Long Trips

[black27696]

How far do you guys go for trips on your cruisers? I suppose the distance is unlimited, but what kind of range and how do you manage to pack enough before having to use a touring bike?

[internationalballer]

Yeah distance is unlimited, I can normally do about 100 to 150 miles without stopping to stretch out and I can get about 225-ish miles on a tank but I normally don't push it I just stop every now and then for the hell of it, one of my favorite parts about ridin is stopping at small towns.

[roadster]

I have a Suzuki C50, I get about 160 mile before having to fill up. I usually stop at random, when my rear get sore or tired, at any given gas station when its a long way to the next fuel stop or when I see something worth taking a picture of. No limits on how far I will go, I love to ride. My truck remained parked during the winter months unless it was snowing, raining or we were having an ice storm.

[MS_Steve]

Almost made it to Daytona (for Bike Week) from Jackson, MS. I clicked off just under 700 miles before the deer started grazing by the roadside again... and the temps were dropping into the low 40's. (Stopped for gas 6 times on a 3.4 gal gas tank.) Made the ride back in a day also.
By the time I got home... the fanny had been numb since west Florida, and I was ready to get off the bike.

MississippiSteve

[black27696]

Talking about taking trips like this makes me want to take off and see how far I can get.

[Chuck A]

Excellent post, need pics though of the road trips

[rockytopp2002]

As long as the wifey..lol!!! will let me be gone determines how far my trip is going to be...lol!!!

[gammaqueen]

I usually go between 500 - 600 miles per day when touring on the bike. I have a 4.5 gallon tank and usually stop for gas every 200 miles. I have a couple of t-bar bags that I strap to my sissy bar, if needed I strap one on my passenger seat and one on my luggage rack. My Husband usually packs two also, so we have plenty of room. We alway take our frog togs just in case. Here is a pic of me getting ready to roll out for our Key West trip...

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/GAMMAQUEEN/100_3655.jpg

Here are the bikes loaded...

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/GAMMAQUEEN/100_3657Small.jpg

Here is my Husband packed...

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/GAMMAQUEEN/100_3662.jpg

This one is from our Pa trip...

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/GAMMAQUEEN/Harley%20Factory%20tour/DSCF3937.jpg

Here is one on the way home from the Tail of the dragon before I got my paint job...

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/GAMMAQUEEN/Deals%20Gap/DSCN1506.jpg

and here is one from the Blue Ridge Parkway / Skyline drive ride even before I got my new front end...

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/GAMMAQUEEN/Deals%20Gap/DSCF2587.jpg

We love long trips!!!

[Chuck A]

Very Nice Pics, Thanks For Sharing

[black27696]

Great pics thanks for sharing. I've been thinking that I want to get a sissy bar / luggage rack for my bike for traveling. The 2005 shadows have the rear indicators a bit close to the seat so you don't have much room for saddlebags unless you move them. While I could do that, I'm alright with them where they are. With a sissy bar and a rack I think I could get all the storage I would need.

[internationalballer]

I lover your sportster it very nice, plus its cool looking through your pics scrolling up seeing it before rake, then with rake and wheels, then with the paint job, thats a **** nice lookin bike. Why did your husband get a different bike? His was pretty nice to. Maybe it was cuz yours was cooler.

[gammaqueen]

He still has the same bike he always had, he just has a new tin set.

[SHTF Rat]

Should be taking my first long trip in a few days. From NH to Cape Cod.

If my wife keeps at it with her attitude and behavior, perhaps I'll take a trip to the tip of South America. :rolleyes:

I want to take trips on the bike, but want a sidecar so I can take my daughter along. I suppose my winter project this year will be to make one.

[black27696]

You're going to make your own sidecar for trips? Gotta post some pics of that if you do it.

[MichaelW]

I just got back from a little 3000 mile ride into the desert southwest. I packed heavy heading out of the sierras and fresh snow on the ground. I loved my heated suit crossing Crowley Lake and 22*. :eek: I switched to leathers in Lone Pine heading down south. Once in Tucson, my girl flew down to 2 up with me while we toured places like Tombstone, Sonita and the Sky Island. I sent her back with a bag and lightened my load a lot. Which was really nice on the 30 miles of twisties on 191 in Arizona of which I saw maybe 5 other cars and 15 bikes.

I met another rider, BMW 1200RT in Petrified National Forrest and he showed me his JC Whitney trunk (less than 100 bucks) and ordered one once I got home. I am not sure how I lived without now that I have one.

I can get 45-60mpg depending on speed. I usually flip over to reserve around 150 miles so I then usually stop for gas then. FWIW, when riding the back-roads and off beaten paths, I have learned this lesson. "Never pass up the opportunity to top off the tank". In Nevada there are places where it is easily 150 miles between stations, if they are open. :eek:

[black27696]

That's why I need to get a bigger bike when I can afford it. My shadow has about 125 miles on the very best days before I flip to the reserve. Sounds like a good trip!

[wideone]

You have to wear a heated suit? WOW it must be cold!

[MichaelW]

You have to wear a heated suit? WOW it must be cold!Yep. The day I left it snowed heavily then cleared in the afternoon. It was 30* when I got on the bike and rode 5 hours into the evening and night as I climbed up in elevation to cross the Sierras. The low was 22* while I crossed the valley near Mammoth and Lake Crowley. 22 with a wind speed of 70mph is -3*f or -19.2C. So yeah, it was cold.

[wideone]

When you live in Australia -19C is just unbelievable. But to ride your motorbike?
Now thats DEDICATION!