how long before taking my 1st real long distance ride?

[halouis]

I'm going to assume this answer will vary quite a bit from everyone.

got my bike 3 weeks ago (so late March). put about 150 miles so far and once the weather gets better will be doing some good short trips.

I have a little road trip scheduled in August that would be an 8hr drive typically by car. any reason to think i wont be ready for this by August if i decide to ride it?

[jonnythan]

Riding distances on a bike is *much* more fatiguing than doing so in a car.

Absolutely no reason to think you wouldn't be able to do this ride. Try to do some longer distance rides in the meantime.. and when you do take the ride, be sure to take breaks whenever appropriate.

[Bachstrad37]

Agreed.

Biggest fatigue factor is wind. If you have windshield, it helps tremendously. Also wear earplugs if you're going to sustain 45+ mph speeds. The wind really reduces your endurance. Consider the comfort of your seat, too. Stock seats are often too soft and lack real support. Think about replacing it if you can't stand 3-4 hours on your current seat.

As already mentioned, work your way up on the duration. Travelling 8 hrs. is not for everyone. In fact, I'd be surprise if 25% of all riders could endure it.

[flynrider]

Just keep in mind that if it's 8 hours by car, it'll probably take longer on the bike. You'll have to stop for gas more often and the reduced comfort factor on the bike means you'll probably be making more stops just to stretch your legs or to get rid of the ringing in your ears.

[Shorts]

As mentioned above, riding is more fatiguing than driving a car, especially for a new rider. You basically have to get in shape and build your riding stamina. Your body will be the ultimate say so in how far you will ride.

Example, last year the first time we rode out to places for longer than an hour or two, we were tired! Our butts hurt, our backs were tight, our shoulders stiff...etc. Now, a year later, doing those same rides is easier.

So, really, it varies from person to peron, as well as the riding conditions themselves. Hot weather, cold weather, "perfect" weather - those all take a toll. Not to mention the actual kinds of manuevering and work you need to put into the bike to ride.

So, listen to your body

[Wrider]

Yep, definitely different, more fatiguing... Even going to Pueblo, from Colorado Springs, and back, about 38 miles of Interstate each way, is tiring. Granted, I didn't have the shield on, but it was still really tiring.
Wrider

[Flting Duck]

Aside from wind, there are quite a few other factors that will fatigue you.

If you're still a relative noob, then your conetration will be higher and your brain will fatigue more quickly - making you unsafe to yourself and others if you don't stop before your brain gets tired.

Next, it takes a fair amount of time in the saddle to become really relaxed while riding. This cuases physical fatigue. Again, you're not safe when you become fatigued.

8 hours in a car (depending on how you drive) is roughly 400 miles. A vast number of very seasoned riders don't prefer to ride more than 250 miles per day. This doesn't mean that you can't do it but you need to find what personal limit works FOR YOU.

As suggested by many, work up to longer distances and, within reason, get as much saddle time as possible to build your skills and stamina.

[storysunfolding]

When it comes to distance riding I'd listen to anyone who's done the 55cc... and thus the ss1k and bbg all in one sitting.

[halouis]

thanks all. good and very useful responses. Another big issue for me to consider is I live in a very rural area nowdays. Central VA. not a ton of vehicles on the road. the trip I speak of is heading up past NYC, where I used to live and I have no problem whatsoever driving. But the extra congestion on the roads will be pretty brutal. Thinking New Jersey Turnpike and GW bridge. Not going into the city, but still some pretty hairy roads and traffic, and drivers.

i'm not saying i dont think I could do it, but it seems like it may certainly be a 2 day ride each way at least this early in my riding 'life.'

I'll take it slow and see if i can rack up some mid-length rides first.

[Sev]

Wind her up, point her the direction you need to be, and pop the clutch. !

You'll find when you first start doing trips a 3 hour one will kill you. But gradually take longer and longer rides and you'll be able to pull 8 hours in the saddle without trying.