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[michaelbmenaker]

I'm looking at a 2 week cross country trip in September.
If you could only afford one, which would you choose -- lowers or a tourpak (chopped or King) ?

[marshall10]

I would go with the lowers and get a canvas pack for carrying crap. I rode from el paso to pensacola in the middle of december with canvas lowers and a harley pack. could not have made it without the canvas lowers. protection over packing

[Twolanerider]

That was generally my thought also.  If you're dead set on purchasing one or the other, but only one or the other, then get the storage for travel. 

Then gain the benefit of the lowers with a cheap set of soft lowers and still keep your feet dry and warm.  When the weather is warmer they're off in just a couple minutes and will then fold up inside that tour pak or a saddle bag waiting for when they're needed again.

[Keats]

Soft lowers and how about a "Blue" trailer?

[JCZ]

King tour pack!  You'll find that you'll use the space and it's great to have the room to be able to lock stuff up without having to worry about it.  And, if it rains, it stays dry, too.

In Sept. you're proably not going to need lowers at all.

[Chains]

Tour Pack and soft lowers way to go.

[trwtow]

i would buy tour pak over lowers

[Gone Fishin']

I think the Street Glide's design is actually not having a Tourpak, hence I'd take the lowers. They look great on the bike and really do their job.

Ride safely,
Louis

[MAT]

King tour pac would be my choice for all the reasons already explained .

[altugo]

Get the lovers you wont regret.Its quite essential on a long distance trip.You can get one of those 150 dollars sissbar bags and they hold more than tourpac anyway.Later on when ur finances allow you should get a king pack as well.With lights and chrome rack etc. tour pac gets more expensive than lovers.My 2 cents.

[Wheelsnkeels]

Tour Pak no question been there done that 

[DABB]

Buy them both.   

[dkflhxse]

Tourpak for sure.

[Fired00d]

Detachable King Tour Pak, & soft lowers. Later when you want get the painted matching lowers.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Screamin]

Tour Pak w/o a doubt. King T/P is much more functionable, especially two up. Find a T/P rack and some bungees while you're at it.

[guppytrash]

tour pak

[marshall10]

Get the lovers you wont regret.Its quite essential on a long distance trip.You can get one of those 150 dollars sissbar bags and they hold more than tourpac anyway.Later on when ur finances allow you should get a king pack as well.With lights and chrome rack etc. tour pac gets more expensive than lovers.My 2 cents.

This is what I was really getting at. I didn't (still don't) have the money for one or the other, but I think the lowers look better than a tourpak. Also I have one of those large harley tour bags (came with one inside it as a bonus) and I can carry more crap than anyone with just saddle bags and a king pak. Also it is way easier to remove and keeps the clean lines of that way cool rear fender of the street glide. So in short: fairing lowers and a harley or t-bag for luggage.

[Gettinold]

Personaly I would get both,if I could afford it or not. Then I would take 1 week and pre pak to make sure eveything fits and then I would check the weather forcast to see if its going to rain sleet or snow, if so I would cancel my trip and stay home and work cause I cant afford both and take a trip too. There you have it. 

[guppytrash]

This is what I was really getting at. I didn't (still don't) have the money for one or the other, but I think the lowers look better than a tourpak.

Hold on!!!  Wait a minute!!!   (David Letterman)

If you are asking which one looks better than I can save you a lot of money.   The SESG looks WAY better withOUT either one!!!

[Twolanerider]

Hold on!!!  Wait a minute!!!   (David Letterman)

If you are asking which one looks better than I can save you a lot of money.   The SESG looks WAY better withOUT either one!!!

I also thought the context was near term utility for upcoming use.  There's a LONG list of ideas we can share to make it look better.  Lots more than just two options .

[Fired00d]

Hold on!!!  Wait a minute!!!   (David Letterman)

If you are asking which one looks better than I can save you a lot of money.   The SESG looks WAY better withOUT either one!!!

I also thought the context was near term utility for upcoming use.  There's a LONG list of ideas we can share to make it look better.  Lots more than just two options .

One more here thinking that the original poster was thinking of functionality (I know we don't always buy for functional ) purposes. If that was/is the case then I think on a trip you will get more use out of a KTP if that's the only thing you can get before a trip.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[michaelbmenaker]

One more here thinking that the original poster was thinking of functionality...

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

That's right, dood. I like the looks of both the lowers and a chopped tourpak (I've always regretted not getting a SEEG...), but if I could afford only one, which would be more functional on a cross country trip Chicago-LA on old Route 66 in September?

[JCZ]

Ooohhhhhhh Route 66.  Refer to the last sentence in my reply #4.  It's subject to be 100+F in Sept.   But you'll love that route......especially through Az. and Calif.

Here's a couple of links for you..........

http://doney.net/aroundaz/route66/index.htm

http://www.historic66.com/

http://www.historic66.com/gps/

[michaelbmenaker]

Ooohhhhhhh Route 66.  Refer to the last sentence in my reply #4.  It's subject to be 100+F in Sept.   But you'll love that route......especially through Az. and Calif.

Here's a couple of links for you..........

http://doney.net/aroundaz/route66/index.htm

http://www.historic66.com/

http://www.historic66.com/gps/

Thanks for the links, brother.

[DABB]

Personaly I would get both,if I could afford it or not. Then I would take 1 week and pre pak to make sure eveything fits and then I would check the weather forcast to see if its going to rain sleet or snow, if so I would cancel my trip and stay home and work cause I cant afford both and take a trip too. There you have it. 

I like it!  Made me laugh.

[Georgehjr]

 

[blw]

Are there soft lowers available that fit the moustache bar ?

[JCZ]

Are there soft lowers available that fit the moustache bar ?

I'd be surprised if there are.  My feet would poke right through them when I hit the brake or the down shift.   They're formed differently than the regular crash bar.

[greglyon]

King tour pak and soft lowers with pockets.  That is the set up for winter riding on my 2009 SERG

[DABB]

I was told by dealer they were not available for the stock bars.

[td119]

I go with a detachable King Tour pak and speaker pods, plus do not forget to add a Hawg amp   

[marshall10]

I was told by dealer they were not available for the stock bars.

easy internet search, lol. IF and only IF Harley would make accessories for ALL of it's products.....
http://www.eglidegoodies.com/id63.html

[Badger Mike]

King TP, you won't regret it

[miker]

Tour pak...you could keep some roll em up lowers in it...

[J-Carr]

Obviosuly you didn't want an Ultra so why get either?  Go with a good luggage rack bag.  It holds more, can be locked to the bike with a cable lock, and costs a fraction of the amount of a kign tour pak.  Then you can get the soft lowers and put them on and off as needed.  This will keep the street glide looking like a street glide and still give you all the conviencence when traveling.

But of course I don't know squat about it anyway since I love the Ultra Geezer Glide! 

Ride Safe,
JC

[JCZ]

Thanks for the links, brother.

I got to thinking.....Sept. is one of the hottest months in the southwest.  I know you were asking about leg fairings but I'm thinking that you should seriously be considering taking a cool vest.   

We (the Nor Cal members) rode across that desert a few years ago in 112F weather.  We all had the cool vests and were stopping every hour at a quick mart or gas station to re-wet them (I was filling the pockets with ice from the Gatorade barrell) and a couple of em still got heat sick.  Just something to consider.

http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/CoolAndHeat.html

[michaelbmenaker]

JCZ,
Sent you a PM...

[HD Rider]

If you can truly only afford one or the other, tour pak.

[michaelbmenaker]

Decision made. Thanks to all for your advice and insights. If I can persuade the bride, I'm going to order the lowers and wait another season for a tour pak.
Here's my thinking:
Protect the rider (me) before protecting the clothes/gear.

If I obtain spousal approval, I'll post pics. On my way to building a 2010 SEEG...

Thought for the day: "If you think drugs are addictive, try going a single day without a rationalization."

Again, thanks everyone!

[tjstreetglide]

That was generally my thought also.  If you're dead set on purchasing one or the other, but only one or the other, then get the storage for travel. 

Then gain the benefit of the lowers with a cheap set of soft lowers and still keep your feet dry and warm.  When the weather is warmer they're off in just a couple minutes and will then fold up inside that tour pak or a saddle bag waiting for when they're needed again.

+1

[nidan]

Tourpak gets my vote

[FUNGOUL]

removable tourpak for me

[ccr]

All things being equal - in my mind, if I was choosing between lowers or tour pak, the lowers would win in my book.

I think you made the best decision

The tour pak, although it is handy, no doubt at all about that.
A big sac luggage -- there are so many to choose from it is not funny -- will hold more, is easy on and off your bike and you will only use it when you are really going some place.
The lowers, are so nice when it is raining, not nice or cold.  Soooooo nice.  The new ones have the door that opens up for when it is hot and they are of course removable if it is just too hot for a long time.

I have not had my tour pak on my bike for more than three years.  And, I've gone on very long trips (3500 miles or more) so it is not that I just ride around town.

[porthole]

King tourpak.

That said, my son recently got a set of lowers on eBay for $80. New, appeared to be Chinese knockoffs, right down to the HD emblem and molded in numbers. Certainly looks real good for the price.

[JZ3]

Guess what my vote is?