Solo Road Trips...Who takes 'em?
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2006
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Solo Road Trips...Who takes 'em?
I know there are probably a lot who do. I think I am about starting to hit the road solo too, because of the type of work I do. I am a shift worker doing 12 hr days, and every six weeks I get 17 days straight off. It's tough to find anyone to go, except for the guys I work with, and they are all married with children. Sooo, they don't get to go as often as they would like.
I was wondering what essentials you guys carry. I have jumper cables, tire plug kit, flashlight and so on. Am I missing anything obvious?
I like riding alone, but I am a little nervous going way out of town, because I am not a wrencher by any stretch of the imagination. I change my own fluids, but that's about the extent of it.
FYI - I am riding an '02 RKC w/ 21000 miles and the mag wheels, so plug kit will work if needed.
Thanks in advance for all replies, and man I am glad to have found this forum.
Paul
I was wondering what essentials you guys carry. I have jumper cables, tire plug kit, flashlight and so on. Am I missing anything obvious?
I like riding alone, but I am a little nervous going way out of town, because I am not a wrencher by any stretch of the imagination. I change my own fluids, but that's about the extent of it.
FYI - I am riding an '02 RKC w/ 21000 miles and the mag wheels, so plug kit will work if needed.
Thanks in advance for all replies, and man I am glad to have found this forum.
Paul
RE: Solo Road Trips...Who takes 'em?
You are riding a newer HD so don't worry about being a wrencher. Make sure everything is tightened before you leave and you should be OK. I carry a small first aid kit just in case of minor cuts. I've traveled all over the US by myself and love it. You travel at your own pace, stop when you want to and don't ever have to worry about anything else. It's fun to ride and just let your mind go
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2006
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RE: Solo Road Trips...Who takes 'em?
"You travel at your own pace, stop when you want to and don't ever have to worry about anything else. It's fun to ride and just let your mind go"
I couldn't agree more, Terry! Some of my friends just don't get it. They ask,"How can you ride so much by yourself?" If they would only try it, they would come around. Hell, I work west of Downtown Dallas and in the summer, when I get off at 5:00 am for 48 hrs after a night run , I will drive right past my house on the East Side of Dallas and keep riding untill the sun is blinding me, stop for breakfast, and take off again. Not unusual for me to get home in the afternoon having ridden 250 miles through east Texas. Nothing like it. Gets rid of the stress from the last four nights.
I couldn't agree more, Terry! Some of my friends just don't get it. They ask,"How can you ride so much by yourself?" If they would only try it, they would come around. Hell, I work west of Downtown Dallas and in the summer, when I get off at 5:00 am for 48 hrs after a night run , I will drive right past my house on the East Side of Dallas and keep riding untill the sun is blinding me, stop for breakfast, and take off again. Not unusual for me to get home in the afternoon having ridden 250 miles through east Texas. Nothing like it. Gets rid of the stress from the last four nights.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 724
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From: Southern Most tip of Texas
RE: Solo Road Trips...Who takes 'em?
You know, this is a thread that I hope gets some comments. I'm looking for any and all advice myself because I've started to really enjoy solo traveling too. Mainly for what Terry said: not having to worry about anyone else, going at my own pace and just letting your mind go.
I live in South Texas (about as south as you can get - Brownsville) and I have a lot of free time on my hands and I want to do some long distance traveling. Hell, it takes me a day to get out of Texas no matter which way I travel, lol.....unless I'm going to Mexico.
But like you said, I'm not much of a wrencher either and being out on the road by myself is something I need to prepare for more.
For the most part I make sure that my cel phone is fully charged, that I have my credit cards and and some cash for things that plugs and what not willnot solve. I'm also going to get a luggage rack and carry a 2 gallon gas jug with gas for those stretches that I think I can make it to the next station, lol.
HDFAN - There's a pretty good thread going on in general discussion about traveling essentials as well.
I live in South Texas (about as south as you can get - Brownsville) and I have a lot of free time on my hands and I want to do some long distance traveling. Hell, it takes me a day to get out of Texas no matter which way I travel, lol.....unless I'm going to Mexico.
But like you said, I'm not much of a wrencher either and being out on the road by myself is something I need to prepare for more.
For the most part I make sure that my cel phone is fully charged, that I have my credit cards and and some cash for things that plugs and what not willnot solve. I'm also going to get a luggage rack and carry a 2 gallon gas jug with gas for those stretches that I think I can make it to the next station, lol.
HDFAN - There's a pretty good thread going on in general discussion about traveling essentials as well.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,256
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From: Concord, CA
RE: Solo Road Trips...Who takes 'em?
I prefer riding alone.
I hate stopping all the time. I don't like turning back early because someone is tired, etc...
Its so much more fun to go on your own terms. Stop when you want to.
I'm going on my first long one end of this month. I can't wait.
I figure with backroads, 3 hours == 150 miles == gas. I'll never come close to running out at that rate, and it sounds about the right spacing for walking around a bit anyhow.
I hate stopping all the time. I don't like turning back early because someone is tired, etc...
Its so much more fun to go on your own terms. Stop when you want to.
I'm going on my first long one end of this month. I can't wait.
I figure with backroads, 3 hours == 150 miles == gas. I'll never come close to running out at that rate, and it sounds about the right spacing for walking around a bit anyhow.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 701
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From: Raymond Mississippi
RE: Solo Road Trips...Who takes 'em?
I solo 99% of the time when I ride. I grew up traveling in the horse business and then rodeo'ed for years and now I am a traveling
salesman. I am so used to traveling by myself, it is hard to ride with anybody. When ever I have been with a group, nobody can ever agree when or what to eat, everybody wants to stop at different times and etc. You will meet lots of people on the road when you ride by yourself. If you are riding a twin cam, I would not worry about braking down too much. Just have a few tools, spare light bulbs, credit cards and a charged cell phone. I usually try to average 500 miles a day on long trips and have done 800 in one day. I would not suggest carry extra gas. That's like carrying a bomb on your bike. The thing to do when you are far between fuel stops is to top off when ever you can. Over the years, I have meet some great people riding to major rallies that I would never have meet if I was with a group. I group will tend to keep by themselves, where solo rider will mingle more anywhere you stop. Plus you never have any witness's. What happens on the road stays on the road!
salesman. I am so used to traveling by myself, it is hard to ride with anybody. When ever I have been with a group, nobody can ever agree when or what to eat, everybody wants to stop at different times and etc. You will meet lots of people on the road when you ride by yourself. If you are riding a twin cam, I would not worry about braking down too much. Just have a few tools, spare light bulbs, credit cards and a charged cell phone. I usually try to average 500 miles a day on long trips and have done 800 in one day. I would not suggest carry extra gas. That's like carrying a bomb on your bike. The thing to do when you are far between fuel stops is to top off when ever you can. Over the years, I have meet some great people riding to major rallies that I would never have meet if I was with a group. I group will tend to keep by themselves, where solo rider will mingle more anywhere you stop. Plus you never have any witness's. What happens on the road stays on the road!
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 513
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From: Peru, Indiana
RE: Solo Road Trips...Who takes 'em?
uhhh........ never mind, not worth the chance of getting banned :-)
ORIGINAL: HeatherC
I never ride solo and wouldn't want to. I love seeing my hubby right in front of me.
I never ride solo and wouldn't want to. I love seeing my hubby right in front of me.