I'm planning to do a 1000 mile ride this summer on my GS. I was just wondering what kind of distance rides you guys have done?
About 400ish miles in a day and man was my ass raw!
my gs is currently being set up for touring. I've got a cortech set being shipped to me now and my bike is mechanically in good shape to make my trip from NYC to the Florida Keys and back.
I plan on leaving in late may-early june. I will post a progress thread on the forums to mark my progress, I'm really looking forward to this trip.
I've done 300 mile days in the GS, no problem. I bought a gel seat from France and its been a life saver.
250 miles. Wish I had a crampbuster. Have one now! :cheers:
Where do you get a gel seat and what is a cramp buster?
I did 500 miles in a day. It was not ideal but I will do it again.
didn't get too many long rides in, but i didn't manage a 100 mile trek up through the mountains. could have definitely gone longer, but i was getting a bit bored out in the sticks by my lonesome. getting a few friends into riding, so should see more miles per ride this summer!
Better than a Crampbuster :thumb:
http://www.2wheelride.com/throttle_pro.html
Lake Stevens, WA to San Jose, CA and back. 1750 miles total. Lots of stretch breaks, and the gel seat pad helped.
Where do you get a gel seat and what is a cramp buster?
5-6 hrs per day riding seems to be close to my maximum. I've done 10 hrs and more but it wasn't enjoyable anymore ~ travel by motorcycle has always taken me almost 30% longer than by car.
Ive never been on a long ride but i cant wait to do it!!!!
Quote from: bohunkus on January 24, 2012, 09:17:30 AM
Where do you get a gel seat and what is a cramp buster?
Cramp buster:
(http://roadcaptainusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/throttle-rocker.JPG)
I did an 1100km 3 day trip last fall. I pretty much stopped every hour-ish for a stretch. The GS seat (atleast my 09 seat) sucks after about an hour..even with micro-movements it just gets uncomfortable. I bought a gel pad thing-a-ma-jig at the bike show a few weeks ago that you set ontop of your seat. I'm anxious to try that out this summer. Aside from the above though, the trip was awesome ... the GS is a suprisingly great tourer and the awesome gas mileage sure was nice :D I like that cramp buster thing...Might have to look into one of those too.
I'm thinking about going to visit Shonole in Thomasville, GA to get his bike going. It's about 250 miles away - which is farther and longer than I've ever ridden before. Farthest I ever rode was 140 miles to Auburn, AL to watch football games. I made that trip first on my KLR650 (you have no idea how grueling the interstate can be on a 24 year old dual sport), then a few more times on my DL1000. Last time I ever rode that DL1000 was when I wrecked it getting on the interstate one morning to go home from a game. I hit an oil slick that was disguised by wet pavement.
Quote from: dam on January 24, 2012, 08:24:51 AM
Better than a Crampbuster :thumb:
http://www.2wheelride.com/throttle_pro.html
i like the design! i have bad wrists from previous injuries, so something like this will be ordered for next season.
debating on getting this or crambusters, both are simple and easy w/o grip modification. just wonder how the throttle pro will work when i forget its on there and have to twist the throttle closed or pull the unit back
We did 400 mile Interstate days on our first and last days on our Smoky Mtn trips about 10 years ago when I was a youngster around 70 yo. With 3 days between to play in the mountains we usually did about 1500 miles for the 5 day outings.
I bought one of those throttle lever things like pictured above at a bike show back then but it's still laying in the garage unopened, did it the old fashion way. Gel seat? What's wrong with the Suzuki oem seat?
bohunkus before embarking on a trip like this you'll Want to build up your ride stamina. If the furthest you've ridden is 100 miles, then you'll want to get that up to 300 miles in a day. That's 300 in a Day not in one hit stopping only long enough to add fuel. That's 300 with 30 minute stops for morning tea, lunch, 15 minute stops for fuel, etc.
I'll do 100 miles in one hit easy. Then again, I often do 300 mile days so no sweat. But usually we'll ride for 60-90 minutes before having a break. And we always take the long way cause that's what riding a motorcycle is all about.
If you've never done 60 minutes in one hit you first need to build up to that. Then build up to 90 minutes because it is better to be able to ride for 90 minutes but only ride for 60, than the other way around.
The whole point of this is to help prevent fatigue. A trip like this I would break into 3 days. So you are less rushed and can also spend a good part of the day Not riding and enjoying the stops and so on. Two days if I was in a rush - but - I'd make sure I was not in a rush first.
Michael
Quote from: steezin_and_wheezin on January 24, 2012, 09:46:06 AM
Quote from: dam on January 24, 2012, 08:24:51 AM
Better than a Crampbuster :thumb:
http://www.2wheelride.com/throttle_pro.html
i like the design! i have bad wrists from previous injuries, so something like this will be ordered for next season.
debating on getting this or crambusters, both are simple and easy w/o grip modification. just wonder how the throttle pro will work when i forget its on there and have to twist the throttle closed or pull the unit back
The Throttle Pro works great. No need to lift the unit up, just twist the throttle closed or partially closed. The unit has enough grip to hold the throttle where you set it but little if any noticeable resistance to backing off or closing the throttle.
Cramp Buster work good for long open roads. Not so good for city or twisties.
Watch throttle locks. Hard to make keep one speed due to road hills and dips even slight ones. Dead flat road is good. Else you need to make constant changes to keep bike at same speed.
Quote from: Fruitbat on January 24, 2012, 12:17:04 PM
Cramp Buster work good for long open roads. Not so good for city or twisties.
Definately! City and twisties usually have enough moving around and stop signs to keep fatigue away. The drone of the interstate is where I would use the Cramp Buster.
I made about a 600 mile ride in a day once. I vowed to never ride that long again. I needed a wheelchair for the next few days.
I recommend a fuel delivery system overhaul before any long highway trip.
the vac petcock on the older gs's is wanton at best and will leave you stranded if you let it.
Trust me, i was forced to break a 180 mile trip into 20 mile stints, punctuated by sitting at idle waiting for the bowls to fill back up.
Oh, and watch your fuel level, make sure before hand you will have stations at regular intervals to rest and refuel.
bring rain gear.
Planning a few long trips this summer when I take my vacation :thumb:
Taylor, Pa to Pittsburgh, Pa. (280 miles)
Spend a few days at my brothers house there.
Then from Pitt, Pa down to a friends about 20 miles south of Welcome NC (forget the name, recent move) (440 miles)
gonna be Tons of fun, as long as my bike is up for it.
other then that, i've only gone like 150 miles locally riding around all day, maybe more.
I think the most I've done in one day is around 345km (215mi). 2011 was my first year riding. I hope I can build up to more in 2012. I do find the GS seat is extremely uncomfortable after 160km or so. I'll be looking for some kind of gel padding before my first big trip this year!
Most i've done in one day is 600km (~370 miles), i found the stock seat quite comfortable. Though I had only bought the GS a few weeks prior so I was most likely used to the slab they call a seat on the CBR :icon_lol:
400 miles is the most I can do safely in one day. I've only gone beyond that a few times and fatigue really took a toll. I don't have any interest in becoming an iron butt-er. For anyone planning a long trip I would recomend carrying a decent tool kit. The one time you need it makes it worth the wasted space and extra weight. And have some mechanics wire and zip ties for emergencies. It's also a good idea to carry extra levers and a brake perch in case of a spill. And if you want to go all out, run a second clutch and throttle cable along your current ones for easy switch over in case one breaks.
-Jessie
Rode 400 miles in a day about two years ago. Never done that again.
So far have never made an overnight trip. That should change soon. For now the most miles in one day is ~ 300. However, I do have several days of 225 miles of commuting with 8 hours of work stuffed right in the middle (the looooong commute being the real reason I bought a GS instead of a more powerful bike).