Bruce Full Touring / Alaska 2028 Loadout & Packing

April 3rd, 2026

Full Touring / Alaska 2028 Loadout – What Does This Mean?

My Full Touring / Alaska 2028 Loadout is my touring packing load for extended long distance motorcycle touring / camping trips. For example, I am lookat at my Alaska 2028 trip to be 43 days in total with 7 days in Anchorage with my son and wife for a family vacation. This setup is for spending weeks traveling on the motorcycle with significant camping involved.

To be clear, this is way overkill for my Florida Loop 2026 trip. But I am using that trip as my test flight per say for my motorcyle configuation and full touring loadout. Less extensive trips will have reduced loadout accordingly, especially trips that does not involve camping. I would say more than half of the items packed are related to camping.

Let’s look at luggage weight

  • Right Panier (including weight of panier itself) = 50 Pounds
  • Left Panier (including weight of panier itself) = 50 Pounds
  • Top Case (including weight of top case itself) = 28 Pounds
  • Medic Bag / First Aid Kit (strapped on top of top case) = 9 Pounds
  • Reax Poseidon Dy Bag (including dry bag weight itself) = 36 Pounds
  • Giant Loop Armadillo Bag (Gasoline) 3 Gallons = 1.25 Pounds Empty
    • ~19.85 pounds when full (3 gallons gasoline)
  • Giant Loop Cactus Canteen Hydration Bladder 2 Gallons = 17.5 Pounds
    • 9.3 Ounces empty
  • Tank Bag (includes weight of tank bag itself) = 9 Pounds

Total Weight with empty Giant Loop Armadillo Bag = 200.75 Pounds

Total Weight with full Giant Loop Armadillo Bag = 219.35 Pounds

Total gear weight is about the weight of an adult.

So, what did I pack and where did I pack it?

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Bruce Status Update – March 29, 2026

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Here is a short(ish) video updating the current status of Bruce, my 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special. Bruce was brought back to Atlanta Harley-Davidson on March 26, 2026. I am hoping to pickup Bruce by Wednesday April 1st, 2026. I am scheduled to roll out on Saturday April 4th, 2026 to begin Florida Loop 2026.

Bruce – 1000 Miles

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2/28/2026

Today I rode 250 miles for another burger 🙂 Rode 250 miles round trip from Douglasville, GA to Burger Heaven in Birmingham, AL again but this time I had their 1-pound burger…hmmm beef.

Primary mission was to rack up some more miles to get to the 1000 miles mark on Bruce (my 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special). Soon I will be taking Bruce into Atlanta Harley-Davidson for its 1000 mile service and will also have them install my aux lights and run some power leads under the fuel tank for me, at this point, I don’t want to monkey around with removing the fuel tank, that sounds like future fun but not now LOL.

Installed Touratech Works Foot pegs

February 26, 2026

This evening I installed the Touratech Works Foot pegs (low version). The low version is 20mm (0.8″) lower the Harley-Davidson’s stock foot pegs without rubber insert installed (I still had the rubber installed in mine). This will give me a little more leg room (about 1″ or so) which every little bit helps.

These also have a nice claw profile that is grippy on the boots without tearing them up like sharp teeth type grips. There are much wider than the OEM pegs and are easy to stand on (not that the OEM pegs were bad for standing). I do like that these Touratech pegs have wide openings that will allow dirt and mud to fall through and will not as easily allow mud buildup on the pegs.

Installation was pretty straight forward. Hardest part is pushing in the retention tab on the OEM foot peg pin. I used a small pick to depress the tab and then wiggled the pin out. Other than that, pretty easy to swap foot pegs.

I did have to adjust my shift lever and brake lever height afterwards as these foot pegs do sit a bit lower than the OEM foot pegs.

Here is a video by Camel ADV that shows how to remove the OEM pin for the foot pegs. This video is for a differnt brand of aftermarket foot pegs but the procedure is the same with exception that these Touratech foot pegs use their own spring and a cylinder.

Here is a link to the Touratech Works Foot Pegs for the Pan America

Accessories Installs Update for Bruce 2/23/2026

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February 23, 2026

See video above for full details on recent installs.

Accessory Installs Since Last Update (2/16/26 – 2/23/26)

  • Garmin – zūmo® XT2 6.0 Motorcycle Navigator | Link
  • Garmin – Handlebar Controller | Link
  • Garmin – Handlebar Controller and Group Ride Radio Y-Adapter Kit | Link
  • Touratech TFT Display Anti-Theft Guard, Harley Davidson Pan America | Link
  • GPS Mounting Bracket, Above Gauges, Harley Davidson Pan America | Link
    Install Video for RFT Display Anti-Theft Guard & GPS Mounting Bracket
  • Touratech Locking GPS Mount for Garmin Zumo XT2, Tread 2 Powersport Edition | Link
  • Touratech Quick-Release Aluminum Headlight Guard, Harley Davidson Pan America | Link
    Install Video
  • A-1 Racing Handlebar Risers & Heel Guards | Link | Install Video
  • Adventure Bike Pegs – GS1 Highway Peg Set | Link
  • Barkbusters Aluminum Handguard Kit For Harley Pan America 2021-2026 | Link
    Install Video
  • Barkbusters Replacement Storm Plastic Guards | Link
  • Harley-Davidson Tank Knee Pad Kit | Link
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250 Mile Ride to Birmingham, Alabama for a Burger

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Today, February 14th, 2026, I rode 250 miles from Douglasville, Georgia to Brimingham, Alabama to grab a burger.

Well actually, the real purpose of today’s ride was to load up some miles on Bruce, my 2025 HD Pan America 1250 Special.  I want to load up the miles to ensure that I have the 1000-mile servicing done in time before my Florida Loop 2026 touring trip that begins April 4th, 2026. 

I have a few more accessories to install on Bruce prior to the Florida Loop 2026 trip.  Also, Atlanta Harley-Davidson service department has been quite busy lately, so I want to get Bruce into servicing by early March (have some things to install prior to servicing as well, namely Quadlock headless charger and Garmin Zumo XT2 mounting system.  I am going to have Harley-Davidson do the wiring for these devices as I am too lazy to remove the fuel tank at this time.  Plus, as part of the 1000-mile servicing, they must remove the fuel tank anyways to service the air filter.

By the way, the Jumbo Cheeseburger at Hamburger Heaven was FANTASTIC!!

AAUGH!! & GOOD GRIEF LOL

Dropping the Pan America (Bruce)

So, I have only owned my ’25 Pan America 1250 Special (named Bruce, my wife has the honor of naming all my motorcycles) since mid-October 2025.  As of today, I only have just under 500 miles on the bike.  Yet, I have managed to drop it 3 times thus far (twice today).  All are knuckle head moments from myself and getting used to this bike (which I love but dang, 3 drops already).  For comparison, I used to own a 2005 HD Ultra Classic (Dexter) which I have also dropped 3 times, but in a span of 8 years, not just over 3 months lol).

Bruce – Full Alaska Loadout

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Motorcycle Luggage & Some Camp Gear Updates 1/24/2026

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Overview

A somewhat, sort of, not really brief overview of my motorcycle luggage and some of the new camp gear.  At present, the only two camp items that are carrying over from my previous motorcycle camping trips is my ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 2-Person Tent and camp skillet with a folding handle.  Everything else has been replaced with new gear.

The main driver for the new gear is the quest to pack smaller and lighter.  So far, my loadout for Bruce is substantially less than what I would pack for Dexter.  There are still some luxury items and things I could do without, but I’m getting old and comfort is more important.

There are always those who scream you overpack.  While I have overpacked on previous trips, this is much less.  I am convinced that I could only pack a string bikini and someone would scream I am over packing….to which I reply cool, you do you boo! 😊 

I will discuss more about the electronics I am hauling including the HoverAir X1 PROMAX drone later.

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Bruce Accessories Update – 1/24/2026

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Overview

An update on the installed or purchased to be installed accessories on my 2025 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special – Bruce.

And as a special bonus, some rambling by yours-truly towards the end about upcoming trips Florida Loop 2026, Alaska 2028, and a little bit about my drop at Bell Mountain Georgia.

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Veteran’s Day Bruce Break-In Ride 3

11/11/2025 Veteran’s Day Ride – 103 Miles today 213 miles to go for the 500 Mile Break-In.

Cold Ride today with starting temperature at 25°F a bit past 8am.

 Today’s temperature never exceeded 47°F during the ride (most of day was in the 30’s.  However, I was not cold but layered up like the Michelin man.  I was unable to test my Rev’It Sand H20 pants as they were too long and I returned them to Cycle Gear in Hiram, GA (part of today’s ride).

Read more about the gear I wore and the 3rd Break-In Ride overall.

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