|
|
Cruiser
Posts: 66
Harrisburg, PA | The wife and I have decided to cancel our cruise and take a three bike trip instead. We plan to head to Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone, then out to the Pacific Coast Highway, then Vegas, hoover dam, grand Canyon, and what ever else looks good along the way.
Anybody that has been on a long road trip that has any advise please do tell. We have all the proper riding gear for the weather. Plenty of extra luggage, tool kit, tire repair kit and compact compressor. Cell phones chargers and Credit cards. We are having the Victory CB/intercom installed soon. We plan to stay at hotels along the way. Not really making any plans just going to stop when ever where ever. We plan to leave on September 15 and return with in 3 weeks.
Do you have any must see locations ideas? Riding tips, travel tips, Whatever??? any and all advise or suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thanks and maybe we will see you on our trip!
Greg n Amy White  :
Edited by GnAontheRoad 2008-08-17 10:19 PM
|
|
| |
|
Puddle Jumper
Posts: 34
Pensacola, FL | Gregg n Amy,
If your trip swings through the Southeast, (Augusta, GA.) please let me know, I would love to extend an invite for either lunch or dinner !
Steve. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 271
Belding Michigan | took a trip much like yours a few years back. Travel light and use laundry mats or hotel washers and dryers. couple of jeans and 6 T Shirts didies and socks and you are good to go on clothes. Dress for/or prepare for Cold as you can always take things off but in Aug at 50 degrees it is just as cold as Nov at 50. Make sure you have good rain gear and bungee cords to hold the whole mess together. If you look like the Beverly Hillbilles but are comfortable beats the Heck out of cool looking but being misirable. Don't forget the sunblock in the desert the sun will burn thru light clothes ask my wife. Most of all have a good time miles don't count smiles do. Have a great trip and if by chance you swing thu Michigan ping me. I can provide Breakfast lunch or dinner or a place to stay the night. Archie |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 506
Woodland Hills, CA | I am in southern California and can tell you that there is some really incredible riding out herein California. Pacific Coast Highway between Santa Barbara and Monterey (also the north coast from San Francisco north), Yosemite (must see!), Mammoth Lakes, Lake Tahoe are just a few. The far northern part of California, around Shasta is also incredible, as is the wine country of Napa Valley. Grand canyon and northern Arizona are really beautiful as well, although the desert between Las Vegas and Los Angeles is pretty dull (but frequently a necessary evil).
I would be happy to provide you with more information, and also extend an invitation for breakfast/lunch/dinner as well, or maybe just meet up and show you some of the area. Just let me know .
As far as packing is concerned, you seem to have that covered. Just remember, take only what you need, not what you want. Amessen's advice is really good!
Have a great trip!!
|
|
| |
|
New user
Posts: 2
| Zion National Park, as well as Moab, and The Arches in Utah were all pretty amazing. Independence Pass in CO was a great ride as well. While you're in SD you'll probably ride Needles Highway to see Mt. Rushmore, check out Spearfish Canyon too! |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Don't over-pack. Take along a couple to three pairs of jeans, enough under garments & Tee's for 5 days. This will allow you a week worth of riding before you need to do laundry. Rain gear, the helmet you intend to wear throughout the trip, meds and some asprine for any minor aches and pains, toiletries, a can of Honda cleaner (spray on cleaner works for everything), couple soft rags, digital camera with batteries. Try to leave some spare room for a sandwich and drink at a scenic local.
Just have a good time and enjoy the roads less travelled..... oh and a 400 mile day is pretty long for a sight seeing trip so try to just stop when you feel its time. Trying to make a certain distance can ruin a really good trip, enjoy.. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 66
Harrisburg, PA | Wow! thanks for all the great advise and sight seeing info. This may turn into a 4 week trip! We are going to try and fit the lap top on the bike too this way we can keep an updated log of the trip with pics. We will post more info as we get closer to the trip... Thanks again for the great advise and offers!!!! GnA |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 247
| if ya get near philly et me know. until then skip the u-trou. just another pressure point from the seams. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 235
Evergreen, CO | Just returned from an 18 day, 5300 mile two up trip to WA state, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Montana, and back to Colorado. Here are some tips -
1. Pack all your clothes in the rear "pod", and buy the insert so everything can be removed, inserted in one step.
2. Pack no more than 6-7 days of clothes...we did a long sleeved t-shirt/unds/socks each per day, one extra pair of jeans each, and all the REQUIRED toiletries. It was a snug fit, but worked for us.
3. If you do not have the rear luggage rack, get one and install it before leaving. We used it for our items that we "shed" as temps got warmer each day. A small to medium sized cargo net is worth its weight in gold to keep everything secure on the luggage rack.
4. Each person gets a saddlebag.....mine had tool kit, tire gauge, rain suit, small pump spray bottle with detailer (cleaning bugs off windshield at each gas stop), old hand towel to use with detailer, rolled and stuffed into compartment forward of main saddlebag. My saddlebag door with Victory cargo net contained extra gloves, sunscreen, glasses case for non-riding bifocal regular glasses, etc.
5. Utilize compartment below rear pod to store (hopefully) infrequently used items such as Slime, tire plug kit, large crescent wrench to remove rear wheel nut, can of fix-a-flat.
Depending upon your current miles on the bike, and how many miles you intend to ride on this trip, be mindful of you rear tire tread. I now have 11,300 on the bike, and the rear tire is nearly bald. Made me a bit nervous the last couple of days riding, but all ended well.
Recommend an iPod, MP3 player, or XM radio. Even though I had over 200 tunes on my MP3 player, I got tired of them in the course of the trip.
HIGHLY recommend a nav such as Garmin. I preplanned all my routes on my home computer, downloaded to my 2720, and it was the best thing for relaxation not to have to look all the time for street names/exit numbers. Just let the Garmin lady "tell you where to go".
If you are going to Yellowstone, take the northeast exit towards Cooke City, then take the road towards Red Lodge. This road is called the Beartooth Highway, and is one of the best roads to travel on a motorcycle. Check road conditions first, as the summit is almost 11000ft, and gets snow early.
If in southern Utah, both Bryce Canyon NP and Zion NP are great to visit. The ride in Zion, outside of the canyon is quite fun, while Zion Canyon and Bryce are more the stop and look attractions.
If in Colorado, let me know....Chances are the Colorado high country will be getting snow by the time you get here, and that is where many of the great rides are located. If you plan a route through CO, let me know, and I'll recommend some good roads nearby. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 66
Harrisburg, PA | Great info Space Cowboy... We are on the same script. We do have a Garmin GPS, MP3 player, Sirius Satilite, Luggage Rack and Luggage to strap on it. Along with the Cargo Net and Bungees. The one thing I did not think of is some cleaner and towels. (added to the list) |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 64
Warren, Vermont | Just returned from a 3 week trip from Vermont out to Sturgis -- I think you have the right attitude -- don't try to set a schedule, allow yourself to meander and you will discover some great hidden treats. We set our GPS to avoid major highways and we went on some amazing roads (and ferries!).
We have found that by early afternoon you should have some idea where you are likely to end up for the night and will just use the GPS and the phone to call ahead and get a room.
Starting early is the trick if you want to put on lots of miles one day.
Never, knocking on wood, have had a need for a compressor but I do carry a repair kit with some CO2 cartridges. I've found that chap stick is handy unless you are wearing a full face helmet. Wee Willy is a great product for cleaning your shield or face mask.
If you have the GPS be sure to download the waypoints for all the Victory dealers -- if something breaks you will need that.
We always ride, rain or shine but on rain days we'll cut it short depending on how hard it is raining - going 200-250 miles instead of 300-400 in a day.
Drink lots of water (not coffee) -- you need to stay hydrated. You may suffer from leg cramps if you do not drink enough water. In the areas you are going I would consider getting a camelback, cup holder or other way to drink water while you are driving.
have fun - there ain't nothing like long distance motorcycle touring -- sooo much better than being stuck on a boat.
Hippo |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 600
Linwood, MI | Why not combine a bike trip and cruise and do some thing like these:
http://www.hogsonthehighseas.com/wc08_generalinfo.html
http://www.cruise-eta.com/motorcyclecruise.htm |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 110
| You guys and gals are making me very Jealous... I am lucky to get 3 days off in a row for a road trip ahhhhhhhh someday I will have the time |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 171
San Antonio, Texas | Just a short note with another "traveling" tip. If you are concerned about doing laundry on the road, you can soak a couple of washcloths in detergent, leave them out for days to dry, seal them in a baggie. Then, just toss one into your wash cycle with the clothes. That way you don't have to pack detergent or worry about the times you need change for the machine that dispenses it or that they may be out of it to begin with. Takes up very little of your precious packing space and can be quite useful when you need it. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 66
Harrisburg, PA | Rebel - 2008-08-19 6:48 AM
Why not combine a bike trip and cruise and do some thing like these:
http://www.hogsonthehighseas.com/wc08_generalinfo.html
http://www.cruise-eta.com/motorcyclecruise.htm
Those look great! I like the Washcloth detergent Idea too. I will throw that to the wife and see what she says. I don't do the laundry that her deal... Well Actually she does not let me. I don't do it HER way... OK by me though!
Looks like we have all of our supplies together. Just need to get my Victory CB/intercom instaled next weekend. That should be an all day task. Time to count down the days!
Edited by GnAontheRoad 2008-08-19 1:10 PM
|
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 133
New Castle Delaware | Arrived in spring Texas yesterday after my 1500+ Mi trip from New Castle Delaware . Left Delaware on Sat the 16th traveled 1200 miles the first two days. Weather was great. People were great along the way. Had to spend 10 to 15 min extra at every fuel and food stop to answer questions about the bike. Fuel range gage seems to be very accurate. You really can go 200 + miles on tank full! Third day only had 319 mi to go. Hit pouring rain from Texas line all the way to Spring which is north of Houston. Bike did perform like a champ. No IPOD issues, heat on rightside was almost unnoticable. Will be getting an oil change while I am down here before the trip back home next week!
All I can say is ENJOY and what a bike! |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 66
Harrisburg, PA | I can not say thanks enough for all the great info... How ever the trip has been canceled. We were not planning on purchasing a home for about 6 to 8 months. We have been looking at homes and town homes for months and decided to wait for the market to drop a bit more. Well we had looked at this home probably 8 months ago when it came on the market. Its a brand new 2100 sqf home on half an acre in a slightly older neighborhood. Cost back then 299,000. It was listed with a new realtor last week and the price was down over 50k and builder would foot all closing cost. Well we jump at it right away and today we gave a deposit. So needless to say we thought it best to put the trip budget towards the house. The trip I have waited to long for will have to wait.... Thanks Again everybody! |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 143
Sparta, WI | Bring a small first aid kit! |
|
| |
Planning a 3 week road trip
