Tips and tricks?
If you are comfortable on the bike 400 miles should not be an issue. Make sure your rainsuit is in a location that is easy to quickly access in case you hit rain. For a 400 mile day I would break it up into 3-4 stops of 100-130 miles between stops, at each stop fill up with gas, hydrate and get a snack if you need it and spend a little time walking around stretching your legs.
Banned
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4,576
Likes: 978
From: Viet Vet, crossroads
The one and is BIG EZ - is don't get behind the curve or you will continue to play catch up.
Early departure somewhere between 6AM and 8Am.
(Nort too early in the rurals in deer rush hour)
Run for two hour (100 miles) stop for gas coffee and a egg sandwich
Two more hours quick light lunch its is around noonish
This means you should have about 300 miles behind you by noon.
If you do it this way you will get an EZ 400 hundred in B4 5 PM.
Dont be screwing around in the dark looking for a place to stay on the surfaces street in a strange town (recipe for disaster)
Never stay or camp near a city you are going through as the next morning you will have to deal with rush hour going in.
Alway get to the other side first, - if a bigger town.
For the most part, i just avoid the big ones
Early departure somewhere between 6AM and 8Am.
(Nort too early in the rurals in deer rush hour)
Run for two hour (100 miles) stop for gas coffee and a egg sandwich
Two more hours quick light lunch its is around noonish
This means you should have about 300 miles behind you by noon.
If you do it this way you will get an EZ 400 hundred in B4 5 PM.
Dont be screwing around in the dark looking for a place to stay on the surfaces street in a strange town (recipe for disaster)
Never stay or camp near a city you are going through as the next morning you will have to deal with rush hour going in.
Alway get to the other side first, - if a bigger town.
For the most part, i just avoid the big ones
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 20,424
Likes: 24,217
From: WetCoast
Resturant food gets old quick. Pack a small cooler (I use a collapsible one) for sandwiches and fruit. If you are staying in a motel with a fridge/freezer get a small bottle of water that you can freeze for the cooler.
HOG membership with the the delux Unlimited miles & pickups. Its not if you breakdown on a motorcycle, its when. It gets you and your bike to the closest HD dealership no matter how far away it is. Serious High Milers have a back up plan.
400 miles is a non-issue once you get your butt use to the seat. Just get off and smell the roses. Stay off The slab. I did 13,000miles in about 8 weeks last summer, its a blast.
Cover up to stay cool on hot days. Get a good long sleeved shirts and button it up. Wear a scarf. If it gets really hot put a wet tshirt under the shirt and a wet hankerchief under the scarf. It will be like AC on a car.
Pretty much what everything thing everyone else said.
HOG membership with the the delux Unlimited miles & pickups. Its not if you breakdown on a motorcycle, its when. It gets you and your bike to the closest HD dealership no matter how far away it is. Serious High Milers have a back up plan.
400 miles is a non-issue once you get your butt use to the seat. Just get off and smell the roses. Stay off The slab. I did 13,000miles in about 8 weeks last summer, its a blast.
Cover up to stay cool on hot days. Get a good long sleeved shirts and button it up. Wear a scarf. If it gets really hot put a wet tshirt under the shirt and a wet hankerchief under the scarf. It will be like AC on a car.
Pretty much what everything thing everyone else said.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,001
Likes: 11,441
Spare Key, HOG premium membership. Make sure you can alter or cancel reservations . If you are just going to ride and then figure it out as you go check early in the day or you may waste a lot of time finding a motel. Economy is going strong and finding a place is not as easy as it was few years back.
Take what you need but do not over load the bike. Get early start in the mornings. To Quote KingGlide549 " Never stay or camp near a city you are going through as the next morning you will have to deal with rush hour going in " If you do revert back to get early start.
Remember heading West you are riding into the sun latter in the day.
With an early start 400 miles a day is easy , but if you fail to get a good nights rest that 400 miles can get harder on a smaller bike.
Most important don't let issues drag you down enjoy the ride good and bad. Have a plan to get home should the worst happen and Bike does not make it. Have all the paper work in case you decide to trade the bike off en-route. Not a joke seen it happen a few times.
Take what you need but do not over load the bike. Get early start in the mornings. To Quote KingGlide549 " Never stay or camp near a city you are going through as the next morning you will have to deal with rush hour going in " If you do revert back to get early start.
Remember heading West you are riding into the sun latter in the day.
With an early start 400 miles a day is easy , but if you fail to get a good nights rest that 400 miles can get harder on a smaller bike.
Most important don't let issues drag you down enjoy the ride good and bad. Have a plan to get home should the worst happen and Bike does not make it. Have all the paper work in case you decide to trade the bike off en-route. Not a joke seen it happen a few times.
Last edited by smitty901; Jul 21, 2018 at 09:34 AM.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 69,901
Likes: 18,590
From: South Florida
Coupla thoughts....
Stay hydrated. Pure water is the best.
B4 traveling to avoid lower back pain if u r not used to being in the saddle for extended times, then do the "plank". You can google it. Basically go do a push up. But instead of being on your hands pushing up, go to you elbows and just hold that position for as long as you can.
Surprisingly, you will not have to do it long or too many times to strengthen your lower back enough.
If when you ride you get shoulder pain, let me know. I can tell u how to rid yourself of that as well. It may not happen if u r only riding 400 miles.
Plan ahead if it rains, you want your rain gear easily accessible.
There is a lot more to be said but with everyone else's GOOD advice I am seeing and with the above, you are off to a good start.
Safety wise stay AWAKE. Always be scanning around you, play the WHAT IF game, always leave yourself an escape route (like when coming to a stop behind someone), etc...
Don't override your abilities.
Enjoy!!
BuzzCap7
Stay hydrated. Pure water is the best.
B4 traveling to avoid lower back pain if u r not used to being in the saddle for extended times, then do the "plank". You can google it. Basically go do a push up. But instead of being on your hands pushing up, go to you elbows and just hold that position for as long as you can.
Surprisingly, you will not have to do it long or too many times to strengthen your lower back enough.
If when you ride you get shoulder pain, let me know. I can tell u how to rid yourself of that as well. It may not happen if u r only riding 400 miles.
Plan ahead if it rains, you want your rain gear easily accessible.
There is a lot more to be said but with everyone else's GOOD advice I am seeing and with the above, you are off to a good start.
Safety wise stay AWAKE. Always be scanning around you, play the WHAT IF game, always leave yourself an escape route (like when coming to a stop behind someone), etc...
Don't override your abilities.
Enjoy!!
BuzzCap7
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 927
Likes: 256
From: North Arkansas
Breaks. Gonna vote for frequent stretch stops again. Before you may feel you need them. About every hour, or what works for you. Some of the posts say that back at the start of this, then some guys say longer. All depends on how tense you are, comfort on your ride, and how fast you go. Once you get stiff and sore, you quit having fun.
And drink. I go for a break about every hour, 1st can be just stand, stretch walk around your bike get on and go again. Gas stop next hour. Even though my bike now will do 200+ miles on a tank. Get blood back in you butt, more drink and stretch. Back rest helps a lot
When I started long trips, used to hammer out what I could at the start. Shorter segments as the day went. Under a bridge waiting on rain to quit we were talking to a guy one day. After stories of Sturgis and Daytona I asked how he went that far. Breaks, Smoke em if you got em. Once you get tired and hurting, it ain't no fun.
And drink. I go for a break about every hour, 1st can be just stand, stretch walk around your bike get on and go again. Gas stop next hour. Even though my bike now will do 200+ miles on a tank. Get blood back in you butt, more drink and stretch. Back rest helps a lot
When I started long trips, used to hammer out what I could at the start. Shorter segments as the day went. Under a bridge waiting on rain to quit we were talking to a guy one day. After stories of Sturgis and Daytona I asked how he went that far. Breaks, Smoke em if you got em. Once you get tired and hurting, it ain't no fun.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 218
Likes: 58
From: Maryland/ ohio
never thought of that! Good advice. Might have to try it out on the up coming trip...
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
Sounds like you have gotten good advice. The getting started early and off the road early is a big one for me. I also abstain from all alcohol (no lunch beers) until I am at a destination and even when I arrive at my destination I keep it minimal.
