February 16, 2010
Motorcycle Touring Made Easy
....the eZine
....inside this issue
- Welcome to the Motorcycle Touring Made Easy eZine
- Knowing the Basics - General Motorcycling
- Out on the Road
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Welcome to the Motorcycle Touring Made Easy eZine
Our goal with our website is to provide motorcycle touring information to others that would like to get involved or know more about motorcycle touring. We've spent the last two years gathering information and getting it together on the site and now with our eZine we're looking to bring you more and up to date information directly to you. Feel free to forward this eZine on to all your friends and if someone has sent this to you, please go to our home page and subscribe to get your own monthly copy. Just fill out the form and your there!Back to the top
Knowing the Basics - General Motorcycling
If you are almost anywhere on the east coast you are probably more worried about when to put the next log on the fire and watch the snow pile up than you are about the next ride. Well I can't blame you. Two and a half feet of snow in one week is more than what we get in one season. Okay, well enough of my crying, let's talk about bikes.Now is a great time to plan long rides for the year. It's not just something that magically gets done, there are a few things you need to do and should do to make sure your trip is an enjoyable one.
So we're going to assume you already know where you want to go so make your reservations now! Make sure you always book the hotel, motel, B&B or whatever way in advance. Oh? Someone told you with the economy that no one is going on vacation? Trust me, they will all be going on vacation and the same days that you want to boot. Book your rooms and put them on your credit card. You can always cancel or adjust the dates, just make sure you understand the hotel's cancelation policy first.
If you are riding to a single point destination plan your ride with plenty of rest stops to make sure you stay fresh. If you have a group of people going with you, make sure they all understand when breaks are and how long they will be. (Hint: Always add an extra 5 minutes or so for each additional couple in the group as a buffer when you plan breaks, it's inevitable) If your ride takes more than a day to get there, I would not try to go more than 8 to 10 hours of riding and always plan at the speed of the slowest rider or smallest bike.
If you are going on a riding tour type vacation, plan all your stops to be no more than about three hundred miles apart. This gives you plenty of time to sightsee on the way and keeps you good and fresh for the entire trip. Make sure you have your hotel reservations for each stop.
Always make sure that someone at home knows your route, where you are staying (with phone numbers) and update them during the trip if things change.
Riding gear is essential for all temperatures and weather. We've seen temps go from 50 degrees on the top of a mountain to 95 degrees on the bottom an hour later.
By just thinking ahead a bit and trying to cover all bases, you'll make sure to have a great trip and bring back nothing but smiles and good memories. Happy Touring!
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Out on the Road
For all you long haulers that like to take everything and the kitchen sink too, let's talk about trailers. Okay so I have been told a few times that pulling a trailer behind you takes all the fun out of riding. Well I can tell you this, pulling a trailer with a GL1800 is like cruising on air. There is virtually no difference whether you are climbing the tallest peaks or running the tightest twisties. You will be shocked.So why pull a trailer? Well, I for one love the extra space to bring things that allow me to be more flexible when I ride and it allows me to pack the bike with just day ride gear so if I want to leave my trailer behind, I don't have to unpack, pack then repack again.
With our trailer, I carry as a minimum a tent, air mattress and sleeping bag for two reasons, one is for just in case I'm off the side of the road and stranded in the middle of know where and two it give me the opportunity to change my trip and make a stop almost anywhere.
Our trailer is relatively big. It's a Bushtec Quantum GL and can hold enough gear for a couple weeks on the road and not even blink. Some may think that's overkill and would like a smaller trailer like a Uni-Go that rides on a single wheel and has enough room for a few days worth of gear. Either way the trailer will help to make your trip more enjoyable.
Just as with anything a trailer will take some time getting use to, especially in the parking lots. Backing a small trailer is the same as backing a boat with a truck except it's easier to see the boat. So if you want to get a trailer I would say go for it, but make sure you take some time in the parking lot and practice, practice, practice.
PS: Be on the lookout this spring for my new Trailering E-Book. It will give you all the ins and outs of trailers and trailering that you need to know to have a great trip!
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Judy and I hope that you've enjoyed our eZine and if so, please send it on to your friends. If you have any tips that you would like to see posted on our site go to our tips page. We'll get them on our site and maybe use it in our eZine as well.
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