When planning a trip?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,801
Likes: 13
RE: When planning a trip?
When doing mental calculations, I always plan on being able to make 60 miles in an hour. I usually manage to come close to that, riding alone. Two up, or with others, it generally ends up closer to 50.
I have used Streets and Trips before, but after noticing a route error, I stick to Mapquest. For grins, I punched in my address, and my mom's address in Minnesota, just to see what route Streets and Trips would give me. Well, it had me go to the intersection of "X" and I-435, which was about 2 miles from my house. While it is true that those two roadways do cross, there is no on ramp there, and the closest entrance ramp to that overpass is about 4 miles away.
Imagine had you been in a town you were not remotely familiar with, and you discovered that the turn Streets and Trips told you to make, does not exist?
I have used Streets and Trips before, but after noticing a route error, I stick to Mapquest. For grins, I punched in my address, and my mom's address in Minnesota, just to see what route Streets and Trips would give me. Well, it had me go to the intersection of "X" and I-435, which was about 2 miles from my house. While it is true that those two roadways do cross, there is no on ramp there, and the closest entrance ramp to that overpass is about 4 miles away.
Imagine had you been in a town you were not remotely familiar with, and you discovered that the turn Streets and Trips told you to make, does not exist?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 4
From:
RE: When planning a trip?
Sturgis to Des Moines, IA is 640 miles to my Driveway. Me my Dad and Brother-in-law rode it strait through, well with gas stops of course but we did it in 11 hours. We even stoped for lunch in Sioux Falls, SDthat one was about an hour break. Butall the otherswere pretty much gas, **** and go.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 5
From: Midwest
RE: When planning a trip?
ORIGINAL: kdietz
55 is pretty close at the end of the day....60 if I'm by myself
55 is pretty close at the end of the day....60 if I'm by myself
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: South Dakota
RE: When planning a trip?
The only thing I plan on long trips is the day I leave and when I have to return. I try not to schedule places and times. It makes the ride so much better with no time schedule. If I see a sign advertizing the worlds largest ball of twine I can stop for a couple hours to enjoy it. If you have to go by a schedule use 50- 55 mph. That way if you are ahead of schedule you can still see the ball of twine.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,602
Likes: 5
From: Southern California - Palm Springs Area
RE: When planning a trip?
If ya figure in Fuel Stops - Comfort Breaks - Meal Stops taking the wife plan on 50 miles per hour avg...
Me Solo... It's tank-2-tank and eat on the run (lol)
Me Solo... It's tank-2-tank and eat on the run (lol)
Banned
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,195
Likes: 0
From: Nor-Cal
RE: When planning a trip?
If he starts with a full tank and stops two times for fuel that equals 3 tanks of gas.Less than 150 miles per tank of fuel. The real question is if twobikes leave at the same time and one is going 55 mph and the other 65 andbike(A) is going 500 miles andbike (B) is going 600 miles wichbike will arrive first? (Just kidding W/ya) 
When I long haul it I don't generally worry to much about it but generally average between 55-65 MPH. It all depends on the company I,m with.
When I long haul it I don't generally worry to much about it but generally average between 55-65 MPH. It all depends on the company I,m with.
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
RE: When planning a trip?
Tank to tank I get it.But who in their right mind runs the bike down to the last tenth of a gallon on the highway every tank. I getto lookin atabout 120 miles. My 07 gets the advertised 42 MPG on good gas and has got as low as 37 on the hwy on the summer fuel mix riding two up.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,950
Likes: 4
RE: When planning a trip?
ORIGINAL: cogener8
When you are planning a trip about what sort of MPH do you figure to AVG for the trip. Im not talking about riding MPH. For example the wife and I rode from central ILL to Kansas City. 375 miles. In a car I would have figured 65 to 70 MPH maybe 5 1/2 hrs. On the bike what with stopping for gas and butt breaks it took closer to 7 hrs. There was one looong stretch of 45 mph for construction,but still that brought the AVG MPH down to about 50. Just curious how much time you plan for on long trips.
When you are planning a trip about what sort of MPH do you figure to AVG for the trip. Im not talking about riding MPH. For example the wife and I rode from central ILL to Kansas City. 375 miles. In a car I would have figured 65 to 70 MPH maybe 5 1/2 hrs. On the bike what with stopping for gas and butt breaks it took closer to 7 hrs. There was one looong stretch of 45 mph for construction,but still that brought the AVG MPH down to about 50. Just curious how much time you plan for on long trips.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 25
From: St George, UT
RE: When planning a trip?
I plan on 10 hours days. I start at 7am after breakfast, ride the first two tanks out, have lunch. By then I have ridden about 300 miles. I slow down a bit in the afternoon and do about 200, so it adds up to 500 miles on an average day. I usually cruise at 70-75. My wife doesn't do the long rides so I can't speak to that. I did Columbus, Ohio to St George, Utah, 2100 miles, in four days, leaving the road around 5-6pm. The longest day was 675 miles, shortest was 425.
Our day runs usually are just under 200 miles, but that's just putting around.
Our day runs usually are just under 200 miles, but that's just putting around.