 992 lbs


Are we going to die a horrible fiery death running 130 lbs over Honda
maximum weight rating??

The easiest way to reduce weight would be to leave the camping gear
home. Saves 40 lbs. Shortens trip by one week due to cost of motels
every night. Still leaves us 90 lbs over factory load rating.

What do you guys think?

[bg]

i'm over the limit when i ride 2 up with luggage and all.
never been a problem for the phat lady.
i think a lot of people overload per the specs,just my humble opinion.

[fudgie]

I say your fine if it handles good. Take it for a test run and see. it may take a few miles to get use to it but I say run it. 
When I went 2 up to sturgis-
both-400 lbs
heavy ass HD trunk loaded with 10 days worth of clothes.
Tent poles made out of 1" conduit under the trunk
Saddle bags full of all my metric tools, camera, video, etc
Duffle bag packed full on trunk with- tent, tarp, fan, light, mattress, pump, other tent supplies
Leather coats/chaps on top of that- it was taller then kit when she sat on the bike! 
Bag lids had sleeping bag and other small clothing.
Helmets hanging off the trunk.
1200 miles one way she road like that. Bumped the shocks up to high. Stressed my homeade brackets and had to make new ones out west. Shipped everything home but a change of clothes.
I learned alot since then and now we ship out tent stuff out ahead of time.

Stuff I learned going west every year for our 10 day trip, may help you lighten your load also. Take 3 days worth of clothes, you can wash every other night. Take 'throw away clothes'. Ones with holes or missing the crotch of stuff. Wear them a day or 2 and throw them away. Saves weight. 1 each long sleave & sweat shirt. No need to have 2 each. A back up of 1 sweatshirt is ok. Get them vaccum seal packages to save on space for your clothes. Tennis shoes? Eh, not me but she wears flip flops so that saves space. Hell, I wear my biker boots with shorts. She hates it but oh well. Baby wipes help in getting you refreshed on the road. We ride when we get up till about dark, weather permiting. Wipes help getting the road off in mid day. Get some kind of small camp towel to dry yourself after a shower. Use hair/body wash in 1 bottle. No need for shampoo & soap to be separate. Use the small travel stuff. You run out, get more later. Use a small matress if possible. If you fit on a queen, use it. No need to have the extra room for a king. We used a twin for a year or 2 till we got fat.  Helmets, your kind, if you wear them is up to you. No reason to pack to each. I can hang our novies off our luggage. Also you can sleep at rest stops. We just lay out the mattress and sleeping bag. Not a bad night of sleep and beats setting up a tent. we can pack 10 days on the road on the bike comfortable now. We learn every year.

[Daniel Meyer]

It'll be fine...it won't even notice.

[bigdog99]

sounds like some of us need a trailer. on my 3rd set of 8" screaming tires. this set is 6 ply. should be able to handle anything i put in it for the end of august camping trip to SD. 

[tank_post142]

off the wife?

[eric in md]

you can do it .. or buy a hitch and pull a trailer .  but then she will take everything. more space more stuff .. 

[big turkey]

Never seen a bike yet that can't take a overload condition.

Make sure your tires are filled to the right pressure.

Shocks at the max setting on the rear.

Have Fun.

Big AL

[RiderNJ]

I'd just leave the wife at home... But that's just me.

[Walküre]

I'd just leave the wife at home... But that's just me.

Wow!! THAT'S BAD!!!

I just drop her off at the first stop, and pick her up on the way back.......



Actually, most of my ideas are posted. Another is, if you are going to stay someplace mid-way, for a few days, you can send stuff there, ahead, and send it back. Still beats hotel costs.

Another thing I've done, is buy the "trial packs" every day or two, on a long trip, and not have to carry them. As for raingear, which can be very heavy, I got the lightest basic poncho, and since I am not in a hurry, weather out any rough weather, either under an overpass, or at a diner, etc. But, IMHO, you don't sound very overloaded. I've been that bad, maybe worse, on lesser bikes. You have to take into account I haven't owned the Valk long enough for any extended trips, but after 7 or 8 GoldWings, I'm pretty confident.

And my biggest recommendation, would be to 2nd the trailer suggestion. I never regretted buying one, but I now regret selling it...and looking to get one for the Valk.

Have fun! I'm envious...

R

[vanagon40]

What Daniel Meyer said.  I would expect when you start getting close to 800 lbs. of rider, passenger, and luggage, you MIGHT start to notice handling problems.  At 530 pounds (an additional 110 pounds) you will never notice the difference than when riding with just you and your wife.

[Big Rig]

Bring the stuff, ship the wife....om just sayin...

Two pair of jeans and 3 pair of undies and 5 pair of socks...

[sugerbear]

yes the bike will handle it.

3500 miles 2 weeks ago.

not getting specific but well over loaded, me, wife, stuff, maybe 200 lbs over?

60-80 mph most of the time(except fl keys).

keep tires inflated to right psi, me 42 front (avon) 40 back (michelin hydroedge)
 
2k I/S.

[B]

When we go two up I just throw $#!t in the bags and trailer and never give the weight a thought.  Seems like the more I challenge the the 'the Big Red/Blk Girl' the more she likes it. 
Loading for the west soon myself.

[grennels]

Thanks guys.

Leaving Monday for 30 days out west, 130 pounds heavy!

[chrise2469]

That's not too bad.  Coming back from the 09 Hoot, I scaled the bike with the gf and gear at 600kg thats 1320 lbs.  Kinda hard on the shocks  and bushings which I replaced this year.


I now have an Aspen Classic Camper