I am getting ready to go on a trip from Salem, Oregon to Cheyenne, Wyoming about 1200 miles. I think I have everything that I need. This is my second GS500 but my first long trip. Is their anything that you can suggest that I will need to pack?

Full riding gear,a windshield, a credit card, a celly, and a change of underwear.

Water bottle, snacks, and a camera!

I have become a huge proponent of the camelback.  I can slip the mouthpiece up under my full-face helmet and drink w/o getting off the bike (normally at a red light).  I consider it a must have for long rides.

Your itinerary?  Salem to Cheyenne would be a very long 2 days on the road.

We just got back from an 11-day trip from Toronto to Martha's Vineyard and back. Around 1700 miles round trip. Here are some essentials:

Good tankbag - not so much for storage but to rest on. Essential for long hauls!
Maps - our GPS broke half-way and I spent the night before plotting out our next day's route the old fashioned way
Water - take lots of water breaks. Easy to get dehydrated in the sun and heat, especially if you are wearing all your gear
Throttle-rocker - great to relieve your right hand from gripping the bar too tightly
Comfortable seat - I can do 12-hours a day on my Airhawk, no way I can keep that up over several days with the stock seat. Others swear by gel pads, Sargent, Corbin, whatever...
Windscreen - I used a Laminar Lip on my F. Moves the airflow off your chest and if you tuck in, you can completely escape the turbulence - good for fast Interstates!
Rain gear - ride long enough and far enough and you'll hit rain somewhere. Nothing is more miserable and dangerous than being soaked and having to concentrate on the road at the same time.

Some other tips on a multi-day ride:

Leave early to beat the heat and the traffic - We got up at 4:30AM, on the road by 5AM and aimed for a 2-3PM check-in at the next place, before it got too hot. Plenty of daylight at 5AM!
Try to stay overnight near some twisty roads - when you check out early in the morning, you'll beat the traffic so you won't get stuck behind an RV in the twisties, and you might also beat the cops to their regular radar stake-out
Bring a disc-lock and a chain - lock your bike up at night. 'nuff said
Eat lots of roughage - you're not moving much when you're sitting 10-12 hours a day, and neither are your bowels. Don't make their job any harder... so to speak...
Plan your break-days - every 3-4 days you'll need a day or two to rest. Also your daily mileage will decline significantly on the 3rd and 4th day until you recuperate, so plan accordingly.
Pack lightly! - if think you might not need it, you won't. Bring enough clothing for half the trip and find a laundromat half-way. Also bring your own detergent in a small plastic container. Use the motel shampoo & soap.

A couple of pics from our trip:


All packed up and ready to go


Somewhere in NY state

More pics and commentary here:

ok well the fastest way is hwy 22  to hwy 20 then get on I-84 in ontario, and take the 84 to the 80 which runs into chyenne.   it's about 14 hours of good riding.  there's a great coffee shop in green river.  make sure your there by the time the sun goes down.  I-80 is booring and windy once you leave Utah.  and the scenery in Utah is great.   you need to leave by 4 or so. stop in bend for gas and coffee (cause the high desert is pretty, but booring. a mid morning snack/gas in burns, gas in ontario.  gas in Jerome ID,  gas and a late lunch in Snowville UT (there's a great little dinner there or the flying J gas station has a pretty good deli if your worried about time.  then down to Ogdon there's a really big rest stop there with alot of tourist info  use this as a break to walk around.  then green river for gas and coffee, and you can run most of the way to larimee and then it's a hour to chyenne.  

this is all from memory though so I'm sure some of the gas stops are off.

Great pics.  My favourites were the panoramic in Vermont and the Ghost Rider tribute.  I'm going to try that one some time.  

Looks like you had some nice blue sky for the last few days of the trip  

I don't know how you went that many days with that little luggage.   I am truly impressed.

Quote from: DraceyKHow do you post pictures to the page?

See the Posting pictures entry in the FAQ forum.

You might also want to bring an extra set of levers.

Quote from: Lee from TorontoWe just got back from an 11-day trip from Toronto to Martha's Vineyard and back. Around 1700 miles round trip. ...
More pics and commentary here:

Excellent advice and thanks for the virtual trip to Martha's Vineyard.  I feel like I was the third rider.  Looks like you had a great time -- nothing but smiles in every pic.  

Here are a few pic of the Bike. I just about ready to go.

Nice GS !

Where did you get your clock and Thermometer??? Is that what the other one is?  :mrgreen:

I got them at Formotion Gauges. I beleve they were $31.95 for the two of them.

http://www.formotionproducts.com/

Nice Bike. I loke the color. The other gauge is a Thermometer. Check out the web site and look at the close outs.

I have had the Formotion clock and thermometer for three seasons now.  They're liquid filled and haven't been affected by vibration.  Well worth the price.

I just noticed that you're showing the stock seat.  What are your plans to avoid "Monkey Butt"?

Are your saddlebags/tailbag Tourmasters?  I have a Tourmaster Cortech tank bag and love it.  Just wondering if the tail/saddlebags were as high quality.

lookin good!  dont forget the