06-06-14, 10:20 PM
Funnily enough, the most comfortable I've been on long trips wasn't down to mods to the bike, but the luggage carried. Having an extendable tank bag meant I could lean on it to take weight off my wrists/arms. And with a good stack of luggage on the pillion seat, I could lean back and relax too. It all looked like an awful lot, but still less than the weight of your average pillion, so it was quite manageable, and I could even still get a good pace going on winding roads as long as I did take it into account.
Otherwise, what else can you do other than the usual things - finding the bars that suit you best, adjustable rearsets, setting up the suspension for a softer ride etc. Actually, I'm not even so sure on that last one. If you have softer suspension settings you may get less jarring from bumps, but then you'll lose out on the handling stakes - less responsive in the corners = more work?
The other thing I tend to do to enable me to cover large distances without aches and pains is plenty of short breaks - in my case, just enough for a coffee and a ciggy, fuel up if need be, then get going again, rather than longer meal breaks at set times like you might at home. Stretch the legs a bit, quick refreshment, and then back on the road.
Otherwise, what else can you do other than the usual things - finding the bars that suit you best, adjustable rearsets, setting up the suspension for a softer ride etc. Actually, I'm not even so sure on that last one. If you have softer suspension settings you may get less jarring from bumps, but then you'll lose out on the handling stakes - less responsive in the corners = more work?
The other thing I tend to do to enable me to cover large distances without aches and pains is plenty of short breaks - in my case, just enough for a coffee and a ciggy, fuel up if need be, then get going again, rather than longer meal breaks at set times like you might at home. Stretch the legs a bit, quick refreshment, and then back on the road.