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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | The Vision, no doubt, is made for the long distance. Running 8 or 10 hours or more a day is not a problem. The only limit is the person stamina. I love to ride, ride, ride, so I find the Vision the right machine. No pressure points or saddle sore at all. I don't get knee cramps and it is easy to overshoot the need for gas. Most of the times that I stopped I put in at least 5+ gallons, a few times at a station that was the only one available within range. The bike is pleasureable in heavy traffic or on the twisty, and never felt intimated in the larger cities such as Austin, San Antoine or Dallas.
I had expected to take just 2 days to get back, but the colder weather and slightly longer route changed my plans a little. I had to tell myself to stop otherwise I would have still been riding right now. Last night I felt I could make it, but I was trying to time out the Dragon in the daytime and wanted to make it to Memphis. The colder weather required me to stop to bring my core temp back up. When I finally stopped for the morning 3:30am, I felt I could keep going with no problem. However, when I went to my room I was overwhelmed with exhaustion. It was like, while I was riding, my adrenelin was driving me, but stopping it turned off. I literally fell into bed and went into a deep sleep. Just a few minutes before that I was pumped and determined to press on, not even feeling tired. I stopped tonight knowing that I was pushing myself, and there is a light threat of snow here in NC Mountains.
I'm going to try and do a good review and post it later, or put it on Victory-Riders. |
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Tourer
Posts: 506
Woodland Hills, CA | The Vision is the most comfortable long distance bike I have ever ridden, and to be honest, the most fun I have ever had on a bike. My longest day so far has been 11 hours, and I still had more miles left in me. Nothing like your ride, but enough to agree that this bike can make you feel so comfortable it wouldn't be to hard to want to just keep going. If it weren't for my SO (who has a much lower tolerance for exceptionally long hours on the bike), I would probably be putting in far more miles and hours than would be safe.......but what a ride!!! Look forward to your review. |
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Tourer
Posts: 301
Buffalo Grove,Ill | I think we can all agree the Vision is a great long hauler, But lets consider something Wiz said about the S.O. have any of us sat shotgun for a long ride?? I wonder if the seat is as comfy for the back seat as the front. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I've never had mine out longer than 1 1/2 at a time, and then maybe a 4 hour ride with eats in the middle. So far, no complaints but I'm wanting to put that to the test by taking her to see her family, a 5 hour ride. That will be the real test. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | I did one 3 day ride last summer two up - at least 8 hours each day - and co-pilot had no beefs at all - says she loved it. I needed my sheepskin to stop my numb-bum. I am looking forward to your detailed report, Chris. It will help me plan my future rides - maybe Alaska next summer - and maybe down south to my old stomping grounds in Florida (NOT summer). |
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Cruiser
Posts: 235
Evergreen, CO | We did a long trip this summer (5400 miles in 18 days) two up. The first two days totaled 1100 miles. At the end of this 2nd day, my wife climbs off the passenger seat, tells me that she could have gone on for another hundred miles! Numerous times she's gushed about how comfy the passenger seat is on the Vision. On this bike, I NEVER get the repeated request of "can we stop soon?" like I did on my previous bike <mfr name left intentionally blank>. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 271
Belding Michigan | WE did several trips this summer two up. I will have to say that I love the bike and so does Vivian. We have several things that will have to be addressed before next summer. I want a Corbin seat bad as I crush the seat down and end up sitting on the base. She needs even taller than the risers that Victory offers so we will make some up this winter she is vertically challanged and needs to get her knees up some more to ease her back that said we spent some very long days in some very pretty country in Northern Michigan and I am looking forward to doing some more exploring next summer. I am taking my bike to Flordia in December and will ride it for the 3 months we spend down there every year YAHOO. Archie |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 725
Reno County, KS | I did just over 5,500 mi in 2 weeks this fall and find the seat to be perfect for me. I pretty much rode through every kind of geography found in the U.S. Of the 14 days, 3 consecutive were 12+ hrs days. I've found that I limit my riding time from 6 to 8 hours a day now when I plan rides. The limit is not due to fatigue anylonger as I can ride and ride all day long no problem. What I found was that I was not stopping to enjoy anything when I was spending 12 hrs on the road. When I'm in my local area I end up hitting the highway just to get out of town. When I'm actually touring I take things slower now I guess. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1158
Richmond, Virginia | Last week for the first time I tried the passenger seat. It was VERY comfortable and the heat was awesome. My ONLY criticism
is that it was hard for me to steer from that position. My arms were killing me.
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Tourer
Posts: 404
San Antonio, TX United States | My wifes third ride was 600 miles in 12 hours for a charity ride. She was very happy with the ride, comfort and security of the passenger seat. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | I tried getting info from my wife compairing the Vision to the Electriglide we came off off. She just likes to ride. She does wear earplugs. Considering the state of my hearing, I dont blame her. She tried a demo with the foot extentions and liked stock better (she's 5'2" . She has been on less comfortable rides, so she's not very picky. The E-glide and Vision are upgrades for us. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | If going more then 20 miles I always use ear plugs. Even when I use the full face helmet I put them in. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| I actually use an AirHawk for long rides. I've ridden the Vision both long hours and distance with and without the AH. While the seat is one of the better stock seats I've toured on, it still applies pressure to the joints after a full days ride. I'm normally on the road by 6 am and looking for dinner and a bed by 6 pm.
I added the taller windshield but I may go with a tall wider one come spring. Still find myself pretty tired at the end of a days riding, more so than I ever was riding my roadglides. I find this rather odd in that one of the things I really liked about the Vision was how nimble it was and yet I'm more exhausted from moving her around, lol. I suppose if the ONLY riding I ever did was Interstate it might not be an issue but I rarely let the rubber contact Interstate. There isn't any skill or enjoyment in going straight, and I'm never in a hurry to get anywhere. Just my thoughts. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | I have a chance next year to ride from sw,PA to the middle of Kansas. Roughly (1000miles) I was personally wondering how far id be able to go before i felt the need to stop. I know this is dependent between person to person. I just never had a touring bike before I rode cruisers So i cant wait to see how much of a difference the Vision will make.... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Ark, I think you'll find it isn't MILES but rather HOURS that will dictate when you need to stop for the day. I roll a bunch of long days but mileage always comes in secondary to hours in the saddle. So if you ride a lot of interstate I dare say you could easily log 700+ miles in a day without feeling seriously beat. My only advice for ANYONE who is going to ride distance is to make sure you hydrate.
I hear guys say they rode 200 or 250 miles between fillups, but you should actually be stopping or feeling the need to stop every two hours to two and a half if properly hydrated. In other words you should need to take a pee every couple hours. You dehydrate just as quickly in the cold as you do in the sun. I know a few serious riders that have a cath-kit so they can stay hydrated and not need to pull off to pee. I'd rather make a pit stop, lol...... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Arkainzeye - 2008-11-27 7:53 PM
I have a chance next year to ride from sw,PA to the middle of Kansas. Roughly (1000miles) I was personally wondering how far id be able to go before i felt the need to stop. I know this is dependent between person to person. I just never had a touring bike before I rode cruisers So i cant wait to see how much of a difference the Vision will make....
I made part of your trip in August of this year when I was returning from Pittsburg back to Houston. I left at 06:30 and rode until 16:00, that is right at 600 miles. I had no comfort issues and I don't believe you would either. The Blue Grass parkway is a nice ride. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | I have done 900 mi. in one day on a bike I THOUGHT was comfortable. That was before I discovered floorboards, and before I got married again. With the Vision I could do better, but she wont let me. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | cjnoho - 2008-11-29 2:10 AM I have done 900 mi. in one day on a bike I THOUGHT was comfortable. That was before I discovered floorboards, and before I got married again. With the Vision I could do better, but she wont let me. Man cjnoho, don't you know how to get lost. I had to go see my son in S. Texas, a whole 1,654 miles from my drive to his. My wife said why not fly, and I looked at her long and hard and asked why? I've got a machine out in the drive that is made for the long haul. 1,200+ in the day says a lot, 19 hours worth anyways. This bike is too good and it is a breeze in the saddle for me 3 hours at a time. I took about 15 minute breaks including fill-up and stayed fresh. I couldn't do that on my Honda and looked forward to the stops to stretch and to get off my butt. I want to curse the fuel light when it comes on and snaps me back to reality. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Arkainzeye - 2008-11-27 8:53 PM I have a chance next year to ride from sw,PA to the middle of Kansas. Roughly (1000miles) I was personally wondering how far id be able to go before i felt the need to stop. I know this is dependent between person to person. I just never had a touring bike before I rode cruisers So i cant wait to see how much of a difference the Vision will make.... Hey Ark, go to http://www.ironbutt.com/about/default.cfm and do some reading on tips. I found that I can tolerate being in the saddle for long periods, the vision makes it easier. I did 1,000 miles last year on my goldwing (84 interstate) in 19 hours, and 1,200+ this year on the Vision. Your mental state has a lot to do with it and I recommend a few shorter rides before doing a long ride. Do at least two tank fulls out and back and be prepared to stop at any given point. I honestly don't "push" myself as that can be a distractor to itself. I get on the road and start riding. If I feel tired I stop. If I need to stop, I stop, if I don't I keep riding. It is the hunger and passion to rack up the miles that keeps me in the saddle and loving every minute. I even go with the mind set like forest gump did in his little run he did and when he decided to stop he stopped. My out is that I'm ready to head for the nearest U-haul, load it up and head home. But you know what, having these options makes me move on all the more. With the Vision you will not be disappointed. Start preping now and plan every mile in your mind by going over the maps and knowing a little about your route. I drink mostly water and eat very light on the road, and make sure the tums are handy, though I rarely have needed to use them. I hope this helps you a little. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | varyder - 2008-11-29 10:52 PM
cjnoho - 2008-11-29 2:10 AM I have done 900 mi. in one day on a bike I THOUGHT was comfortable. That was before I discovered floorboards, and before I got married again. With the Vision I could do better, but she wont let me. Man cjnoho, don't you know how to get lost. I had to go see my son in S. Texas, a whole 1,654 miles from my drive to his. My wife said why not fly, and I looked at her long and hard and asked why? I've got a machine out in the drive that is made for the long haul. 1,200+ in the day says a lot, 19 hours worth anyways. This bike is too good and it is a breeze in the saddle for me 3 hours at a time. I took about 15 minute breaks including fill-up and stayed fresh. I couldn't do that on my Honda and looked forward to the stops to stretch and to get off my butt. I want to curse the fuel light when it comes on and snaps me back to reality.
I bought my Vision after my second marriage. My fun isnt the destination, but the ride to and from. Never knew what to do once I got there. The Vision is a bike I can ride from sun up to way past sundown. But, you know what they say, if mom aint happy, no ones happy. It used to drive me crazy that I cant just get up and go when I want (mom needs time to primp). But she's a good woman and good things come to those who wait. Besides, I have something to do at the destinations now. |
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Long Distant Rider