Advice requested regarding planning a road trip
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
From: White Mountains of NH
Have a great time...I know you will!
Last year, we (my wife and I on my Road Glide and another couple on their Ultra)rode 7300 miles in three weeks from NH to SD, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming and back. We had a fantastic time. No regrets. Bought cheap GPS's at Walmart ($100.00), RAM mounts for them. Made no reservations for motels, stayed as we went. It was the only way to go. It has been the trip of our life...so far. My advice, prepare for the worst...and it won't happen!
Leave the Tor-pac on your bike. You'll want the added space for things you'll be buying and your dirty laundry to take home. Bring your chaps and rain gear, and don't forget some spray-on sunscreen. It's very hot out there. I also would recc. the patch kit for your tire as a just in case. Don't forget the camera with extra memory sticks. you won't believe the pictures you'll be taking. Post them when you get back so we all can enjoy your trip.
Leave the Tor-pac on your bike. You'll want the added space for things you'll be buying and your dirty laundry to take home. Bring your chaps and rain gear, and don't forget some spray-on sunscreen. It's very hot out there. I also would recc. the patch kit for your tire as a just in case. Don't forget the camera with extra memory sticks. you won't believe the pictures you'll be taking. Post them when you get back so we all can enjoy your trip.
Last edited by NHSPMCU; Nov 8, 2009 at 07:40 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Mastery, Sounds like agreat trip you are planning. The wife and I are leaving Columbus IN on the 29th of June and heading to Cody and Yellowstone. Custer's Battlefield in Montana is a neat place to visit and won't take all day to see what you want to see. If I were you I would zip over to the Beartooth and Chief's Joesph Hwy and Yellowstone if you have never been there before. We are staying in Cody and will be gone for about 16 -18 days. We are riding the whole trip because my wife belongs to the MotorMaids ladies motorcyle club.
They are having their convention next year in Cody and they try to ride to every convention. Have a great time. I use Street Atlas, Google Earth and HD and my GPS software. It is 1600 miles from here to Cody. We will travel 400 miles a day. PM me if you want and I will give you more in details if you want. PS your wife is going to miss out for sure.
They are having their convention next year in Cody and they try to ride to every convention. Have a great time. I use Street Atlas, Google Earth and HD and my GPS software. It is 1600 miles from here to Cody. We will travel 400 miles a day. PM me if you want and I will give you more in details if you want. PS your wife is going to miss out for sure.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,673
Likes: 606
From:
go get a road atlas and a cheep gps. don't make any reservations for anything. stop for the night when you feel like it. i usually stop by 5pm to get a room and to eat supper. never had a problem doing this. leave the tour pac on and take a roll of azz wipe. never trust a truck stop restroom to be stocked with the proper equipment.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 112,202
Likes: 1,316
From: On a hill among the hills, PA
I usually plan a trip route using Google Live Maps, gives you choices of route, mileage and time. Plan on the hours you want to ride, what you want to see and fuel stops. I usually ride alone and stop every 150 to 180 miles.
Carry a plug kit with bottle air, this will get you off the road in a pinch. Tool kits are good for emergencies, loose bolts and whatever.
Figure meal stops or carry power bars which I do being diabetic, carry bottled water. basics of survival.
I carry layers of clothing that are easy to get to and prepare for bad weather. It can happen real quick.
This is very important that you do this! Leave a trip route with someone and stick to it so that if you disappear from radar they know where to start looking for you. Cell phones do not work everywhere!
I try not to ride at night for moe than a few hours at most. Riding this time of year you have fewer hours of daylight.
Don't ride over your ability! If you can ride 300 miles a day without a problem then only figure 300 miles a day. Winding roads take more out of you than cruising down an interstate. Exaustion ccan take its toll on judgement and reaction time.
Carry a plug kit with bottle air, this will get you off the road in a pinch. Tool kits are good for emergencies, loose bolts and whatever.
Figure meal stops or carry power bars which I do being diabetic, carry bottled water. basics of survival.
I carry layers of clothing that are easy to get to and prepare for bad weather. It can happen real quick.
This is very important that you do this! Leave a trip route with someone and stick to it so that if you disappear from radar they know where to start looking for you. Cell phones do not work everywhere!
I try not to ride at night for moe than a few hours at most. Riding this time of year you have fewer hours of daylight.
Don't ride over your ability! If you can ride 300 miles a day without a problem then only figure 300 miles a day. Winding roads take more out of you than cruising down an interstate. Exaustion ccan take its toll on judgement and reaction time.
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 6
From: Indiana
Ozoneman, thanks for the part number. I'll take a look at it.
Some great info and advice here, thanks to everybody for sharing. I'll do some research and post again with the many more questions I'm sure I will have.
Some great info and advice here, thanks to everybody for sharing. I'll do some research and post again with the many more questions I'm sure I will have.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 911
Likes: 1
From: Orem Utah
Great thread and lots of helpful advice. Like has been said, keep the tour pak for storage, visibility, and safety. I love the knowledge and information available here. Mastery, I'm in the same boat as you. My wife and riding buddies don't really like to do the long trips. I have a feeling I'll be doing many solo trips in the future.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
My buddy and I went to Sturgis last summer, from Seattle, and we planned with both the Harley Ride Planner and Google Maps. But the bottom line was, we didn't want to be too hardcore about schedules and stops. We went as far as we wanted to each day, using +/- 300mi/day as a basic guideline. Had a day or two at 200, one over 500, others at amounts in between. Went with no reservations to & from, although we did tie up a hotel for the days at the rally.
Being HOG members, we got the mid-level insurance thru HOG that covers towing to any dealer. Then just made sure we had good tires and up-to-date maintenance on the bikes before leaving. But we also took flat kits, pump, camping gear, etc.
It's all a matter of personal comfort. If you're good with no more than a VISA card in your front pocket and the clothes on your back, cool. If you need to have redundant everything to feel comfortable, then do that. Main thing is to get yourself as prepared as you're comfy with so you don't stress out about it on the road. You want to have fun... not spend the time wondering about "what if"...
Have fun !
Being HOG members, we got the mid-level insurance thru HOG that covers towing to any dealer. Then just made sure we had good tires and up-to-date maintenance on the bikes before leaving. But we also took flat kits, pump, camping gear, etc.
It's all a matter of personal comfort. If you're good with no more than a VISA card in your front pocket and the clothes on your back, cool. If you need to have redundant everything to feel comfortable, then do that. Main thing is to get yourself as prepared as you're comfy with so you don't stress out about it on the road. You want to have fun... not spend the time wondering about "what if"...
Have fun !
Last edited by sawinwa; Dec 5, 2009 at 01:37 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 3
From: The "Quay", Norf Cack
I'd recommend buying a GPS locator of some sort. Especially is your solo. This way if you get lost or hurt, they can find you immediately.
After the ordeal with the gold winger a few months back, it really got me thinking about long trips.
After the ordeal with the gold winger a few months back, it really got me thinking about long trips.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,364
Likes: 110
From: Mesa, Az.
Good advice here.
Another point to think about. Credit card companies can and will deactivate your card if you are travelling and don't notify them first.
Carry some cash just in case.
Another point to think about. Credit card companies can and will deactivate your card if you are travelling and don't notify them first.
Carry some cash just in case.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 1
From: Brookfield,Il.
Wow sounds like am awesome trip. 2009 was the year I was planning on doing the same thing. My one riding buddy talked me into trailing to Az and staying at a friends place for two weeks.......3500 in two weeks based out of the same place and it was awesome.Every day was a new adventure, group group of guys too!!
So looking forward, it looks like 2010 is when I'll do my ride solo? Leaving Illinois heading south, enjoying some good southern cooking and then west on ten towards Cali. Then heading north and back home.My thought are you can do 300 miles a day plus pretty easy. My plan is to enjoy, no real big plans, take in the sights and leave the stress of planning at home!
As far as the bike, make sure a good shop looks it over and you have a good set of rubber. Patch kit and inflation devise a plus. Other wise a HOG membership, cell phone,GPS, Harley map of stores and a credit card. Your all set!!
Now if you attempt this solo, my advise is a sat tracking device. Sporting good stores have them or contact me and I'll get you a name. I was very much involved with looking for Donald Masters the missing wing rider and it was sad.It was very possible by the evidence at hand, that he was a live after the crash and no cell service. I good tracking/warning system could of helped.Picture riding toward dark or even an empty time on the ride, you have a blow out, animal runs out and you wound up in the corn field....could be days or weeks before your found.
Depending when your leaving, where your going......maybe we could ride together? I turned the big 50 and getting out and seeing the country every year is a mission of mine.
So looking forward, it looks like 2010 is when I'll do my ride solo? Leaving Illinois heading south, enjoying some good southern cooking and then west on ten towards Cali. Then heading north and back home.My thought are you can do 300 miles a day plus pretty easy. My plan is to enjoy, no real big plans, take in the sights and leave the stress of planning at home!
As far as the bike, make sure a good shop looks it over and you have a good set of rubber. Patch kit and inflation devise a plus. Other wise a HOG membership, cell phone,GPS, Harley map of stores and a credit card. Your all set!!
Now if you attempt this solo, my advise is a sat tracking device. Sporting good stores have them or contact me and I'll get you a name. I was very much involved with looking for Donald Masters the missing wing rider and it was sad.It was very possible by the evidence at hand, that he was a live after the crash and no cell service. I good tracking/warning system could of helped.Picture riding toward dark or even an empty time on the ride, you have a blow out, animal runs out and you wound up in the corn field....could be days or weeks before your found.
Depending when your leaving, where your going......maybe we could ride together? I turned the big 50 and getting out and seeing the country every year is a mission of mine.