Like most on this forum, the 599 has caught my attention from day one. I was new to riding so I got a 78 CB400 and am finally ready to upgrade. My concern is that I would like to use the bike to commute and tour a little so I'm looking for input from the community.

If anyone has experience with storage bags/cases accessories, please share them with me. Also, being a naked bike, does the wind become a problem when riding on highway for over an hour?

Just for the geo info, I'm moving from New Jersey to the Silicon Valley, so looking forward to forget the word "winterize" :)

Cheers

:welcome
Another east coast transplant. Nice. Well I can't comment on the bags thing. The longest day long ride I've done was only 260 miles, so I don't think that really qualifies me to comment on touring. However, I can speak to the wind. The "naked" factor is not going to make any difference if you are not drag racing into a headwind. Any big gusts are going to affect you just the same as a fully faired street bike or a taller SUV, so stay out of the santa anas (do you get those up north?) when the gusts start getting up in on that 30 + mph sneak up on ya range. But again, at that point, fairings are neither an advantage nor disadvantage.

It's probably pretty comparable to your CB400. I don't find it that bad, but it's the only bike I've ever owned. As far as commuting, that's all I do with mine. Well, pleasure rides as well, but almost everywhere I go is on my bike. I've never really done any touring, but I've covered my state from tip to toe on it without a problem. There are a lot here that tour, though, and they'll have plenty to tell you about bags.

Like most on this forum, the 599 has caught my attention from day one. I was new to riding so I got a 78 CB400 and am finally ready to upgrade. My concern is that I would like to use the bike to commute and tour a little so I'm looking for input from the community.

If anyone has experience with storage bags/cases accessories, please share them with me. Also, being a naked bike, does the wind become a problem when riding on highway for over an hour?

The 599 is a fine touring bike. You can fit all sorts of soft luggage (tank bag and seat bag, for examples) plus soft saddlebags, without making any changes to the bike. Or you can get a luggage rack and mount hard bags and a top case. Givi makes a rack for the bike that works very well; there is at least one other rack option also.

As for touring, I've done three Iron Butt rides on my bike, plus many other longer rides. It is a good long distance bike. As for the wind, I've not had any trouble with it. I lean into the wind and let it support me on the bike. Other people here prefer to get a small screen for a bit of protection; there are several available.

Welcome vin! Listen to Sachi about touring. Skier can also give you
advice. I think they've logged about a million miles between the two
of 'em :D
I don't exactly tour but commute almost everyday and pleasure ride
on the weekend. You get used to the wind. I don't really think the
windscreens available are gonna make a tremendous amount of difference.
Some may even say it makes it worse b/c it shifts the wind to another
part of your helmet or chest or whatever. Never had one so i can't
say for sure.
Enjoy and be safe.!

This is a great forum, I never had such a great response turnover, Thanks! :)

Sachi, thanks for pointing out the Givi line, it looks exactly like what I had in mind. Thanks to all for the feedback on touring it's really helpful.

I am now increasingly excited about getting hold of the bike and am looking for an 04 with matte black tank. Any ideas where would be the place to look for (besides ebay and craigslist) in the San Jose area, and what I should expect to pay for it?

Also, any insights on insurance companies in CA offering a better "deal" than others?

Thanks again to all, keep me posted

Hey Vincent, I'm an east coast transplant as well.. and what do you know... I'm in San Jose!

There are a few very good accessory stores around here that carry bags and parts and gear. And if they don't, they'll be glad to point you in the right direction.

These are local:
http://www.motostrano.com/
http://store.roadridermca.com/sportbikes.html
http://www.cyclegear.com/ (national, but I know of 2 stores locally)

As far as insurance goes, I'll point you to one when you get here.

I did a 750 KM round trip ride a few weeks back. Wind never bothered me. as for luggage, i packed a duffle bag with a couple days worth of a change of clothes, and such, and bungee corded it on the back. I did stop about every hour to get off the bike and stretch.. this is more to do with my back troubles than the bike. It was good timing though, as it was an excuse to stop for a Tim Horton's Ice Cap and check the map.
I use the 599 for running around town too. For that i can't complain about anything really. It has a good riding position and excellent power band. The 599 has plenty of areas you can customize to fit your needs too.

If anyone has experience with storage bags/cases accessories, please share them with me. Also, being a naked bike, does the wind become a problem when riding on highway for over an hour?

Welcome aboard. Here's my two cents on bags:

You can get by with a large tank bag and some saddlebags for unsupported touring (hauling your tent and sleeping bag with you). I've done that on a few trips with the 599. Saddlebags can be rough on your bike's paint and the exhaust heatshield, though. I recently picked up the mounting kit for a Givi top case and I think I can put all the items I need in there and forgo the saddle bags. You can also get mounts for hard Givi side bags if you feel like dropping some serious coin. Check out twistedthrottle.com .

Wind isn't a problem. You get nice, smooth air from the middle of your chest all the way to the top of your helmet. Much, much easier on your body than the constant turbulence of any windscreen-equipped bike I have ridden. You might want to look into highway pegs if your knees don't like to be cramped up all day long.

Also, if you're going to be doing touring, look into a rear hugger to keep your rear shock nice and clean. If you don't have one, the rain, muck, dirt and dust get flung right into it and replacements are unbelievably expensive.

One other thing - the Givi side mounts can also be used with soft bags. The soft bags won't mount to the rack the same way Givi panniers would, of course, but the side mounts will hold the soft bags away from your bodywork and exhaust pipe. Thus, they will help support the bags and protect your bike.

Hey I know that this may be a little late i am new to the forum. Last summer i rode my 599 from Indiana to Utah, and i must say that it takes it like a champ. You get the usually wear and tear that any 22hrs drive puts on your body. Overall the bike is great for longer rides, especially if you can find some twisties along the way. The bike is great, glad that there is a forum.

I would look into an expandable tank bag. If you're carrying enough stuff in one you can lean into it for support on a long haul.

I no longer own my 599, but I can tell you that it's a very good touring bike. I rode mine 1,000 miles in a weekend and had a great time. This was a bone-stock 599. Now, with a few mods for comfort, it would have been an awesome touring bike. All-in-all, it's just a great all-around performer.

Ok, so touring 2up is only good if your kid is about 89 pounds and 5 feet tall (11 years old). If she is 5'5" and 180 pounds (16 years old) on the back, let's say a 500 mile, technical twisty weekend of riding in the holy grail of riding is a real butt buster. Ask me how I know...

I have the Givi trunk. We use the monolock & monokey plates. We can swap plates and trunks between all our bikes. I'm gearing up to get the rack for the side cases. (the set up will allow trunk first, then side bags, but not side bags, then trunk). Fine with me. I use the trunk with the backrest so my passenger and I can relax.

The GIVI stuff is great, portable, convenient, secure and works well for work (commuting) and weekends.

Avoid soft saddle bags that lie across the rear cowl. They rub the paint right off, particularly at the edge :(

My longest non-stop (other than for food, and fuel) ride was from Philadelphia, PA to St Petersburg, Florida. That was 1050 miles each way. I've also ridden up to Mt Washington, NH from Philly. That's only 570 miles give or take. Feels about the same though.

Wind is not really an issue so far as I can tell. Not as long as it's warm enough. The bike is very stable. If you had a throttle lock, you could probably do yoga on the damn thing.

The seat does tend to transmute into concrete on those longer rides.

The bike is very stable. If you had a throttle lock, you could probably do yoga on the damn thing.
Agreed. I've ridden my roommates SV and the difference is that in the corners, I call mine 'set it and forget it'. Not really, but the constant input and 'wobbly' feeling isn't there like the SV. It feels a lot more stable and goes where you tell it to go. You definitely have to be the alpha, though. :D

Not really, but the constant input and 'wobbly' feeling isn't there...
Tires (design and wear) make a big input there. Try it again when he gets new/changes tires... the SV is a very nimble bike. Suspension set up too can make a bike go from sketchy to surefooted.

Not really, but the constant input and 'wobbly' feeling isn't there...
Tires (design and wear) make a big input there. Try it again when he gets new/changes tires... the SV is a very nimble bike. Suspension set up too can make a bike go from sketchy to surefooted.

Also, if you're going to be doing touring, look into a rear hugger to keep your rear shock nice and clean. If you don't have one, the rain, muck, dirt and dust get flung right into it and replacements are unbelievably expensive.

Just found this thread. I'm considering a few long rides on my 599, so the information has been very helpful.

The quote above concerned me. How common is it for the rear shock to get ruined by road debris? Would it be acceptable to hose off the rear shock area after a long ride?

I'm considering a givi 305, primarily to keep the bugs off of me. I'm also considering a bag either on the tank or on the rear. Not intereested in any side bags at this point. Also, I'd be happy to hear what folks have done to soften the seat.

Also, I'd be happy to hear what folks have done to soften the seat.


took it to an upholester and had them add more foam...taken a couple of rides on it, it is better.

i have the givi side cases and they are great! i've been using them for commuting to work (25 miles/way) and they can fit a ton of stuff. it has the keyless entry for smaller items or you can open with the key to put in the larger stuff. i also have the 'chips' windshield which gives me a lot of confidence on the highways. i'm a fresh newb still. this is my first bike and it makes a huge difference when going over 55 or so.
the cool thing is i can take off the chips windshield and bags in about two minutes and it all of the sudden becomes a sweet looking bike again.