how far can you safely drive per day, realistically
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 923
Likes: 3
From: Southern Oregon
The original poster asked how may miles REALISTICALLY! I'm sure we can all do 500 to 600 miles a day but that's NOT the norm.
Unless you are on the highway 100% of the time, you are not going to average 65 mph. It's amazing how much that average is lowered when you stop just for a tank of gas.
Realistically you should be able to do at least 400 miles in an 8 hour period. I ride from Oregon to Reno often. It's right at 400 miles. I leave at 8am and get there at 4pm. I've done this over and over so many times.
You could ride another 2 hours, making it a 10 hour ride day and figure you would get about 500 miles total. But by riding this way, you are riding all the time. Not taking any time to stop and look at anything such as the Harley dealers along the way.
Unless you are on the highway 100% of the time, you are not going to average 65 mph. It's amazing how much that average is lowered when you stop just for a tank of gas.
Realistically you should be able to do at least 400 miles in an 8 hour period. I ride from Oregon to Reno often. It's right at 400 miles. I leave at 8am and get there at 4pm. I've done this over and over so many times.
You could ride another 2 hours, making it a 10 hour ride day and figure you would get about 500 miles total. But by riding this way, you are riding all the time. Not taking any time to stop and look at anything such as the Harley dealers along the way.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 1
From: North Jersey
Everybody's got their own comfort level. The longest day I've had on a bike was a ride of just over 500 miles in approximately 11 hours. This was last year and it was two-up with my wife. We felt we could have gone a couple hours longer, but bad weather forced us to call it a day. I was 51 at the time and my wife was 49, so neither one of us are spring chickens. My bike is a stock EGC. Would I do it again? Right now I say yes because neither of us felt any bad at the end of the ride. In any case, there is no point in trying to make an Iron Butt marathon out of any trip. Ride till you feel you've had enough for one day, then pick up where you left off the next morning.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 300
Likes: 1
Ultimately it's not what other folks do or feel comfortable with, it's all dependent on how you feel. Some are done at 200 miles and others modify their scoots to do over 300 miles between tanks (look at some of the ironbutt riders).
Dependent on weather, your physical shape, road conditions, your bike and a lot of factors...ain't no one else's norm going to dictate how far and long you can ride. Look at the replies to this thread...folks doin 400 on a rigid chop to some doing 300 on a tourer.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 3
Down the interstate you ought to be able to do 600 miles a day. Run 80 mph, limit the stops and you can average 60 mph so that's a ten hour day. That's like a 15 minute stop every two hours and a half hour stop every four. You could stop an hour every four hours and still keep it under twelve hours. I ride back roads with frequent stops so I'm lucky to average 40 mph. So 400 miles is a good day travelling that way, but it's a longer distance as well. Depending upon the route 10%-20% further.
If I had 2500 miles to go one way and less than a month to do it then I don't think I would dink around. I would get on the interstate and go, plan on getting there in 3 days. I would be wanting as much time off the bike before heading back as possible. If I had a month then I would take a week getting there, maybe even ten days. Do 300 miles a day, stop and see the sights.
If I had 2500 miles to go one way and less than a month to do it then I don't think I would dink around. I would get on the interstate and go, plan on getting there in 3 days. I would be wanting as much time off the bike before heading back as possible. If I had a month then I would take a week getting there, maybe even ten days. Do 300 miles a day, stop and see the sights.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 3
From: Inland Empire, So Cal
On the Sportster I wanted to quit for the day after 300 miles or so. With the Heritage, 500+ mile days are not a problem. Wife and I took a 1200 mile trip last weekend over 2 1/2 days (sig coming home). For your 2500 mile trip give yourself 5-7 days. If I am going to go on a really long multiple day trip, I like to put more miles in on the first day, then gradually reduce it each day after that.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,528
Likes: 606
From: Raleigh NC
How can I go? you go? or someone else go?
It was a routine ride on my Honda to round trip the Blue Ridge Parkway...500-600 miles, and go riding the next day.
That's why I bought the Road Glide.
I know a person who just completed a 100CCC that's "coast to coast to coast in 100 hours" ok... he used I-40 Jacksonville FL to San Diego CA, the shortest distance... but still more miles than I wish to ride, in one fell swoop.
I don't know YOU, or your bike, or what you're used to. Use your best judgement... is the journey? or the destination, then plan accordingly.
Riding solo? two up? in a group? how large a group....yada yada
It was a routine ride on my Honda to round trip the Blue Ridge Parkway...500-600 miles, and go riding the next day.
That's why I bought the Road Glide.
I know a person who just completed a 100CCC that's "coast to coast to coast in 100 hours" ok... he used I-40 Jacksonville FL to San Diego CA, the shortest distance... but still more miles than I wish to ride, in one fell swoop.
I don't know YOU, or your bike, or what you're used to. Use your best judgement... is the journey? or the destination, then plan accordingly.
Riding solo? two up? in a group? how large a group....yada yada
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I do about 15hrs max a day on a road trip. How much distance does that cover?...depends on traffic/road/speed/weather conditions. I always do Sturgis in one shot, to and from, which is over 800 miles, one way.
