If you had to, how far could you ride in one stint?

[rocker59]

Boys, know body cares what you used to do.  if i did I would have asked a different question.

I'm quite sure I could hop on the Sport 1100 and run a few tanks of fuel through tomorrow, if the notion hit me.

It'll go 200 on a tank.

[Huzo]

I'm quite sure I could hop on the Sport 1100 and run a few tanks of fuel through tomorrow, if the notion hit me.

It'll go 200 on a tank.

Couldn't you guys convene at a point, head off and have a "last man standing"?

[ITSec]

Wait, are you saying I shouldn't start a 600 mile day hung over so I have to stop to pee less?!? [emoji848] [emoji23]

Naw, if you're hung over you're already dehydrated - so you won't need to pee much.

Then again, the dehydration will cause you to get dizzy and faint about an hour or two into the ride! 

[Vince in Milwaukee]

I'm good for about a 300 mile day on my Le Mans III.  The seat is really starting to kill my scrawny @$$ and it's not even the stock one.  If I ever get my R1100RT going again, and don't sell it, now that's a different story.  A 500 mile day would totally be doable and I could most likely do 600 if I really had to.  I no longer have the desire to ride far and wide like when I was younger.    That might change if I could find other like minded people to ride with me. 

[Huzo]

I'm good for about a 300 mile day on my Le Mans III.  The seat is really starting to kill my scrawny @$$ and it's not even the stock one.  If I ever get my R1100RT going again, and don't sell it, now that's a different story.  A 500 mile day would totally be doable and I could most likely do 600 if I really had to.  I no longer have the desire to ride far and wide like when I was younger.    That might change if I could find other like minded people to ride with me.

Why not just go Vince.
You'll ALWAYS meet people along the way.

[Kev m]

Naw, if you're hung over you're already dehydrated - so you won't need to pee much.

Then again, the dehydration will cause you to get dizzy and faint about an hour or two into the ride! 

Hasn't been a problem yet (fainting)...

[twowheeladdict]

6 years ago, Flagstaff to OKC only stopping for gas and snacks. Billy on a Road King, Jimmy on an Ultra Classic. They were on the right bikes for just eating miles. Billy's wife had a car wreck and was admitted to the hospital so want to or desire were not the question, it was just do it. Got up a about 4 AM and just rode till made it home. A person can do a lot more than they think given the right circumstances/motivation.

Those big heavy bikes are so stable at speed on the highways, you work a lot less making corrections. Personally I can ride twice as far before fatigue sets in on my FJR than I can on the FJ09 when eating miles. Just the opposite when riding the Ozark twisties all day.

We need a "like" feature on this forum.  I like your post, but don't necessarily want to quote it just to say I like it.    Cheers.

The right bike, the right motivation, and the right conditioning are important for long "safe" days in the saddle.  When I am riding alone and have already done 400 miles by lunch time, what else do I have to do but ride.   Can't check into a hotel or campground until after 3 pm.  When I am on beautiful two lane meandering roads I just want to ride and ride some more.

[twowheeladdict]

Just for grins I decided to do a 1000 in one day on my way to a National Norton rally in Torrey Utah in 2007. I woke at 3am and was on interstate in 45 miles,hit I-70 and made it to a friend in Denver about 16 hrs later. The 106 degrees with a 30mph cross wind in western Kansas limited my ability to ride more than 60 miles till I needed water and air-conditioning,for the last 200 miles...

I wear a hydration bladder backpack and have a cooling vest for the dry heat west of the Mississippi.  Both work wonders in the summer heat.  Having a bike with a good range between fill ups helps a lot also. 

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I can't imagine wanting to ride a motorcycle more than 500mi in a day...  but then again, I wont ride on an interstate unless it's a DIRE emergency. The interstate is just so damn unpleasant, trucks, buffeting, noise...

I did once ride DC to Asheville once, but that was all back country roads and an EXTREMELY foggy Blue Ridge Parkway...  It took forever, as I was down to 10mph on the parkway at points, looking down at the centerline to make sure I was in the lane.

[John A]

when I replied to this thread previously, I was thinking of the times I rode long distances just for the hell of it. If I rethink and go with the original question " if I had to" it puts it into a totally different light. I expect Id ride as far as I had to then.

[Lannis]

If I rethink and go with the original question " if I had to" it puts it into a totally different light. I expect Id ride as far as I had to then.

Yep.   I've always ridden exactly as far as I "had to".   No more, no less ..... !

Lannis

[ohiorider]

You know, the rural interstate is just about the safest way to get from point A to point B (so you can have fun at pt. B) on a moto without doubt.
They are boring, and in crosswinds sometime scary to pass semi's on the downwind side but they are a marvel of the modern age.
Limited access
wide!
no blind corners (most).
Good visibility ahead.
Nobody turning in front of you.
etc.

If your a regular mile eater as I have been, its not the most fun way to go but its the safest way if you need to get someplace in the time you have.

:-)

My first ride out West after retiring in 2005.  I was stunned by the minimal traffic on I-72 between Decatur, IL and Hannibal, MO.  I originally planned to take old US36 from New Philadelphia Ohio, but was advised that if I wanted to make any time, I should take Interstate to Hananibal. 

I'm not a lover of Interstate riding, but I-72 was, to me, unusual.  Seemed like I'd ride for miles before seeing traffic approaching toward me.  And there was little traffic heading West with me.  It was a good way to finish up a rather long ride that started in Hudson Ohio and ended up in Hannibal at day's end.  The R100GS, 14 years old at the time, was a remarkably good ride.  I think BMW got that bike right.

Bob

[rodekyll]

A good percentage of my travel is night riding.  If I have to make some miles at night I think I prefer rural interstates.  I think the hazards are fewer on divided, often fenced highways, traffic is generally light and ought to be all headed the same direction, visibility in the deer zones is better, temperatures are cooler, and there are those big trucks to run interference for me.  If I have to run an urban interstate I prefer to chance it at night, preferably between Boeing shift changes. 

I did the Seattle commute from Tacoma and Fall City for a few years (UW content) with my Convert my primary (and often only) transportation.  I did about 12k/year feeling like a water drop in a firehose with a random on/off nozzle, and kind of looked forward to matching wits with the traffically impaired.  I called it my "combat commute" and I knew how to work it.

Any more though I can't think of anything positive to say about mixing motorcycles with urban interstates anywhere I've been at any time of the day or night.  If you've never been there before they're confusing as hell to navigate, and as I age, I enjoy multitasking at the required level of concentration needed to manage lanes, routes, and traffic less and less.  Everyone else knows exactly what they're doing and what the local custom is for behavior but I don't, so I misread traffic.  For me the nightmare scenario is looking over my shoulder as I accelerate to change lanes only to rear-end the car that stopped while I was covering my blind spot.  The unexpected can leave you overheated in a rolling backup -- or worse, the cause of the backup, and of course it's like being the only cowboy in a stampeding herd of two-ton deer.

But I think JohnA has the correct answer.  "As far as I have to."  That's really what all the stories are saying.  All that "and I did a wheelie for the last 100 miles on account of the badger dented the front rim" stuff are really just illustrations of the point.

And I nominate

[snippity]
Only issue, at around the 800 mile mark, my ass burst into flames..

as the best description of exactly what happens at 800 miles.  (ymmv)

[jim_W]

I visit family  in the mid-west often and I hate to fly so I  jump on a bike and do a two day 1500 mile road trip. First day Phoenix to Oklahoma City (about 1000 miles) .  Second day is a short 500 in the morning. I rode Honda ST1100s for many years and loved the 300 miles between fuel stops.  Had to add an additional 3 gal fuel tank to the CalVin to make it work but it's just fine now. Most of the time I am in a hurry to get there but I always take the long way home and explore the back roads. Many times the trip home covers twice as many miles in many more days.

[Tom H]

RK, I know what you mean about looking back for the lane change, worries the heck out of me as well. Wish I had those lizard eyes so I could look both ways.

Kirby, Once heading from Yuma Az. to SD, Ca. I was in a headwind on my Eldo that made me run 4th gear just to get down the freeway. The wind was not directly head on, but a bit off to the LH side so I was always leaning. One time a large truck passed me on my left and I almost dumped the bike. It took the wind off of me and I wasn't expecting that. Happened quick.

Yuma to LA, Ca is about the farthest I have done in one shot. Gas/restroom stops only, 2 stops for that distance on my Eldo. Was a bit sore/stiff from the cold, but not a bad ride. Could have done more, after I warmed up. This was on the 2nd gen hard foam seat. It's still hard 25 years latter.

Lake Henshaw get together to LA, Ca. on my EV was a different tale. I did one pit stop, no gas, and 130 miles in one shot. My rear/hip was killing me. that seat is a killer, though it looks so comfy. If it wasn't for the seat, I could easily go 500+ miles on that bike.

Tom

[twowheeladdict]

EXTREMELY foggy Blue Ridge Parkway...  It took forever, as I was down to 10mph on the parkway at points, looking down at the centerline to make sure I was in the lane.

Been there, done that.  I had to put on my polarized sun glasses despite the fog and rain so I could tell where the road ended and the sky began.  I was glad that bike had emergency flashers.    The nice part though was I finally convinced my riding buddies to abandon the BRP and we looked at the weather radar to see where the remnants of the hurricane were headed and we headed off in a different direction and found some amazing roads! 

The area where Kentucky and North Carolina come closest to each other, only to be separated by where Virginia and Tennessee meet is an area filled with some amazing riding!  We used the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park campground as our base for several days and did loop rides in every direction. 

[slowmover]

1 hour

[Gliderjohn]

From Tom H:

One time a large truck passed me on my left and I almost dumped the bike. It took the wind off of me and I wasn't expecting that. Happened quick.

Living in KS one learns real quick how to read wind and trucks. If not, you will probably become a splotch in the road or ditch. One can get blown into oncoming traffic if not ready to react and react hard if needed. Teaches counter steering without the need for curves. 
GliderJohn

[John A]

A good percentage of my travel is night riding.  If I have to make some miles at night I think I prefer rural interstates

I sure enjoy night riding and David is right on with rural interstates for making miles. I think the key to night riding is lights. Im a believer in "theater lights" but cant run them with heated clothing so staying warm is part of it too. I can see wildlife better at night but there is also more of it out moving around. Another bad part of it is the drunks are out then too as well as grouchy peace officers keeping an eye on my speed. I went for a ride yesterday when it was warm out, today its 9F below zero so I don't have to ride

[Lee Bruns]

I have done 1550 in 24. Would do it again if someone wanted to also run a Bun Burner Gold.

[rodekyll]

I sure enjoy night riding and David is right on with rural interstates for making miles. I think the key to night riding is lights. Im a believer in "theater lights" but cant run them with heated clothing so staying warm is part of it too. I can see wildlife better at night but there is also more of it out moving around. Another bad part of it is the drunks are out then too as well as grouchy peace officers keeping an eye on my speed. I went for a ride yesterday when it was warm out, today its 9F below zero so I don't have to ride

I agree that good lights give me more confidence at night.  I have a 35w HID main light and 55w HID projection (theatre) driving lights.  One is a flood and one is a spot.  They have an internal "barn door" type gate on a solenoid for hi/low and the dimmer switch is wired to all three.  I installed a 115amp Ford truck alternator to run them.

[Tony H.]

I think Berni and I could still make the one day ride from Wichita KS to Albany Wisconsin to see Aunt Betty. About 850 mi , unless you get lost in Dubuque that will add another 50 or so miles.

[oldbike54]

I think Berni and I could still make the one day ride from Wichita KS to Albany Wisconsin to see Aunt Betty. About 850 mi , unless you get lost in Dubuque that will add another 50 or so miles.

 Yeah , but what about your poor motorbikes 

 Dusty

[Moto Fugazzi]

I could probably do 750 miles if I had to. I'm done with long distance freeway riding. On our trips, my friend Nik and I usually plan for 350-500 mile days on back roads, which is typically 10+ hour days as we stop a lot in the small towns.
Ken

[Green1]

Done 1842kms in a day,all highway,done 1000kms or more countless times,know at 55 I can and will do it again

[john fish]

To answer the OPs question.  I suppose I could do a 1000 mile day on the Jackal with the big shield. If I absolutely had to.

Wouldn't be good for much at the end of the day and it would take a lot of nsaids.

[Kev m]

To answer the OPs question.  I suppose I could do a 1000 mile day on the Jackal with the big shield. If I absolutely had to.

Wouldn't be good for much at the end of the day and it would take a lot of nsaids.

I couldn't do that on a Jackal... Not with the stock seat!!! [emoji33]

[ratguzzi]

I couldn't do that on a Jackal... Not with the stock seat!!! [emoji33]

That's funny!
When I did my 2240 in 36, it was on a hard seat and being too cheap for sheepskin, I used the Martha Stewart edition toilet seat cover cut to fit my seat!
JB

[Kev m]

That's funny!
When I did my 2240 in 36, it was on a hard seat and being too cheap for sheepskin, I used the Martha Stewart edition toilet seat cover cut to fit my seat!
JB

Some of my longest days were back in the 90's (in my late 20's) on an RK with a rock hard Corbin that was broken in to fit me.

Fast forward to the early 00's, a broken tail bone from my first season of snow boarding and the stock Jackal seat became so painful I couldn't ride 50 miles before some things were screaming and others were numb.

But even prior to the break the stock seat was always a shade of awful to me. The best I survived was maybe 400 mile days.

[rodekyll]

That's funny!
When I did my 2240 in 36, it was on a hard seat and being too cheap for sheepskin, I used the Martha Stewart edition toilet seat cover cut to fit my seat!
JB

You ought to send that one to Martha.  She might send you a plate of brownies for the testimonial.