V-Strom and Givi Luggage

Riding season is just around the corner, and I hope to do much of my Ohio River Towns photography project on the motorcycle. So, I needed to equip the bike with sufficient luggage to make it utilitarian.

I have always liked the Givi brand of motorcycle luggage. They are rugged and good looking. Secondly, I love the way you can use the same mounts to put different bags on the bike. Below is a great example of how that looks. First, the bike without bags.

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You can see the new engine guards and the luggage mounting racks on the rear. Next, is the set of smaller bags I purchased when I first bought the bike. Givi E-22s. These are great for around town and running small grocery errands. I have used the smaller bags to go camping, also.

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What about a top case? I decided to go with the Givi Trekker series of bags. The 52-Liter top case will hold a lot of stuff like camera gear and audio equpment, and it doesnโ€™t look too bad with the E-22sโ€”just a slight difference in styling.

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Or, how about riding with just the top case. Many do. Without the side cases, itโ€™s a narrower profile.

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For the bigger loads, such as motorcycle touring and/or extended camping, the full set of Trekkers will do just fineโ€”52L top case and 33L side cases, better known as panniers.

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Thatโ€™s some serious load-hauling capability. Still, itโ€™s best not to try to carry everything. Think backpacking or minimalist motorcycling.

See you on the highway โ€ฆ along the Ohio River.

Brent

Exploring Cowan Lake State Park

There are several state parks within an hourโ€™s ride from my home. Cowan Lake State Park is to the east southeast, about 30 minutes away on some nice two-laners. Even though the V-Strom is still in the break-in period, this bike is so smooth, a joy to ride.

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Next time, I visit this park, Iโ€™m bringing my fly rod.

See you on the highway.

Brent

There’s a new motorcycle in the garage

I wanted to get back to one motorcycle. And, Iโ€™ve done it. Say hello to the new 2015 Suzuki V-Strom DL650 ABS.

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Purchased at Clinton County Motorsports, Wilmington, OH.

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I do not give motorcycles names, but this one is my โ€œ50 Years of Motorcyclingโ€ motorcycle. Thatโ€™s right, I started riding when I was 15 and that was 50 years ago.

See you on the highway.

Brent