Long distance ride

[Saftie]

Hi,

Probably a silly question but what are your experiences with long distance rides?
Reading a lot about over heating, I was wondering how you schedule your stops to let the bike rest and cool down? (Besides giving your body a break)
Lets say I wanted to go 300 miles in one day and could manage physically to ride for hours, how well would the bike handle it? Talking highway at maybe 60-70.

Thanks,
G

 

[oh9bolt]

I rode from Washington DC to Indianapolis in one day a couple months ago 555 miles averaging 70-80mph, stopping only for gas

 

[nazark_18]

I rode 820 miles over 3 days this summer. We stopped every 80-100 miles bc one of the guys we were with had a sportster w a small tank. On our way home we rode 320 miles stopping for gas and food. The bike will handle it just fine.

 

[user_deleted]

I rode from Washington DC to Indianapolis in one day a couple months ago 555 miles averaging 70-80mph, stopping only for gas

one hell of a day in the saddle, jesse!
saftie: i find that on a buell in particular i'm ready to get off the bike and take a break when i need to fuel it up. you mentioned 60-70mph and these bikes will run forever at those speeds with no heating, rpm, or other mechanical issues. EARPLUGS will be your friend along with a quality helmet and riding gear, heated grips and heated vest for cooler weather.

 

[christianmb]

I was averaging about 80 between Indy and Huntsville and back about a year and a half ago. No issues other than I developed the dreaded fuel pump always on problem. I was quite ready to be off of her when I got back to Indy. Other than that no problems at all.

 

[firefighter1c57]

I rode my XBR, yea, I know, it's got a bit more wind protection, 900.9 miles from Columbus IAP to my house in Chouteau Oklahoma in 17 hours.

 

[Saftie]

Great, thanks.
Yes, earplugs will be on top of my list.
Wanted to look into new headphones anyway and maybe the noise canceling ear plugs will work. Set iPhone to "shuffle on shake" and I'm good to go. Will look stupid if I keep hitting my jacket whenever I want to change a song but oh well...

 

[Miami78]

Couple months ago I rode from Vegas to Denver, 760 miles in one day averaging 90mph. The bike does not need rest, it will be fine. Your ass will need rest though...I had to stop every 100-120 miles just to stretch my legs and get some circulation going. Rode back to Vegas over the next 2 days with some scenic detours through the air force academy in Colorado Springs and Moab, Utah, total of about 1800 miles over 3 days. Worst thing was the numbness/weakness in my right hand from all the vibration, took about a week to get back to full strength in my hand. Getting rained and hailed on sucked, too. Both directions.

More recently rode from Vegas to near Salt Lake City, Utah...400 miles each way. That was a much more manageable distance. And it didn't rain.

 

[deathandtexas]

Longest ride on the Buell so far was 250 miles from Cinci to Cleveland. I wouldn't want to go much farther to be honest. But maybe I'm spoiled because most of my touring has been done on big HDs (Road King and Road Glide). On those I've gone from San Jose, CA to St. Louis and back up to Vancouver Island on one trip and from San Jose, CA to Cleveland, Ohio and back on another (not in one day mind you). Tip: be careful riding through the Southwest in the summer, apparently it's called Monsoon season and it sucks to ride through.

 

[freak2180]

I did 750-800 on "Baby Girl" in one day when she was fully dressed. Now that she's wearing a bit less clothing I haven't had the opurtunity to challenge those numbers. All I stopped for was to feed her and myself. This was in the early summer time also.

 

[Zeroflat24]

damn you guys ride a long way. I am usually tired of riding after 150 miles. My ass just cant go much longer than it takes to run through a tank of gas.

 

[freak2180]

I like long rides. Even if I'm just cruzing DFW I can burn 2 tanks.

 

[captain chaos]

Assuming the bike is in good running order to begin with it will have NO problems going farther than any rational human being will ever take it. I rode mine 1500mi. over a 3 day period before I sold it (went from Kokomo, in to the dragon to the Barber Motorsports Museum than back home). I went from Birmingham, Al to Kokomo, In in one shot. The temps were in the high 90's/ low 100's all day (not to mention HUMID!) and average speed in the souther 1/2 of that leg was 85-90mph (those southern-ers are CRAZY!). I had absolutely no issues with heat other than myself as I always ride in FF helmet, gloves and Jacket. I needed a break every 120mi or so to cool off and get a drink which was fine as that was a good "gas-stop" distance" anyway.

 

[Zeroflat24]

I just dont get how you guys can physically stand sitting on our bikes that long. I switched over to an S tail on my xb12r but i still couldnt ride 300+ miles.

 

[rtrac1]

did 1350 miles over 5 days this past summer. longest day was around 350miles

overheating isnt an issue unless your stuck in traffic

 

[oh9bolt]

Just a bit of info for ear buds, I bought jvc marshmallows (if you get these buy them with the remote control so you can swith the track, iphone shake to switch track doesnt work well when on a bike and moving around) and they are awesome, or ear plugs and some helmet speakers work good.

 

[05Bueller]

I put over 200 miles on my bike in one day this summer, felt great, legs didn't hurt at all really. I'm always down for a long ride, I think the closest guy on here to me is oh9bolt. It's a little cool out right now though

 

[oh9bolt]

Where are you located 05Bueller?

 

[Saftie]

Great info oh9bolt. I will check them out.
Glad to hear that there are no issues and have to agree with other posts: damn, you guys take long trips. But hey, so many cool places to see and such a short life.

Now I will try to find the other thread about saddle bags again.

 

[05Bueller]

@ oh9bolt, PM'd.