Long-Distance Motorcycle Riding
While cruising through a big city can be a great way to enjoy a motorcycle ride during the afternoon, there are lots of riders who prefer longer trips on their bike. That’s why most motorcycle manufacturers have their own touring bike line. Touring bikes are specifically designed to provide you with comfort and excellent performance during the long haul. Once you have the right bike, it’ll be time to hit the road!
To prepare for your trip, McKibben Powersports Honda has provided some tips to get you started. If you have questions, or if you’d like to hear about some of our staff’s personal tips, stop by our location in Winter Haven, Florida, serving Lakeland and Kissimmee.
Practice
The best advice we can give you is to not hit the ground running too hard. Touring is tiring, even with the additional comfort features that come with the bike. The only way to truly prepare for this is to work your way up to cross-country trips. Start with a few hours of riding, maybe to your favorite beach or to a particular location you like. Then, as your body adjusts, add time to your riding route, making your trips longer and longer, until you can handle a few days on the road at a time.
Build Your Route
Even if you’re the type of person who just likes to follow where the road takes you, having a basic outline of a route can have a lot of benefits, especially for overnight trips. Firstly, you can pick a destination and choose stopping points that you’ll find interesting. You can also choose roads and highways that you’ll be comfortable riding on. Maybe you prefer backroads and byways or maybe you prefer straight freeways. Choose what’s most comfortable for you.
Secondly, it can help you gauge just how long you’ll be on the road. If you realize you’ll need to stay the night in one or two places, you can figure out where and make campground or hotel reservations.
Inspect Your Touring Motorcycle
While touring motorcycles are designed to last longer, they still need to be cared for like any bike. Perform a thorough inspection before the trip and every morning before you hit the road. Look for signs that something’s damaged or anything that might need to be addressed before you start your journey. Some important points to hit include:
- Checking tire pressure
- Checking fluid levels
- Checking lights
- Testing brakes and throttle
Pack Effectively
One of the more difficult aspects of touring is packing. While touring bikes have more storage space than your average motorcycle, you’ll still need to be conservative about what you bring. Start by focusing only on what you need and then see if there are ways you can further cut down on supplies. Remember that you can always pack a few clothing items and then take advantage of laundromats.
You can also purchase travel-sized items, like shampoo and toothpaste. If you’re camping, consider looking into gear made for backpackers, which is designed to be compact and lightweight. When you still need more space, you can always ask about upgrading your ride with more storage solutions.
Adjust for Weather
The weather will play a big role in what you pack, so check the forecast of the areas you’ll be in on the days you’ll be there. Remember that you’ll need to stay covered for safety reasons, but if it’s going to be warm, you can opt for lighter clothing.
Know when a storm is predicted so you can make adjustments. Get a feel for average temperatures and weather patterns of a particular region and recheck the forecast every morning of your trip to see if things have changed.
Preparing for your first touring ride can require a lot of work, but as you do it more often, it’ll get easier and faster. You’ll be able to focus less on the logistics of the trip and simply enjoy the ride. Still need a touring bike to make things easier and more comfortable? Stop by McKibben Powersports Honda and we’ll show you our touring bikes for sale. We welcome all riders from Winter Haven, Lakeland, and Kissimmee, Florida.