Advice For Long Trips

plastiqe

plastiqe

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One of my housemates is planning on driving from TO to Vancouver in a driveaway vehicle; I'm 75% thinking of tagging along on my bike. I started riding this year and the most I've done so far is day trips when it's sunny to places like Wasaga and Algonquin Park. I've got a 2008 Suzuki Boulevard 650, maybe not the best option for long distances but on the way there at least I can put all my stuff in the vehicle. My gear consists of a textile jacket, modular helmet, gloves and my steel toe boots. I will probably also need:
  • CAA? $107 for the Plus membership seems like a no brainer.
  • Raingear. Don't have anything yet, recommendations?
  • Maintenance. The bike was just certified and I talked to the mechanic who said maybe also change the oil before I leave.
Any helpful tips? Don't do it plastiqe you're still a young man! or go do it plastiqe you're a young man!
 
You've already got some day trips in, which is essential what going from TO to Vancouver will be like; just longer. If you can do 1 full day, you should be able to do multiple full days.

Bring a toolkit just incase you need to make adjustments/fix something on the road. CAA+ is definitely worth it. A jerry can tucked inside of the vehicle, just incase you run out of gas, is a good idea also.
Will you guys be staying in motels, or camping on side of the road?

I suggest looking in the "Cruising/Touring" forum for help. Many great topics for long trip advice/essentials/etc.
 
People sometimes pay to have their vehicle driven from one destination to another. In this case, someone in Vancouver is using a driveaway service to have someone else (my housemate) drive their vehicle to them from Toronto.

I could put my bike in a trailer, but not riding there kinda defeats the purpose of wanting to ride out there. : )

Sabex said:
You've already got some day trips in, which is essential what going from TO to Vancouver will be like; just longer. If you can do 1 full day, you should be able to do multiple full days.

Bring a toolkit just incase you need to make adjustments/fix something on the road. CAA+ is definitely worth it. A jerry can tucked inside of the vehicle, just incase you run out of gas, is a good idea also.
Will you guys be staying in motels, or camping on side of the road?

I suggest looking in the "Cruising/Touring" forum for help. Many great topics for long trip advice/essentials/etc.
Click to expand...

Yeah... I was gonna learn how to make adjustments/fix something this winter while my bike is in my garage. I'm a newb when it comes to mechanics. We'd probably camp/sleep in the vehicle/motel when I really need a shower. I haven't looked into it yet but maybe some couchserfing too I dunno.

I've been reading some guides I found online, any specific threads in the cruising section or should I just post there instead?
 
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I've never heard of such a driveway service. I think it's kinda cool. But, do the owners of the vehicle know or care that you and your housemate are going to sleep in it too?

Just asking.
 
CAA, Frogg Togg rain gear, VISA. Check the tires and do an oil change before you go. Make sure you stop and stretch often.
 
plastiqe said:
One of my housemates is planning on driving from TO to Vancouver in a driveaway vehicle; I'm 75% thinking of tagging along on my bike. I started riding this year and the most I've done so far is day trips when it's sunny to places like Wasaga and Algonquin Park. I've got a 2008 Suzuki Boulevard 650, maybe not the best option for long distances but on the way there at least I can put all my stuff in the vehicle. My gear consists of a textile jacket, modular helmet, gloves and my steel toe boots. I will probably also need:

[*]CAA? $107 for the Plus membership seems like a no brainer.
[*]Raingear. Don't have anything yet, recommendations?
[*]Maintenance. The bike was just certified and I talked to the mechanic who said maybe also change the oil before I leave.

Any helpful tips? Don't do it plastiqe you're still a young man! or go do it plastiqe you're a young man!
Click to expand...

Go for it!

What kind of bike? Will you need a tire change prior or during the trip? Chain and sprockets in good order? Oil and filters?

Get two things for your throttle hand:
1) a throttle rocker
2) a cruise control like "vista cruise" or "Go cruise"

Make sure you have a clear visor for rainy cold and foggy days. And stick visor cleaner and a soft rag in your tank bag to clear away the dead bugs. I use a wee eye glass cleaner spray and rag from Costco. Two ounces will do me for a week long trip.

Ensure you have a rain suit, waterproof gloves and boots as well as a layer of clothing for inclement weather.

Plan on about 800km per day for straight roads, and 500km for twisty roads. Some people can push harder, but until you know your own favourite pace, 800 km is a good target and will warm your backside thoroughly. Lol.

Don't pack many tshirts as you can buy them on the trip and space will be at a premium.

Use your bike toolkit to do regular maintenance on the bike and add reasonable tools to it that are absolutely needed for roadside breakdowns.

Rig something to charge your Cellphone while on the go. Ebay has some great items, everything from powerlet accessories to battery booster packs.

Heated grips are freaking awesome on a bike. I've used them on every trip I've done.

I'm getting too detailed. Rain gear and visa card. Then let the clutch out and enjoy.

Oh, give yourself extra time so you can enjoy the ride instead of rush through it.
 
Rotten_Ronnie said:
Oh, give yourself extra time so you can enjoy the ride instead of rush through it.
Click to expand...

This is the most important part I think.

If safety vehicle is not cooping with taking the rather fun route and trying to get to destination on the shortest path, then it's not going to be as much fun.

I would still go for it tho =) It will be a trip to remember regardless.

Pack your warmest clothes as well, from liner gloves to thermal pants. It gets under 10c on the mountains, especially when the sun goes down.
 
Background - I'm old and have ridden coast to coast on a supersport. Several times. 10 - 14 hour days.

You need to ride your bike for a 7-8 hour trip to see if you and it are compatible for long distance rides. A bike that is great for an hour may be a disaster on the long haul.

There is no such thing as a bad bike for a long trip. Just a bad fit between rider and bike. I know people that have travelled huge distances on small naked bikes and enjoyed every mile. Others that can't ride a Winnebago, umm, I mean Gold Wing for more than an hour without complaining of aches and pains.

Get good boots and good enough rain gear. And make sure you have gear that is warm enough for what you can expect. For example, in Canmore on June 25 the temperature at 07:00 was 3 C and raining. I was fine. Good wool thin layers and good outer gear makes the difference.

You have a chase car so I wouldn't be too worried about CAA myself. But have a good tool kit included a flat repair kit with compressed gas cylinder.

Good luck and have fun.
 
Thanks for the replies... I didn't go. : P

Kinda glad since it would have been just too rushed; I wanna take the winter to collect some gear & upgrades as well as learn to do some of the basic maintenance myself.
 
I honestly thought you would have been pushing way too hard to keep up with a cager. They can order takeout, set the cruise control and blast through when you're bone tired and seeing rain streamers in the hills ahead of you.

I drove a truck in July for 23 hours to PEI, then unloaded it the day I got here, but when I did the ride from the island straight through to Oshawa last year, I was pretty much the walking dead when I got off the bike, and the stops had plenty of caffeine in the final six hours.

Try a couple weekend trips with an eye towards distance and see what you find comfortable, as it may mean you need to modify your bike to make it just right or perhaps some gear changes. Everyone is different.

Still, I'd love to ride over the Rockies and see the sun on the West Coast one day soon.
 
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