Riding distance

[Milosh]

I've ridden on a 2,000 mile weeklong trip on my Triumph a couple of years back and now am contemplating doing so on my V9 Bobber.

I've mostly been a commuter and weekend rider. That is a 10 mile (each way) commute and the occasional weekend ride of 50 to 100 miles in a day.

My question is: how many of you do long distance trips on your bikes? What do you bring along? How do you plan it out?
(I typically would ride ca. 250 miles a day on my long trip)

What other advice do you have?

Thanks in advance.

[fotoguzzi]

First make sure you can sit in the saddle for hours. Then address all the other ergonomics to your taste. Do some 1 day rides of 200+ miles if that's good think about what luggage will suffice and start making a list of things you might want along on multi day trips.
I used to haul everything including about 40 pounds of tools that I never really needed. Other times I would pack two saddle bags and a duffel over the pillion and let freedom ring!

[Huzo]

Because each of us have requirements that are so different, it’s going to be hard to give advice that fits across the spectrum.
I would say to do a few 4-5 dayers with a small break in between. If you don’t need something after 5 days, GENERALLY you won’t need it after 5 weeks.

As for time per day in the seat, just ride until something starts to bite and attend to that. The threshold will will start to extend out towards your personal maximum. A lot will depend if you’re camping or rooming, rooming allows for quicker/easier departures and is a bonus if you just want to smash it out.

But really, just do some smaller ones first and refine your approach to your tastes.....

[pressureangle]

I did a 10k miles tour of the US a couple years ago on my '97 Sport-i.

https://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?/topic/20345-summer-tour-2018/

I'm in Florida, and the only thing I knew at the start was that I was going to pass through Port Angeles in Washington State. Since I had no luggage capacity, it was a 'credit card' tour- motels and friends. I have a tank bag and rear seat bag I attached to a spare pillion seat with velcro and riveted the straps to the bottom.
Gear;
Shoei GT-2 Air
Aerostich Roadmaster 2-piece
Held Rodney gloves
Gasolina Typhoon tall boots
Underarmor long sleeve/leg cooling (and warming) tights x3 sets
Thorlo cushion boot socks x4
1 T-shirt
1 pair Wrangler jeans
1 pair light shoes
1 Patagonia lightweight hoody, added at first 55*F morning.

That's it. I planned to stay on the bike, not to go hiking or fine dining. It worked out great, from 95* Georgia to ~45* Montana.

It was a week of being tired/sore, and another week to get fully integrated onto the bike, where it no longer mattered how far I rode. My first day was 600 miles (yikes) and my last day was...not certain but the last stint was 875 miles and 16 hours with no stops but for gas. Most days though, were 250-350 miles and pretty relaxed.

[nick949]

I started my 72 Eldo this morning at about 9am (and 3 degrees C) and rode with only a gas stop and a couple of photo stops until 4.30 by which time it had reached a balmy 6c.

Best advise: start engine - ride. There are no magic tricks. Sometimes it hurts. Trying to avoid discomfort may occupy your mind, but ultimately, it's a fool's errand. So why do we do it - I asks my gradually thawing self.

Nick

[PJPR01]

If it's pain and discomfort you are trying to avoid, take the Advil/Aleve as soon as you start riding, rather than waiting for the pain to surface.

A good seat, padded riding pants, comfortable clothing and ergonomics can make it comfortable for all day riding, whether that be 200 or 500 miles.

It doesn't say if you plan to camp and carry a lot of gear or just go hotel to hotel...

I'd recommend taking a lightweight rain suit to put over your riding gear (also doubles as an effective barrier for cold wind), and a few pairs of gloves as well just in case you get a pair wet or encounter extremely cold weather, warm socks to change into as needed, and visor wipes to get the bugs off from time to time.

Other than that, riding until you are tired, but not fatigued day after day is a good way to enjoy the ride and not just survive it.

[Huzo]

I like the feeling of being wrung out at the end of the day, as long as the fatigue and discomfort does not carry over to the following day.
A couple of days off the bike and wandering around in shorts and thongs (sandles), will re invigorate you.
A little while ago I did a short 18,000 km trip around Australia on this






And has an absolute ball.
You just re assess your priorities....

[johnwesley]

I've ridden on a 2,000 mile weeklong trip on my Triumph a couple of years back and now am contemplating doing so on my V9 Bobber.

I've mostly been a commuter and weekend rider. That is a 10 mile (each way) commute and the occasional weekend ride of 50 to 100 miles in a day.

My question is: how many of you do long distance trips on your bikes? What do you bring along? How do you plan it out?
(I typically would ride ca. 250 miles a day on my long trip)

What other advice do you have?

Thanks in advance.

I do several long trips a year have been since I was a kid. Basically I was raised on the back of a bike and just went from that to my own bike and never stopped. I guess it’s dad’s fault he would run from 3-4am until midnight when we were getting  to a place and rarely ever do as little as 500 mil even sight seeing. Guess that got in my blood too. I help others get into touring and for those guys I really take it light on milage. Last thing you want is to fatigue someone and end up hurting them. I have a trip planned from Arkansas out through Nevada and back with one brand new, never done an over night trip rider and other newbies. I have 350 mile days planed so they can get broke in and have a great time.

What to bring really depends on what you are doing. Motels vs camping, mountains and valleys or just low elevation stuff. I always bring a tire repair kit and an air pump. That can save your trip. A flat tire without equipment to fix it can cost you a day or more. With tools your on the road in 30 minutes. Take a used tire and practice until your comfortable. A jump box or at minimum some light jumper cables. If nothing else the jump box can help charge your phone.For jumper cables I use heavy fine strand speaker cables. You can get them in 12ga and attach alligator clips to them. I never know when I’ll go brain dead and leave my key on. Those two items will really help you out and could make you someone’s hero on the road, when you help get them going. I keep at least one long sleeve shirt and an extra pair of gloves. I hate putting on soaked gloves. If you be in and out of high elevation then bring a jacket liner or wind breaker for this unexpected cold spells.  Paper maps if I’m not familiar with the area, it’s so much easier to get an over view and not loose details. Ear plugs really help fight fatigue the heros blue plugs are the most comfortable for me.

On the planing part this depends on preference, but I scope out NF camping that’s free and plan my route that way, also bunk a biker can help save you some coin as well. If you don’t know about that then looking it up. People all over willing to put up a biker for free. Some offer a room in the house and others a sport for a tent. So with these in mid figure out what you want to do for daily milage and then pic you spot to stay. Using that logic you can plan a route. I don’t follow that advice, but it’s good all the same. I just ride until I want to stop and then figure out a campsite. I do plan a general route and locate my potential place to camp/stay. Then I’m not clueless when I do decide to stop for the night. I figure you know this but give the bike a good once over. Check the basics like tire wear and pressure, oil level final drive and the like. I normally have a tool kit with me so I can preform basic stuff, like tighten up a loose rear view mirror or adjust a windshield, just simple stuff. I also keep water on the bike, you never know when you might want to take a hike down a little trail or stop at an over look and relax. It comes in real handy if you have mechanical issues you can’t resolve like a blowout where you can’t  plug a tire.

These are just some basic thoughts I’d be happy to help with any more detailed questions.

[twowheeladdict]

Just think of you trip 10 miles at a time.  Before you know it your 1000 miles away from home.

No one says you have to do X miles a day to be a traveler. 

Just do you. 

You can go with the clothes on your back and plenty of cash/credit card, or you can carry everything including the kitchen sink.  That is the beauty of it.  Do what feel right for you, and not what feels right for anyone else. 

[Huzo]

Just think of you trip 10 miles at a time.  Before you know it your 1000 miles away from home.

No one says you have to do X miles a day to be a traveler. 

Just do you. 

You can go with the clothes on your back and plenty of cash/credit card, or you can carry everything including the kitchen sink.  That is the beauty of it.  Do what feel right for you, and not what feels right for anyone else.

Well said...

[Canuck750]

I have been riding with a good friend for over twenty years, plenty of week long road trips, 3500 ~ 5000 km typical. My buddy has ridden every state, CDN province, territory and a lot of Mexico and years ago he gave me the best riding advice ever.....

besides a bike you can be comfortable on all day, day after day you really only need a charged cell phone, a credit card with at least $5K available credit and a couple hundred bucks in cash.

No matter what happens if you have those three things, a general route/destination and a sense of adventure your good to go. You don't need an adventure bike or the most current rig, my friend has ridden a clapped out Gold Wing 1200 more places than I can remember. My KLR 650 has been more places and travelled more miles than my BMW K1600 will ever go.

Those three things bailed me out of what could have been a really bad incident in the Yukon heading to the Arctic ocean and when in Mexico I got a bee in my eye (full face helment and sunglasses but bugger found a way to get me) twenty minutes later my buddy hit a cow on a back road and another guy with us got a flat that would not take a plug.

Plan less --- ride more.

[mechanicsavant]

My personal rule’s of thumb have been
Day one . A bit anxious,nervous & jerky .
Day two  . A bit sore , but confident . Ache’s & pains work out
Day three & beyond . Two wheeled bliss . Routine established for gas & chow & watching weather , adapting as needed

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I dont do many long rides, but I usually pack a couple apples, a bottle or two of water, a box of Bota pinot noir, a little something to smoke on, and a credit card. 

[Milosh]

Thank you for all these replies!

I'm going to plan the ride after I drop my son off at college this year. Probably go from here up to NH to visit relatives.

[Roebling3]

Never ride a bike you cannot pick up - by yourself; especially on a long trip. I've ferried many big bikes for others and have been lucky enough to not embarras myself, or get hurt. It's all about your physical/ mental/emotional comfort zone. You'll learn as you challenge yourself.
I prefer big miles, alone - as in the 'Iron Butt Assoc. Bunn Burner Gold' . I've done 9, (Add 100mi. to the required 1500 in 24 hrs.), produces some very cool Grosjean (Doug) numbers*. Best of all? You can get it all done in one day/night with minimum prep. Spare fuel & water, snacks, fruit, chain lube.
Want to cross country? 2 in a row stopping to visit friends for food, plus a nights sleep? It can be addictive and satisfying.   R3~

[lazlokovacs]

there's a couple of 8 hour journeys that I do fairly regularly. My best tip would be to stop pretty much every hour, just a quick break, really does help.

Usually the first hour is hell and I'm thinking why don't I just buy a car... hours 2-5 are good, then I get a little tired and by the time I hit the last hour I feel totally bonded with the bike and like I could ride forever.

all this on my cali... I'm actually thinking about doing it on the griso next week, will be interesting....

[OldMojo]

Great stuff here.

The only thing I can add is to try to get whatever maintenance you think you might need done at least a week ahead of time. You don't want to be fighting a tire the night before, or changing oil / checking valves only to discover that you pinched a gasket or o-ring.

Been there, done that, got the koozy. 

[kja]

All of the advice is ecellent.  Like Roebling3, I have been a long time Iron Butt Association member (#325), having completed 3 iron butt rallys advertised as 11,000 miles in 11 days.  Like others have said, carry a tire repair kit, extra fuel or at least a tube to siphon gas as these are the most common problems that will slow you down.  In addition have roadside assistance just in case.  You should also make sure you keep hydrated.  You can set up a method to drink on the bike or you need to stop multiple times depending on the heat.  When the temp drops, layer up or  better yet carry a heated jacket.  Most don't think of getting cold, but if the temp drops from 100 to 60 you will be cold.  And finanly, getting long miles is not worth dying over.  Stop before you fall asleep on the bike.

[Huzo]

I've ridden on a 2,000 mile weeklong trip on my Triumph a couple of years back and now am contemplating doing so on my V9 Bobber.

I've mostly been a commuter and weekend rider. That is a 10 mile (each way) commute and the occasional weekend ride of 50 to 100 miles in a day.

My question is: how many of you do long distance trips on your bikes? What do you bring along? How do you plan it out?
(I typically would ride ca. 250 miles a day on my long trip)

What other advice do you have?

Thanks in advance.

Just do it, the problems that don’t apply to you will never eventuate and the ones that do apply to you will present themselves in due course.
When I’m away especially in Europe, I tend to think there are only a few main headings.
Currency..Plastic card.
Communication.. Properly hooked up mobile.
Navigation.. Good quality GPS of choice..Garmin or Tom Tom.
Fresh service..(for the bike... )
Fully insure the bike..If the absolute worst happens to it, you can walk away.
The best medical cover your circumstances can afford.

Keep WG abreast of your progress, if you encounter a hiccup, there’ll be members descending on you from all points of the compass.

Oh one more thing.....
Press the bloody starter and GO...!




(Don’t die wondering..)

[moto-uno]

  I still can't believe you even left your neighbourhood on that bike 
  Maybe it's 'cuz we have mountains here  . Peter

[Huzo]

  I still can't believe you even left your neighbourhood on that bike 
  Maybe it's 'cuz we have mountains here  . Peter

Remember that 8 hours in the seat, is 8 hours in the seat. The only variable is which patch of dirt you get off at.
The guys on the KTM 1190’s did 7 hours in the seat and I did 9.
We both stopped at the same campground.
Only difference was, I didn’t have to buy my own drinks...

[Huzo]

I’ve bumped an old thread for called ‘Distance addiction “.
There are some good insights from the guys Milosh.

[Scott of the Sahara]

One thing I would like to add is this: If you are planning on staying in a Motel make reservations before hand. I have drove to a town at night and have had a hard time getting a room. Last fall it was after 6:00 PM on a Wednesday and there was no room. I called my wife and she got on line and located a place only a couple of miles away. Better to have a room waiting than to hope to get something. I think some of the motels are having a hard time with housekeeping staff and they don't rent out all of their rooms. The same may apply to campgrounds, but I do not camp. I have been on a trip and I could not find a camping space available (when I did camp).
I know this flies in the face of the notion of just ride until you are tired, but it does take the stress out of figuring lodging at the end of the day.

[Bulldog9]

I dont ride long distance as much as I would like, but usually get 1-2 trips a year in the 2-3K range, and usually do a 1K 4 day trip.

What I pack depends on if I am camping or moteling. I prefer triple bags, but often go with just saddle bags and a tank bag.

My general approach for more than 5-7 days is as follows:

Right bag - Tools, patchkit/pump, fuel bottle, wet weather gear and backup gloves, bottled water. I have a compact tool kit and supplement this with a stop n go pug kit and compressor, small cam of WD40, tire pressure gauge, aux head and tail lights, zip ties, small cargo straps and duct tape, and small bottle of spray cleaner/wax with microfiber cloth for face shield and windshield.

Left bag - Clothes/shave kit, I use riding pants and jacket on LD rides, so usually a coupe pairs of shorts, tshirts, socks, jeans, light jacket/fleece, and sandals. 2-3 bottles of water in bottom of bag.

Top Case - Camping gear or Wifes stuff (if she joins, she dont MC camp... lol) I have a small light tent/tarp/hammock/sleeping bag/camp chair/campstove, coffee, metal French press, and dry goods, snacks, etc.

Tank Bag - snacks, phone, extra charging chords, wallet, carry gun, leatherman, Gun gets packed away depending on state.

On really hot days, I have a compact camelback I fill with ice and water before a ride and put on under my jacket.

For 1-2 day trips, I'll sometimes just take wet weather gear and tools.

[travelingbyguzzi]

One requirement no one has yet mentioned: You have to WANT or NEED to.
I rode my 1st 1000 mile day in the mid80s on an unfaired KZ1000. From Gettysburg PA to Arkansas.
I needed to because I was almost out of money. No credit card in those days.
I wanted to because I had a woman waiting in Arkansas.