tour reports » Alsace Valley trip some final thoughts

This was my wife's first motorcycle trip so there was extra storage needed. I usually use the GIVI dry bag across the back seat on the passenger seat but I strapped it to the top of the panniers using 4 cargo bungee nets zip tied into two long ones. I also had two rubber mats to keep the panniers from getting scratched. I also bought a Modeka dry bag but will have to say that the GIVI is of a better quality. I was also pleased with the semi rigid inner pannier for the left side as a toiletries and etc. container and how it pops right into the pannier.
Thoughts:
1. I wish that the 6th gear was more of an overdrive. On the autobahn at ~90MPH (~130KPH) the engine is at 5K rpm.
2. Motorcycle parking in Europe is better because it is allowed most wherever.
3. The dry bags bungee'd on the top of the panniers held fine at speeds mention in thought #1. They also made nice arm rests for the Queen.
4. I enjoyed the inner pannier bag more that I thought.
4. The mountain roads in and around the Alsace Valley are roller coasters, especially near Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.
5. I enjoyed my new flip up helmet (Shoei Neotec II) better than I thought.

3 of us were due for our third trip to the Vosges and Black Forest in September, but have put it back to next year. I must agree with most of Hydrashok's points except I prefer a small, light helmet, a Shoei RYD.
We stay at the Hostellerie d'Etoile in Vasselonne and can recommend it. Great location for the hills, good food and reasonable price.