Be Ready for your Motorcycle Road Trips with these tips
We have previously written several articles on planning for motorcycle road trips. This article provides you with updated information on how to steer clear of the perils of the road by fully preparing for your adventure.
Freedom
Although we all revel in the sense of freedom that is brought about by traveling on the open road, from one part of the country to the other, there are some things that you need to be cognizant of before embarking on that motorcycle road trip that you have been looking forward to for so long.
Plan your itinerary well in advance
The adventurer in most of us yearns for a trip that we can embark on without prior planning. Wouldn’t it be great to just get on your motorcycle and go wherever the wind takes you?
Unfortunately, a number of things constrain even the most daring among us when it comes to motorcycle road trips.
Owning a motorcycle, without a doubt, is in itself a sign of an adventurous spirit. However, even that can only take you so far. That is why it is important for you to properly formulate a plan for you trip;
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How long is your trip going to last?
The first thing that you need to think about when planning a motorcycle road trip is the length of time that you are going to be away. The duration of your trip contributes to a wide range of other factors, most of which are discussed below.
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Where will you stay?
If you plan to be out on your bike for an extended period of time, you need to actually take a route that has, at the very least, motels, where you can stay overnight. Believe me; even the most serene of outbacks can become monotonous after some time and you will actually need some place where you can lay on your back and rest.
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Storage
The one limitation that exists when it comes to motorcycles is the fact that you can’t haul a trailer, as can be done with other vehicles. All motorcycles have storage limitations that you will have to take into account when planning your trip.
Some bikes do come with storage options that can partly take care of this challenge. You can also get Motorcycle Storage Boxes and Storage Bags from eBay and other sites. This, however, will likely still not be enough for an extended stay on the road.
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Take Care of your bike
This, without a doubt, should be your first port of call when planning your trip. Your motorcycle is going to be your primary means of transportation and you want to make sure beforehand that it is up to the task.
Most of the best motorcycling routes are well off the beaten tracks. It would not do, in this regard, to get stranded in the middle of nowhere, simply because you failed to take care of your cycle before setting out. The following are some of the things that you need to take of;
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Tires:
It is important for you to make sure that your tires are in good condition before embarking on a motorcycle road trip. This is absolutely essential, not only to your trip, but also to your well-being. If you really plan on going a long way, why not get new tires?
You should also make sure that your tires are properly inflated. Nowadays, there are a number of useful tire inflation gadgets that you can get for next to nothing on eBay. Get one of these and other tire patching gizmos, just in case you need to carry out emergency patchwork while on the road.
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Brakes
Brakes are absolutely essential to your safety while on the road. That is why you should make sure that the ones that are on your motorcycle are up to par even before setting out. Make sure that all the cables are tuned up to work as they were designed to.
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Lights and Signals
If you plan on riding your bike in the dead of the night, you should make sure that all the lights that are on it are working properly. Having properly functioning lights helps ensure that you can both see and be seen.
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What and how to Pack
The amount and type of luggage that you will haul along is largely depended on the planned duration of your trip. If you plan on being gone for a day or two, then you could probably get away with packing only a few items.
However, if you are going to be gone for long, you may discover that, as we have already alluded to, you do not actually have enough space to back everything that you are going to need on the road.
Another useful tip when loading your motorcycle is that you should always strive to centralize the weight of your luggage. When loading up, put heavy items on the bottom and lighter items on the top. Always ensure that items are well balanced on both sides of the motorcycle.
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The Weather
The weather can turn out to be your enemy if you do not properly plan for your motorcycling tour. In fact this is an issue that you should be well aware of way before embarking on your road trip. We have previous written an article in which we give out tips on how to have a successful road trip this spring.
Check out the weather in the places through which you plan on riding. What’s more, make sure that all your luggage in well protected from the rain, just in case. You can also buy motorcycle rain gear from the many online stores that stock the items.
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Safety
Finally, Safety is essential, even if you consider yourself to be the hardly type for whom even the hard tarmac is but a slight distraction. There are a number of things that will enhance your safety during your road trip;
- Safety Gear, including a helmet
- A cellphone and a means of keeping it charged. Equip your motorcycle with a DC charger if it does not already have one. These items, which can be found for a dollar or two on eBay, can greatly enhance your safety.
- Where you plan on being out for a particularly long period of time, have an extra cellphone, just in case something happens to the other one.
- Have a GPS tracker on your motorcycle. This is particularly important if you plan to go off the beaten track. Making it easier for other people to find you does not, in any way, diminish your adventure.
