Where are all the touring bikes?

[Lonewuff]

I just did a two week tour of the country and am VERY disappointed in one thing. I put over 8k of driving in and didn't see a single LT or GT on the road and only saw a pair of RTs the whole trip. Where are all the touring bikes at? Here is the crazy part, I know I saw at least a dozen GS's loaded up and running.

I left here two weeks ago yesterday for Illinois, then to Missouri, then I took off to the very northwest tip of Washington State's Peninsula and then came back home last night. I saw a whole lot of bikes on this trip, but like I said, no touring BMW's (with the exception of the two RT's).

Couldn't log on the list while I was gone for some reason, then on my way back I stayed in Wyoming and western Kansas and got real funny looks when I asked about WiFi. Glad to be back to the home computer so I can catch up.

[cfell]

Kuz uz wuz workin! Would rather be riding.....but nooooooo...

Glad you're home safe, Jerry!

[Big_E]

What was you riding?

[Lonewuff]

What was you riding?

Ouch!!! That's gonna leave a mark. :rotf:

Actually I was in the cage loaded down with training gear and coming back with all that plus puppies & gear.

[Big_E]

Sorry! Didn't mean to stab you like that.

[SilverBuffalo]

but like I said, no touring BMW's (with the exception of the two RT's).
They must be all home sitting in front of their computer screens :)

There just ain't that many of us out there,
I am staying of "the beaten path" as much as I can, but ........
I did about 900 miles and several states in the last couple of days,
seen one LT and two RT's.

[PMitchell]

Just returned from Toronto on a 3-day business trip. In downtown traffic I saw an LT & a GT. The driving practices and skills reminded me of my European driving experiences . . . if there is a hole fill it!

Additionally, I left the city last night after a final business dinner for the 5 hour drive home and can now qualify for NASCAR. The QEW traffic was flowing at 80+ at 10 PM. :thumb:

[mrbiker]

Just got home last night from my trip around the Grand Canyon. On my new (to me) 2005 LT.

Left L.A. on Monday, Oct. 1 and pulled back in the driveway Sunday, Oct. 7.

1278 miles.

Didn't see another LT out there.

All we saw was Harleys and BMW's. Lots of RT's and lots of GS's and every other kind of BMW - including a 1973 R75 in showroom condition.

Very few Goldwings.

EVERYWEHRE we stopped we got tons of compliments - including a lot from the Harley guys. I was surprised about that.

So I expected to see a lot of LT's and there were none.

BTW - my first big trip on this bike and boy, does it handle like a dream.

The biggest problem I had was wind, and everytime we got hit with a VERY nasty gust (that made my heart pound) this thing seemed to scream "Is that the best you've got? C'mon, hit me with a real blast!"

My girlfriend wanted to pull over last night and wait out the vicious wind near Ontario, CA, but I said we might as well keep cutting through it until it's too dangerous to travel. It never got that bad.

I'm new to LT'ing but so far, it's a lot of fun. I've just got to get better at stopping that much weight. I plan to practice in parking lots for a lot of hours.

You'll see a lot more of my LT out there - I promise you that!

m

[Ted Shred]

I know I saw at least a dozen GS's loaded up and running.

I'd say 90% of GS riders buy them to use as touring bikes. Very few actually see the dirt...

[ATFLT]

I just got back from a trip to Spokane and I didn't see many bikes. I did see a few Harley's, a couple of Wings, an RT, a couple of GS's, an FJR and and ST1300. There were even a couple of trikes out. There probably would have been more except for the snow in Montana and Idaho.

[zippy_gg]

Funny thing is... on the way to CCR,1800 miles from Los Angeles, we didn't see a single LT until we got off I-70 toward Osage Beach. We only spotted a few Harleys and I think a Honda ST. We totally expected to see a bunch of Beemers along the way...

[gunny]

Saw a pack of bikes Saturday, 4 LT's, 1 LT trike, couple of RT's, couple of Triumphs, 1 Harley, couple of GT's and a few other BMW's.

[ldbikin]

We just did the north rim of the grand canyon over the 3 day wkend, 900 miles total. Staying in Tuba.

I didn't see any other LT's...ya'll must have been down around the south rim.

It sure was cold up there! The north rim closes this week, the crowds were very light.

[the_rocketman]

I never see them on the road here either, which is kinda strange since living in the DC subs where money grows on trees if the cost of housing is any judge :D ). I do see lots of bikes though, (well after say noon or so, by which time I've already done a few hundred miles!) mostly HD's and cruisers fully loaded (I guess those qualify as touring bikes here (?) ) and for BMW's mostly GS's ( I think they are taking over the country :D ) but hardly any LT's, unless I go to a club event and one or more of the three others happen to show.

RM

[painlessbob]

I have a neighbor who's got a late model LT in his garage. I'm not much of a social animal, so I haven't talked to him. But in the six months since I bought my 2002 LT, I've never seen it leave his garage. I've been in eight states.

Not too relevant to this thread, but it irks me that he's got this great bike going unused. It ought to be a crime.

[BrianV]

Just finished a 1300 mile "leaf peeping" tour of New England with my wife. Yeah - we were in a rent car :o . Bike report is:

HD - LOTS
CR - a bunch
GW - not many
RT - 2
LT - 2
Other BMW - 2

The HD riders were road nazis out there - on Saturday and Monday we had BAAAD fog - saw more 3-across lights than I would have expected coming at us through the soup.

We had a ball - Lake Placid and the Adirondacks were amazing. Northern Vermont is absolutely beautiful. I WILL return to RIDE.

Brian

[SilverBuffalo]

Ok you've got me keeping track now,
one LT in Mississipi, one LT in Louisiana
two LT's in Branson Missouri
seen one this morning 8.30 am in Chama New Mexico (it was c-c-cold)
(fwiw) there's an RT at the motel 6 across the street
(and a Goldwing on a trailer)

Yesterday there was a Harley in the back of the pickup truck
on the other side of the fuel pump,
I looked over his way as I mounted up and loud enough for him to hear said:
If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand.

I can be such an asshole sometimes :histerica :stir:

[Ghost55]

Just back from my Fall trip to the Smokies, about 2,200 miles. Saw one LT, a few RTs, quite a few GSs, and a ton of HDs and GWs.