my Xciting 500 as a mini touring bike

[winginman]

150 miles and you are on fumes...  I have a small 1.5 gal plastic "spare tank" that I picked up at Walmart that I take on long trips.  Make sure you do not fill it completely to leave room for expansion.  Shaking it around in warm weather can build up a bit of pressure and it can leak a bit.  Bit of advice it takes forever to get rid of the gas smell on stuff.    But it can be a life saver when you need an extra 50 miles or so.

[hinz]

How was the weather during the ride?
Good to hear you made it safely.

It was mostly overcast until we got high up in the BRP.  Once you're ABOVE the weather, things are actually pretty nice. lol.
It rained a little bit in Frederick, MD but not enough to warrant breaking out my 1pc. rain suit which is nice because I hate stopping to put that thing on.
On Monday during the ride down the BRP from Meadows of Dan to Asheville it got really cold and overcast. I stopped at a few gas stations looking for pocket hand warmers or thin glove liners that I could wear under my riding gloves.  I eventually put on my snowboarding gloves that I remembered to bring.  Since I was wearing them over my riding gloves, they made controlling the throttle and brakes awkward so I only really used them until it got a little warmer out.  Otherwise I had sufficient gear to deal. 

[BikerDude]

Great photos and interesting ride!

Is the tank fairly small on this bike then?

[roboscoot]

you know this really is a great looking scooter....i ride a 300dt...but when i move up it will be the x500.....looks like you planned everything ,,and need nothing except that extra tank (i hope they redesign it to hold more fuel in the future...i am kind of spoiled with the 300)......yes your planning ability is related to your focus on detail (i can tell from the picture with your scooter and all those screw drivers aligned and in place in your garage).....on the other hand my garage looks like a bomb hit it...enjoy the trip....

[sissy mary]

Who makes those saddle bags? And where did you get them? I need more space for the long trips when we head out two up!.

[hinz]

The saddle bags are Nelson Rigg CL-850 and the bag behind the back rest is also a Nelson Rigg, CL-750.

[sissy mary]

Thanks, those are nice huge bags. I have a box on mine similar to yours. My x500 is an orange 2007 also. I call it the O hog. (owe hog) as in Orange Hog. The Harley honnies love it. 

[sissy mary]

I'm looking into those bags. Do they mount under the seat with straps that go across between them, or do they mount on the side hand grips/hand rails? 

[hinz]

The bags are connected with two, wide velcro straps. I have them run under the seat. You just have to remember to leave some slack in the straps because when the seat is latched, the straps are sandwiched between the bottom of the seat and the top of the storage compartment.  If you make them too tight, the seat is tough to latch.

[sissy mary]

Thanks. I checked them out. Their not cheap! Around $145.00

[hinz]

Check the clearance sales on all the popular online motorcycle accessory sites. I think I got mine a year ago for $90 on newenough.com

[bongoman]

Nelson Rigg makes several different sizes of throw-over saddlebags; the kind that have a connecting strap that goes under the seat. I have a pair of motorcycle saddlebags made like that with a wide leather strap holding them together. Originally it was not long enough so I added a leather piece and they work fine. I like the way I can pack them like a suitcase and carry them.

[sissy mary]

I wish someone in America would sell those black hard cases that are for sale at Kymco Germany? I guess they would not be cheap, but man would those be nice to have! They look great on the bike also. Lockable, no one could steel anything. NICE.