how far until a break
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 140
Likes: 7
My 2 cents ?
MUST condition my mind and body to ride. 50, 100 to 500 mile trips. Did 500 miles yesterday. Bike and body need work out. I worked outside, so 100 degree heat not a problem....BUT water, diet & rest are required.....just like bike has needs.
MUST condition my mind and body to ride. 50, 100 to 500 mile trips. Did 500 miles yesterday. Bike and body need work out. I worked outside, so 100 degree heat not a problem....BUT water, diet & rest are required.....just like bike has needs.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 1,228
From: Depends on where I am
860 today. Lexington, VA to Conway AR. I could have kept going but Im not a fan of riding 75 mph on the interstate after dark. Tomorrow will be a short ride, 250 miles to home.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,975
Likes: 5,213
From: Michigan
What I CAN do, and what I WILL do are two completely different things!
If I'm on a "schedule" I can do a tank (200+miles) of fuel, take leak, get a drink, walk around for a few minutes, then repeat the process as many times as it takes, to meet the schedule.
However, my preference is to "split" the tank(s) of fuel, taking a break at each stop and repeat until I do about 400 miles.
I like to have a light breakfast, a snack at one of the breaks and then be in a motel in time to shower before dinner and then a few cold ones by the pool if possible.
Last year, the wife an I rode straight-through from SC to Michigan (a tad over 720 miles).
I ride a CVO Ultra and my wife rides a Softail Heritage (T/C96).
I have the "comfort machine" and basically all she has is foot-pegs! She can use her "tour pack" as a backrest but she never leans back on it.
We did this once before but this trip was on her 63rd birthday! I offered a lay-over but she said that she'd rather keep going
Earlier this year, we made the same trip by car and we "goofed off" a bit but still it was a 12 hour trip.
I'm of the opinion (and age-67) distances in that short amount of time(4 days) in the future will require the use of a commercial airliner and rental car!
My motorcycle is for pleasure riding, That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
If I'm on a "schedule" I can do a tank (200+miles) of fuel, take leak, get a drink, walk around for a few minutes, then repeat the process as many times as it takes, to meet the schedule.
However, my preference is to "split" the tank(s) of fuel, taking a break at each stop and repeat until I do about 400 miles.
I like to have a light breakfast, a snack at one of the breaks and then be in a motel in time to shower before dinner and then a few cold ones by the pool if possible.
Last year, the wife an I rode straight-through from SC to Michigan (a tad over 720 miles).
I ride a CVO Ultra and my wife rides a Softail Heritage (T/C96).
I have the "comfort machine" and basically all she has is foot-pegs! She can use her "tour pack" as a backrest but she never leans back on it.
We did this once before but this trip was on her 63rd birthday! I offered a lay-over but she said that she'd rather keep going
Earlier this year, we made the same trip by car and we "goofed off" a bit but still it was a 12 hour trip.
I'm of the opinion (and age-67) distances in that short amount of time(4 days) in the future will require the use of a commercial airliner and rental car!
My motorcycle is for pleasure riding, That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
As others have stated seat, bars and a suspension setup properly for you. I have a love hate thing with the backrest. I rode out to CO last year with it and shipped it back for the ride home. I have an arthritic lower back and a bad right hip. I know how you feel. I have seats that move you back to get you off the larger section of the tank and bars that are set up for better riding posture help immensely.
As far as how far I can ride in a day or at a time before a break? It varies based on how I feel that day but generally I am like Uncle Larry. I will run the first tank out then it's every 100 or so. 750 seems to be my limit. It's not just the soreness for me. It's also when fatigue starts to settle in and that is not when I want to be on the bike.
When we went to CO last summer it was 1500 miles one way and took us 2 days out and 2 back but it was slab riding. If I am off the slab I like to stop and see things. Some days I might ride 100 for the day and others may be 400. There are no right or wrongs here as everyone is different.
As far as how far I can ride in a day or at a time before a break? It varies based on how I feel that day but generally I am like Uncle Larry. I will run the first tank out then it's every 100 or so. 750 seems to be my limit. It's not just the soreness for me. It's also when fatigue starts to settle in and that is not when I want to be on the bike.
When we went to CO last summer it was 1500 miles one way and took us 2 days out and 2 back but it was slab riding. If I am off the slab I like to stop and see things. Some days I might ride 100 for the day and others may be 400. There are no right or wrongs here as everyone is different.
Last edited by todd-67; Jun 1, 2018 at 04:11 AM.
Banned
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4,576
Likes: 978
From: Viet Vet, crossroads
Its all different, we are not 21 anymore.
I did 800 miles on an iron head Sportster once.
Just once.
Riding two up I seldom hit 500.
The key is to start early and end early, get your monies worth from the motel.
Once you start the end late crap, start late, you are behind the curve and cant catch up.
The rider ends up riding through towns he is not familiar with in the dark,
Being not familiar with traffic SOP, tired, its a recipe for disaster.
I did 800 miles on an iron head Sportster once.
Just once.
Riding two up I seldom hit 500.
The key is to start early and end early, get your monies worth from the motel.
Once you start the end late crap, start late, you are behind the curve and cant catch up.
The rider ends up riding through towns he is not familiar with in the dark,
Being not familiar with traffic SOP, tired, its a recipe for disaster.
Last edited by Kingglide549; Jun 1, 2018 at 04:28 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 1,465
From: Charleston, SC
Its all different, we are not 21 anymore.
I did 800 miles on an iron head Sportster once.
Just once.
Riding two up I seldom hit 500.
The key is to start early and end early, get your monies worth from the motel.
Once you start the end late crap, start late, you are behind the curve and cant catch up.
The rider ends up riding through towns he is not familiar with in the dark,
Being not familiar with traffic SOP, tired, its a recipe for disaster.
I did 800 miles on an iron head Sportster once.
Just once.
Riding two up I seldom hit 500.
The key is to start early and end early, get your monies worth from the motel.
Once you start the end late crap, start late, you are behind the curve and cant catch up.
The rider ends up riding through towns he is not familiar with in the dark,
Being not familiar with traffic SOP, tired, its a recipe for disaster.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 117
Likes: 21
From: Minnesota
Ahh the memories, I did the same thing on a Yamaha 650 xt, rode from Sturgis to Mpls non-stop, had dinner and went back riding that night. Now I come back from the Black Hills in two days, the difference 45 years makes.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,061
Likes: 11,080
From: San Diego, CA
Like many have mentioned there is nothing wrong with stopping every 90 miles....... Hell, when I was 21, I'd stop every 90-100 miles when taking long trips... but that was because my FXS only had a 3.5 gal tank... I certainly didn't want to run out of gas
Now I'm 62 and plan my trips for FUN & COMFORT.... I got nothing to prove to anybody. On cross country trips, I leave after the free breakfast at the motel (10:00ish), and arrive at my next stop around 4:00 to check into my hotel. Then after unloading the bike, I take a small town cruise looking for a dinner spot, then maybe a drink or two. Always in bed early, so I can get up, go to the free breakfast, and do it all over again...
Yes... I've camped in tents, slept on tables at rest stops, and rode from sun up to sun down.... Those trips make for good stories, but no desire to repeat them.... I'm in no hurry these days, and I can afford a motel...
However, I still like my time on the bike to be enjoyable and comfortable. Unlike in my youth, seat, suspension, and bars affect my comfort more now than they used to..... I always change/adjust all three, fairly soon after purchase of a long range bike (bagger these days), with cash flow dictating the order....
You can still stop every 90 miles, but with better seat/suspension/bars, you will be more comfortable and the stop will be more of a choice than a requirement....
Now I'm 62 and plan my trips for FUN & COMFORT.... I got nothing to prove to anybody. On cross country trips, I leave after the free breakfast at the motel (10:00ish), and arrive at my next stop around 4:00 to check into my hotel. Then after unloading the bike, I take a small town cruise looking for a dinner spot, then maybe a drink or two. Always in bed early, so I can get up, go to the free breakfast, and do it all over again...
Yes... I've camped in tents, slept on tables at rest stops, and rode from sun up to sun down.... Those trips make for good stories, but no desire to repeat them.... I'm in no hurry these days, and I can afford a motel...
However, I still like my time on the bike to be enjoyable and comfortable. Unlike in my youth, seat, suspension, and bars affect my comfort more now than they used to..... I always change/adjust all three, fairly soon after purchase of a long range bike (bagger these days), with cash flow dictating the order....
You can still stop every 90 miles, but with better seat/suspension/bars, you will be more comfortable and the stop will be more of a choice than a requirement....
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