Touring

Turn Your Super Meteor 650 Into a Long-Haul Touring Machine

The Super Meteor 650 already looks the part of a highway cruiser. That big parallel twin, the low-slung stance, the teardrop tank. But out of the box it is built for the everyday. With the right Genuine Motorcycle Accessories it becomes a bike that will carry you and a passenger across three states in comfort. Here is how to build it for the long road.

It is no accident that riders are putting down their Honda Rebel and stepping onto a Super Meteor 650. The Rebel is a fine first cruiser, but the Super Meteor answers the question every rider eventually asks: what happens when a weekend ride turns into a real trip? A 648cc twin, full-size cruiser proportions, and genuine two-up capability mean it does not run out of bike when the miles add up. Here is what you need to make yours perfect.

1. Beat the wind with a touring screen

The single biggest upgrade for highway comfort is a windscreen. At 70 mph, wind pressure is what wears you out, not the miles. The Touring Screen (KXA00224, $179.99) redirects air over your chest and helmet so you can hold a relaxed cruise all day instead of fighting the blast. If you only make one change before a long trip, make it this one.

2. Give your gear a home

A touring bike needs to carry more than a wallet. For weekend runs, the Modern Soft Panniers (1990278, $269.99) mount clean and shed water. Going bigger and longer? Step up to the Premium Long-Haul Panniers (KXA00282, $599.99) on a set of Long-Haul Pannier Rails (KXA00204, $149.99) for serious, secure capacity. Keep the small stuff dry inside with a Waterproof Inner Bag (KXA00082, $33.99).

This is where the step up from a smaller cruiser really shows. Luggage, a passenger, and highway speed all at once is a lot to ask of an entry-level machine. The Super Meteor was designed for exactly that load.

3. Keep your passenger happy

Two-up touring lives and dies on passenger comfort. The Dual Seat and Backrest Kit (KXQ00036, $329.99) gives your passenger something to lean into over long miles, and a comfortable passenger means more rides, not fewer. Prefer to keep the stock seat? A standalone Passenger Backrest (KXA00206, $149.99) does the same job.

4. See and be seen

Long days often end in the dark. A set of LED Fog Lights (KXA00075 black or KXA00064 silver, $184.99) lights up the shoulders and makes you far more visible to traffic. Add an Oil Cooler Guard (1990556, $78.99) to protect the cooler from road debris on those long interstate stretches.

The long-haul checklist

• Wind management: touring screen
• Luggage: soft or long-haul panniers, rails, waterproof inner bags
• Passenger: dual seat and backrest, or standalone backrest and pad
• Visibility and protection: LED fog lights, oil cooler guard
• Tools, tire plug kit, first-aid, and water, always