Touring and Long Distance Riding

When you hop aboard your motorcycle for a quick jaunt around the neighborhood, you don’t need to plan much. But the farther out you plan the go, the more you will want to make a route in advance. Longer trips mean more of a financial investment. You’ll need to pay for more gas, food, and overnight lodging. By planning, you can get the most for your money.

Brainstorm a list of all the things you want to experience, from hiking spots to tourist attractions. Then construct a route that lets you get them all. You can take the road that gets you there the fastest, giving you more time to explore your destination. Or you can opt for the longer, but more scenic, route. After you set out your path, look for lodging along the way. Make reservations in advance to secure your spot (and possibly save money).

Pack Strategically

It’s tempting to want to pack along everything “just in case”. After all, you are away from your home for a long period of time. What if you end up needing that one item? But that one item quickly turns into a large number of items that weigh down your motorcycle and take up valuable storage space. Be judicious with what you take. Many of those “just in case” items can be found at a grocery store near your campsite. If you really did end up needing it, you’ll be able to buy it without a hassle. Leave those non-essentials at home and get them on the road if they become essentials.

There are a few universal items you absolutely will want to bring along. Always pack a first aid kit, a mini-tool kit, waterproof outerwear, water, food, medications, toiletries, and clothing. After you pack it all up, make sure everything is secure. You don’t want things coming loose during your ride!

Use Hearing Protection

When you embark on a touring trip, you’ll be riding your motorcycle for a long time. As you ride, you get exposed to permanent hearing loss. Hearing damage happens when we experience sounds around 85 decibels. When you ride at 40 miles per hour, you face 90 decibels of noise.

Prevent the hearing loss by using hearing protection. All you need is a cheap pair of earplugs and you block out around 30 decibels of noise. Now your damaging ride causes no ill-effect on your ears. You can choose between disposable ear plugs, reusable wax or rubber balls, or custom-made ear plugs. Generally, the more you spend, the more comfortable and better fitting the ear plugs will be.

Take Breaks

Your motorcycle may be able to ride for hours on end without stopping. But you aren’t a machine! Riding without stopping is not only uncomfortable, it’s dangerous! Before long, your eyes glaze over. Your brain enters highway hypnosis mode (when you drive and can’t remember the last stretch of road you just experienced). Your muscles and joints cramp up. This all compromises your ability to stay focused and alert, which can impede your ability to make quick safety decisions when a hazard pops up.

Be intentional about taking breaks. You will want to pull over, stop, and walk around. Shake out your limbs. Soak up some gorgeous scenery to give your brain a break. You can even use meal times or tourist stops as your breaks, allowing you to give your body a rest while exploring the area.

Before your touring trip, make sure your motorcycle is ready for the journey. Get any parts replacement and service done at Wild Fire Harley-Davidson®. We are located in Villa Park, Illinois near Chicago.