My wife & I have ridden in 42 of the 48 contiguous states. We try to ride pretty much whenever we get a chance to, but we (me) plan at least one big trip per year in which we are gone for 7 - 10 days. I typically try to find a destination to ride to and then stay in that area for a few days planning out day rides in the area before bringing a different route home. On the route to & from our destination we generally try to cover 400 to 450 miles each day. We typically try to stop every 100 to 125 miles to stretch, hydrate, etc.

A lot of how comfortable the mileage is on any given day depends on weather/riding conditions, but generally we feel 400 to 450 miles is plenty far on a bike when planning our trips.

When touring, how far do you typically ride each day? What do you consider a big day?

 

I don't tour but I've gone long days on my dyna. At about 450/500 - I'm feeling it so that's a "big day" for me on my bike. Less than than that is just average.

 

Typical day is 500, I've run a few 750's, usually when I decide I want to stay an extra night in NOLA and then have to make the ride in a single stretch to get home.

 

I've ran 900+ a few times on the interstates but it made for a real long day and a real short night.
400-500 is much easier and gives you time to recouperate.
Even that can be too long in the twisties and on narrow, slow roads.
Twisties take a lot out of you by the end of the day.......

 

That's me, too.

 

200 and my butt starts to hurt

 

More the hours than the miles for me. Sleep in, relax, have some breakfast, load up, on the road by 10:00, then ride until dusk, maybe 10 or 11 hours depending on the time of year.

Depending on pace and stops, that can mean anything from 400 or so miles to 700 or so.

Longest day ever was 1500. Rode straight through for 23 hours. That was dumb. Never again.

 

Saturday, I rode from Richmond to Outer Banks Bike Week, and back home, with the wife on board. That was 350 miles round trip in one day. I can certainly ride farther in a day if it's to get to a specific destination, but as far as riding for pleasure...... that's as far as I will go in one day.

 

done several 800 mile days.going back and forth to Sturgis. maybe getting a bit long in the tooth for that anymore. four ot 500 miles seems a lot better. may have to go up to Sturgis again and I hate them make a two day trip out of it. like to get my thousand miles in for it I get too old. did 880 miles one year in a day.

 

That's close to where I will stop for gas anyway. So the butt gets a break and some fresh blood while I walk around the gas pump.


500-ish miles is a good day and isn't pushing the limits of exhaustion and making the ride less enjoyable.