For my fellow gearheads out there. I was pleasantly surprised at the way the 1500 handled fully loaded. I about half expected it to wallow like a drunken hippo in the high mountain passes. It was a little slower to respond than normal, but the balance was still solid and the cross winds were easily navigated. The more miles I put on this bike, the better I like it. As the trip continues, I’ll have more to say, but here is a list of the gear its first impression:
Saddlebags: Although they are wide, the hold a lot and don’t seem to affect the handling at speed.
Tankbag: I like the magnet tank bag — it seems sturdy enough. This model is intended for a sport bike, so it has a few quirks. It is nice to be able to carry all my valuables when I step away from the bike.
Driver backrest: At the end of the first day, I love the support it provides.
AirHawk Seat: This air cell seat, loaned to me by Jeff Meehan, is a real bum saver! Unlike previous daytrips where I needed to get off the bike every hour by the end of the day, today I only had to stop for fuel and bio-breaks.
Highway bars and foot pegs: The way these are set up I, have added about five different positions I can use to stretch out my legs.
Luggage Bag: Less than thrilled with this bag. Plastic D rings seem cheap (I’m afraid I’m going to cinch one of them down the bike and break it.) and it’s a royal pain to access the main compartment. It could also use a bigger sleeping bag roll.