Road trip planning
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,731
Likes: 9,241
From: Snow Hill, NC
Get everything you want to take, lay it out on the floor, start to take away stuff until you can fit the bare necessities you can fit, gas it up and leave. Wear ear plugs, sunscreen, long sleeve tees. Make sure you have a credit card with plenty of available credit or debit card and a Cell phone.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,945
Likes: 85
From: Florida
I promise next time I will. (I'll tell my wife to remind me and she won't forget)
It really isn't anything special. Small tweaks to the bike make all the difference.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 196
From: Boise, ID
I'll second the ear plugs. They make a remarkable improvement in comfort and reduce fatigue on interstate rides. You can still hear what's going on around you so safety isn't compromised. Actually quite the opposite. The decreased wind noise lets you relax and concentrate on the ride
WHAT ?!?
Sorry...couldn't resist......
All good advice on here so far.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Have fun and know how to roll with whatever is thrown at you. Some of the best adventures and memories are the "mishaps" that come along from time to time.
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 61
Likes: 3
From: Chasn
Any tool recommendations other than a plug kit/pump/gauge? this is my first Harley, so I don't know of any potential issues that could arise mechanically. it is fuel injected, and I've seen the reliability of fuel injection, which gives me no concern about fuel/spark. any odd stuff happen with these?
Last edited by ejs262; Jul 8, 2015 at 04:16 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
From: northwestern NC
Any tool recommendations other than a plug kit/pump/gauge? this is my first Harley, so I don't know of any potential issues that could arise mechanically. it is fuel injected, and I've seen the reliability of fuel injection, which gives me no concern about fuel/spark. any odd stuff happen with these?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
ear plugs
sunblock (don't forget back of hands)
long sleeve white tee-shirt
tire plug kit and air compressor, or fix-a-flat
sunglasses and clear glasses
tools that you think necessary and know how to use on the side of the highway
(if that is a credit card and phone, packing just got easier)
Mind your gaps (2 seconds at least)
Don't ride near trucks
enjoy the trip and please ride safe.
sunblock (don't forget back of hands)
long sleeve white tee-shirt
tire plug kit and air compressor, or fix-a-flat
sunglasses and clear glasses
tools that you think necessary and know how to use on the side of the highway
(if that is a credit card and phone, packing just got easier)
Mind your gaps (2 seconds at least)
Don't ride near trucks
enjoy the trip and please ride safe.
A trip that is 12 hours in a car is going to be quite a bit longer on a bike especially if you are not used to distance riding.
I'm leaving tomorrow for a similar ride (Dallas, TX to Four Corners, 10 hours according to Google Maps) and am also still debating what to bring.
The rain gear is my biggest pain as I don't have much and it is bulky.
For the OP, I know a few people I ride with said to be sure to pack some snack/protein bars and to drink more water than normal.
The rain gear is my biggest pain as I don't have much and it is bulky.
For the OP, I know a few people I ride with said to be sure to pack some snack/protein bars and to drink more water than normal.
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Joined: Jun 2015
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From: Chasn
I've been known to drive a car stupid distances nonstop, I think I'll be able to handle it, but I won't know until I find out. the google map time is 9 hours, 47 minutes. the ride south will be pretty slow, the ride west will be I-10 almost the whole way, so should be relatively quick. I'm planning to avoid I-95, and I-295. last few times I've been through there, it's been a total shitshow, and I'm not into that. I -10 isn't too bad, just boring... might hop off and hit HWY 90 for parts of it. I feel like the bike is ready, fresh oil change, new tires, new air filter, new spark plugs, now just to get some time off work!
I've been known to drive a car stupid distances nonstop, I think I'll be able to handle it, but I won't know until I find out. the google map time is 9 hours, 47 minutes. the ride south will be pretty slow, the ride west will be I-10 almost the whole way, so should be relatively quick. I'm planning to avoid I-95, and I-295. last few times I've been through there, it's been a total shitshow, and I'm not into that. I -10 isn't too bad, just boring... might hop off and hit HWY 90 for parts of it. I feel like the bike is ready, fresh oil change, new tires, new air filter, new spark plugs, now just to get some time off work!
Driving a car is pretty simple and you really don't have to exert a lot of mental energy on it, especially since most of us have many more miles of experience in a car that on a bike. On the bike you are using a lot more mental energy: watching out for cagers, obstacles, balancing the bike, etc. Plus you are exposed so you have weather and wind beating on you. All of this is fatiguing.
I'm not saying you can't run it straight through, or even that you shouldn't, but I would definitely make sure you have the ability to stop and sleep if needed. Whether that's $100 extra in your pocket to cover a hotel or just bringing a tent/sleeping bag, whatever; but I wouldn't just assume you will ride it straight through. To me that is a very dangerous assumption until you have done that kind of riding a few times.
And if that kind of riding is interesting to you, the Iron Butt Rally (11 days, 11,000+ miles) ended today (or maybe it was yesterday). The daily reports are a great read: 2015 Iron Butt Rally.