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12 Tips to Avoid Surprises and Add Enjoyment to Your Road Trip

Here are 12 tips to help you get the most enjoyment out of motorcycle travel…

1) Pack early…

Select, organize and pack your gear as early as possible…or at least when you can concentrate on what you need.

Work from a list. Consider all probable scenarios involving weather, riding conditions and motorcycle problems then pack accordingly.

2) Test all repairs and routine maintenance…

Before you head out, take time to test ride, identify and resolve any problems associated with even the smallest repair or maintenance procedure.

Something as simple as changing your bike's oil and filter can go awry. Of course, make sure your motorcycle is running okay after major repairs.

3) Test new riding gear and motorcycle equipment…

You don't want to be traveling when you learn your rain suit doesn't cover your new jacket or your new tank bag slides around after you've attached it to your motorcycle.

4) Know your personal mileage limits…

When planning your trip, avoid adding a bunch of multiple long-distance days.

Your tolerance for extensive hours in the saddle diminishes every day you're on the road.

If 500 miles is the farthest you've ever traveled in a single day, it's unwise to plan on hammering out such mileage every day.

5) Don't plan on maintaining high speeds…

Speeding becomes tedious and wears you down.

And how enjoyable is it to blast through traffic all day while sticking your neck out for a speeding ticket?

On the practical side, you'll travel faster, farther and longer -- and in greater comfort -- by maintaining an unobtrusive, consistent rate of speed.

6) Eliminate mental and physical distractions…

Don't take off on a long trip if your head isn't in it. You need to concentrate on the road and what's going on around you.

Even small irritants can drain your strength and impact your ability to stay focused.

Peace of mind includes having a well-prepared motorcycle. You don’t want to be worrying about the poor condition of your tires, brakes or other equipment.

7) Gas-up well before the red Reserve light flickers on…

Riding on or close to EMPTY is one of the biggest distractions -- especially if you're traveling on rural roads where gas stations are limited.

And running out of gas is a real bummer.

Gas-up when you have at least a 50 mile -- or more -- cushion of fuel in the tank.

8) Know when you should stop…

I often -- unwisely -- stay on the road for "another 50 miles" then "another 50 miles" when I should have called it a day hours earlier.

Recognize signs of fatigue such as…

• Inadvertently slowing down then having to speed up…

• Losing focus on vehicles around you…

• Indecision…

And, the big one…trouble keeping your eyes wide open.

9) Carry a flat tire repair kit and practice using it…

While you may choose not to drive long distances on a patched tire, carrying a flat repair kit -- including a tire pump -- can save you lots of time and aggravation.

This is especially true of tubeless tires…

Even if your motorcycle uses inner tubes, you can patch a tube lots faster than trying to arrange a tow.

And if you're on a long trip, it's a good idea to carry a spare tube for both tires and save the patching for later.

10) Carry an effective tool kit…

Invest in a high-quality, compact tool kit that enables you to make routine roadside repairs.

11) Join a towing service…

When you're really in trouble due to a serious breakdown, it's good to know you can call a reliable towing service to help you out.

Check with your insurance carrier, the American Motorcyclist Association or various auto clubs to get setup.

12) Choose your traveling companion(s) wisely…

Touring with a good buddy whose riding style, personality and many other attributes work well with yours can increase everyone's enjoyment.

However, the wrong mix can turn a nice ride into an unpleasant ordeal.

They're compact, easy to use and work great in emergencies. And what flat tire isn't an emergency?

They're all made in the USA.

Click here to learn more…

Please join me on my trips to popular destinations and rides down roads less traveled...

I recently launched a three-book series containing motorcycle travel and adventure stories and observations drawn from my jaunts throughout the United States and Canada.

Click here for a complete description of these books along with the road tales they contain...

Or click on any of the following book covers to go directly to them at Amazon…

I've taken all the information in my website describing riding techniques for dangerous situations and added to it in the book "High Risk Motorcycle Riding."

Here's information you can put to good use to ride smart and well prepared when you're on the road and the going gets tough.

Click here for a complete description of this book along with the high risk riding tips it contains for riding at night, in the rain, in cold weather and across long distances...and more...

Or click on the following book cover to go directly to the book at Amazon…

For a wealth of information to help you…

• Ride more safely and comfortably…

• Select gear that best suits you, your motorcycle and riding style…

• Get the most enjoyment every time you ride…

Or if you'd like a free subscription to Savvy Motorcyclist E-zine…

Visit my website at...

www.Motorcycle-Gear-and-Riding-Info.com

You can syndicate and/or republish any of this and other issues of the Savvy Motorcyclist E-zine for free.

All you have to do is include author attribution (byline/name of author) and the following statement...

"This information appears courtesy of Brian R. Salisbury's Savvy Motorcyclist E-zine."

with a backlink to...

www.Motorcycle-Gear-and-Riding-Info.com

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