THX, great input. My thinking is a trailer and bar bag should do it for the tours i have planned. Most will be short two to four day out and backs. One long tour of about a month is also in the works. Normal touring gear, clothes, tent, sleeping bag etc. No special needs. Most of the rides will be on the eastern coastal plain, IOW, flat!!!!! The long tour is down the east coast. And, when i say coast, I mean as close to the Atlantic as i can ride. My thinking is that I can keep the stock gearing on the 520 for now.

If anyone has more to add, keep'em coming. Again, thx for the well thought out and informed responses. Exactly what I was looking for.