the heck with it. when confusion reaches the AARRRRGGG! stage, go with what you know. It is back to the 650 Burgman and treat it like the machine it is and be happy. Now I need to find panniers and a 27" wide cargo box for the rear. If I could steal them off a Gold Wing that work with a little modification. looked at metal mule--don't think so. Who makes such beasties? I don't want soft bags.

We decided to hit the road in June instead of waiting two years. gotta get things put together. Why is everyone beating up on pepole who wear open face helmets? jrm

In reference to open face helmets, where will you put your chin strap when you do a "face plant" in an open face lid? See post about Amelia Zimmerman " ( hope I got her name right), with reference to this eventuality.

okay leigh, i found the articles about amalia and the terrible injuries she suffered. I guess I have just been lucky. 48 years of riding and have only broken ribs, collar bone, and one arm. never done a face palnt and the one time i came close was sliding down the pavement when an older woman ran a stop sign. my helmet had gravel grooves, my leathers need serious TLC, but no real damage, a few ribs broken and shoved through the right lung. However, considering my possible lack of razor fast reflex, astounding physical condition, I might couldbe, maybe should think about full face helmets just to keep the youth of this world from admiring my face so much they fail to pay attention. never liked them before because they don't allow as much side vision. better to make the effort in looking than to make the effort to eat with a straw.

The other factor is air flow. They tend to be warmer than the open face ones.

Take a look at the arai XD tour cross - has all the side vision, better air flow. Above 50 mph the beak loads the neck too much, think there is a kit to remove it. I like the beak for riding into the sun, and as a sun shade. Err this should be in clothing sorry.

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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

As Frank says, try the Tour-X, I guess your bike has a large-ish screen, so the peak should be out of the wind, and yes, there is a 'conversion' to use the helmet without the peak, it's just two modified visor pivots, and only costs a few dollars. The chin guard is a couple of inches from your chin - enduro helmet style, and there very good air flow and great side vision.
I've not had any neck-strain from the peak in the wind, and it is useful for shading the sun, but I guess the first few rides at any speed can make yor head wobble a little when you tilt your head from the straight-ahead possition. But I wouldn't considder an open face helmet- there are some big bugs out there...
bill

I use both, open and full face. I love open face helmets around town and meandering through the country side, mine has a visor, but on the highway, race track or when its raining, dusty etc I like a full face. No doubt full face is much safer, but thats your decision. I used a cheapo GREX flip front on my trip (not recomended) and 90 % of the time rode with it up, less safe than a regular open face! Consider a BMW flip helmet, you can convert it to an open face with a visor, attach a peak and generally have lots of bits to mix and match. I'm usually lothe to recomend BMW $$$$$ but they might have a solution to your lid dilemma. As to there safety, I was hit head on by a VW beetle wearing a system 1 version (chin piece locked down) years ago and bounced head first off the bonnet, then the roof before face planting the road some distance behind the car. The FZR1000 was very short and my balls introduced themselves to my lungs, but my head was Ok...then thats probably debatable.

As for the luggage, have you considerred robust plastic cases like those from Non Fango or Givi. They may even have kits for the B'man given the scooters popularity in Italy. Alu is cool, but in reality its not much more secure, they have heard of crowbars everywhere, and your unlikely to be doing alot of fast off road stuff where droping the bike is likely. So long as you have solid mounting points, not flimsy little lugs like current F650GS systems, they should cope with slow off's. I bolted the BMW panniers to the frames!

You could have a local metal fabricator make some up for you if metals what you want.

cheers

alec

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Close to Antarctica and a long way from reality

Try contacting www.happy-trail.com
They might be able to make what you need,and they are located nearby in Boise.