How many hours do you ride?

[BWANA]

I'm planning a 300 mile ride from Long Island NY to Indian Lake in the Adirondacks.

How many hours do you ride before taking a break.

Assume weather and road conditions are fair.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

This should be an interesting thread.

I try to ride until just before the tank is near dry when we are on a trip to get somewhere ASAP. That's about 15 miles less than Mr. Willow rides a tank. The Interstate tank usually makes 190-200 miles and we run hard so it's usually right below 2 hours for me.

And a break is about 7 minutes long for me (at a slow pump). Right Scott?

Raymond

[Popeye]

Usually a couple of hours at a time.  Like Raymond said, depends on how soon you need gas.

If my wife is with me, some stops are after about 1 hour.

Popeye

[Jack]

I'd have to agree.  I ride until I'm almost out of gas, get some water, make some water, etc.  I have ridden 650 miles in a day but usually stay below 300 as an average.  I hate riding with folks that have to stop every 20 minutes for a smoke or to check out a rattle only they can hear.  It also irritates me to ride with someone who won't fill-up with the rest of the group causing others to stop again or to slow down and wait for the lone "gasser".  Yeah, I usually ride by myself and I like it. 

[Strider]

Depends on where I am going and what there is to see.  If I am superslabbing it, I agree with the above.  About 200 miles or so.  I use to stop for a smoke but have a lighter mounted now - cigarettes taste and burn like crap but like Hotglue says, "Stops are the one thing you can't make up" or Winghot says, "I don't run fast, I just run steady."  A superslab 600-700 mile day isn't bad.

When Hard6 and I are riding, we figure a stop about every hour and a half for a stretch and a smoke (that doesn't burn like crap) 100-120 miles or so.

A lot of the stops we don't even pull the helmet off - just a quick puff and light one for the road.  We try to minimize times at gas stations.  As Hard6 says, "We ain't seeing crap at a gas station son."

BUUUUUUUTTTTTT, if there are things to see.....that is another story.  I have spent rides through the Smokies that I was chasing other Valks around and didn't see anything and regretted it later.  Part of what we ride for is to see the scenery ya know.  If you are going through the finger lakes and all, man, there are so many places to see.  If I am not having to get somewhere, I stop at anything that really peaks my interest.

Sorry to be long winded, but I reckon there are two kind of rides:
1.  The Superslab, gotta get somewhere fast, every mile kind of looks the same ride
and
2.  The smell the roses, stop and check stuff out ride.

Usually if I do a lot of number 1 it is just to get to where I am going so I can do number 2.

WAIT, I don't think that came out right.....  

DDT, King of the Road Gypsy, I understand, once packed everything up and rode to the next town before settling down again.  

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

My mode of travel when heading somewhere and I'm in control of the pace is exactly like Raymond, with the exception that I don't have an interstate tank, so a little sooner is required. 

[..]

Interstate Highway. Go, gas, go, gas, go gas repeat. Dawn 'til dusk. On the ST1300 it's 250 miles to a fill up with about 40 in reserve 

Back roads - who knows. All depends what there is to stop and see.

[bg]

normally my bladder gives out before my gas tank does, so every 1 1/2-2 hours if i'm in a hurry.
if not on the super slab, i like to take my time and see what there is to see, stop when i  want to stop.
like strider, if  i'm going through nice country i don't like going so fast i have to have all my focus on the next curve and miss all the beautiful things there are to see.
slow and steady wins the race for me.

[Chrisj CMA]

My standard goes 150 miles before reserve, but very few (10 miles) on reserve.  So, I usually look for gas at 100 miles which is around 2 hrs.  Ten hrs of riding (2hrs at a time) is a done day for me.........and with a lunch stop, 10hrs is usually a bit over 400 miles or so. 

[R J]

Superslab:    Go till I hit reserve and then fill and take potty breaks, get fresh water and a candy bar.     Be sure and take the valve off of RESERVE.   Them suckers is too heavy to push.

Back roads:   It can vary, go 1 mile, or any mileage to empty tank as above.   If I see something interesting, I stop, and enjoy the scenery.    When my youngest daughter rode with me, told her if anything she wanted to see, holler.  I have seen 35 mile days with her.   Enjoyed every one of them also.

Back in the old days, (alone) anywhere from 400 to 1,000 mile days.

I hate riding in groups.   Think that goes back to my job motor days.  Usually rode alone or with a partner.  Depended on what part of our area we were assigned to that day.

You have heard the old saying:
'Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way'
That is my opinion of large rides.

Also will not do a Bar to Bar ride.

[Farther]

I just completed a 5k trip.  Half with friends and half alone.  With friends we tended to travel less, stop more.  My brother is not capable of riding past a bar.  While riding alone I did one 700 mile day and several 500+ days.  When alone I tend to stay on the bike until I need gas.

[tybme]

Solo ad trying to make time - it's fill up to fill up. With friends and a group usually 120-150 miles between stops.

[Mike M in ohio]

     I too live on Long Island, AND, have a weekend place in Schrppn Lake. (in the Adirondacks) So, I ride that route many times each year. I find that my initial leg of the trip is usually about 110-120 miles, which puts me at the northern end of the Taconic parkway, where there are three acceptable diners (two with gas) for my first break. After that, I do about 75-80 mile intervals, which gives me gas stops every other, and a few moments to stretch knee joints that have had some "damaging" experiences many moons ago.                 Mike in N.Y.

[BF]

Honda sized the gas tank figuring you would want to get off and stretch your legs about every 120-130 miles or so.  Wasn't that nice of 'em....always thinking of the rider.   

[Dragonryder2]

When riding by myself to see my parents I stop about every 200 miles for fuel and break.  When riding with other folks depends on what we want to do.  Stop and see things we've seen before or go to lunch/dinner.  

Will be riding to Silver City with a girlfriend that hasn't been there before in Aug.  We will stop at the top of Emery Pass and over in the Sapillo Crossing area.  Probably have lunch there and watch ALL the Hummingbirds.

[Tundra]

150 miles, gas up & pee, stretch your legs

[fudgie]

When I'm solo, usually till I need gas, 130-150 miles. 2 up, usually 75 miles. That puts me at 'half' a tank. We do it so she can smoke. Lot of the times we go over that. She will start getting squirly and I know we need to stop for a smoke. In all our 4 yrs together I can count on one hand the times she tells me to stop, usually she never does. If she's not comfy, your not comfy!

[fudgie]

.....not capable of riding past a bar. 

Guilty!  Seems to happen out west. Once we get west of Winner SD we just tend to take a break where they sell 'the coldest beer in the Badlands'. Interior & Scenic are on the map again this year! 

[bigdog99]

did 1000 miler in 21 hours once. partner had a shadow, they need gas every 90 miles.
thought i would have to pull him to gas once.
when 2 up ride till i feel the poke in the ribs thats usually around 120 miles. need to get a lazy boy on back. then not sure how long. once my butt goes numb hold on.

[Pete]

I try to stop every 2 hours no matter what I am riding or driving. The stop may only be 5 minutes, but I always walk some to relieve muscles and joints and refresh myself. Makes the travel more enjoyable.

[PhredValk]

Once I hit 2 hours or 1/4 tank (I/S) I decide I will stop at the next gas. Rode solo from Edmonton, Alberta to southern Ontario the other week, and sometimes gas comes just at reserve. Never had to put in the 4L I keep in the bags, but close sometimes. 19 hours, 950 miles the first day. Mistake. Stopped for a nap everywhere I found a picknic table the nest day; took 12 hours to ride about 400 miles. I learned a lot, and the trip home next week will be different.
I think 2 hours will be it in future, and motel when I get tired instead of trying for a target.
Fred.

[Billy]

For me, it depends on my hemorrhoids.

[humshark]

I'm pretty much in agreement with most of the posts here - Ride hard and fuel up when you hit reserve.

I have one exception - and that kicks in when it's around 90 degrees and up.  I go about 90 miles and look for gas / hydration.  That's just a bit over an hour on the superslab - and i have found that drinking / relieving  and pouring the last bit of water over the top before hitting the road again in the high heat makes me last ALL day without getting overly fatigued!

My last 1200 mile trip to Dallas was flawless even though the temps pushed triple digits.  Amazing how much water you can go through!

[Big Rig]

The guys I ride with have HD's (not smart folks ha ha ) they know I get 200 miles on my IS. They have to stop at about 100-110 miles...I never get off the bike...just look at them with contempt! ha ha ha

I will ride until she is almost empty and I would rather take the back roads than the Super Slab...if I am alone, I ride until I need fuel.

[BWANA]

Thanks to all for the input.

At 63 I'm guessing my blader will need emptying before my gas tank needs fillin.