Hours per day?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 143
From: Santa Cruz
For me 8-10 hours actually in the saddle is a long day and I don't do it 2-3 days in a row often. I like to average about 200 miles a day when out touring more than 3-4+ days. Maybe some 600+ days in there but some rose smelling too.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 13
From: NW Arkansas
My wife and I start around 7am and ride for an hour. We stop and get some water, use the bathroom if necessary then ride another hour. We repeat as necessary with an hour stop for lunch. After the 6th hour on the road we stop. It's usually 4 or 5 o'clock pm by then. We get a room, relax for a bit, take a shower then go out to eat. We don't make a ton of miles, 250-400 a day unless we stop more often for sight seeing and depending on if we're on the freeway or back roads or a combination of both. We prefer the back roads. We can do this day after day with no fatigue and we enjoy our trips immensely.
When we rode to San Antonio to ride the Hill Country we spent about 8 hours on the road getting there and were OK but a bit tired. If we did that every day I think it would wear us out. Of course, we're not youngsters anymore. We may try 7 hours on the road next time and see how it goes.
When we rode to San Antonio to ride the Hill Country we spent about 8 hours on the road getting there and were OK but a bit tired. If we did that every day I think it would wear us out. Of course, we're not youngsters anymore. We may try 7 hours on the road next time and see how it goes.
I'm with these guys! If I got to get there fast, I'll drive the Vette!
So much depends on the road conditions, weather, etc. But one thing we do is take a little time to walk around/stretch when we stop for gas or food.
Unless you gotta be somewhere, ride til you don't want to, then stop.
Unless you gotta be somewhere, ride til you don't want to, then stop.
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DKCustomProducts.com
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,528
Likes: 606
From: Raleigh NC
Question for the fellows that do a lot of traveling, how many hours a day do you normally ride?
My couple of trips at 8 hours had me pretty tired but I'm a early riser so if I head out at 6:00 am every morning, I don't figure I'm going to want to stop at 2:00 in the afternoon.
Looking for advice.
Thanks
Buff
My couple of trips at 8 hours had me pretty tired but I'm a early riser so if I head out at 6:00 am every morning, I don't figure I'm going to want to stop at 2:00 in the afternoon.
Looking for advice.
Thanks
Buff
How long anyone rides, is besides the point....
Stop before your limit..... riding past the point of being tired could be bad for your health.
2 PM might sound early.... but in different weather conditions might be too late.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
Getting mileage obsessed usually results in a less than satisfactory trip. You miss all kinds of scenic and interesting things, and don't enjoy yourself nearly as much.
Sure, you could do it in two days. Three would likely be better. And consider four if you'd like to enjoy yourself. That way you allow yourself to stop when you're hungry, instead of going "no, I've got to get X far". Admire scenic overlooks and strange points of interest. Give yourself some nap and relax time.
My trip regrets pretty universally are having ridden too hard, too long, and having skipped or short shrifted scenic and interesting things.
Sure, you could do it in two days. Three would likely be better. And consider four if you'd like to enjoy yourself. That way you allow yourself to stop when you're hungry, instead of going "no, I've got to get X far". Admire scenic overlooks and strange points of interest. Give yourself some nap and relax time.
My trip regrets pretty universally are having ridden too hard, too long, and having skipped or short shrifted scenic and interesting things.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 874
Likes: 80
From: new york
Long road trips are great, don't try to plan your daily miles as road types, conditions, and weather change miles the most. When I ride solo I can achieve 6-700 mile a day on the highway but with the wife I get around 4-450 a day. Good roads with scenery changes that to about 250-300. If you push to hard for 12-13 hours fatigue will take all the fun out of it.
Your suspension is your biggest friend on theses journey's, starting with your seat and rear shocks (ohlins are great).
Your suspension is your biggest friend on theses journey's, starting with your seat and rear shocks (ohlins are great).
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Uniontown, OH
200-250
I ride with a buddy that gets 130 miles per tank. So we leave around 9am and he is ready for fuel at lunchtime. After lunch we ride until he is ready for feul again and call it a night, usually around 6-7pm. We ride all back roads on our trips, so you are pretty worn out by that time. I would not recommend going more than 300 miles in a day.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 185
From: Mountain West, Big Sky Country
i ride 2 to 3 long trips per year. Just finished 9500 miles in 17 days. I ride from around 6 am till dark (which is usually around 8pm or so). I ride all back roads with very little freeway unless i have to be somewhere at a certain time. I get up and ride for about an hour or sometimes two before i stop for breakfast, then ride as least one fill up of gas, sometimes two before i stop for lunch, then a couple of fill ups then dinner. i usually run about 550 to 650 miles per day.
I use the term fill up instead of tank of gas as sometimes i will fill up at the 150 mile mark vs 200 or 220, as on the back roads, you never know where you might need to stop or buy gas, so i always leave a good reserve.
I take my time, i stop and take pictures, i look around and am never worried about how many miles i travel. However i do end up in the same range almost every day. Once i stop, i am ready for a shower and bed, so i do not venture out once i stop. I eat dinner then look for a lodging location vs getting a lodging location then going to dinner.
My view, of the world
I use the term fill up instead of tank of gas as sometimes i will fill up at the 150 mile mark vs 200 or 220, as on the back roads, you never know where you might need to stop or buy gas, so i always leave a good reserve.
I take my time, i stop and take pictures, i look around and am never worried about how many miles i travel. However i do end up in the same range almost every day. Once i stop, i am ready for a shower and bed, so i do not venture out once i stop. I eat dinner then look for a lodging location vs getting a lodging location then going to dinner.
My view, of the world
Road Master
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 6
From: Arkansas
This is about the best advice you can get. Only you can judge your own limitations.