

Sportsters aren’t necessarily known for great range. Wind/rain protectors can be mounted to the bars to keep your feet warm on cool rides and dry when it starts to rain. Highway bars outfitted with pegs allow for a stretched riding position for the times that you do not need to be on the controls.

Staying on the mid-controls for the entirety of a long ride can cause cramping and discomfort. But they can also provide relief for your cramped legs.

The primary use for highway bars is to protect your bike in a laydown. They can also be removed with ease to return your bike back to its stock setup for shorter cruises. If you like your seat, a seat pad, like ones from Airhawk and Wild Ass, can improve the comfort for longer rides. An aftermarket seat with back support and ample cushion will allow you to stay in the saddle for far longer. While the stock seat may work great for some riders, it is often not the best choice for touring. When you’re putting in some serious seat time, you need a saddle that will support your back and provide excellent cushion. Also, it will keep pelting rain off of you if you get caught in a downpour. With clean air filtering up and over the shield, it makes breathing easier as well. A proper windshield keeps the wind off of you by reducing buffeting to a much more manageable amount. Fatigue can quickly set in and make the ride miserable. Without one, the wind can become your enemy fast. While a windshield may not be that sexy when you are hopping from joint to joint, it is certainly a welcome addition out on the highway. Adding a luggage rack to the rear fender provides even more room for you to strap extra luggage to your bike. Removable bags also allow you to take them with you once you reach your resting point at the end of a long day of riding. Not only do they provide ample storage, but they are removable, allowing you to return your Sportster back to its cruiser form. Removable saddlebags mounted on supports provide a good starting point for a luggage option. There are, however, plenty of aftermarket luggage options available to provide the storage that you need for long rides. Unfortunately, most stock Sportsters have minimal storage space, if any. Going for a long haul requires you to pack some necessities to get you through the days of riding that are ahead of you. They can turn any model Sportster into a touring bike capable of big miles on the open highway. Check out the add-ons and modifications listed below. Don’t feel like you need to have the 1200T to go touring on your Sportster, though. Their Sportster 1200T was introduced to help fill the void as a light touring model. A bike that can keep up with the bigger, purpose-built Baggers.Įven Harley believes that the Sportster is capable of long miles.

With a few additions and modifications, it can be transformed into a competent touring motorcycle. But the Sportster is capable of so much more. It’s made for zipping around city streets and cruising through your favorite local twisties. As an owner of the iconic cruiser, you know the joys of taking your Sportster for shorter jaunts.
