Oky,
I suppose you might be right. "Original" rigid bikes without suspension were called "boneshakers" or "bonecrushers" for good reason! With a sprung seat and an eye on the road ahead, most problems can be avoided.
I've not yet decided which bike to bring. The custom springer "chopper" is somehow more comfy without a sprung seat than the sporty, though I still feel like bringing the lowered AMF "bastardchild."
Bedroll, canteen, marlboro, and cash, think I'll bring a coupla extra shirts so I don't scare anyone away with eau de ironhead! Man that takes me back to the month-long field exersizes in the mojave desert...
mike