The best type of touring

[SANGER_A2]

I read a post today about buying a Scottoiler just to do hugely long trips without needing to stop. I just don't understand that!

You're not going to enjoy it after 100 miles+ in the saddle.

I did a week-long tour round the UK which I loved. I did 150 miles a day with a stop for a cigarette break every half hour and a 2 hour break for lunch. I really enjoyed going along totally leisurely and stopping where I wanted and having no real deadlines. Completely different to how I normally ride (commute or frantic speeding at the weekends). It improved my riding overall as it made me become more patient and appreciate my surroundings more.

My mate recently invited me on a ride from john o groats to lands end. I thought "Wow! That would be a NICE trip. Then I noticed he said "In a day" and I though "Hell no!".

Meeting people and taking in the scenery on the stops is why I tour. I use a sat nav and tell it to take the shortest route a avoid motorways when I tour. Lots of great views and fun A and B roads to ride on. I don't want to pound along in a straight line on a motorway at 80mph all day!

Please vote and tell me if I'm wrong or not!!!

 

[Fz6Sa]

I don't consider 280/300 miles on the highway to be anything more than a 4 hour trip.
I have no problem taking that trip early in the morning, spending the day with friends, and then do the same distance home.
I would do a trip like that on my bike and not in a cage, - on the bike I'm alive the whole time, - in a cage I tend to get annoyed that "I'm not there yet".

If I'm out with no real aim, - just to ride and enjoy the country, I don't even count miles, - since they are irrelevant.

 

[wrightme43]

I like to collect miles. LOL Its just something I like.

 

[Willard]

I live in Nova Scotia and two or three times a year I head out on tour. Not unusual to do 1000km days. Usually take my R1100RS but have done similar days on my VFR. Just bought an 07 FZ6 last week and have never driven one longer that 30 minutes. I've been told that the FZ6 is a little more comfortable than the VFR.

Looking forward to finding out how well the FZ6 handles the long rides. It'll be interesting to see how my 62 year old body makes out as well

 

[dako81]

I ride the bike ~55 miles each way to work in the summer.

It's really nothing. Get up, ride in to work. Work 10.5-11 hours. Ride home. Nothing really.

Touring for me would be riding 8-10 hours in a day, which would be well over 150 miles.

 

[D-Mac]

Being the guy who made the post about the Scottoiler.....you can guess how I voted (today anyway).

I'm all for the back road, 'out for fun' ride. The majority of my rides are like that. Sometimes 50-100 miles and lots of stops.

Then there are the long distance trips. I don't have much time and I want to burn the slab to get somewhere. Sometimes it's for work and I'd rather have to ride quick than catch a plane.

Then there are the rides where I want to test my limits. Ride 500 or 1000 miles for the hell of it and figure out where I want to go back to when I have time.

One great thing about the FZ6 is that I don't believe we have to make a choice. Our bikes are capable of quick rides through the twisties, slab burning, and slow-paced touring. On a HD forum or a Goldwing forum you'll likely get patterns in answers based on what those bikes do best (or are perceived to do best anyway). I'm convinced that our bikes are pretty good at lots of things, even if we tend to use them for less.

Two years ago I would have completely agreed with your first post. Since then I've discovered other types of riding that I like to mix in.

 

[DefyInertia]

For a day ride, I like to do 175 to 350 depending on the amount of sunlight and my company.

 

[jsteinb95]

I like to collect miles. LOL Its just something I like.

Yeah....even in 29 degree weather!

 

[Cali rider]

I ride during weekdays, usually a Wednesday while the rest of the world works. These rides range from 250-350 miles over a period of about 8 hours. What does this mean? Ummm...I don't mind rolling along roads I've ridden many times in the past as I just enjoy the time in the saddle. I've hit 700 miles in 13 hours once, but this was the last day of a tour and I wanted to get home.

However, some of the best rides have been periods of intense accelerate/brake/corner/repeat followed by BS time on the side of the road or at a diner. Mileage for the day might end up being only 200 but I got 100% satisfaction from every rotation of the tires.

Editorial comment: I don't understand the fascination of trying to cram in a bunch of mileage just to earn a certificate or slap a "Iron Butt" sticker on my bike. There must be some unspoken reward to those who endure such misery and discomfort. Kind of like "competitive eating".

 

[Hellgate]

I've done Denver to Phoenix in one day back in the 55 mph days! Ouch! The big catus' were waving at me after 17 hours in the saddle and I couldn't sit on my bike for about three days!

I like to put on the Coretech bags, gas up, drain the bladder, plug the ears and go! If I'm not on a two lane road zipping along it's not a tour, its a drive. I really don't care for the interstate, unless I'm going skiing (via car) and need to make time.

 

[Hellgate]

I live in Nova Scotia and two or three times a year I head out on tour. Not unusual to do 1000km days. Usually take my R1100RS but have done similar days on my VFR. Just bought an 07 FZ6 last week and have never driven one longer that 30 minutes. I've been told that the FZ6 is a little more comfortable than the VFR.

Looking forward to finding out how well the FZ6 handles the long rides. It'll be interesting to see how my 62 year old body makes out as well

Hi Willard! You need to post more. :thumbup:

 

[Hellgate]

Yeah....even in 29 degree weather!

J's back! We've missed you Beautiful!

 

[agmom98]

Unless I'm riding somewhere local for lunch (typical would be a 200-250 mile round-trip), I usually do long rides, typically 500-700 mile days if on a riding vacation (and can still manage to see lots of national parks, museums, and other points of interest along the way), 1000-1500 mile days if doing an IBA ride. No "red ass" here. It's all about having the right seat (custom Bill Mayer on the BMW; Corbin on the FZ) and wearing LDComfort undershorts as the only layer between my clean, dry skin (no powder, which is like wearing micro-grit) and my FirstGear or Alpinestars riding pants.

 

[psnbye]

I think how long you ride for is kinda dependant on who you ride with. I like going like hell for a while and then the great B.S sessions at the next gas stations, "Did you see that cop back there?" I also like taking it easy on a nice scenic road, not the freeway, too.

My little brother is a new road bike rider and we took short trips for him to get the feel of the road and bike, he caught on really quick and then our trips were a little farther. I also have this crazy guy that I ride with that would love to go all day, all night, and then the next day too! I couldnt take it, personally.

 

[Red Wazp]

Long distance is just like any other type of riding. It's about the right gear and bike setup. I can ride 100 mile on my dualsport or ride twistys all day with perhaps 150-200 miles on the FZ and be more worn out than 600 on my FJR but I enjoyed each just as much.
I know some very good 1000 mile back to back day riders who love it.
It;s all about the ride

 

[SANGER_A2]

There are obviously loads of people with waaay more endurance levels than me! :rockon: I'm obviously just not hardcore enough yet! :squid:

 

[jamesfz6]

A good ride with some twisties about 150miles is a good day. Anymore than that and you wont be able to walk for a week. Anyone who has put in a trackday or 2 knows how much of a workout aggresive riding can be.

 

[jamesfz6]

Corbin on the FZ

What tpye of corbin do you have, any particular model or do they only make one model? My friend has the corbin on his FZ and i cant ride that thing for more than 30 min. It is hard as a rock and very uncomfortable.

 

[Mississippi]

I do not know if what me and my friends do is considered touring, but we do 4 or 5 hour day trips usually with one maybe two stops. We purposely pick a gas station, restaurant, or something far away (far away is relative to the person I guess) to go to to get a drink or eat, then we come back. The stop is just a good excuse for the trip. However, I have not done anything longer in a day or string of days. For me, it is about getting away for a little while with my friends. Guy time.

 

[MarinaFazer]

I like to run about 300 miles. A typical day runs 100-150 miles, but the days I love the best are hours in the twists and before you know it, it's 3pm and you're still 100 miles of twisties from home...better head back!.....the long way! :thumbup: