Preparing for long trips

[Black Snowman]

I'm thinking about taking my GS from Kansas City to the Ozarks. About a 4 hour ride, stay there a day, and then ride back. Since I'm only stay overnight I'm not worried about being able to pack enough. A backpack will do the trick. I'm not sure what else I need to make sure to do.

Other than checking the chain, fluids, and tire pressure what else should I do to prepare? I know I want to get a rain suit before I head out. So that might make it 2 backpacks

OK all you cross country folk speak up :mrgreen:

[TheGoodGuy]

make sure you got a cell phone, a small fix a flat, some flares lots of water / gatorade

i will be doing a 400 mile trip end of august to sacramento.. so i will need all this but then my car will be following me all the way. Unless I can get a trailer and a hitch installed on my car.

[nsoccer3097]

snowman, i'm sure as you know, that once you get outside of the city, cell phone usually doesn't want to work, especially in the ozarks.  may be a few twisties near there, but isn't it more hills?  which part are you headed to?

[Zarathustra]

4 hours is nothing all that bad.  my ride to my hometown from minneapolis is about 4.5 hours, and it gets kinda long, but it's easy.  i don't really bring anything all that special; though i do always have a cell.  pack some water and maybe some food if you plan on stopping at parks/rest areas, or don't worry about it if you're gonna stop at gas stations and the like.  it shouldn't be tood bad.  i have a pair of soft saddle bags i use for weekend trips, and they work great.  other than that, i'm sure a backpack will suffice.  good idea with the rainsuit though, i pack mine with me too when i ride home.  even if it doesn't rain on the way there, it might on the way back.  

[Motorradneuling]

A couple weeks ago I rode about 950 miles in 4 days (actually, by day: 285, 190, 0, 475).  It was by far my longest ride to date (only been riding about 8 months).  Here is a pretty complete list of my bike rigged out for light touring:

1998 Suzuki GS500E
Kisan headlight modulator
Suzuki fly screen
Spooky, The Thing What Squeaks
Garmin GPS, Sunshade, R-A-M handlebar mount & lots of batteries
Wolfman tank bag
Mapquest map hardcopies
Water bottle w/ Gatorade, food bars
Throttle Rocker wrist rest
Tourmaster saddle bags
Kragen 1 gallon plastic fuel can
Kisan brake light modulator
APC LED licence plate bolts
assorted bungee cords & hockey tape

Oh yeah, and I put a hardcopy of my phone/address list in my wallet (with "Next of Kin" printed next to my wife's name in case of an emergency)

Have fun!  
-Neuling

[Black Snowman]

Cell phone and windscreen are covered on every ride so no change there.
Need to get something for drinking. Might use it as an excuse to buy a Camelbak I plan on buying a current map before I leave and have the route printed out from maps.yahoo.com as well. Thinking about getting a tank bag or saddle bags. The saddle bags are more storage for the money so I'll probably go that route. Anyone tried the cheap-o bags from JCWhitney?

I'm headed down to spend some time with my parents at their time share in Branson. I think I'll leave from work since it's another 25 minutes closer to my destination. It will also give me more time down there for R&R so I won't feel so rushed.

Since Branson has become a huge tourist mecha there is a nice stretch of highway to follow straight down now. I'll probably head back early to do some gun shopping in Springfield.

I thought about buying a differant bike. Something more suited to long hauls. But with all the mods I've done mine is pretty good for just about anything I throw at it. Although after this I might decide I need a better seat

[Jeremichi]

I rode to wisconsin and back a few weeks ago and the first thing I would do is buy a new seat.  The stock seat is so uncomfortable on long trips.  It was about a 500 mile trip each way.  Took about 10 hrs there and 9.5 back with some stops.  Good luck

[Motorradneuling]

oh yeah, and suntan lotion or you'll come back with a red neck.  (stifles redneck jokes since I'm new here.)


-Neuling

[Black Snowman]

Not worried about the sun. My gear covers every inch of skin and the collar comes up high enough to almost touch the helmet. But good advice for people less paranoid about road rash

[Kerry]

* Earplugs, depending on your helmet
* Mostly-used roll of TP (you never know!)  Pack in a Ziplock bag.
* Related item: Small bottle of hand sanitizer (no need for soap or towel)
* Accessory outlet for charging your cell phone (wait - 4 hours? never mind)
* Small first aid kit?
* Quart of oil
* Small can of chain lube
* Dark faceshield - can't believe the difference it makes!
* Finally:  You DO have a tankbag ... right?  It's the perfect way to haul most of this little stuff that you need easy access to.

[smp]

I rode 5000 km from Toronto to Vancouver, it took me eight days.
I brought:

rain suit
tank bag
soft saddle bags
a big duffel bag strapped to that
camping gear
tools (not just the stock tools)
extra oil
chain lube

I'll be leaving for home on Monday, taking with me some extra bulbs and spark plugs.
I have pics here ... you can see how the bike was loaded up. I'm sure you don't need anything this extreme for a 4 hour ride.
The most riding I had done was 11 hours in a day, from Lake Louise to Vancouver.
I'm starting a thread about tire selection for my ride home... if you know about tires, please post

[Kerry]

I rode 5000 km from Toronto to Vancouver, it took me eight days.

Great pics, smp!

I'm getting geared up for my own 3,000 mile round trip to Alberta and BC in a couple weeks, so I was elated to see some of the scenery in your pictures (mountains especially).  My Dad is coming along on his Kawi Concours 1100 - I hope I don't slow him down TOO much....

[cgreenland]

yeah, really great pics!  thanks for sharing!