1400 miles on a Sportster
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 52
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From: Dexter, MO, USA
1400 miles on a Sportster
My wife and I are planning a 1400 mile bike trip from Missouri to Key West the first week of October. We're planning on breaking the trip over 3 days and riding 7-8 hours a day. We've rode 6 hours straight before but this is the longest trip we've attempted. Any tips or suggestions to make the trip better/safer? Also my bike is an 06 1200C with 11k miles on it. I just done fluid changes and new tires at @10k. Any recommendations for maintenance, inspections, or upgrades that I should do to the bike before we leave on the trip?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
Do you have towing coverage for the bike? Tow charges can get real expensive quick.
Most Harley dealers are also closed on Mondays, so if Monday is a travel day, you won't find parts or repairs there if you have a problem.
Back to back travel days can be hard on the body if you're not use to it. If you can knock out more miles the first day, it will make day 2 and 3 easier.
Good luck.
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 96
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From: Chuluota, Florida
A suggestions from a Floridian:
Take 75, stay off 95.
And, I'd break it in to 4 days for two reasons;
1. Mileage is deceptive in the Keys. You can expect to slow waaaay down once you get past Key Largo.
2. You want to be fresh for the Keys. I'd stop over in Naples or Pembroke Pines then start the day off heading in to the Keys. Lots of places to stop and see. It's a really nice ride to be enjoyed.
Take 75, stay off 95.
And, I'd break it in to 4 days for two reasons;
1. Mileage is deceptive in the Keys. You can expect to slow waaaay down once you get past Key Largo.
2. You want to be fresh for the Keys. I'd stop over in Naples or Pembroke Pines then start the day off heading in to the Keys. Lots of places to stop and see. It's a really nice ride to be enjoyed.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 52
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From: Dexter, MO, USA
A suggestions from a Floridian:
Take 75, stay off 95.
And, I'd break it in to 4 days for two reasons;
1. Mileage is deceptive in the Keys. You can expect to slow waaaay down once you get past Key Largo.
2. You want to be fresh for the Keys. I'd stop over in Naples or Pembroke Pines then start the day off heading in to the Keys. Lots of places to stop and see. It's a really nice ride to be enjoyed.
Take 75, stay off 95.
And, I'd break it in to 4 days for two reasons;
1. Mileage is deceptive in the Keys. You can expect to slow waaaay down once you get past Key Largo.
2. You want to be fresh for the Keys. I'd stop over in Naples or Pembroke Pines then start the day off heading in to the Keys. Lots of places to stop and see. It's a really nice ride to be enjoyed.
Just curious why you say avoid I-95? We were planning on being in Florida 7 days and staying somewhere @ the Vero Beach area and making the run to the keys from there.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 150
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From: South Florida
I-75 moves pretty well and it skirts a lot of the Gulf coast before it turns east through the Everglades (Alligator Alley). I 95 is more boring in a sense but if you want to see more of the Atlantic Ocean it's the fastest way - avoid the turnpike! As for Vero if you leave from there leave very early because the run to the Keys is not fast. Lots of small towns. Last time I went I never got into 5th. The roads however are in great shape. Going over the bridges especially 7 mile bridge is fantastic. You don't want to do this in the dark and miss the scenery. I like the suggestion of making Dade or Broward Counties and launching from there, having lunch in the Upper Keys, before making Key West. Good luck.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
Yea, leaving from Vero is going to make for a hard trip to Key West.
The typical published run time down from there is about 5.5 hours, but that's assuming NO Traffic and doesn't include fuel or rest stops, or any sightseeing. Unless you are traveling to KW on a Sunday morning, traffic will likely be heavy and slow through West Palm, Ft Lauderdale and Miami, and those three are like one continuous city. The last 100 miles through the Keys is mostly 40-45 MPH speed limits.
It can be done, but it will be a hard day.
The typical published run time down from there is about 5.5 hours, but that's assuming NO Traffic and doesn't include fuel or rest stops, or any sightseeing. Unless you are traveling to KW on a Sunday morning, traffic will likely be heavy and slow through West Palm, Ft Lauderdale and Miami, and those three are like one continuous city. The last 100 miles through the Keys is mostly 40-45 MPH speed limits.
It can be done, but it will be a hard day.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
If you do want to make the trip from Vero to KW on a weekday, I recommend you consider taking
It's a bit longer route but faster by bypassing almost all of the city traffic, and will give you some nice scenery through part of the Everglades on the way.