Long Distance Riding Tips for Harley-Davidson® Motorcycles

Articles >> Long Distance Riding Tips for Harley-Davidson® Motorcycles

Touring trips combine all the fun of travel with all the fun of riding motorcycles. Hop aboard your hog and head to new locations. Spend all day exploring the area, head to the hotel, then do it all again the next day. Enjoy better gas mileage on road trips and a more thrill-filled journey. Harley-Davidson® bikes are a great vehicle for long distance rides. We gathered up our favorite touring trips below. For all your motorcycle needs, visit St. Charles Harley-Davidson®. We serve the areas of St. Louis and Columbia, Missouri.

Make Your Touring Itinerary

Going on a touring trip is a financial investment. You need to cover gas, lodging, and food. Planning the trip is the way to get the most for your money. Sit down and select the destinations you want to see and then design a route that hits all of them. Choose the quickest route to get the most time at your destination. Or choose the scenic route to make your journey more fun. Book your lodging reservations in advance. That way, you ensure you’ll have a spot (and may save some money in the process).

Pack Your Supplies

It’s common to overpack on a touring trip. After all, you don’t want to sacrifice your comfort because you left an important item at home. But what many people often forget is that usually a grocery store is never too far away! If you aren’t confident you’ll use the item, leave it behind. You can always go buy it if it becomes necessary (but odds are, it won’t be).

Try to reduce the weight on your Harley-Davidson motorcycle as much as possible. Unnecessary weight can slow it down and hamper its performance. Opt for lightweight clothing and travel-sized versions of products. You can also buy backpacking gear which is built to be light. Make sure you bring the essentials: a first aid kit, mini toolkit, clothes, toiletries, medications, water, and food. But be selective of bringing anything beyond this list. Once you pack your motorcycle, make sure everything is secure. You don’t want anything coming off on the road!

Use Ear Protection

Each time you ride motorcycles, you expose yourself to irreversible hearing damage. Sounds above 85 decibels creating lasting damage. Riding bikes at 40 miles per hour hits you with 90 decibels of noise. While Harley-Davidson® bikes are loud, most of the noise onslaught comes from the wind itself. A helmet won’t do much to block out the noise (and it can actually contribute to the noise due to its vibrations).

Earplugs help block out up to 30 decibels of sound. All of a sudden, that 40 miles per hour ride is no longer damaging your hearing. You can choose between disposable earplugs, reusable wax or rubber balls, or customized earplugs. Make sure your choice is comfortable to wear on long rides.

Take Breaks

Your Harley-Davidson® motorcycle is capable of riding non-stop for hours. But you aren’t! Riding motorcycles takes a toll on your body. Your muscles can get sore and cramp up. Your joints can get stiff. Your eyes can get dry. You can fall prey to highway hypnosis, which is where you start to zone out as you drive and can’t remember the last few minutes.

All of these issues do more than decrease the comfort of our ride. They compromise our ability to drive bikes safely. They reduce your alertness and awareness, which makes it harder to make those snap judgments you need to on the road.

Prevent these issues by taking breaks. The frequency of your breaks depends on your motorcycle and riding experience. Beginners need to rest more often. You can incorporate your breaks into your trip, such as stopping for meals or tourist attractions along the way as your break.

Before your trip, make sure your motorcycle is ready to go. Bring it to St. Charles Harley-Davidson®. We offer a parts replacement and service department. We also sell new and pre-owned motorcycles if you are looking to upgrade. We proudly serve St. Louis, Columbia, and St. Peters, Missouri.