Well...it's about that time. Taking my GS500 from  Los Angeles to Buffalo in May. I need help though! Route thoughts, ride suggestions, anything....thanks!

Having only ever made this trip by car, and from east-to-west, I dont have too many motorcycle specific suggestions... however, I can tell you about some route suggestions, and maybe infer a few things from what I've read about touring.  :dunno:

First, do yourself a favor and head west into Texas before heading north. Leaving LA you can hit up the Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Great Crater, etc... all massive and beautiful wonders of the world. Definitely worth seeing on acar trip, probably even better on the back of a motorcycle.

I-10 goes all the way across the country, from LA to Florida, but I dont think thats what you want unless crossing 800 miles of flat texan grasslands is appealing to you (I'd fall asleep).

I-80, however, travels from San Francisco to Chicago, and thence on to New York state. I'm sure that you could find a creative route from the 10 to the 80. Even better, in the northern parts of New Mexico (IIRC), you can pick upo good old US Route 66, and head northeast.

Of course, I'd advise staying off the superslab interstates. Boring on a motorcycle, and it takes some of the intimacy and spontaneity out of travelling by bike. What I would reccomend is picking a route based on interstates, then buying appropriate maps for the route that show the road in greater detail, then picking out local and state highways that roughly shadow the interstate route. This way you should never be too far from services and civilzation should you need help, gas, etc.

As for what to pack, I ahve no idea. I'm fine for a week on what I can pack into a backpack bungeed onto my seat, but I've always been a light traveller. I'd definitely reccomend assembling a motorcycle-specific, touring-specific tool kit, and strapping it to the bike rather than putting it in a saddle bag, and bringing along a few minor spare parts.


I'm kind of planning a super-tour for myself (or rather, a good friend is planning a tour and I'm trying to find a way to accompany him), but its still a year or two away. Seems that, as a customs agent, he knows a thing or two about shipping motorcycles across oceans, and has found a way to transport himself and his bike to Europe for only a few hundred dollars., via cargo ship. All he has to do is find an eastern-facing seaport. Now *that* would be an adventure.        

Go east.

geez, I'm not sure where to start. first, make sure you make yourself a good toolkit w/flat repair items. second, plan your route out and make your hotel reservations in advance. (make sure you know how to get to the hotel from the direction your coming in. being lost in a strange city when your tired from being on the road all day isn't fun). third, try to avoid interstate. fourth, rig up a cig lighter on the bike for cell phone charges on the road. fifth, make more stops that you think you need to, take longer breaks than you think you need to, this will keep you fresh longer. sixth, have your credit card and bank #'s in your cell phone in case you lose your wallet or funds. there is probably about a million more tips I can't think of right now. you might check out the IBA website, I think they have a lot of good touring tips listed. anyway, be safe and enjoy the ride. touring by bike is trully addictive. I'm sure you'll have a blast.

adding to what gs2sv said about taking breaks. unless you have a real comfortable seat like the corbin one, i would bring somthing to put under your butt cause it will get sore. also, think about bringing some baby powder to keep moisture from building up and chafing you.

I rode Chicago to Salt Lake a few months ago.  I had less than a week to plan the trip and only two days to get the bike home... this was pretty much spur of the moment.

I-80 is boring from wyoming to chicago.  

I bought a good tank bag and found away to attach a large fanny pack to the back set.  The less you can carry on you the better you will feel.  I tried to travel as light as possible with a good set of tools, first aid kit, 1 spare set of clothes, rain gear, map and some extra grub.

Buy a decent mp3 player or mp3 cd player.  I went with the mp3 cd player and crammed 150 songs on it.  I listened to it twice.  Some people say don't ride with music.  But with out it- I promise it will be a very long trip.  I also had every 4th song set to something loud and bouncy to help me "wake up."  Remember to also bring ear plugs.  Long trips will leave your ears ringing.

If your bike is naked - buy a windhield - even a small one.  It will reduce fatigue.

I stayed at a couple motel sixes.  I'm glad I didn't make reservations.  The first night my riding was cut way short thanks to severe weather.  The next night I hit sub-freezing temps and heavy fog (which caused an accident and closed the freeway).  Travel distances and weather are less predictable on a bike .  You can always find a inexpensive motel with free soap and shampoo and most will have luandry facilities.

Riding long distances is physically and mentally demanding.  I'd stopped for at least 20 minutes every 150 miles.  I also ate one decent meal each day at a sit down restaurant.  Couple that with some power bars and caffine and I was rockin and rollin.

Take advil every 4 hours- take it like candy.  Your butt, back, and head will thank you for it.  

I loved the trip.  It was a good break from the daily grind.  Gave me a chance to think.  I arrived home with this weird feeling of accomplishment.  And after a trip like that your biker status graduates to something like badass or really sick or something...

If you go through Missouri, try to figure a way to take 63 Highway north from the Arkansas through the Ozarks.  Probably the best views in a four state region (not saying much).

Visit Big Bend National Park when you go through Texas. West Texas is beautiful, lots of mountains and all; try to catch a sunset. Watch out for cows and goats if you take any side-trips down regular roads, lots of west Texas is open range  :mrgreen:

Sounds like a good excuse to stop in Vegas!

Quote from: luke1645adding to what gs2sv said about taking breaks. unless you have a real comfortable seat like the corbin one, i would bring somthing to put under your butt cause it will get sore. also, think about bringing some baby powder to keep moisture from building up and chafing you.

Yes, baby powder or someting . swamp ass sucks if you have to sit in it for a long time.

well the first question is, is this a touring trip, or is it a my bike is in cali and it needs to be in NY kind of trip?

the first thing you need is a set of crash bars from Srinath.  when you drop your bike at a rest stop 50 miles from the closest town you are going to be really pissed when the oil starts running out.  

that brings up another point, rest stops.  I always stop at every other one during the day and every one at night, you won't realize how tired and cramped you are till you go to stop and try to put a leg down and it doesn't go down.  

in may?  you can expect freezing weather crossing the rockies, even if you stay in the southern US you are high enough that it will get cold. + windchill. poly pro long underwear is the way to go.

speaking of underwear, boxers and long distances in a sport bike position can wreak havack on your hip bones from bunching up there.  

see this thread for toolkit ideas,
http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15071&highlight=tool+kit
also there was a good starter list on the IBA web site ironbutt.com they also have a lot of good info on long distance riding.

going across on the 80 will be really cold, especially at night.  Pay attention to the weather.  Anything under 50 feels like 20 after four hours riding at 80 mph.  I would go whichever route would avoid cold weather and snow, which is probably across the US on the 10 and then north.

If you do go on the 80, full leathers and long undies are the minimum I would wear to keep from freezing.  Wear them for safety anyway.

Get a big windshield.

If you are taking a lot of luggage make sure you dampen your suspension.

Don't push it, stop when you are tired.  Try and find a motel with a hot tub or at least a bath tub.

good luck!

Chain Lube!  (You probably know that though.)  MCN had some review of some kind of powder for the buttisimo too, like anti-monkey-butt powder or something they seemed to like.

I'd sure like to have a CB/Broadcast Radio setup, but they seem pricey if motorcycle-specific.  For such a long trip I might spring for one.  Brings me back to my childhood CBRadio days.  BS'ing with the equally bored truck drivers can make time go by too.  And it can make you deaf if you don't do the squelch right.

Have you done long rides before?  I'm still working my butt up to the 3-hour mark, unfortunately.  I'm hoping to do OKC<->Omaha one of these days.

--Mike D.