Hours per day?
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 568
Likes: 147
From: Georgia
I would allocate 3 days each way for the trip and don't pre-book any hotels. Just ride as much as you want each day and find a place to sleep when you've had enough. Much more enjoyable than when you have a timeline of trying to get to a specific hotel by a specific time.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 416
Likes: 7
From: Tillsonburg, Ontario
I try for 500 mi per day, or 5pm which ever comes first. At 5pm it is time to find a place to stay the night, get a meal, a beer or two and a hot tub. I like to enjoy my time out on the road.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
Physical condition makes a huge difference. Back when I was really in shape, I could crank out consecutive 800-1000 mile days without issue. I'm tired and sore at 800 miles now (but I'm working on that). The big thing during the course of the day is to stretch when you stop, stay hydrated, and eat. If you're sore, tired, thirsty, or hungry, you're not paying the attention you should be to your riding.
The biggest thing is to listen to your body. If you think you're done, you're done. Better to add a day to the trip than to wreck your bike because you were worn out.
The biggest thing is to listen to your body. If you think you're done, you're done. Better to add a day to the trip than to wreck your bike because you were worn out.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 604
Likes: 64
From:
Please check out the http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/aow.cfm. Whether youre riding 100 miles or a 1K these tips are great.
As has been pointed out a lot of your mileage per day is going to be determined by the old Butt-O-Meteor . Please do reality checks (how am I feeling, am I able to respond to emergency / dumb driver tricks, road hazards, etc.) as the day goes by. The sun, heat and fatigue will get to you.
Ride Safe.
As has been pointed out a lot of your mileage per day is going to be determined by the old Butt-O-Meteor . Please do reality checks (how am I feeling, am I able to respond to emergency / dumb driver tricks, road hazards, etc.) as the day goes by. The sun, heat and fatigue will get to you.
Ride Safe.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
Plan on 3 days just to be comfortable and also to be able to smell a few roses along the way. But if you hit the road that first day and feel really good you might gobble up over half that distance with no problem at all.
I'll be turning 50 in a few months. I ride to western Illinois every June to visit family from San Diego - almost 2000 miles each way. I routinely run it in three 650 mile days to get there and usually take 4 days to come home (I visit another friend along the way back).
Enjoy the ride and do it at your own pace, listen to your body and don't ride when too tired. Deer, especially at night, are a big problem in a lot of areas, so riding in the daytime is wise in many areas.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 129
Likes: 1
From: omaha ne
Early is good, I like to rise at 4:00, on my way by 4:30, watch the sun rise, stop around 9:30 for a good breakfast and have most all my riding time in by 2:00-3:00p.m. when the sun and heat is trying to kill you and your scoot...of course, ideally, no plans are the best plans...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,006
Likes: 1,240
From: On the Front Range, CO
Only you'll know how long is long enough.
A buddy and I recently rode from Colorado to the East Coast, to ride the Smokies. We planned on long days to get there and long days to get back, so we could spend as much time as possible in the destination area. To be honest, we didn't have much we wanted to see in between here and there.
Our first day, was 953 miles. Second day was another 600 or so, to get to Charlotte for the Coca Cola 600.
They key is getting a good stretch in when you need it. Hydrate like crazy, because being dehydrated makes you sleepy as well. It's hot, especially with leathers on, and a helmet if you wear one.
Don't over-do it, and listen to your body. You'll know when you've had enough for the day.
A buddy and I recently rode from Colorado to the East Coast, to ride the Smokies. We planned on long days to get there and long days to get back, so we could spend as much time as possible in the destination area. To be honest, we didn't have much we wanted to see in between here and there.
Our first day, was 953 miles. Second day was another 600 or so, to get to Charlotte for the Coca Cola 600.
They key is getting a good stretch in when you need it. Hydrate like crazy, because being dehydrated makes you sleepy as well. It's hot, especially with leathers on, and a helmet if you wear one.
Don't over-do it, and listen to your body. You'll know when you've had enough for the day.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,140
Likes: 17
From: Wisconsin
Best advice is that it's up to you .......... no magic number. Last year, ol' lady and I, we're 57 and 53, did a week during that horrible heat wave over July 4. Road temps were over 120 but we still did 700 mile back to back days to reach our destination. It was hot, we hydrated a lot and rode long days with a lot of breaks. Our days were 14-16 hours, but like I said, we needed to hydrate a lot and made short, fast runs with a lot of little breaks. On the way back, the last two days we rode almost the same distances but the days were around 12-13 hours with stops and meals. Of course, these days were all highway on a Street Glide with Tour Pack, the comfort on the bike makes a world of difference, also. Again, though, depends on you, I've been riding 40 years and I can ride that thing all day long. We jumped on the bike last week Wednesday after a day of work, 7 hours and 430 miles later we were at our friend's house for the holiday.
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IMHO it is up to each individual. I rode some 12 hour days on my Deuce and that was a grind at the end. Most of the time I like to do about 6 or 7 hours and then enjoy the location wherever that may be.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
I have a touring book and the author recommends not more than 350 miles in one day unless your doing an ironbutt. I have done 400 with my RK but I'm getting up there in age and my wife likes to 'Smell the roses' as she puts it so, unless I'm with a bunch of guys and were bazooka'in it I keep it around that mileage.