I have to agree that major systems work should be delayed until after the trip. That is conventional wisdom when discussing the same issue with small general aviation airplanes. As a bonus, you can have everything that broke along the way fixed when you get back at the same time!
Stlheadake (what does that mean?), if you are willing to pay the shipping costs, you are welcome to borrow my stock seat. That goes for anyone who is in the position of being saddleless due to seat mods. I never sat on the stocker, had the Baldwin waiting for the bike to be assembled at the dealership.