What’s Up in the Forums: New Rider’s Travel Plans: ‘Doable or Stupid?’
Newbie plans 45-day, cross-country trip, seeks advice and gets everything from ‘Go for it!’ to a straight-forward ‘Don’t do it!’ What’s your spin?
Let’s go ahead and get this out in the open: Any time we see a post with a headline that reads “Doable or stupid?,” we’re intrigued. But this time our featured post isn’t about something like shoehorning a 1,000 horsepower engine in a Sportster, but rather a cross country trip. Sounds pretty normal, until you consider that the original poster, Russell Peagler, has never owned a bike. Or even sat on one.
But he does, at the very least, have a motorcycle permit and a dream. The Tokyo resident, born in South Carolina, wants to ride either an Iron 883 or Fourty Eight from S.C. to California and back in 45 days. But first, of course, he has to learn how to ride and obtain his motorcycle license. To determine if this is a reasonable and obtainable dream or, as he calls it, “an instant death sentence,” the OP presented his case to the forums.
And he immediately gets some sage advice from Nomadmax.
“Russell I have two words for you: Do It.
No matter how careful you are, you’re gonna die. If you’re good with the fact that it could happen on this journey then you’re good to go. Learning to ride a motorcycle and taking one across country loaded like a mule is a daunting task but not impossible. It probably wouldn’t hurt to learn how to ride in Japan before you get over here.
As far as going cross country during the dates you mentioned I’d stay on the southern tier. March and April can be brutal in the mountains.
You’re gonna get a lot of “you’re crazy” and “it can’t be done” answers, so be your own judge. But I’ll tell you this; there are THOUSANDS of riders here in the USA who know not much more than 1 down and 4 or 5 up (the gearbox) and they’re getting away with it. Like I said before, not knowing you or your potential, I’d say go for it; learn to ride before you get here, buy and wear good protective gear (for weather and crashing) and stick to riding during the day.”
And surprisingly, HardRider1 gets some more reasonable advice in before the negative Nancy’s chime in.
“If you can, you need to delay the trip to a less hostile time of year, north in April, depending how far north, will bring certain rain, possible snow again depending how far North it is you are heading. As mentioned the mountain areas of this country are snow covered and not a place you want to ride a motorcycle in March, heck March is the best ski season in many areas.
Camera gear on a bike is a challenge in itself, especially a bike without hard saddle bags. Add all the other gear you will need and it makes your idea a very challenging one indeed. Make sure you have a good case for that camera and lens and even with that it will take a beating.
Now about jumping on a bike for the first time and riding coast to coast, now that’s ballsy! Plan a route, and look at the average weather data for that route, weather spark has some real good data to review.
Good luck and if you do go ahead with this ride safe”
Quite a few folks mention that a Sportster might not be the best choice for such a ride, of course. But a new Touring might be a bit too expensive for a beginner, so HKMark23 suggests something used.
“Also; OP you do realize that the Sportster is not the quintessential beginners bike in the Harley lineup do you ? You my be well advised to get a used Superglide Custom or something like that, that has a low COG and may fit you better. Such a Dyna would probably be easier to manage and have a standard sized tank. There are oodles of low mileage, great shape, 5 year old HD’s around that have virtually stopped depreciating (don’t take literally).”
At least one guy has to try and deter the OP from his mission, but Ron750 shoots him down nicely at least.
“OK. I’ll be the bad guy. Don’t do it. With all the distracted drivers, inconsiderate drivers, visually impaired drivers, and your total lack of experience, I don’t think it would end well.
I raised three children, and didn’t ride untily youngest graduated from high school. I took the Basic Rider Course. Then my friend lent me a Virago 250 to ride. I rode it for a week. Then we went on a 500-mile round trip, on a ’99 Electraglide Standard, on 2 lanes and interstate. Did I survive? Yes. But I was able to follow the line of 2 experienced riders. I am 6’3″ and muscled the bike around, but now that I look back I was lucky , I didn’t drop it. That was in 2004.
Much of successful riding is strategizing how to avoid cages, oil, sand, left hand turners, deer. How to ride in the rain. It takes years to develop a sixth sense.
If you go anyway, read Proficient Motorcycling, by David Hough.”
As does Trial Dog.
“Russell,
Maybe cross country is biting off a bit too much under the circumstances. You really need time and miles on a bike before setting off on a long trip. It isn’t a matter of you being a careful person or a good driver/rider, it takes time to know your bike, to know how it will react under certain situations, to know how you will react etc. You will inevitably get in situations on a long trip that will require learned reactions to avoid disaster (whether it is of your doing or someone else) and without the time on a bike you will not have the experience to react properly. Maybe you can pull it off but is it a good idea? No, it isn’t. I know that isn’t what you want to hear and maybe you will give it a go anyway but the reality is it just is not a good idea in my humble opinion.
As for the bike, driving cross country on an Iron or Sportster, especially if you plan to take camera gear and camping gear will be challenging. A small tank may sound like it increases the adventure but there are places especially out west where gas stations are more than 100 miles apart. You mention taking canisters of fuel, where would you put them? Also, do you have the funds to address any breakdowns on the road? What if the bike you’re riding breaks down and 1) you have to fly back to South Carolina; and 2) you don’t have time to sell it?
What is it about being on a bike that is necessary for your photos? The type of bike you are thinking of is not for off road and won’t go where a car won’t go. You are a grown man and will make your own decisions but I and many on this forum have done long distance riding and what you propose is just not wise.
I applaud your hutzpah but …”
In the end, the OP picked up an Iron 883 and made the 7,000+ mile trip. Despite everyone’s warnings and his own fears, the trip proved mostly uneventful. Well, other than some crappy weather and a hole in his jeans. It’s an epic journey you should follow along with, and be sure and check out Russell’s equally epic photography at his website.