Long Ride Planning?
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 151
Likes: 6
From: Austin, Texas
Long Ride Planning?
I'm planning my first long ride for this May on my "new to me" Touring bike. I have not gone on any multi day rides so I'm looking for any advice you have. Some of the questions I have are:
- How many miles a day should I plan? The first leg of the trip will be mostly I10 west, Austin TX to maybe El Paso or further if I can.
- Should I make a hotel reservation or just play it by hear and stop when I'm ready. I would think it might be hard to plan the distance due to weather/traffic or other delays
- Am I better off staying at a name brand hotel like Hampton Inn or a motel that I can park right outside the room door? Should I be worried about bike being stolen while I'm asleep?
- How often do you find yourself needing to stop and rest?
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 36
Likes: 2
From: michigan
Last year I did 14 states and 7500 mile trip. Had an out line of my route. couple of planned stops (visiting friends). Otherwise, planned stops on fly. Weather and roads conditions always will vary. good roads and weather 500 + miles, bad roads and weather 200-300 miles. mostly just checked map and decided how much further I wanted to ride, looked for places along route, used those freebie coupons at rest stops, or if at a town that I wanted to stop at Google search for place. This made it a adventure. Great time.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 36
Likes: 2
From: michigan
Most of trip, fuel up Apx. 240 miles between tanks. Stopped for a water, sight see, and smoke, 1/2 through tank. Next stop gas and food. Are you travelling along? if so, just ride as long as you feel it. Travelling with partner? little different. many more stops, less miles, more sight seeing. 2 laners best way to see country. I usually used name brand places to stay. Liked the "suites" used luggage carriers. got even thing from bike 1 trip. The better places will let you keep bike up front, under awing, by front desk. Never had an issue.
I'm planning my first long ride for this May on my "new to me" Touring bike. I have not gone on any multi day rides so I'm looking for any advice you have. Some of the questions I have are:
- How many miles a day should I plan? The first leg of the trip will be mostly I10 west, Austin TX to maybe El Paso or further if I can.
- Should I make a hotel reservation or just play it by hear and stop when I'm ready. I would think it might be hard to plan the distance due to weather/traffic or other delays
- Am I better off staying at a name brand hotel like Hampton Inn or a motel that I can park right outside the room door? Should I be worried about bike being stolen while I'm asleep?
- How often do you find yourself needing to stop and rest?
#2 - I always plan my hotels in advance. Others don't. I don't mind pushing through bad weather. Again, it's personal preference. I have had times in the past that I needed to stop and hotels were all booked by oil field workers. Has also happened due to tourism. I plan my rides nearly a year in advance and make hotel reservations 6 months in advance.
#3 - Again, personal preference. I stay at Best Western (for the points) or better, if available. I have also stayed at some small mom & pop places as needed.
#4 - I ride in 100 mile segments. Not because I need it, but three minutes with feet on the ground can extend the riding day significantly.
Hope it helps ...
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 6,066
Likes: 1,282
From: OH, USA
Most important is fun. So don't stress about mileage and time. Ride as far as you want. Eat when you're hungry and stop to sleep before you're tired.
We stay at days Inn or quality inn. Only once have we regretted a hotel and that was in NY. Never seen a seedy Quality Inn.
In Vermont the hotel manager had us park up under the awning so the night clerk could keep an eye on them.
Just have fun.
We stay at days Inn or quality inn. Only once have we regretted a hotel and that was in NY. Never seen a seedy Quality Inn.
In Vermont the hotel manager had us park up under the awning so the night clerk could keep an eye on them.
Just have fun.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 394
From: Oak Harbor, OH
Two up we can do 300-350 miles a day on our Tri Glide; we pushed it to 460 a couple of times and that was just too much.
When we're about an hour from wanting to stop, we look on the web for a place to stay in a town 40 to 60 miles away. +1 on the travel hotel booklets at rest stops and gas stations. And/or look at one of the booking sites for rates, but then Google the hotel/motel and call direct, sometimes you get a better deal, other times you say no thanks and then book online. Usually if we hit rain, a place with a laundry is mandatory to dry stuff out. Although if you talk real nice to the staff, sometimes they'll let you use their industrial dryer.
Skip the cheapest places, but just go one step up. There are some real dives out there, trust me, spend the extra fifteen bucks!!! Days Inn and any of their partners have always been good for us. If there's somewhere to get breakfast attached or nearby that's a plus, too.
We're 60, usually usually stop every eighty to a hundred miles, but we're never in much of a hurry to get anywhere. The trike will only go 190 miles on a tank anyway. Changing seating position and using highway pegs helps a lot.
Want a nice, clean, quiet place to relax and take a little break from the road, with clean bathrooms and comfy chairs where nobody is trying to sell you something? Almost every small town has a library! And when it's miserably hot, they're air conditioned!
Relax and enjoy!!
When we're about an hour from wanting to stop, we look on the web for a place to stay in a town 40 to 60 miles away. +1 on the travel hotel booklets at rest stops and gas stations. And/or look at one of the booking sites for rates, but then Google the hotel/motel and call direct, sometimes you get a better deal, other times you say no thanks and then book online. Usually if we hit rain, a place with a laundry is mandatory to dry stuff out. Although if you talk real nice to the staff, sometimes they'll let you use their industrial dryer.
Skip the cheapest places, but just go one step up. There are some real dives out there, trust me, spend the extra fifteen bucks!!! Days Inn and any of their partners have always been good for us. If there's somewhere to get breakfast attached or nearby that's a plus, too.
We're 60, usually usually stop every eighty to a hundred miles, but we're never in much of a hurry to get anywhere. The trike will only go 190 miles on a tank anyway. Changing seating position and using highway pegs helps a lot.
Want a nice, clean, quiet place to relax and take a little break from the road, with clean bathrooms and comfy chairs where nobody is trying to sell you something? Almost every small town has a library! And when it's miserably hot, they're air conditioned!
Relax and enjoy!!
Last edited by Oogie Wa Wa; Mar 10, 2017 at 08:35 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,859
Likes: 2,507
From: Lake Orion, MI
As others have said, this is completely up to you and your riding style.
Wife and I always travel together. on long trips, we usually plan for 400 miles per day. We leave around 9 Am and are in the hotel around4:30 or 5 PM. We take our time, try to stop every 125 miles or so. This means, after the third stop, we are there.
Going on the trip, we try to make reservations in advance. Returning home, we sort of stay where we want to - so we are headed back.
We like Hampton, and those sorts of hotels - stopped using Courtyard since they don't give as breakfast. Holiday Inns have gotten nicer too. We stay away from Days Inn Budget Inn and that sort - but some of those are getting better too. Our favorite is Duerry - stay there is you can find one.
The key here - just enjoy the trip.
Wife and I always travel together. on long trips, we usually plan for 400 miles per day. We leave around 9 Am and are in the hotel around4:30 or 5 PM. We take our time, try to stop every 125 miles or so. This means, after the third stop, we are there.
Going on the trip, we try to make reservations in advance. Returning home, we sort of stay where we want to - so we are headed back.
We like Hampton, and those sorts of hotels - stopped using Courtyard since they don't give as breakfast. Holiday Inns have gotten nicer too. We stay away from Days Inn Budget Inn and that sort - but some of those are getting better too. Our favorite is Duerry - stay there is you can find one.
The key here - just enjoy the trip.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 291
Likes: 88
From: utah
I would add, you should try to go on an overnighter or two before the big trip. Maybe somewhere about 300 miles away.
It would give you an idea of how far you can go and still have fun. It's also a good way to see what you didn't pack that you should have, and what you did pack that you shouldn't have.
I have a packing list that I end up tweaking after every trip. It took several trips to get it to where I can pack light and still have what I need several days down the road.
It would give you an idea of how far you can go and still have fun. It's also a good way to see what you didn't pack that you should have, and what you did pack that you shouldn't have.
I have a packing list that I end up tweaking after every trip. It took several trips to get it to where I can pack light and still have what I need several days down the road.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,430
Likes: 239
From: northeast
cant add much more to what others have said other than the MILES really do click off fast at super slab speeds ( 75/80 ) you can click off 150 miles in as little as 2 hours..
best western has a deal with HOG and a lot of their locations are biker friendly so check for them along your route and join their rewards programs if not a member of HOG
ALSO
for security a full size cover, they pack small and have grommets for a small padlock
keeps prying eyes off of your equipment and possibly a disc lock just don't forget when its installed.. you can get a coiled tether that runs from lock to bars so you wont try to ride off with it installed.. all of which will pack in the with the cover
best western has a deal with HOG and a lot of their locations are biker friendly so check for them along your route and join their rewards programs if not a member of HOG
ALSO
for security a full size cover, they pack small and have grommets for a small padlock
keeps prying eyes off of your equipment and possibly a disc lock just don't forget when its installed.. you can get a coiled tether that runs from lock to bars so you wont try to ride off with it installed.. all of which will pack in the with the cover
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 233
From: North East, MD
Don't plan for miles, plan for riding time. If you are riding two up, cut what you'd ride one up by at least 30%. A 10-12 hours in the saddle day might be a piece of cake for you but will be agony for your passenger. When I am riding with my wife I try to limit the riding time to no more than 7-8 hours a day, with stops along the way that still makes for a 10+ hour trip time.