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Touring a Street Twin

31K views 43 replies 17 participants last post by  Toscano 
#1 ·


Good evening, everyone,

Well, here I am back on the Rat Net after being away for 10 years (I never should have sold that Legend TT).

I purchased a Street Twin (red) last week, and hope to pick it up this week after the center stand, crash bars, luggage rack, and fender extender are installed. I will be using the bike for commuting, local day rides and tours of a week or two at a time. I've been riding for 50 years, and have had some big touring bikes in the past, but I decided that at 71 it was time to downsize a bit. Besides, I really prefer riding nimble bikes.

What have you done with your Street Twin or other TR twin to adapt it for touring? What experiences have you had with windshields? I would like some wind protection, but I want to avoid helmet buffeting. Also, what do you you use for storage, e.g. top boxes or rack bags, tank bags and panniers?

I considered the nylon OEM bags which look just right on the ST, but the fact that they do not lock to the bike is a bit of a deal breaker for me. I'd like luggage that I can lock, and that locks to the bike, but is easily removed without leaving an ugly hunk of bracket hanging about when I'm not on tour. I am considering C-Bow luggage. Anybody have any experience with those?

Has anyone mounted tank panniers on a Street Twin? I have those on my dual sport. I like the way they centralize weight, and the way they keep cold wind off my legs, but fear they might be too close to the engine on the ST.

Has anyone added an after-market seat for longer distance comfort?

Also, I'd like to hear what kind of gas mileage Street Twin riders are getting in the real world? Given Triumph's mileage claims, the Street Twin should be good for about 150 miles without concern (about my distance between pee stops). But, what kind of mileage have you actually been getting, especially loaded for travel? What is the farthest you have gone between fill-ups, without running dry?

Thanks,
Ray

2017 Triumph Street Twin
2007 BMW F650 GS (on the market)
2002 BMW 1150 RT (on the market)
1989 Honda NT 650 Hawk
1977 Honda CB 400F Super Sport
1999 Legent TT (gone but not forgotten)
1964 Triumph Tiger Cub (my first love)
 
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#2 ·
Re: windscreen
None of Triumphs windscreens give full protection. I have the so called touring screen but I have had to add about 2 inches to the top to carry the airflow over my helmet when slightly crouched ( I am about 5ft11 ). ( See picture in pictures sub-forum).

Re: carrier
In order to fit a Givi top box on the standard Triumph carrier I have cut off the top loop. This allows the box to fit snug against the seat with just enough room to remove the seat as normal. Official weight capacity is ludicrously low both for carrier and Givi box so for serious touring I imagine you would go for those smart but expensive aluminium boxes on purpose built frames.

Re: Fuel consumption
150 miles range is about right but it depends on the type of roads and speed. Travelling above 80mph on motorways would bring the range right down.

I can't comment on your other questions because I am essential a fair weather rider and usually spend no more than a few hours in the saddle.
 
#4 ·
For the seat, I changed the original one with the comfort seat of a T120. It is marvelous! Some modifications are necessary but it is not difficult
See here:
http://www.triumphrat.net/water-coo...625-t120-comfort-seat-on-street-twin-diy.html
Where are the pannier guards from?

On the issue of screens, on my last bike, a 2010 Vstrom 650, I had a Givi Airflow screen, which was amazing. I'll probably get one of their universal ones when I'm ready to do some long distance again.
 
#6 ·
Also, I'd like to hear what kind of gas mileage Street Twin riders are getting in the real world? Given Triumph's mileage claims, the Street Twin should be good for about 150 miles without concern (about my distance between pee stops). But, what kind of mileage have you actually been getting, especially loaded for travel? What is the farthest you have gone between fill-ups, without running dry?
Easily 150 miles I would think. I kept records for the first 1800 miles: http://www.triumphrat.net/water-cooled-twins-talk/720610-street-twin-mpg-at-1800-miles.html.

Still getting more or less the same mileage at 5400 miles. Maybe a tad less but I'm riding more aggressively. This is all without luggage.
 
#11 ·
I'm planning a trip in June from South Carolina to Idaho and back. I'll be doing it over the course of 4 weeks with lots of stops to see family and friends. I haven't been riding nearly as long as you and this is my first big trip, but this is what I've done so far to make it go easier.
1. Dart Marlin screen: I'm 5'10'' with a 32'' inseam. This screen takes the majority of the wind off my torso up to my collar. Helmet is still in clean air.
2. Triumph bench seat: raises the seat height about 1-2 inches, and you can slide up or back
3. BC risers and spacers: puts handle bars and my back about where they were with the sock seat.
4. Alaska Leather Butt Pad: size medium. I've only done a short test with it, but I think it's going to be nice.
5. Scott Oiler V System: don't have to worry about chain maintenance along the way and I didn't have to buy a center stand.
6. SW Motech Side Carriers
6. Kriega US20 tail bag. Attaches onto the built-in loops on the bench seat
7. Kriega Duo Saddle Bags: I got the smaller 28 liter size (14 liters per side). They don't lock like you wanted, but they are waterproof and strap very securely to the side carriers, so that works for me.
8. Wolfman Bottle Holder and Optimus Fuel Bottle: Should be able to get 150 per tank if just cruising along, but I wanted some insurance. This straps to the top of the tail bag and should be good for another 20-30 miles in an emergency.
 
#12 ·
VKnid,

Thanks for that list of preparations. They sound like just the right thing.

At 5' 8" with a 27.5" inseam, I don't need to raise my seat, although I like the ability to move around that a bench seat provides. Since I don't want to move my feet further away from the ground, I will probably have Bill Mayer customize mine into a bench with the pillion portion the same height as the stock rider's perch, and add a little more support width-wise. I've had great luck with his seats. Thanks for the lead on the bar risers. I have raised the bars on most of the bikes I've owned, and it really does help my back on longer riding days. I will look at BC's risers.

I like the Kriega bags for the very reasons you said, but I think I will probably go with the Hepko and Becker C-bow Street Bags for their lockability. I carry some camera gear when I tour, and don't want to feel like I need to lug it with me when I stop for coffee or lunch in sketchy places.

I'm having a center stand put on my Street Twin, but have been considering a ScottOiler as well, just to not worry about chain oiling on the road. I will be interested to hear how you like yours.

I've used sheepskin butt pads before, and they are worth it on a long ride.

I too have been thinking about additional fuel. I am leaning toward a ToolTube with a fuel bottle. But that will depend on if I can find a good location or two to attach them to the bike. Maybe under the luggage rack?

If SC to Idaho takes you through AZ in mid-June, let me know. We could meet up for coffee somewhere and talk bikes.

Ray

P.S. Where in SC? I lived in Charlotte, NC for 19 years, and did a lot of riding in SC. We also kept a sailboat in Charleston for 12 of those years. I love AZ, but I miss the Low Country.
 
#15 ·
VKnid,

P.S. Where in SC? I lived in Charlotte, NC for 19 years, and did a lot of riding in SC. We also kept a sailboat in Charleston for 12 of those years. I love AZ, but I miss the Low Country.
Thanks for the offer. I originally planned to go through AZ to see my grandmother, but I think I'll end up keeping more north and going through CO. Grams will be in Montana anyway. Actually I'm just across the line south of Charlotte in Rock Hill.
 
#21 ·
I had Hepco Becker C-Bow luggage on my previous bike, an Aprilia Tuono 1000R. It's a really good system. The C-Bow racks are unique to each bike model but the various C-Bow-friendly bags available will fit any of those racks. I had Street Soft bags which were light weight, expandable and had stiff foam inside walls to retain a nice shape. Very well made. The only down-side was that although the zipper ends could be locked together with a mini padlock as a minor deterrent, the bags were still fabric and could easily be cut open by anyone who wanted to pilfer the contents. They were good for that bike as they were the only thing available that didn't look like crap, IMO. I have hard bags on my ST which I find more suitable for the ST as you can see in the linked photo....

http://www.triumphrat.net/water-coo...-gauge-bracket-street-twin-3.html#post9031641
 

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#23 ·
So here are a few updates on prepping my Street Twin:

1. ordered HB C-bow mount and soft bags. Discovered that the C-Bow system will not mount to a Street Twin with the OEM luggage rack like I have.

2. Returned the C-bows and mounted a set of SW-Mototech Blaze soft bags from Twisted Throttle. The good: with the bags off and the support wand removed, you barely see the mounts (pictures coming). Also, top-loading, which I like. The less good: mouth of the bags is a bit small. Not lockable to the bike except with some cable lock jury rig.

3. Order a Puig windscreen, but didn't like the hardware that hides the light mounts. Got an MRA street screen that mounts to the bars. My 100 mile test ride suggest it will do what I want - keep the wind off my torso, but leave my helmet in clean air.

4. Mounted my stand-by Wolfman tank bag after realizing that the ears on my magnetic bag rather interrupt the Triumph logo on the tank in a rather unappealing way.

I will probably mount a top trunk on the luggage rack, and leave the side bags off except for touring. For daily use, there is nothing like a locking trunk.

Thanks, everyone, for all your contributions to my query.

Ray
 
#25 ·
My wife and I haul ours down the interstate in the back of our pickup, with a travel trailer in tow. We typically take it out for the day or over night in areas where locking is not a big issue, so we went with soft after market bags. We can put a ton of stuff on the bike for very little money. We have a Triumph luggage rack, and we strap down a 12 pack cooler with flat bungees, allowing us to strap a Saddlemen Roll bag over top ($100 - I usually have the Roll bag on the bike without the cooler when we're not touring). If there is rain in the forecast we can also throw a modified Horse Saddle bag ($20) over the cooler with our rain gear. Our Saddle bags are Dow Co Fast tracks ($80). Our wind screen is a National Cycle Deflector shield ($120). The motorcycle bags are water resistant not water proof, even with the provided rain covers used. The horse saddle bags are not even water resistant. My little deflector shield works great for me, but you wouldn't be happy running 500 miles down the interstate. You may not be happy not matter what shield you get if there are strong winds. The motorcycle does great with my wife and all our stuff on it, although I'm sure we're way over Triumph's 6 lbs limit for the rack. I'm 5'4" and my wife is 5'. I found Triumph seat was fine after it broke in (say 1000 miles) and I loved the low riding position. When we did the seat we left me alone, but the passenger seat need to be completely reworked as the pan is too narrow for all day support. We put a wide passenger pan over and attached to the old pan and added foam and gel for my wife. I also raised he foot pegs 2" as she's higher up. Now she can ride as far as I can without issue.Even with all these changes, the way we ride, the little bike does great.
 

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#27 ·
I've still got the stock shocks on the bike. I'm guessing when we ride at full load, counting everything we're loaded in the 400 lb range. We run at pre-load step 5 and ride a lot in the Rocky's. I'm 65 & I'm less aggressive than I once was. The only time I have an issue is when the road surface is rough around a curve, which is not often, so I just slow down. We don't do any significant high speed riding. That being said I'd like a stiffer full travel better shock at some point. The bike has 7,000 miles on it and I think if I continue with the stock shocks I'll be replacing them every 15,000 miles, or less. When I ride the bike alone locally, I don't even reset the shocks. They're soft enough to do fine on the good road where I live. If I need to go into town I take my truck.
 
#28 ·
All loaded up and ready to go. I think by the time it's all over, I'll either love the bike even more or be ready to trade it in for a R Super GS Ultra Gold Wing Glide ST Chieftain RT with touring kit. :grin2:
 

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#39 ·
My wife and I love the Street Twin for two up riding, but as indicated above, we wouldn't run down the interstate on it. It's small and fits well and loads into our truck to get to great 60 mph riding, but 70 - 80 mph with cross winds and truck traffic would not be fun.
 
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