Long trip

[Ronin1970]

Originally Posted by Pastor Mike

Thanks to all of you for your help. This is the first time I've used this forum & I must say I'm blown away by how helpful you all have been. Does anyone have any suggestions about a sissy bar bag? I'm looking at a Kuryakyn Grantour bag.

I have the Grandtour Bag for daily use/day trips. I actually use the Grandtailgater bag for extended trips. Significantly bigger than the Grandtour with many more options and the same wonderful backrest as the Grandtour...

[Idaho]

Originally Posted by Pastor Mike

I've got a 900 Classic LT & my plan is to take an extensive trip this summer, about 4,000 miles. I'm fairly new to this and would appreciate any tips that anyone might have. For example, is it OK to stay at one speed for a long time or should I vary it? What should I take with me, etc. Thanks in advance.

Since you have roadside assistance insurance that is great but in some of the western states you will be going through it can be a long ways from a decent sized town to the next. Good luck with that cell phone, but I wouldn't leave it at home either. To quote what I read from an experienced motorcycle traveller: "Pack less and take more money". I've not made a long trip on my bike yet, but when I do I know that the first time will make the second one easier. We all have to get through that learning curve to figure out what works best for us.

[yooper cruiser]

Originally Posted by Idaho

"Pack less and take more money".

+1
I once had to stop and get a new tire in a little town out in the middle of no where.
Actually found a bike shop, but the owner only took cash.

[fretbuzz]

Be safe and enjoy.

I doubt you'll come this deep into Texas but if you get near San Angelo and need anything just PM.

[jukief]

Originally Posted by 900classic

+1 I'm in utah. If you run into to problems, I would be willing to help out.

And I'm in Colorado! Seriously, you'll people you can call all along the way. You should PM some of us and get our phone numbers so you'll have people to call--just in case. I'd be happy to give you mine. I'm in northern Colorado, about 30 miles south of the Wyoming border.

[pat0021]

Originally Posted by Pastor Mike

First, thanks for a quick response! I live in Los Angeles and am going to visit relatives in Iowa and Missouri. I plan to go through Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona & back home. I have purchased an air seat (boy, the seat on the 900 is hard )What should I include in my tool kit? I have AAA so I'm covered for assistance. Thanks again.

Are you sure they cover bikes? Take lots of pictures and please share! Have a great ride!!!

[jukief]

Originally Posted by pat0021

Are you sure they cover bikes? Take lots of pictures and please share! Have a great ride!!!

You have to add a rider, and then they cover towing costs. We found this out the hard way when my husband had an accident a couple of years ago. We've since added this to our AAA coverage.

[Deeppurple52]

Tom.... Already in the plan. Thanks!

[Skeet]

Originally Posted by trikebubble

If I could offer a single piece of advice, it would be:
stop and smell the roses.

Take your time, stop and rest every now and then. One of the best parts about this "hobby" of ours is that motorbikes seem to lower peoples resitance to talk to you. The people we have met, and the little places we've stopped at on our various trips are likely the most memorable or memories.

I agree with that....

[Pastor Mike]

Have any of you used a cruise control? I'm thinking about getting one.

[rod2625]

Originally Posted by Pastor Mike

Have any of you used a cruise control? I'm thinking about getting one.

My 2k mile trip last summer....never would have made it without the throttle lock, my hand would have fallen off......great investment. Lots of options from about $30 on up.

[NCDave]

Originally Posted by Pastor Mike

Have any of you used a cruise control? I'm thinking about getting one.

I had a throttle lock and it was more of a nuisence than anything. unless you're on a flat road it will not adjust speed for up and down. I did get one of those little plastic things that clip onto the throttle so that the heel of your hand can work the gas. Takes a little pressure off the fingers.

An electronic cruise control would be nice, but I have not had any experience with them. So far, working the throttle on my trips hasn't bothered me enough to look into them or spend the money.

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Originally Posted by Idaho

"Pack less and take more money".

This is such a true statement. I took a trip last year and found that advice from a friend tried and true. Actually I believe there is a better saying is "Pack half and take double the money." You can always buy more stuff, but it sucks to have too much.

[mccolo]

Notwithstanding NCDave's experience, I wouldn't be without a throttle lock. Sure, a genuine cruise control would be better but a throttle lock is WAY better than nothing. You don't have to always be engaging and disengaging it. Just twist the grip either way with it engaged to adjust your speed. Don't use it in heavy traffic, or passing through a town. Out on the highway it's a real blessing.

If you're concerned about mechanical problems, the AMA offers MOTOW to members and what you'll save if you use it one time is more than the AMA membership and MOTOW membership combined will cost you for three years. I have it and have used it twice and will always have it.

If you're coming through Colorado you may want to check out my website. It is totally focused on motorcycle touring in Colorado.

Motorcycle Colorado - Passes and Canyons


Have a great trip.

[hharada]

I've taken an 1820 miler (Denver-Vegas-Salt Lake City-Denver) and a 1490 miler (Denver-Lovington, NM (home town of Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears) - Denver) on a VN800, and a 910 miler (Denver - Albuquerque - Denver) on my VN900 -- all solo.

Following are some thoughts -- some adding to coments from others and some gained from my experiences.

1Adam12's suggested to move around in your saddle. I laughed when I read his suggestion because I, out of need, found myself doing exactly that on the 1820 miler -- not from planning. Took that trip before I put the Mustang seat on the 800 and after the first 100 miles was doing exactly what he descibed -- moving forward, back, left side, back, forward, right side, forward, back...... for the other 1720 miles and stopping to walk around, hydrate (per forest 1000), dehydrate (per bladder demands) about every 100. I ordered myself the Mustang the day I got back!

The most important advise I can give it is, "Enjoy and don't hurry!" Service your bike before the trip -- oil, filter, air filter, lube chain, plugs, timing, etc. Plan your trip, but don't use the plan as if it were set in concrete. I set up my rides for around 350 to 450 miles a day. That gives me slack to handle most of the unexpected -- too much rain; lightning,; bike problems; extended time with friends along the way; great photo chances; side trips, either interesting or required. Those intervals also anticipate doing all my riding in daylight though the "unexpected" had me riding in the dark more than rarely.

To make the unplanned night riding safer, I added a light bar up front (feel it also makes me more visible to oncoming traffic in daylight) and swapped all my bulbs for brighter ones. I also added reflective tape to my helmet, jacket, and the bike. Reflectively Yours has all types and colors of reflective tape for those purposes. They have sew-on and iron-on tape which I used on the jacket; thin strips which I used on the helmet; special, thin, flexible tape to put on your rims; and "Stealth" tape which I put on my hard bags. I used their black Stealth on my black LeatherLyke bags and it's virtually invisible during the day, but reflects bright white at night!! The rim tape I use is silver and is invisible on my chrome rims in daylight, but make the bike visible from the sides at night. They don't have the special rim tape in other colors, but from my experience with their other strips on my helmet, I'm sure with patience, you can put any of their colored strips on your rims, matching the rim color. I also used their thin, silver tape on the edges of my floorboards on the 900. I'm planning to modify the 900 so the rear turn signals burn legally all the time and also act as added brake lights. That means they have to be red, while running and braking.

I make advance reservations at the planned intervals. This avoids running around from place to place, in an overflowing vacation spot, trying to find lodging. I haven't yet had to cancel and pay a penalty, but the reservations have caused most, if not all, of the unplanned night riding I've done. All-in-all, I've found having the reservations more of a benefit than detriment.

I clean my helmet and visor each night and wash and check the windshield, tires, and bike each morning -- the bugs come off easier when fresh! One such morning check found the lightbar and headlight not working. Finding that out as it got dark, in the middle of a desert or on a twisting mountain road wouldn't have been fun! Took a 30-mile unplanned side trip to a dealer who found my shop had wired the lightbar into the headlight circuit, blowing the fuse after about 1000 miles. Also asked them to check the drive chain for lubing (1000 miles on the chain which I got lubed before I started the trip), but after checking, they said the paraffin-type lube my shop used would be good for the rest of the trip.

Since my long rides are in summer, I dress in warm weather gear -- mesh fabric jacket; ventilated gloves; and a light, moisture wicking, long sleeved shirt. I pack an evaporative vest which was very effective the one time I used it on a 114 degree day, coming back from Vegas. I also pack cold weather gloves and liners, a wind/waterproof liner for the jacket, a skiing balaclava which fits comfortably under my helmet, and a microfiber vest. These were lifesavers on my September ride back from Albuquerque when I ran into wet, early winter-like temperatures in the mountains. I also carry raingear, but have never used it. I've been through long, drenching rains on almost every trip, but have been more than comfortable, behind the windshield, with my jacket, jacket liner, full helmet, chaps, and Gore-Tex boots. I wear DragginJeans which are Kevlar-lined with hard armored knees. Lately, though not Kevlar-lined or armored, I've seen Gore-Tex jeans in catalogs like Cabela's.

I carry a Playmate cooler on my luggage rack with water, sodas, and snacks. It's refreshing to drink and snack during those, "shake things down," breaks every 100 miles or so.

I also carry a cellphone; a versatile version of Leatherman; a multi-bit screwdriver; a Diamond tool which combines an adjustable wrench, pliers, and screwdriver; and my Progressive insurance card which includes roadside service.

Make sure you know how far the next gas station is and how much fuel you have when you're about to pass one. They're few and far between in a lot of the Western states. I installed a 2.5 gallon auxiliary fuel tank on my 800. That gave me a calculated "safe" range of around 240 miles, but I still ran out of gas at 216 miles (by then I had the Mustang and didn't need the stops every 100 miles) one time because of a lot of hills and headwinds. Thank goodness for the cellphone and Progressive roadside service. Haven't yet installed an auxiliary on the 900. The FI (pressurized fuel line) makes piping one in more difficult.

Make sure everything, you don't have on your person, is either out-of-sight or even better, locked, when you take a filling station or dining break. We need to help keep honest people, honest! I learned that lesson the hard way, many years ago, when my wife and I, traveling by cage, stopped at a filling station in Wichita Falls, TX. We, young and unthinking, both went to the bathrooms at the same time and left the car unlocked. About 50 miles down the road, we found someone had lifted her purse out of the car while we were in the bathrooms!

There's more I could pass on, but this is already getting too long.

Parting words -- don't hurry, be safe, and enjoy!! AND DON'T FORGET YOUR CAMERA (and extra socks and shorts)!!!