Had to make a quick trip to Wisconsin the first part of this month. Total mileage was 2,253 for the trip. 2006 stock 883XL. Three options on the bike. Silver paint, pillion pad, and rear foot rests. My windshield was a flip up visor on my helmet. Did a good job protecting me from bugs and rain. Used a back pack to carry my stuff in and it worked well as it rested on the pillion pad so I had no weight on my back. The back pack has wheels and a collapsible handle and it worked out well. Wore a weight lifting belt for back support and it worked good as my back never bothered me. Also wore a pair of leather HD gauntlet gloves and light weight leather jacket the whole trip. The trip was mostly interstate and I cruised somewhere around 70+ most of the way. 55+ mpg the whole time. Did two 500+ mile days getting there. Rode about 100 miles each of the two days I was in Wisconsin. Did one 650 mile day and a 400+ mile day coming home. Bike used one quart of oil the entire trip. I'd ride about 135 miles and fill up with gas. Would take a rest stop somewhere in between gas stops. Noticed something interesting about the stock seat. When wearing jeans my butt would get sore. When wearing my rubber rain pants it did not. Tried a towel on the seat and it helped some. Rode 150 miles in light rain on my 650 mile day and with my rain gear I stayed dry. Had packed all my stuff in plastic bags inside the back pack and nothing got wet. The inside of the back pack stayed dry. The bike never faltered once and has over 8,000 miles on it now. Temps ranged from 55 to 95 during the trip. No map, no cell phone, no GPS, no extra parts, and a minimum of tools (which never got used). I was tired, but not sore when I got home. Only problem is riding to work now as the bike wants to cruise at 70 instead of 60.

Shame on you, ya come all the way to Florida and ya never stopped here??
Jim:tour

Shame on you, ya come all the way to Florida and ya never stopped here??
Jim:tour

Jimi stop eating the catnip, he did Fla to Wisconsin back home to Fla.


HDWL thats some trip on a stocker with no windshield
AND stock seat! I know I could not do that.
So, rubber rain pants over the jeans and you didn't
get butt pain? Thats weird huh.

Jimi stop eating the catnip, he did Fla to Wisconsin back home to Fla.


HDWL thats some trip on a stocker with no windshield
AND stock seat! I know I could not do that.
So, rubber rain pants over the jeans and you didn't
get butt pain? Thats weird huh.

He is a better man than I am, I could not do that and he lives 400 miles west of me
Jim:tour

Thanks for the comments. One thing I noticed while traveling was how nice everyone was that I met. From the rest areas to the fuel and eat stops everyone I met was real nice and had good comments. I'd pull into the fuel stops where the pumps said pay before you pump and not once did I have to walk inside and pay first. I stayed at 2 motels and each place told me to park in special place with my bike. With my beard, long hair, and clothing that has been used for 30+ years I have to admit I am not the clean cut biker. My how times have changed.

Glad you made it safely home. Those will be some great memories. I made that trip myself but it was 17 years ago and on my BMW K100RS, Went from Titusville Fl. to Bloomington Il. in 17 hours. Really loved the area around Chattanooga Tn.

Took off my helmet when I got to Il. and when I got to the tavern in Bloomington I walked in and could see everyones mouth moving and the band playing but couldn't hear a thing...forgot to put in my earplugs when I took my helmet off:doh :doh :doh

HDWL. Knowing Wis I take it you were in southern part judging by the miles from P'cola.
I just moved to Niceville from FWB, I have also been thinking about a trip to Wis on my stock 883-C but I don't think my bony butt would make it on a stock seat.

Sounds like a great trip HDWL. Just finished a 5900 mile trip on my 1200C. It's mostly stock. Mustang seat. New York to Montana and Wyoming and back. Did it in 15 days.

Cool ! You got it going on. Sounds like a damn good trip with a damn good rider on a damn good bike. :) :)

Where in Wisconsin did you go to?

Great trip report. Thanks for sharing that with us. Makes me want to jump on the bike and go back to Key West again. Souns like you had fun.
Dana:clap

Awesome report!!! Who said ya can't tour on a Sporty?

BW

Thanks for all the great comments everyone.

It was a great trip only as most it didn't last long enough. Went to Delavan Lake Wisconsin.

While there I followed my neice over to look at her new house. When we got there she jumped out of her Explorer and told me I looked so cool on my bike. It was her dad (my oldest brother) that had the first motorcycle I ever rode. A 1952 Harley Dresser. When I was 14 or 15 my brother told me if I could start it he would teach me how to ride it. I weighted about 135 soaking wet and surprised him when I kicked it over and started it. He showed me how to pull in the clutch lever and put it in gear. I killed the engine a few times trying to let the clutch out. That was the first year for a foot shift and the clutch lever was a real hard pull. I chugged around the farm in 1st gear till I killed the engine and tipped over. When I told him it fell over he told me I'd better pick it up. When you are a skinny kid a full dresser sure does weight a lot. I finialy got it upright and started again. I learned alot that day and have been hooked ever since.

If anyone ever gets in the Pensacola/Milton area give me a shout. We'll go for a ride.

Damn HD - you're tougher than I am . I made the same trip about the same time, but my sporty rode in a trailer out back. We took on a lot of rain, did you have to ride through all that ? It rained so much while we were up there , I only pulled the bike out once. I wouldn't have taken the bike at all if we'd taken my Ford, but my boy insisted on taking his Blazer, and I told him I wasn't walking home. LOL

What an awesome sounding experience! Congrats!

Hi Ron,
I watched the storm in northern Alabama and left Florida at 11:00 PM July 5th trying to avoid it. Working nights I have no problem staying up all night. I caught the tail end of it on the north of Birmingham. Had a nice long breakfast and had no rain till I came home on Monday the 10th. When I turned left to exit Illinois I stopped and put on my rain gear. All the way through Kentucky and Tennessee I rode in light rain. This was my 630 mile day. South of Nashville I got a room for the night. Tuesday was no rain all the way home.

HDWL
Funny you mention P'Cola. I live in Monroeville, AL. About 1.5 from you. I frequent Mobile a lot, my parents live there. My Dad and i ride over the p'cole stealer every once in a while. There is a bike rally in Bay Minette Aug 25-27 I believe I will be going. You should check it out! Bike-O-Rama!

Sounds like a great ride! Matt

Next time you have to ride to central and northern Wisconsin less traffic nice curying roads though the woods and by lakes. But you have a lot of deer and other animals