Thinking of putting together a VERY long ride, need some advice.

Hey everyone, I could use some input for my Summer '10 week-long ride.
Some friends and I started tossing the idea of a week long bike ride this summer (minds tend to wander when you're stuck inside for extended periods lol). The rough (OK, VERY rough), plan we came up with is this;
On a Sunday we all meet at my place to do any last minute checks/maintenance on the bikes (my garage is the shop)
Start on a Monday from Central MA (my house, to be exact).
From there... the plan gets fuzzy. We will ride to some point in Maine, then from there to Florida, and back to central MA.
Rough plan, I know.

This would be the first trip I've ever planned, so I don't have much planned, nor do I know what I should be planning for. So if someone with more experience planning trips could give some advice it would be awesome. :biggrin:


(sorry if this is in the wrong section, mods may feel free to move this thread.)

 

Tent, Phone, Fix a flat, Portable pump, Tent and sleeping bag if you plan to camp out which is I prefer
wetnap, defogs............ I am sure there are more, Some one else will chimp in

 

Lack of planning is what makes it fun,just ride in that general direction and have fun, and we spread the tools and emergency supplies between us so no one gets bogged down with shit we won't use. Hopefully.

 

Hi,
I recommend riding the old roads whenever possible;the smallest ones in the country branch off of them. I always try to enjoy the new areas I have never traveled just a bit slower so I can take it all in and really SEE where I am. I hope you really enjoy yourselves and take plenty of rest stops.

HAPPY TRAILS ! billbike

 

Fix-a-flat in a motorcycle? Blasphemy! :tongue:

Nah, I'll just dump all the stuff on the guy on the 1500cc harley. lol

I realize it may be a lot of fun to "just go", but I'd like to do at least a little planning for the more common problems we may have on a long ride

 

not sure of the experience of the riders going but plan your mileage for the least experienced...that way at the end of a 600 mile day that person isn't wanting to pack ti in and sell the bike and fly home.. Radio ewuipement between bikes is a good thing. help keep down the boredom and it also helps if your rider thats riding drag is the one to break down. a rough route planned out is a good thing, so if your significant others don't worry about you. ziplock bag your socks and underwear separately one pair of socks one pair of undies in one bag etc... having dry clothes is a big pick me up after riding with a wet ass. Have fun and make sure you stop and see stuff you haven't seen before.. oh yeah. emergency contact info on everyone in the group maybe photocopied so that everyone has all the info ..

 

Excelent advice.

I hadn't thought of radios as a method to beat boredom, good idea.
I happen to have plenty of radios with headsets and a couple throat mics (I hold a Ham radio license, GMRS license, and use radios for my paintball team).

Time to start supergluing mics and speakers into helmets! lol

 

If your camping their is a airmatress/foam matress combo thats pretty light and you dont need a pump. Dont forget your chargers for you phones. Camera, batteries, laptop computer to post said pics on VFRW. Something I keep in my tankbag is something called Quickclot. Its a bandage with a clotting powder for serious injuries. I got the Quickclot and air/foam matress from Bass pro shops. Have fun, and ride safe.

 

Years ago Honda use to publish a booklet that listed all of the Honda motorcycle shops in the US.

I'm not sure if these are available today, but if they are, I would highly recommend getting a copy.

If anybody here knows if these are available please let us all know. Maybe HRCA?

 

Anti Monkey Butt powder.
Rain gear
Small flashlight/pen light
Visor cleaner
Chain Lube

Even if you're just winging it, never hurts to get a rough idea on hotels in an area, "just in case".

The list will grow, but you can decide what you need.

 

One suggestion, have a plan for "What If". Money, CC's, AAA, emergency numbers, etc, etc, just in case.

Larry

 

I don't know if you'll be bringing a GPS but if you are you can browse POI Factory | new & interesting places for your GPS for collections of interesting stops that may be along your route. They may have the Honda dealerships put together in one file too, I'm not sure.

Don't forget the camera!

 

If you are really going to go for it, then there is some useful stuff on the resources link here ulysses-UK The ride reports show it can be fun if you decide to plan it, and equally fun if you decide to wing it. Either way, the key thing is to have fun, so if conditions turn sour, be ready to change your plans and stop for the night when people have had enough. Warning some people find that long trips can get addictive.

Skimad4x4
6th Gen Militia #218

 

When I hit the road, that's when "common problems" evaporate into just being an adventure.

 

Get one of those hats with the built-in LED lighting. These are fantastic for hands-free lighting when you have to see something in the dark like a map, or a tire check, or chain adjustment, or repair, or...

 

^ yes, or a headlamp. They're tremendously helpful. You'll find yourself using it at home all the time, too

 

Larry,

Excellent suggestions. Many years ago I rode from Califonria into Canada with a friend who was

on a Honda 450. I was riding my '68 BSA Spitfire 650. On the return trip my engine blew

on Hwy. 395 in Nevada. Luckily, I remembered to bring along a 50' parachute cord for towing.

He towed me 50 miles, mostly on the shoulder, into northern Reno.

Even today, I still carry a parachute tow cord.

Warning - don't do it unless you really know how. Calling AAA is a better option.

 

Here is my motorcycle trip check list.
tire pres gage
spare key
air pump & tire plug kit
helmet shield tinted
plex cleaner
sun glasses
maps
ear plugs
bike lock
bike cover
phone & charger
camera
baggies
cap
sun tan lotion
towel
water bottle
liner
spare gloves
owner's manual
spare fuses
flash light

I don't camp, I stay in cheap hotels.

Plan on many stops per day, plan on some days being short travel days either because you stop to sight see or you turn in early to catch up on rest - a motorcycle break will be welcomed.

Miles per day and planning for the weakest have already been mentioned. Anticipate that you will average less MPH than you think after you take stops into account. If you ride 9 hours and cover 450 miles you averaged 50 MPH total, even though your moving average was probably 65 MPH. Taking secondary roads (as you should) will exaggerate this.

Good luck

 

Perhaps takes some zipties, you never know what you may use them for.