Do any of you guys ride a motorcycle to summer archery events or shoots?

If so, how do you safely and effectively transport a bow and arrows? Obviously take a takedown bow, but a quiver or tube of arrows is puzzling.

Other gear is no problem, even if I chose to camp out because of the saddlebags, trunk, and a rack.

Comments or suggestions?

I am asking because wifey is doing some Christmas shopping and is in an extremely generous mood. Apparently I am on her “very nice” list.

Trying to decide where and how I would incorporate a new motorcycle into existing activities in addition to just riding.

We are retired, so no commuting for work. Driving is discretionary, for hunting fishing trapping shooting, and other enjoyment. My normal vehicle is an F-350 crew cab where room is abundant.

When I was riding, I used a sidecar. No problems.

I’ve traveled quite a bit on my motorcycle and usually camp. You didn’t say if your wife would be traveling with you but if not it shouldn’t be a problem to carry everything. A pvc tube for arrows and put the bow and quiver in a waterproof bag. If your wife is coming you might want to look into a trailer.

A friend used to show up at shoots on his bike, TD and arrows strapped to the seat backrest. I've seen guys with flyrod cases on bikes too.

A two or 3 piece bow and a back quiver is all you need, an arrow tube or two works too.

Where there's a will?...there's a way and if archers mounted on horses can do it?...so can you.

I've ridden motorcycles all my life and recently purchased a '22 HD Heritage 114 and plan on riding it to events...I'm also toying with the idea of taking a one piece bow that could be sheathed much like a mounted archers bow would be.

TD's and arrow tubes are easy peezy.

I have not done it with bows and motorcycles, but after reading Jinkster's post, I rode a lot of miles with a rifle in scabbard mounted under my leg, tied to the saddle. If you had a heavy leather or something not overly soft, I think the same concept would work with a one piece bow and motorcycle??

-Bones

An arrow case and TD bow are easy to strap on the rear seat. I also often took a one piece longbow on my bike. I just put it in a PVC tube and tied it to the side of my bike, using the rear rider foot peg and the sissy bar. Looked like I had a big white antenna behind me. Sometimes I would just throw a few extra arrows in the tube or tape another pvc arrow tube to the bow tube.

Well just now back to the computer………

All of your ideas are very helpful! I have ridden motorcycles on the roads but it was a very long time ago. There is only one motorcycle that we are considering - a Harley- Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Limited.

I have been busy for a lifetime packing and carrying loads of gear for hunting, fishing, trapping, backpacking, hiking in to remote places, using ATVs and side by sides and canoes and boats boats to get into remote places to hunt, camp, and fish.

Somehow packing bowhunting gear on a touring motorcycle seems different from other packing. I don’t want to cause a wind or high center of gravity problem.

Daniel - your method of a sidecar is great! Honestly, I have some experience trying to run a sidecar. After a lot of hours, I was still trying and it wore me out.

Jerry - you look like an experienced packer! Any experiences with wind or high center problems? For bow shoots and the like, wife will not be along.

Dana - that sounds like a simple approach. But when in civilization, I don’t want to be stopped as a threat because of a back quiver. Now if I had a bear head mount helmet like worn by Ron LaClair it would be fine.

Orion - Unfortunately that will not work because there is no sissy bar. Maybe pvc horizontally strapped onto the front and rear crash bars? It might look crazy?

Jinkster - Hopefully the horse would cooperate. Not sure about a fire breathing horse. Nice acquisition for you! Are you adding any Screamin’ Eagle or other? If I do this, I will have them do stage 1 - intake, pipes, and tuner before I take delivery.

Dry Bones - Your method sounds more serene and easy-going. If we had some pasture there would be a couple nice riding mules in it. Carrying a bow in a scabbard alongside may work, but is there a risk of heat causing delamination? Less likely with a horse or mule.

I have wanted one of the big beasts for all of my adult life. At this point when we can do it, I am wondering if it is too late and wondering how much I would ride it. There are many for sale with 200 to 2,000 miles that were rarely ridden. We live in a rural area and if I want to cool off I can go on a quick atv ride.

Thanks to everyone!

Just my two cents worth: I have been riding Harleys for 20 years and still do. I own a 98 Wide Glide and an O4 RoadKing. Before you buy that big bagger, ask yourself exactly what kind of riding you will do most. If you are not going to ride over 300 to 400 miles a day, and also a lot of short trips around town, you might be better served with a lighter bike that handles better IMHO, like a Dina or a Softtail.

Are you going to be riding double. How heavy are you and if you wife is going to ride, how heavy is she. It does matter.

Also, if you haven't ridden much in a long time, I highly recommend taking a Motorcycle safety course even (especially) before you buy or test ride any motorcycles. It could save your life.

I have personally known several friends and others that got killed because they bought a motorcycle and never really learned how to ride it and stay alive. Don't mean to pour cold water on your plan. I love motorcycles, but it's serious business. At least take a motorcycle safety course first.

As far as carrying stuff on your bike, you can carry a lot more then you think if you use your imagination. On my old school Wide Glide, I have a 2ft sissy bar on the back, and you wouldn't believe what I have hauled on it.

Last - Thanks for your well-intentioned suggestions!

Yes, I have ridden a lot on the road, and long distances on lesser bikes that became miserable. I do plan on extensive rides. There are many rides in mind.

We will ride double - probably once for a short ride. That is a reality. Wife has arthritis which will not mix well with riding. She has always encouraged me to live life to the fullest.

I am very aware of the risks of getting killed or worse while riding a motorcycle. Long ago, my Dad was in an accident when a 16 year old girl with a 1 day old driver’s license hit him. He had lasting problems with his neck for the rest of his life. In hindsight we have wondered if he could have avoided it if he had been a better rider. My secretary rode double with her husband until a rider was hit and the husband picked up the helmet from the road - and the rider’s head was still in it.

I definitely understand the concept of mastering the machine or stay away. I have flown airplanes for most of my life. There were times when I would get supplemental instruction on a skill, or because of a physical change on a plane, or new avionic equipment. Learning and improving is part of the fun, success, and safety. For a few reasons, flying has lost its appeal. Mostly because of the required security in controlled airspace and airports.

Since I have not ridden road bikes lately, I am already enrolled in the first HD class when they begin holding them in the spring. Plus I have arranged for some one on one instruction and also rides with an instructor riding along on his motorcycle with us both having linked headsets. The motorcycle will not be delivered until sometime in April.

This is a serious decision and that is why I have questioned if it is too late in the last paragraph above. Not a midlife crisis or chasing youth and a girlfriend. Simply a desire that has become possible.

I look forward to more discussion with you and will send a PM. Thanks again.

i do it all the time with my Goldwing. I use a strung case for my recurve with a side pocket for the arrows in the quiver and just put it across the back seat. It is only a little bit wider than the wing.

That all works great by myself but when my wife goes with me and she shoots too I can slip her bow in the same case in a strung sock and her little arrows in with mine. I put the whole thing on the trunk rack. that I have strap down better where as on the seat I just run one bungy over the case. The case on the rack does tend to block your mirror vision. Just be a bit more careful.

Now a better trick is to get a deer on there too.

I used to shoot a winter league that went into second week of April. I distinctly remember come around April a guy leaving league one nice evening on his motorcycle. Had his Super Kodiak still braced and slung over his back and across his chest; and sure enough a back quiver with all his arrows over his shoulder and back as well. I'm pretty sure it was a Sportster model he rode. I asked him if he thought that was a good idea and his response was nothing bad has happened yet. He had about a 40 minute ride to get home. Saw him the next week and he did the same thing again. Totally not recommended but a funny story.

GVS - you win! That is a feat of skill. You have that deer on there very square, neat, and tidy. Did you get any looks on the way home? Did you take it to check in that way. What would you have done with a big buck? Long ago someone posted an old photo of a cool looking guy from the 30s or 40s with a bow and a bear on his bike.

Last week I had a buck for which I used a front end loader to put in the back of the truck.

Dirtnap - What a story. Today, someone would have been offended, woke, scared, and demanded that he be arrested. In the event of a crash he could have become a pin cushion!

The reason I was hunting does was that I had filled my buck tag first thing opening morning. the weather was still nice so I made a motorcycle/hunting trip a couple weekends into the season. The bow went across the seat with a duffle on top and I pretty much had everything else filled. In WI at that time we still had to do in person/deer registration.

So when I shot her and it was a real good shot. I heard her go down I went right after her, cleaned her out and went to get the bike, tarp and bungees. I can't describe what a miserable time it was to get her up on the seat and bundled up by myself. I would never do that again.

I had a mile of farm road to get to the pavement. Then 2 miles to the gas station. It was a Sunday morning so not too many people saw it. I went back to the cabin and quickly skinned, boned and chilled the meat. It all fit in the hitch carrier which is a cooler but I had to use a fleece jacket for the lid. even got some ice in there. Zipped it up and drove 150 miles home.

I should have taken more pictures. An awesome weekend that I will forever remember.

Pack them in capped pvc pipe

They make backpacks designed to carry TD bows , has tube case for arrows too.

I have not had any issues in wind or high center of gravity but I do make sure to pack heavy items low in the saddle bags. The e-glide has a lower center of gravity than my beemer so I don’t think it would be a problem.

GVS - that sounds like a fun and interesting weekend. Wrestling a deer is difficult and frustrating. I thought you must have had help to load and fasten the deer so perfectly. Great story!

Nomad - pvc will be good for the arrows. A take-down recurve will be simple.

Your bike and trailer are stunning! I used to fish in Yellowstone and up the west side of Montana. Saw a lot of Harleys pulling fiberglass trailers. I always wondered how one tows, especially downhill. Talked to some folks who had them - they were much happier with a cooler and some comforts.

John - that sounds handy, maybe to wear or attach to the rack. All consolidated.

No comment on packing bows etc.

My comment is, if you are old, haven't ridden in a few decades, and plan on having your wife ride on a 900 pound bike with you, you my friend are looking for trouble. Seems to me you would be MUCH better off getting a nice lightweight easily maneuvered bike for starters. Once you get your riding chops WAY up, then proceed with your plan. More than a few old guys have crashed driving the bike off the dealer lot. That's no BS either. You REALLY should think this through beforehand.

I drove a '69 Honda 175 in high school and first year of college. Dropped it a few times, once into oncoming traffic. A miracle I wasn't killed. Anything with two wheels IS gonna fall over. No lecture intended. Just sayin.

Not exactly on topic, but it's MANDATORY for airline pilots to retire at 65 for a sound reason. I'm 68, and totally get that mandatory retirement at 65 thing. Ten years ago I wouldn't have, 65 was just another number. Now I fully understand that number. Old folks screw up like clockwork, it's simply a part of age. Just sayin.

However regardless of my opinion, good luck.

absolutely... just strap a quiver full of arrows and a TD selfbow on the back...

You need some super glue. You could get a Harley trike it would be the ticket. My buddy has one and I really like riding it. O super glue is to glue trophy to front fender on way home. :-))

Fisher, I sent you an email before getting back on here and reading more posts. It sounds like you know what you are doing. Good luck with your riding.

You jolly jokers are funny!

But, I know you certainly mean well.

Yes, I agree that I have not been riding street bikes for awhile, but it is not like doing nothing. This is different, but I have been riding ATVs and side by sides all over on roads for farm work, trapping, and taking care of places for absentee seasonal homeowners.

Most of your arguments are completely valid. I say similar precautions to others looking into something new or taking a big step.

Bob - thank you for peeing in my Wheaties and being the voice of reason. Your plan makes sense, is reasonable, and is cautious.

I expected some tips on packing a bow and arrows. I did not expect the onslaught of good advice based upon sound reasoning from people who care enough to type out their ideas. You guys are great!

I don’t have to do this at all. I have a nice truck and can go anywhere and pull anything with a roof over my head, air conditioning, heat, and can sleep in the back seat or in the back since it has a nice fiberglass topper. Plus it would actually hold all of my bows and arrow at the same time.

I am thinking hard about all of your suggestions.

Thank you my friends!

Riding a bike today is not like years ago. To many idiots out there and to many on there phones. Population has grown so much way more vehicles on the roads and way to much road ragged drivers. I Road bikes from high school tell 55 not no more. To many close calls and a best friend and wife killed ran over at a intersection sitting still A girl on a phone plowed them over from behind. Think hard my friend.

I have a few times.

I would maybe try to ask this on a motorcycle forum also, some very knowledgeable rider's out there, that already figured out how to travel with different items.

Take my Harley’s hunting and too bow shoots all the time, Bear takedown and a back quiver

I used to do it all the time.

Miss it, and need to start doing it again.

Rick

I've made a few small improvements since these pictures were taken, but they are more cosmetic than function.

Rick

I had an idea to ride to local shoots, bought the bike and never took it to a shoot. I sold the bike with 7,000 miles because it's too dangerous on the roads now. Quite frankly I found the idea of strapping my archery stuff to a two wheeler unappealing, so I bought a Can Am Spyder. That is for sale now because it's too dangerous to ride on the roads now.

Yep, one needs to ride, like everyone is crazy and trying to kill you, to survive, almost. I must say, though, that I had a lot more close-calls in the first year of riding then afterwards.

Deer, dogs, left turners, and getting run over from behind are probably some of the most common situations. But bikers cause their own problems lots of times, also. Riding stupid gets a lot of them killed.

Twenty something years ago, a bunch of sport bikers decided to do some interviews of a number of old bikers who had ridden all of their life and try to find out what had kept them alive, all of those years. They were looking for a common denominator.

In the end they walked away, a bit confused. They were expecting to find that it was their exceptional riding skills, you know, bike handling skills, emergency braking, cornering skills, etc.

But most of the old bikers just talked about having a sort of sixed sense, to spot trouble before they got into it. They could spot potential trouble and make adjustments before they had to rely on any special emergency riding skills, etc. to save their butt. And I think there is a whole lot of truth to that.

Always a jeep,top and doors off a windshield and a radio. plus on trips your wife can drive some. hair still blowing in the wind. :-))

And don't get me wrong, I think it's smart to have and learn some emergency riding skills, like emergency braking, and counter steering, etc. But not needing to use them, is the best plan, if you can pull it off.

Motorcyclist deaths in this city of 500K have doubled since last year. Traffic is crazy. People are pissed off, because they have to drive in that traffic.

If you are riding your moto in heavy traffic you have but a few seconds to react to lousy drivers. Or potholes created by unfrickin believable amount of traffic. At least you generally get a warning if people are swerving around big junk laying on the road. I drive my truck expecting to see bad drivers EVERY time I drive somewhere. At least in my truck if something goes south it's bumper cars. On a moto its splat. You lose.

I have carried a 66 inch longbow on this. Just have to remember its there. For arrows I have an Easton adjustable arrow tube.

I see riding moto in todays big city traffic kinda like the Dallas air show B17 P63 crash three weeks ago. Old very capable pilots with thousands if not tens of thousands of hours in the cockpit, lives gone in seconds from one mistake. All that experienced pilot wisdom up the ying yang, no matter.

Preliminary finding by NTSB suggests one unrehearsed call by the air boss to fly a 'crossover' in formation, and BANG, show over for six extremely capable men. Tragic.

I don't care how experienced you are, how much your activity is ruled and regulated, if there's one big mistake while doing something that's inherently dangerous, you get the chop.

At 68 I'll opt out. I make way too many mistakes now as it is.

Number 1 always say your prayers every day before you ride excellent idea taking the riding classes. Pack the best rain suit you afford. You dont need the stage one kit the 114 has plenty of power Ive rode them and the 117 its a personal choice. Ride safe and blessed.

I thought about selling my bikes, but they are old and won't bring much money, so I have just decided to keep them until I know I am done riding. I am lucky that I don't need to ride in a big city, really. Mostly it's rural and small-town riding for me. But accidents can happen anywhere. However, rush hour traffic is probably the worst.

The most dangerous places I have ever ridden are the big box store parking lots, especially walmart.

Rick

Walmarts is dangerous just to walk the parking lot.

Walmart parking lots suck. ALL big box parking lots suck. I'm in one every few days. I drive through slowly, like every last vehicle could pull out at any time without seeing me. Hell, I'VE done that myself a few times. I absolutely HATE backing up my truck. I'm terrified I might hit a little kid behind me.

Motorcyclists are getting killed in this crazy azz traffic in the big city. Rush hour traffic on a major arterial boulevard at 55, with major cross street stoplights, is akin to blood cells in an artery pumping with the heartbeat. Driving the I at 75-90 >IN TOWN!< where the speed limit is 65, and impatient pissed off 'zipper shits' weave in and out like it's some video game. People running reds by two to three cars. Total rush hour craziness.

I occasionally ride my bicycle over a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that spans Interstate 25 downtown Co Springs. About every time I ride over it I have stop and gazed down at the insanity of modern traffic through the chain link fence. 'Zipper shits' going 75-85 weaving lane to lane no turn signal is common nowadays. Zipper shirts are everywhere now. Crash there and it's adios.

A couple years ago my wife and I were riding I25 up to Denver and this biker on a crotch rocket zips up to our left and kicks our Camry and flips us off while yelling obsenities. He was flipping people off and kicking at them while going 90, yelling at the world. I mean W T F?

Life is dangerous. Been riding motorcycles since I was 13,69 now. Had a bout with cancer this last summer. I'll be dammed if Im gonna walk around scared now.

The worse that I ever saw were 3 bikers, passing me, doing wheelies @ 85+ mph, in the passing lane during rush hour on a major MA interstate.

It was crazy, insane, stupidity!

I ride my 100th anniversary Harley Road King a lot but never to archery get togethers.....Des

Fischer:

"Jinkster - Hopefully the horse would cooperate. Not sure about a fire breathing horse. Nice acquisition for you! Are you adding any Screamin’ Eagle or other? If I do this, I will have them do stage 1 - intake, pipes, and tuner before I take delivery."

Ahh...ya just hafta think outta the box and I've hit an age where when it comes to bikes?...I like the strong, comfortable, quiet type.

I do my own maintenance but my 114 needs no performance upgrades...at least I haven't had a moment where I thought "dang...wish I had more power"

My upgrades were all comfort related...hammock seat & backrest...new proper height recurve acrylic windshield from freedom shields...avon grips...fangs...etc....I'm saving my money for travel and tires! LOL! :)

Jinkster, you mention tires. I need new ones, but when I get to it I am going tubeless rims, and with a Dark Sides tire setup all the way.

Rick

"Jinkster, you mention tires. I need new ones, but when I get to it I am going tubeless rims, and with a Dark Sides tire setup all the way.

Rick"

I had several HD buds at work that I worked with for well over 15 years (aerospace machine shop/govt contract) and they've been trying for years to get me off my Jap hyper sport bikes and I hafta admit that the allure of owning a Harley has always haunted me but the insane performance (and reliability) of the Jap bikes always won me over and then riding a ZX14 Ninja while 80+ years old happened and it was a few years ago I started seriously looking at and test riding HD's and while the Touring models just felt to heavy to me?...of the softails the Heritage seemed the best fit for me and my last excuse for not buying one was that they only came with laced wheels and tubed tires and as you probably well know if you get a flat on a roadtrip with tubed tires you are screwed and glued and then 2022 happened and not only did Harley come out with 9 spoke cast wheels sporting tubeless tires but the Heritage came standard with their 114 Milwaukee 8 engine and I was flat out of excuses especially when they offered me $7K trade-in for my '08 ZX14.

You Harley dudes should check out 'tatro machine' on youtube. Keenan's been working on HD his entire life. Flathead, knuck, pan, shovel, ironhead, evo, twinkie M8. He has hundreds of videos of him working in his shop doing every imaginable repair/reman/redo of all Harleys. Watch and learn from the best.

Jinks, I'll stick with my old Yamaha 1600 Roadstar. She's been good to me for many years. I just want to change the rims & tires on her to a dark sides setup, and I'll be good to go from then on.

Rick

Yes, there is even a swimming pool on there, and still room for bow & arrows.

I have been away from the computer for awhile. Glad to see there is other interest and discussion independent of my question and issues.

It seems like there are guys cautiously having fun in spite of the risks. Nice looking bikes and rigs in the photos.

The Jeep is a good idea. I know nothing about modern Jeeps. Our last was a 1952 Willys SUV type. If they still offered a real CJ7 from about 1979, I would consider that today. Another good idea is a Mustang convertible.

Your comments have been quite a reality check. Especially riding conditions. Living in a rural area and not commuting in civilization has dulled my sense of dangerous idiots on the road. Backroads and interstates pose risks.

So, I will slow down the process and probably wait to buy until I have taken the rider’s class, take a few rides on rental bikes, and test drive some of the other models. I know what I want and can handle the bike size and weight and power. The crazy people on the road and road hazards are my concerns.

Again, I thank you for all of your advice and anecdotes.

'..rider's class,..' Wise move. I suggest a light bike with a low seat so you're totally flat footed at lights. Low center of gravity is a very good thing.

I rode a light Honda CL 175 for four years, and fell a few times on the street, including into oncoming trraffic. Much as I'd LOVE riding a moto, at 68 I'm certain to get the chop. I make enough mistakes on my 28 lb. bicycle.

Go to a jeep dealer and look around you will leave drooling all over yourself pretty nice and some pretty lux.

Thanks for the additional tips. A buddy could not touch very well and dumped his a couple times at red lights. He quit riding. Now bought 4 Harley’s since retiring.

New Jeeps are nice but don’t appeal to us. I would buy a nice early 80s CJ7 in an instant. Even better a first generation Bronco

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