Long Distance Riding

[TimeWarp]

I just drove my wife's cage back from the East Coast and saw a lot of riders (some loners, but mostly groups 3-6 bikes) on the interstate. Made me jealous and achin' for my bike.

Seeing all these guys and gals enjoying thier rides made me want to take some vacation time to distance ride too - like three or four days.

Only thing is, I’m not sure what to plan for.
What would be a reasonable distance for a day's journey?

Other threads have talked about the range on a tank or wanting to rest yur butt after 1.5 to 2 hours. What about when your shooting for the long distance? Do you recommend pacing your self? Do the stops get more frequent?

I've already learned a lot from you folks and really appreciate this forum.
It is awesome...

Thanks

[Renegade]

That depends on what you're up for...

The smallest IronButt certification is a SaddleSore which is 1000 miles in 24 hours.

That's not a simple task but it's also not that difficult with proper planning and a little bit of preperation. It's also endurance riding and not a vacation.

If you're just wanting to 'get out there' do what you're comfortable with.

There are plenty of things you can do to stay comfortable on the bike longer if you want or need to put some miles in. A 300-400 mile day is an average day for a sport-tourer or most of the guys I know and ride with. An 6-700 mile day is not uncommon.

How far do you normally ride? What gets tired or sore? Your arms? legs? arse? What's your tank range? How far do you want to ride? Across the state or across the country? Are you looking for a 3 day ride? a week, two weeks?

You opened a big can of worms

[ZooTech]

I rode from Columbus, Ohio to Chicago in a day on an '84 NightHawk 700SC (Corbin seat). Then we buzzed around the town all day the next day and returned the day after. It was better than being at work for those three days, but it was far from relaxed, too. Make sure you have an alternate place to put your feet (highway pegs) and don't just stop for gas, get off the bike and walk around a bit, too.

Hopefully before the end of summer I will be able to ride to Ocean City, Maryland for three or four days. I plan to take Route 33 through West Virginia so the ride itself will be a bit slower than the interstate and lend something to look at (besides semis).

[TimeWarp]

A 300-400 mile day is an average day for a sport-tourer or most of the guys I know and ride with. An 6-700 mile day is not uncommon.

Most of the riders I saw were doing about 10 mi. over the speedlimit..[ie: 75 in a 65 mph zone - more or less kept them in the traffic flow] so if you take a 15 min break every 90 min. , I'd be looking at a 5-6 hour day to cover 300-400? does that sound right?

How far do you normally ride? What gets tired or sore? Your arms? legs? arse? What's your tank range? How far do you want to ride? Across the state or across the country? Are you looking for a 3 day ride? a week, two weeks?

I ride daily to work. Taking the long way home I can stretch out the ride to 45 min one way. Sat. AM I join a group that rides to various local locations for breakfast... usually an hour each way.

My longest ride so far was just over a 100 miles... it was at night and in moderate rain. With the poor visibility, it took me 2+ hours. My arse was very happy to get home. Otherwise, just some numbness in my throttle hand.

There are plenty of things you can do to stay comfortable on the bike longer if you want or need to put some miles in.

I know I need to add highway bars like ZooTech suggested. And I've (reluctantly- I like the looks of a naked bike) added a windscreen since then. What else can be done?

[ZooTech]

I know I need to add highway bars like ZooTech suggested. And I've (reluctantly- I like the looks of a naked bike) added a windscreen since then. What else can be done?

If you haven't already, invest in a good aftermarket seat. I suffered from prostatosis (inflamation, not infection) from the stock seats on all three of my bikes. After switching to a Corbin on my NightHawk and a Mustang on my Mean Streak I had no more problems. A couple months ago I went on a 13-hour ride on my Mean Streak without so much as a sore muscle. You need to start conditioning yourself with longer and longer rides. I actually stuck close to home for those thirteen hours, but imagine where I could have gone instead if I would have gone in one direction. I do 100+ miles just going to work and back.

[Renegade]

A 300-400 mile day is an average day for a sport-tourer or most of the guys I know and ride with. An 6-700 mile day is not uncommon.

Most of the riders I saw were doing about 10 mi. over the speedlimit..[ie: 75 in a 65 mph zone - more or less kept them in the traffic flow] so if you take a 15 min break every 90 min. , I'd be looking at a 5-6 hour day to cover 300-400? does that sound right?

Yes, more or less... Depending upon your 'range' you might take fewer breaks. IB riders take fewer breaks, say every 200-240 miles or when you need gas.

How far do you normally ride? What gets tired or sore? Your arms? legs? arse? What's your tank range? How far do you want to ride? Across the state or across the country? Are you looking for a 3 day ride? a week, two weeks?

I ride daily to work. Taking the long way home I can stretch out the ride to 45 min one way. Sat. AM I join a group that rides to various local locations for breakfast... usually an hour each way.

My longest ride so far was just over a 100 miles... it was at night and in moderate rain. With the poor visibility, it took me 2+ hours. My arse was very happy to get home. Otherwise, just some numbness in my throttle hand.

You need a new seat, and a throttle rocker and/or throttle meister

There are plenty of things you can do to stay comfortable on the bike longer if you want or need to put some miles in.

I know I need to add highway bars like ZooTech suggested. And I've (reluctantly- I like the looks of a naked bike) added a windscreen since then. What else can be done?

(1) Earplugs (assuming you wear a helmet) even if you don't, the constant wind noise will wear on you and wear you out.
(2) A better seat as someone pointed out. Everyone has their favorite. Harder is better for longer rides, not softer. Keep away from 'Gel' seats, they make you sweat. Look into an 'AirHawk'... for extended rides on top of harder touring seats. Sheepskins are wonderful at helping air circulate under your bum as well. So are beads. Every but is different so exeriment and find out what works for you.
(3) GOOD UNDERWEAR, cotton is rotten. Some good wicking undies, boxers not briefs, with minimal seams Get them at Campmor or other sports store. Avoid monkey butt at all costs.
(4) Don't underestimate a windshield, but it depends on your bikes riding position. Naked/sportier bikes require that you get some wind to the chest to help hold you up. Take away too much wind and your upper body will get too tired. Tweaking your ergos helps a ton. Like you said, some alternate pegs or a place to move your legs is important.
(5) A way to drink for really long rides, or make sure you drink when you stop at every stop. Once you start to get dehydrated you are done. A camelback or one in a tankbag works wonders.
(6) Stay away from caffine if you can. It makes you pee and drys you out.
(7) Stretch when you stop.

[Scott58]

Your in a pretty good location. After a 150 miles or so it's nice to stop for a few minutes. plus you get to check out all the impulse buy stuff at the gas stations (I have a serious frig magnet collection going of all the states i've been to HaHa). Take a ride to indy or head west. There are any number of things to see within a days ride. Before the end of the summer I'm going to take a ride to Springfield, IL from my town. Land of lincoln and all that. Plenty to see if you just think about it a bit and shouldn't be to hard on the rearend..

[Sev]

I thought the biggest ironbutt was 1000 KM, not miles. Whytegryphon has that one bolted to the back of his KLR.

[Gadjet]

I thought the biggest ironbutt was 1000 KM, not miles. Whytegryphon has that one bolted to the back of his KLR.

Nope, Entry level IBA ride is 1000 miles (for those that use miles) or 1600km for metric countries. The distances just go up from there.

BunBurner - 36hrs, 1500miles/2500km
BunBurner Gold - 24hrs, 1500miles/2500km

there are also certifications for doing multiple Back to Back Saddlesore Rides or BunBurners.

To date, my longest certified ride is 1726km in 24hrs and my longest non-certified ride is 1556km in 24hrs. I've also done a couple rides of 900 - 1200km in 24hrs.

http://www.ironbutt.com for more information on their certified rides, as well as the rules that you have to follow to qualify for certification.

[Renegade]

Where did you go for your first certified ride Gryphon?