year in advance ideas

[Intech]

Here are my suggestions:

1. handlebar risers

Definitely, if your riding position puts any weight on your wrists.

2. New tires before leaving

Kind of a no-brainer. We did 6500 miles to SW-FOG on a new set of PR4's. Still some life in them too

3. GPS

A good GPS. Very helpful in unknown territory. Garmin 665 is my choice. It is the communication center for me. Phone works through it and displays call information

4.Possibly some type of bluetooth device for music from the gos so i dont kill my phone.

The Garmin 665 comes XM capable, so could be an added function and bluetooth connects to my Sena SMH10 headset with Earfuze molded earplugs. I use my IPod and keep it and my phone powered in my tank bag. IPod functions well with the Sena. I can pause and restart with the jog button.

5.tent/sleeping bag, just in case

Certainly your call. We have been 2-up on all our long trips, so couldn't carry camping stuff. Never had a problem finding a hotel.

6. slime tire compressor, already have a plug kit

Yes. Especially if you plan to be anywhere remote.

and a travel case for some cigars to smoke along the way.... haha

Any other ideas for a 4-6k mile ride??

If you don't have a top box get one. The bigger the better.

Spotme tracking device.

Anything but the stock seat!

 

[Spud]

Build up your mileage endurance and head west. You have time. If you're going from the middle of June through the end of July, days are very long (longer the further north you go). I don't ride in the dark ever, and plan days that are 450-700 miles per, depending on where I'm riding. Still leaves time to get in town around dinner time, have a beer or two, get some good rest and get up early for a good breakfast. Cut across to NM and work your way up NW toward the Canada border. Plan on enjoying not just the mountains, but the deserts you have to cross between ranges. I crossed NM north to south and back again last summer and really enjoyed it.

If you're staying in hotels, I'd get an itinerary together and nail down a few reservations this fall or winter for areas anywhere around the National Parks. They fill up, and rates skyrocket (places around Yellowstone, Teton, the UT parks, Glacier etc.)

And as fun as people make a walmart parking lot sound in the summer, DON'T worry about changing your oil on the road! ha ha.....

 

[s.ga.rider]

Here are my suggestions:
1. handlebar risers

Definitely, if your riding position puts any weight on your wrists.

2. New tires before leaving

Kind of a no-brainer. We did 6500 miles to SW-FOG on a new set of PR4's. Still some life in them too

3. GPS

A good GPS. Very helpful in unknown territory. Garmin 665 is my choice. It is the communication center for me. Phone works through it and displays call information

4.Possibly some type of bluetooth device for music from the gos so i dont kill my phone.

The Garmin 665 comes XM capable, so could be an added function and bluetooth connects to my Sena SMH10 headset with Earfuze molded earplugs. I use my IPod and keep it and my phone powered in my tank bag. IPod functions well with the Sena. I can pause and restart with the jog button.

5.tent/sleeping bag, just in case

Certainly your call. We have been 2-up on all our long trips, so couldn't carry camping stuff. Never had a problem finding a hotel.

6. slime tire compressor, already have a plug kit

Yes. Especially if you plan to be anywhere remote.

and a travel case for some cigars to smoke along the way.... haha

Any other ideas for a 4-6k mile ride??

If you don't have a top box get one. The bigger the better.

Spotme tracking device.

Anything but the stock seat!

Got a givi top case already. Worth its weight in gold. haha

 

[s.ga.rider]

Build up your mileage endurance and head west. You have time. If you're going from the middle of June through the end of July, days are very long (longer the further north you go). I don't ride in the dark ever, and plan days that are 450-700 miles per, depending on where I'm riding. Still leaves time to get in town around dinner time, have a beer or two, get some good rest and get up early for a good breakfast. Cut across to NM and work your way up NW toward the Canada border. Plan on enjoying not just the mountains, but the deserts you have to cross between ranges. I crossed NM north to south and back again last summer and really enjoyed it.
If you're staying in hotels, I'd get an itinerary together and nail down a few reservations this fall or winter for areas anywhere around the National Parks. They fill up, and rates skyrocket (places around Yellowstone, Teton, the UT parks, Glacier etc.)

And as fun as people make a walmart parking lot sound in the summer, DON'T worry about changing your oil on the road! ha ha.....

Been to southern nm and really enjoyed it. That could be an idea.

Here are my suggestions:
1. handlebar risers

Definitely, if your riding position puts any weight on your wrists.

2. New tires before leaving

Kind of a no-brainer. We did 6500 miles to SW-FOG on a new set of PR4's. Still some life in them too

3. GPS

A good GPS. Very helpful in unknown territory. Garmin 665 is my choice. It is the communication center for me. Phone works through it and displays call information

4.Possibly some type of bluetooth device for music from the gos so i dont kill my phone.

The Garmin 665 comes XM capable, so could be an added function and bluetooth connects to my Sena SMH10 headset with Earfuze molded earplugs. I use my IPod and keep it and my phone powered in my tank bag. IPod functions well with the Sena. I can pause and restart with the jog button.

5.tent/sleeping bag, just in case

Certainly your call. We have been 2-up on all our long trips, so couldn't carry camping stuff. Never had a problem finding a hotel.

6. slime tire compressor, already have a plug kit

Yes. Especially if you plan to be anywhere remote.

and a travel case for some cigars to smoke along the way.... haha

Any other ideas for a 4-6k mile ride??

If you don't have a top box get one. The bigger the better.

Spotme tracking device.

Anything but the stock seat!

Got a givi top case already. Worth its weight in gold. haha

 

[s.ga.rider]

Im thinking lake loiuse in Alberta. 2600 miles. I figure a week to get there, a week back and a week to site see. Mapquest shows going through s and n dakota into canada. I would like to come bake through montana/colorado or possibly washington. Ive always wanted to see seattle. any ideas.

 

[RaYzerman19]

While Lake Louise is nice (tourist trap), I'd skip it (and SD/ND except for the Black HIlls area) in favour of riding up a direction taking in AR, OK, then Wyoming, Montana (Beartooth, Glacier Park), Creston,BC then west to the Kootenay area, back down into WA, ID, UT and make your way home..... hard to imagine I'd do it in two weeks, I'd want another week.......... only my opinion.

 

[stevec677]

A long weekend is not enough. A week is not enough. Two weeks is not enough. This past fall I took a six week ride and guess what.....It was not enough. Have fun and don't "overplan". PS. Arkansas was awesome!!!!

 

[hppants]

^^^^^ this. Do NOT overplan. Resist it at all cost. Give yourself an opportunity to experience some unforeseen adventure. Do a little homework - know the basics.

When you come to that unfamiliar road - you know the one. The pavement is very dark - it's fresh and from the stop sign, it looks butter smooth. There's a yellow sign with the curvy arrow within sight. You can't see past the first curve, but your curiosity is killing you. At this point, you will have two distinct choices:

1. Your reservation is non-refundable, it's getting in the middle of the afternoon, and you better press on to you pre-planned destination. You will try that road on your next trip. (BTW - that won't happen)

2. Since you have no plans for that day, you can turn left and see what's beyond the first curve. It's probably a nice running stream that runs along the curves in the road. Or a mountain view. Maybe its some beautiful farm land with cows as big as Nissans grazing carelessly in the field. Perhaps there is this hole in the wall lunch diner with a blue plate special that takes you back to the way Granny used to make it. Or maybe there is a kid selling lemonade on the side of the road. For $0.50 you get to hear her local twang as she scolds her little brother for drinking up all the profits. Further down, there is a local motel that is obviously very clean and for $40.00, you can sleep in the kind of peace you haven't had in a very long time. There's a swing in the front yard. Sit a spell with the old timer there and ask him about his life. Listen carefully, he is going to tell you something that you will never ever forget.

Don't worry - your GPS will triangulate you back to your destination at the next highway crossing. Or maybe the one after that. Or .....

 

[s.ga.rider]

rayzerman, I have 3 weeks and a few days to play with. My last week trip was no planning whatsoever. I got on the bike and headed north. Figured out my next day in the hotel the night before. I know I missed a lot but it was fun. This trip I want some planning, dont want to miss major points and thanks for the advice on lake louise. Ive always wanted to go but after checking the hotel prices I will have to skip($650 a night). Would love to see montana, always wanted to try glacier and have always wanted to see seattle.

 

[RaYzerman19]

Well, what you need is a list of must sees, and see if you even make it to Canada..... my biased list of starters would be Black Hills, Beartooth Pass, Jellystone, Hwy 12 west from Missoula, maybe a short or long haul down 93 while you're there, Glacier Nat'l Park (Going to the Sun Hwy), Cascades/Hwy 20 in WA, Mt. St. Helen's/Ranier........ and I'm sure the PNW locals can tell you a lot more......... I've been through there exactly once and missed some of it. Might be an idea to attend the Red Lodge gathering and that gets you on the doorstep as well. If you do think of getting into BC, you'll love the Kootenay Lake/Kelowna area. So much to see, so little time........

 

[Redfish Hunter]

While I partially have to agree with my friend hppants and I admire his eloquent prose, let me throw this out there.

You are having a great day, you have not a care in the world. The scenery is flowing past you, the shadows are starting to grow long and the wildlife is beginning to show itself along the side of the road. You know there are a couple of motels in the next town just 30 minutes up the road.

When you get there, one is a roach motel, the other is full. You passed one that was closed. It is 120 miles to the next town and you cannot make it before dark. It is 120 miles of backtracking to the last town you were in that had acceptable lodging. The critters are out, you do not know the roads so your speed has to be limited. If you go forward you are going to be rushed through scenery you really wanted to see. If you go back well, who really wants to backtrack on a motorcycle trip?

You decide to get on your cell and call about lodging. But... NO CELL SERVICE!!!

Out West is not like Back East. Yes, this can happen. I know from experience.

At that point a little pre-planning would have prevented a lot of stress and unhappiness. A plan would have allowed you to spend more time in some of the stuff you rushed past earlier that day and set you up for a better start the next day.

 

[bigjohnsd]

You have a room and a tour guide in the Black Hills if you come this way either coming or going. Skip the first two weeks of August to avoid the Sturgis Rally kuffuffle.

Sure would enjoy having you attend the Rendezvous at Red Lodge June 23-26. Those 4 days will enable you to cover a whole lot of Rockies. If you showed up in Spearfish on June 20 we could explore the Black Hills for a couple of days before heading to Red Lodge on June 23rd.

 

[russperry]

While I partially have to agree with my friend hppants and I admire his eloquent prose, let me throw this out there.
You are having a great day, you have not a care in the world. The scenery is flowing past you, the shadows are starting to grow long and the wildlife is beginning to show itself along the side of the road. You know there are a couple of motels in the next town just 30 minutes up the road.

When you get there, one is a roach motel, the other is full. You passed one that was closed. It is 120 miles to the next town and you cannot make it before dark. It is 120 miles of backtracking to the last town you were in that had acceptable lodging. The critters are out, you do not know the roads so your speed has to be limited. If you go forward you are going to be rushed through scenery you really wanted to see. If you go back well, who really wants to backtrack on a motorcycle trip?

You decide to get on your cell and call about lodging. But... NO CELL SERVICE!!!

Out West is not like Back East. Yes, this can happen. I know from experience.

At that point a little pre-planning would have prevented a lot of stress and unhappiness. A plan would have allowed you to spen

d more time in some of the stuff you rushed past earlier that day and set you up for a better start the next day.

And if you had packed a tent and sleeping bag, you drop at the side of the road, out under the beautiful star-filled sky, warm and cuddly in your bag after a long wonderful day seeing what's out there to be seen, knowing that everyone else is bummed that they aren't exactly in your place.

And in my opinion there's no better time and place to have an "out of service" cell phone.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

I have a job. I can afford a hotel room. I don't want a tent.

 

[Cav47]

I have a job. I can afford a hotel room. I don't want a tent.

Not an argument, just another viewpoint. I have a job, I can afford a hotel too, but worked a little overtime, bought some decent camping gear, now I am not limited to society dictating my schedule.

If I wanna go into town, the hotel won't ban me because I have camping gear with me. I can take my camping gear into the hotel, but I can't take the hotel to the camping site.

I love both options, I am a Swiss Army knife guy, I have an FJR, I like having my cake and eating it too.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

I love both options, I am a Swiss Army knife guy, I have an FJR, I like having my cake and eating it too.

Options are nice. Eating cake makes you fat. Swiss Army Knife? Really? What the hell is up with that anyway? Does Switzerland even have an army? Whom do they actually fight?

The Swiss Army Knife is outdated and obsolete. Try a Leatherman or a good Gerber Multi-Tool. Remember MacGyver? He went off the air in '92. If MacGyver had been as smart as they said he was, he would have modernized his equipment, bought a Leatherman and he would still be on television making millions of dollars. Swiss Army Knife indeed.

Oh, wait. I just realized. You ride a Gen1. Those are antiques. You must really be embracing that whole "primitive" camping thing.

Okay, Just kidding, just kidding. Calm down, it was a joke.

I spent a great deal of time studying the camping setup for my friends hppants and RJAMT. I (sort of) helped them set up their tents, I studied their methods and equipment. I can assure you that I am not too soft to sleep in a tent and deal with the elements and there are some wonderful options out there. If I had a dual sport and started going off road I would definitely be carrying a tent. I already bought my cooking gear and I have used it.

As it is, Dear Old Dad is 70 now. All my motorcycle trips involve Dad. I would rather have a climate controlled room with a hot shower, The Weather Channel and a comfy bed. Someplace with an ice machine down the hall, and a coin operated laundry.

My earlier point was and is, a little pre-planning takes much of the stress out of my trip. I ride to have fun. If I am stressed, that ain't fun. Too much planning starts turning it into a schedule and that is not good either. Finding the right balance between enough of a plan and not enough of a plan takes experience. YMMV.

 

[Cav47]

:uhoh: I love both options, I am a Swiss Army knife guy, I have an FJR, I like having my cake and eating it too.

Options are nice. Eating cake makes you fat. Swiss Army Knife? Really? What the hell is up with that anyway? Does Switzerland even have an army? Whom do they actually fight?

The Swiss Army Knife is outdated and obsolete. Try a Leatherman or a good Gerber Multi-Tool. Remember MacGyver? He went off the air in '92. If MacGyver had been as smart as they said he was, he would have modernized his equipment, bought a Leatherman and he would still be on television making millions of dollars. Swiss Army Knife indeed.

Oh, wait. I just realized. You ride a Gen1. Those are antiques. You must really be embracing that whole "primitive" camping thing.

Okay, Just kidding, just kidding. Calm down, it was a joke. :uhoh: I spent a great deal of time studying the camping setup for my friends hppants and RJAMT. I (sort of) helped them set up their tents, I studied their methods and equipment. I can assure you that I am not too soft to sleep in a tent and deal with the elements and there are some wonderful options out there. If I had a dual sport and started going off road I would definitely be carrying a tent. I already bought my cooking gear and I have used it.

As it is, Dear Old Dad is 70 now. All my motorcycle trips involve Dad. I would rather have a climate controlled room with a hot shower, The Weather Channel and a comfy bed. Someplace with an ice machine down the hall, and a coin operated laundry.

My earlier point was and is, a little pre-planning takes much of the stress out of my trip. I ride to have fun. If I am stressed, that ain't fun. Too much planning starts turning it into a schedule and that is not good either. Finding the right balance between enough of a plan and not enough of a plan takes experience. YMMV.

That's funny stuff^^^

And finding that balance is the best part. Riding with others whose balance is compatible with yours is even better. Kinda like your trip west with the boys!

 

[steveoreno]

Since I do most all of my touring two-up anymore we find a campground in the area that we are going to be and ship our camping gear to them and we will stay in motels on our way down. We bought a nice 5 person REI tent so it's palatial compared to any of my backpacking tents and we save so much money that we have more entertainment options, gas money etc Then we "ship my tent" home and are able to travel light and enjoy the twisties instead of managing all that gear or Horrors, pull a trailer.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Now that ^^^ is pretty smart. I like it.

 

[s.ga.rider]

I have a job 2 but being single doesnt allow me to afford 3 weeks of hotels. Plus Im excited about camping. It will be my adventure that i have wanted to take for many years and im finally able too, partly because of the single part. Child support is the reason for camping. haha