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Saturday, 04 February 2012 |
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Riding Skill Series: Going the Distance
Tips to making long-distance rides safer and more enjoyable
Long-distance rides are not for the faint of
heart, the ill-equipped or impatient. As demanding as they are though,
long-distance rides can be quite exciting — rewarding even once
completed. For those who have yet to embark on a long excursion, or
those fearful of the challenges that lie beyond each forgone mile
marker, know that there are a number of tricks and tips that can make
your time in the saddle less daunting and more enjoyable. As with
anything, the key is preparation and a comprehensive understanding of
your abilities; don’t write a check your butt can’t cash by setting off
on a ride without adequately preparing yourself and your equipment.
Traversing 500-plus miles in a single day is no
easy feat no matter what motorcycle you’re cuddling up with, and there
are a number of aspects that must be considered well before your journey
even starts. If you have a destination in mind, start by grabbing a map
and determining the best route. The task seems simple enough, but screw
it up and you’ll be sorry. Pick a route that has you aimlessly cruising
down freeways, interstates or thruways, for instance, and you’ll find
yourself losing your sanity at an exponential rate. Select roads that
are too tight and technical, however, and you may find yourself
exhausted by day’s end or falling behind schedule.
When planning a long-distance ride on a
motorcycle, it’s also important to remember that fuel stops are going to
be more frequent. As such, avoid riding through extremely isolated
areas where gas stations are few and far between — the good scenery
simply isn’t worth not knowing if you’ll make it to the next gas stop.
To be certain you choose the best route, spend the days — or even
weeks — leading up to your ride on the internet or reading books that
discuss the better motorcycling roads across the country, making certain
there will be no hiccups mid-journey in the form of dead-ends.
Understand however, that weather, road conditions and other
unforeseeable circumstances can force you to detour from your
predetermined route, which is why it’s smart to always have an
alternative route marked out.
Hopefully, you’re already
riding with some sort of tool kit packed away in your under-seat
compartment (if not, you’d better think about it). The tool kit
necessitated by a long-distance ride is going to be slightly more
in-depth, but will come in handy often. Among the usual assortment of
sockets, screwdrivers and allen wrenches, your kit should also include a
tire plug kit, stout cable or disc lock, tire pressure gauge and
flashlight. After a recent radiator-penetrating ride up north, we will
also add to that list a bottle of radiator stop leak and small tube of
JB weld. If luck is on your side, you may rarely have to break your tool
kit open, but be prepared for the worst and make sure that when it
comes time to make roadside repairs, you are up to the challenge.
With all the extra cargo needed for the long
haul, where to store your essentials quickly becomes a concern. For that
reason, touring motorcycles are a great weapon for the open road, as
they typically come equipped with saddlebags capable of storing your
clothes and/or extra gear. For those daring enough to go the distance on
a more sport-oriented machine, the best option is to fit removable
saddlebags to the bike. Not only will soft luggage provide added cargo
room, but they’re also convenient in that they can be easily dismounted
when you want to carry your stuff into the hotel room for the night.
Tank bags and tail bags will offer additional cargo room for your
essentials and are a smart choice, plus most tank bags have a map pocket
that you can stick your marked-up directions in for easy viewing. When
stuffing all you can into your saddlebags, tail bag and tank bag
however, remember that the additional weight will affect the handling of
your motorcycle. Try to centralize the weight the best you can, and
make sure your accessory bags are strapped down securely — too many
times we’ve heard stories of tank bags or tail bags dismounting
themselves halfway through the ride.
It’s good practice to
always inspect your bike before setting off on any ride, but it’s
especially important when leaving on a long-distance adventure. If it’s
been a while since your fluids were replaced (be honest with yourself),
it’s a smart decision to go ahead and replace the oil filter, oil and
brake fluid. Check the torque on hardware too, assuring bolts won’t come
bouncing off when riding in the middle of nowhere. Consider also the
amount of miles you plan to ride and take into account that your tires
and brake pads may not be up to the challenge. Replace if necessary.
Unless you plan exceedingly well and have
luck on your side, chances are you will experience varying weather on
your ride, which is why it’s important to pack the right gear. An
Aerostich Roadcrafter one-piece suit is typically one of the better
options, as it provides relative warmth in cooler conditions and has
great ventilation for warmer weather. The suit can also be removed in
mere seconds, which is a plus when you want to get off the bike and get
comfortable for a minute or two. Boots and gloves that fit well and work
decent in varying conditions will also be well worth the investment
when covering hundreds of miles in a single day since comfort is an
absolute necessity.
How comfortable you are on the ride
will correlate with how many miles you can cover in a single day. Note,
however, that the number of miles you’re able to ride in a day will also
vary on the roads traversed, the bike you are on and your mental
attitude. A Gold Wing rider may have no problem riding over 800 freeway
miles in a single day for instance, whereas a ZX-6R-mounted rider may
find it challenging to squeeze even 400 miles out of a day. Over the
years, we have found it reasonable — and manageable — to aim towards a
maximum of 500 miles per day.
Those 500 miles won’t be a
walk in the park though, and the honest truth is that a lot can go
wrong at any point in time, especially if the rider loses focus and
begins to make mistakes or errors in judgment. Frequent stops are the
key then to surviving long-distance rides, so don’t be afraid to pull to
the side of the road when need be. When off the bike, stretch,
replenish fluids and eat a snack to avoid muscle cramps and fatigue in
the later stages of your ride.
Given the number of
things that can go wrong during a long-distance ride, it goes without
saying that they aren’t for everyone. They can be very rewarding though
and offer a chance to see places that you may have otherwise been unable
to visit, plus give you a chance to ride roads that simply aren’t the
same on four wheels. Plan accordingly by picking the best route and
packing smart and much of the battle is already won. Stop frequently to
nourish and hydrate your body and the ride will practically fly by. SR
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