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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 13
Reno, NV | Hey folks!
I have a big trip with the old man coming up this month (July 29 - aug 9). I will be headed to yellowstone national park, doing a big loop that will encompass parts of Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Oregon. I'm excited to see yellowstone, we'll be staying in hotels every night so not really roughing it. There will be three people going, me on one vision, mom and dad on another.
Admittedly, this will be the longest trip i've ever undertaken on a bike (by a longshot). Aside from the standard precautions ( regular pre and post ride checks, making sure everything in good order before departing and doing a 100 mile or so "pre run" a week or two before I don't really know what to expect. I figured I'd come here and beg wisdom from some of you more "seasoned" individuals who have more hours and more miles on a bike then I probably have in any vehicle.
Any recommendations on what to bring (or not bring), or helpful advice that I wouldn't have thought of? Remember! Helpful advice will be rewarded with photographs from the journey!
Thanks in advance for your help.
- Ryan Robinson | |
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Tourer
Posts: 412
Fargo, ND |
My comment(s) would be...
Lay all your stuff out. Then put at least half of what you have laid out away. At that point you are probably close on the amount of 'stuff' to take. 2 pair of socks, 2 pair of underwear of the 'wicking' type (underarmor, etc). Wear one set and wash them in the shower or sink at night, hang em up to dry at night and wear the other pair the next day and visa versa.
Remember...a 'long trip' is nothing more than a 'bunch of short trips'. You'll have a 'Blast'! | |
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Tourer
Posts: 374
Tucson, AZ | Sunscreen, rainsuit, and drink lots of water. Also every hotel I've stayed at has rags to wipe the bike down after a long day for the asking. I've also found that taking to wallet out of my back pocket and putting it in the trunk give you some more saddle time without butt walking the seat. The only other advice is if you see something interesting, stop and get a good look...in younger years i passed so many things, but now stopping to smell the proverbial roses is way more important.
mike | |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | just a heads up.. they leveled Yellowstone and put a walmart there.. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Ryan, not a problem on the Vision, a long trip is just a bunch of short trips. Just rode 1,000 miles yesterday, stopped and got gas and ate a little. Check your tires, you want newer ones, a lot of rough roads. Change your oil, I'm running AMSOIL 20/50 for the first time and I'm glad I did, stays hotter there in the west and you'll do a lot of mountain pullin'. Got 5,000 miles on the oil and the motor still sounds like I just changed it, quiet. Enjoy your dad and the trip. | |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 16
| Sounds great. I have done similar trips on GW and Ultra and hoping to buy a Vision soon.
The wallet and sunscreen are two good tips from my experience. I still am a little lax with the sun screen and regret it every time.
The first long trip I took was much longer and it is easy to try and over pack on the first one. My preference now is less clothing, more undies and room for notebook and camera/video equipment.
Yellowstone is a beautiful ride and you will have a great time. | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 204
guelph ontario | As with any travel-take twice the money and half the luggage. | |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 803
Perry Hall, MD | Tire pressure gauge, tire repair kit, extra key, foam ear plugs, flashlight, extra batteries, list of Victory dealers, notebook and pencil, spare glasses, spare sunglasses, compact binoculars.
Extras I really like having, a travel cover, and the Saddleman 4100 as luggage but more so for the backrest.
If you didn't hear, Yellowstone had low temp for the country yesterday, 31 degrees.
Have a blast! | |
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Tourer
Posts: 388
Salisbury, NC | If you plan on riding a lot in the sun, wear a long sleeve t-shirt and save on the sun screen. ET | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 152
Litchfield Park, AZ | +1 one the long sleeved shirts in the sun and heat.....take it from a guy who lives in Phoenix, AZ. When I go on longer trips (4-10 days) I pack riding gear and keep the "off the bike gear" to an absolute minimum (swim trunks, pair of shorts, flips flops). Every hotel has a laundry room to clean your clothes every couple days.
Pack EVERYTHING the day before you leave....and I mean pack everything. Big mistake 1st time tourers make is not thinking about where to put the rain gear, their leather jacket, the cover.......etc once the rain stops and it heats up. Use your side bags for the things you need to get to in a moments notice (Camera, LOTS of sunscreen, rain gear, tools, leathers, extra water, a towel, extra gloves, hat, extra sunglasses, bungee cords). All of that easily fits in my saddle bags on the Vision. Leather coat, if I take it off gets wrapped around the travel bag on the back seat.
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Cruiser
Posts: 251
| Hey Ryan, We just got back from a trip riding some of the same country - Vegas, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Moab, Salt Lake City, Boise, and up through WA back to Cda. One thing that we did that was a bit of a pain but served us very well was to start out very early in the morning and finish riding for the day about noon. This kept us from riding in the extreme heat of the day and also allowed us a bit of time around town in the afternoon, or just a soak in a cool pool. Have Fun & keep the shiney side up!!!
Edited by Gerica 2010-07-12 8:10 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 215
orrick, mo | Drink plenty of water each day and you be able to ride as long as you still have the desire each day with the abilty to get up the next day and do it again. Strange tip but riding comando helps keep your rear cooler which lets you stay in the saddle longer more comfortably. | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 199
Salt Lake City | Expect, and prepare for rain; if you're headed out west, you'll likely run into some! Also, Yellowstone can get pretty cool in the morning, so bring some stuff to layer. What parts of Utah will you see? | |
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | Consider buying a camel back or similar setup. Cheap ones that hold 2L can be had at WalMart for $20......even if I dont wear it right off when leaving for the big mile days I toss it in the bottom of the side bags.....that way Ive always got water.
Make a practice run....especially if you havent rode a long day. Ive got a Grand Canyon trip planned 3rd week in August. Ive been getting on my bike and ridding a hard 8 to 10 hours......staying somewhere and seeing the sights then getting up and coming home next day. You will learn a few things....and find things you need.
For instance Ive never thought about NO underwear (like mentioned above) but I found wearing spandex stretch underwear makes a HUGE difference at about the 4 hour mark....when you start feeling every seam in your underwear.
I also start early.....which someone else mentioned. Im up at 0530.....on the road by 0600 - if there is a shower were Im camping I hit that and it may cost me another 15 or 20 mins. Either way Im rolling hard at 0630. An 8 hour day riding means 10 or so with stops in there. That puts me at camp around 4 to 5 ish. If there are sights to see......make that 8 hours ride a 12 hour ride.....still there at 0630. Riding in wiped out and hot as hell as the suns is going down is what I try to avoid....but it happens sometimes. | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 284
mansfield, MA United States | I just got back from a 9 day (2 up) trip to Nova Scotia. A couple things that came in really handy for us where the roll bags. They are just like the vacuum seal bags but you roll the air out and re use them every day. We laid out each days close and then used one for dirty laundry after day 1. I got them at bed and bath but they sell them at k mart too. Here is a link. http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=14509801 (the smallest ones you can find med and large are to big! )I also brought a tool kit that came in handy fixing the Harleys on the trip. I keep the air in the tires a little high on long trips to keep the tires from cupping from the extra lb?s. I also take a little Teflon spray and coat the hinges and spray a little in the blinker switch. Bring extra bungee and or netting. Be ready for rain! There is nothing like riding 3-400 miles in driving rain wet and cold. But the best and most important tip is what everyone here has already said. Sun screen and chap stick with sun screen. Have fun and ride safe!
Edited by Fastfred 2010-07-13 7:44 AM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 31
| was going to suggest the Saddleman bag, but lennyb beat me to it. It has insulated pockets on the front. I used them to keep water in. It was a little awkward getting them out as I was riding, but a little flap added to the zipper helped a lot, and I kept it open about half way. Then it was easy to reach in, get a drink, then put it back in. I folded up a T-shirt to put between my back and the backrest, held in by the elastic criss cross cord, for some lumbar support. Rode all day, felt like I was in a Lay Z boy.
Don't order the Victory one, though, you pay an extra $100 for the Victory name. Just go to the Saddleman site and get one. Worth every penny. | |
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Big trip coming up