How many miles do you average per day on long trips?

[Redline +]

Hello, my name is Cal, I live in the Seattle area and I'm a newbie. Bought my first Valk about 6 weeks ago.   Thinking of riding to Inzane 9, haven't made a trip of that distance before. How many miles do you average per day when traveling?  ???

I've done some 400+ one day rides on twisty local mountain pass highways but I don't know if I can do that 3-4 days in a row to get to ground zero.    How far do you ride in a day?

My bike is a 2002 Standard with stock seat, just ordered the Utopia backrest.  

Cal

[bg]

I met a couple guys from your area when they had Inzane in Zanesville ohio several years ago.
maybe they will  pipe in as to how long it took them.
welcome to the group.

[Lyn-Del]

It depends oin lots of things.   If I have the time available, I like shorter days, 400 miles or so.  If I am pressed for time, I'm going to hit the freeways and push for 700 or so - riding alone, I can handle several 600-700 mile days, or at least I could back before I retired. 

But it's not important what anyone else can do, it's what YOU can handle that matters.  If you don't think you can safely handle multiple days at 400, then plan your trip accordingly.  Allow the extra time.  Then you can push for more miles per day, and have some sightseeing time left over if it works for you, otherwise, you'll have had the time to make the trip safely.  And Safety is what matters!

[clsimmonsjr]

welcome to this great group of people,  most of my riding is long tripa and wife and I do 450-500 miles a day, we have gone up to 700 but she doesent really like the long days in the saddle.

[Gilligan]

Navigator and I are retired and we take trips lasting from 1 month to two months.  Riding 2-up we normally take back roads and stop to see many things, spending up to 3 nights at the major destinations.  In 2003 we road 8,789 miles in 57 days, averaging 154 miles per day.  Last year we road 7,335 miles in 54 days, averaging 136 miles per day.

We try to limit our longest days to no more than 5 to 6 hours of riding.  Fatigue causes mistakes.  (No night riding)  The number of miles is dependent on the type of road and number of things we stop to see.

We leave tomorrow morning on a 36-day, 5000+ mile trip to the Canadian Rockies.  We have several 330-mile days scheduled on Interstates.  Not including the local touring we will do, the average miles per day will be about 139.

I hope this answers your questions.  Have a great trip and

Ride Safe.

[DIGGER]

I agree with some of the others, it doesn't matter what others can do, it's what you can do comfortably.  I have made a lot of long distance trips.   If I am trying to go long distance and don't care about anything but getting closer to my destination I'll try to stay on the interstate hyway system and try to do around 600 miles.   If you stay moving running 70 you will average around 50-60 miles per hour over a days time.   If I am on back roads and trying to make time 400-500 is a good day.  I don't get paid when I'm off work so all my life long vacations have been in a hurry for time.  Just once I would like to have unlimited time and try to travel the west on the back roads and try to do 200-250 miles a day.

[fudgie]

Depends on alot of factors to me I think. Age and health play a part and so does the weather. The longest trip we do every year is 1200 miles one way. Its done in 2 days easy. We usually pick a spot and ride to it. Anywhere from 12-14 hours on the bike is normal. I don't ride much after dark anymore. She never complains about how far we go. She says 'I go where you go.' I work 24 hr shifts so i'm use to being up for over 18 hrs at a time. The longest I've done was from Davenport Iowa to Sturgis SD. Not sure of the miles but was about 16 hrs on the road with a few stops along the way. Maybe the Far Riders will chime in. They have iron britches!

[Cattman]

I've done several iron butts and many 6-800 mile days riding both solo and with passenger. It all depends on the seat/backrest you have on the bike along with highway peg positioning and how well the seat fits your posterior. Ultimate Big boy allows me to go much further than a stock seat. You'll know when it's time to call it a day, if your co-rider doesn't tell you first.

[humshark]

I agree to the points made that it will depend on you and your equipment.  You will have to make your plans with the availability to cut a day short if you have to.  Do not ride beyond your limits.  

Many times setting out on a long ride you discover that your head hurts from your helmet and your only approaching 300 miles on an expected 5 or 600 mile day.  That can really suck enjoyment our of a ride. ( I'm located in a mandatory state ) 
So many things effect your ridability for long durations.
 
Foot positions, The more the easier it is to be comfortable.
Seat - options backrest, type and build all add up to how long you can STAND to be in the saddle.  ( I had mine custom rebuilt from a stock pan )
Clothes - riding in the wrong clothes can really make for a bad ride.  The right or wrong under-garments can make a big difference. ( if you wear them! )
Protective Gear - Air jackets, Helmets, etc, again you will "tune" your gear and accessory options as you gain experience in distance travel.

Know your gear, and your skills, if you don't yet, then plan to test them on this ride, and be flexible.  Take your aspirin in the morning BEFORE mounting and ride like you stole it!!!

Have FUN!

[Jeff K]

On a good day 800. We used to ride from Jacksonville To Hot Glue's in one shot. Same thing on the way back. That is about 900 miles.
It depends on a lot of things.

[Hoser]

The Ks Hog and myself left Keystone SD at 0600 last June and pulled into Topeka Ks. about 2200 hrs.
We were a bit weary, but it wasn't too bad. 847 miles.  Might not do that again, though, considering we are both in our sixties.  The hog snapped this pic just before we left.  Hoser
 

[JimL]

Welcome to the world of the Valkyrie!

I agree with what many of the other folks have said, you will have to decide for yourself how far and how long it is safe for you to be in the saddle.  I will say this, I have ridden many bikes (ironically, never a Goldwing) and have found that I am less fatigued on the Valkyrie than any other bike I have ridden.  I have ridden several 700-800 mile trips in one day, however I do know that I would be pressing it past the 800 mile mark.  I find that it helps to get a very early start in the morning (5:30 AM for me) if I know in advance that I am going to cover a long distance.

I think most of the folks on the forum will agree that something other than the stock saddle will lessen your fatigue, and as you mentioned a driver backrest is a good investment for long rides.  It appears that most of the folks on the forum replace the saddle with a Mustang or an Ultimate saddle.  I have both and would recommend either one.

Jim

[QOTFU]

It depends on where we're riding.... across Texas we've gone just over 650. In the hills or mountains we'll do 400-500.

[RP#62]

As others have said, there are many variables, i.e. how much time you have, etc.  Generally we've found that anything over 500 miles a day starts to be work.  300-400 is a very relaxing day.  We know some folks that ride from tank to tank.  We usually try to do a 5-10 minute rest stop between fill ups and have found that we can pretty much go all day that way without getting tired.
-RP

[Gary]

A lot of good comments made already. The helmet, the gear can all wear on you as mentioned, especially if you're not use to them. What's more, the weather, rain and especially head and cross winds can wear you out long before a normal distance ride might take you.

The trip back from Hotglue's & FB's BBQ this year offerred up some pretty heavy cross and headwinds on my return trip, cutting my day to breaking just over 600 miles with about 12 hours in the saddle, mostly non-interstate roads.

I avoid night driving myself, especially around these parts with the unexpected wildlife, They're bad enough in the day time.

I had gone with an Ultimate Big Boy Seat and it has done wonders for my long distance riding as far as comfort. The stock seat worked against me beyond 50 - 100 miles. I do start to cramp up in the legs and hips on occassion despite the foot pegs and mutilple riding positions.

Plan on extra time each day, like mentioned, to stretch, eat (avoid big meals), drink plenty of fluids, and stop at those places you want to visit, you probably won't hit them on the return trip and will end up missing them all together. It's your trip, make the best of it.

Watch for Wildlife, they're not just on the posted signs and they will blow a perfectly good driving day.

Have a safe trip!

Gary

[ChromeDome]

Like many have already said .... it is what you feel comfortable riding.

I have found my biggest issue with long distance riding is fatigue. I can adjust the equipment, re-postion my feet, even squirm around in the saddle but when fatigue starts to hit I need to take a rest. I usually allow for at least 1 very long rest stop to help but didn't do that coming back from the Blue Gray Ride and was very lucky nothing bad occured. After about 30 minutes cooling down and getting some refreshment I was ready to go.

Hope that helps.

[Redline +]

Thanks for your responses, I will buget time for a 350-400 mile days and if I feel like riding longer I will. I need to get this Valk out on the open road and break it in. Six weeks ago when I bought the bike it only had 5400 miles......7400 now.

[Popeye]

Like many have said, you have to do what feels right for you.  Used to do 600+ miles a day when I was younger and slimmer.  Hurt my back in 99, now I rarely do 500 a day.  If my wife is with me, between 350 and 400 a day.  I've found the shorter days more enjoyable and the back hurts alot less.

Popeye

[sandy]

Several others have mentioned "it depends on your equipment". For me that means I need 4 things. Windshield, drivers backrest, throttle lock and the 4th became a GPS. Of couse my Wing has cruise control and the Valk has a Vista-Cruise. My longest day was 750 miles, but 500-550 seems easy to do.

[Jean the Black Wolf]

Welcome to this club Cal
in Europ depends on alot of factors  but my record is 1200km about 740 miles
but on hightway  ,but not every day the week ha ha ha ha ha ha ha  !!!
 
I think 900km about 560 miles is a good average (in France )

[Michael K (Az.)]

Thanks for your responses, I will buget time for a 350-400 mile days and if I feel like riding longer I will. I need to get this Valk out on the open road and break it in. Six weeks ago when I bought the bike it only had 5400 miles......7400 now.

In your first post you said you did some 400 rides in the twisties so based on that, 400 cross country should be relatively comfy for you to do.
It's really dry after you get out of the Pacific N.W. so hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
and, here's a bonus!!
When you get to Frisco Co. you'll have a very FRESH perspective on adjustments, new pegs, seats, etc! Plus, they'll be a whole bunch of folks that will be glad to share their experiences with you!!
Welcome aboard!

[R J]

Cal, you can not ask how many miles do we do a day and try to copy us.

You have to judge your day by your seat, short term, that be your BUTT.  It will tell ya when to get out of the saddle for the night......

When I retired, I could do 500 to 700 miles a day without a hiccup.  Now I'm older and stretching it to do 300.

When I and my kids used to take off on the bike for a trip,  Our goal was 300, BUT, if we only made 30 due to wanting to see things, that was okay also.  I never made a reservation on the road to get there and back.  My only reservation was when we hit the turn back point.  I allowed 3 days there, if we made it in time for those 3 days, fine, if not so be it, we would cancel what days we needed to, and stay the remainder ones.  We were after the good times and sightseeing, not to see how many miles we could do......

IF, you get tired, get the 7734 out of the saddle and take a nap if needed, or get a room and spend the day/night there.

I have found it is WISE not to try and ride after dark, unless you like playing with Bambi and her friends.....

[Willow]

With the right partner 500 - 650.  Alone 800 plus or minus.

Always ride a little beyond what you think you can.  If you don't you'll always be putting around at 400 mile days and complaining of how uncomfortable it is.

1900 without a significant stop was my most, but it took me more than a day.

Do something between what you can do and what you want to do.  Don't make your plans so tight that you end up doing what you have to do.

[LandElephant]

Cal,
If you are looking for some one to ride with from the VRCC send me an email.  I am over in the Barren Central Washington in the beautiful city of Moses Lake.  Most will tell you I ride everwhere and I average 20 to 30K a year.  Always looking for an excuse to ride on weekends.  Have been planning a trip on the Cascade loop early next month.

Oh, the distance riden on a day depends on the amount of scenery and chrome scrapping (pardon the spelling).  I have riden over 1,000 miles (each way)for a weekend with a friend on very short notice.

Let me know if you are interested.

Charlie
Land Elephant
cmorse40@gmail.com

[Probie (Scooter57)]

We went from our house in Auburn Ga to my parents house in Vero Beach Fla it took 12 hours and was 550 something miles. Violet said next time it would be a two day trip down, fine we can take the back roads...always wanted to take Hwy 441 from here to there just to see it or US Hwy 1 but that may take 3 days from all the small towns.

[SteveNZ]

As a young pup I used to think the more miles I could do the more of a man I was. After a 14 hour ride from Levin to Whangarei (about 800km, but only about 50km of highways) and only enjoying the first four hours or so, I quickly learned I prefer the no-fixed-schedule type of riding. Sadly it is very rare for me not to need to be somewhere-at-a-certain-time. But when I can take my time, stop whenever, wherever I want, take photos, admire the view, talk to the locals (usually about large shiny motorcycles) I thoroughly enjoy the ride, even though I may have only gone a few hundred kilometres in the whole day.

[chrise2469]

Its your butt that should decide how long you go.  When I'm solo I will often do 7-800 mile days.  With two up on travel days I try to limit it to 400 miles. That's still pushing 8-9hrs in the saddle.  Do that for a week and you may not be enjoying it.

One tip that is already mentioned is to hydrate.  I use a blackhawk  Torrent Extreme II Short/Wide 100oz Hydration Kit.  I fill it with ice and water in the morning and sip away all day.  This is the only large capacity bladder that will fit on my back and not be squished  by the backrest (I'm 5'7").

You can see the hydration pack and hose clearly.

Ya may need to pee more often but I stop fuel every 130 miles for fuel anyways .

[Redline +]

Thanks for all the information. I do know I can't plan my day by how far you ride, my butt will decide when I stop. I was just curious about how the well equipped, well seasoned Valk riders travel. Hope to meet some of you in Colorado.

Cal

[Bearjaws]

Cal,
A couple of us local VERMIN (Valk Club Members) from the Seattle area are planning to go to inzane. The more the merrier.