Every Mistake I Made On My First Motorcycle Road Trip

[@CaribooHarleyRider]

As someone who rides coast to coast every few years (Canada) I've learned many tricks for long distance riding but the #1 thing I tell people is to stretch out your gas stops! Gas and go is the quickest way to shorten time you can spend in the seat, if you want to be able to do 600-900 km day after day weeks on end this is a must... I like to take at minimum 15 minutes at every gas stop, same for bathroom stops... 20 minutes is even better. Walk around, do some deep stretching, drink water or electrolytes, give your body some time to settle. Next year I'm going on a 12+ week road trip accros Canada including Newfoundland, Digby Wharf Rat Rally in Nova Scotia and Friday the 13th Port Dover Ontario in Sept before heading home to BC.

[@ericwilliams626]

Yes, in a car its the same principle. People don't realize how your body can recharge if you just take a little bit more time to allow it to gumby itself back into a normal physical state after sitting for so long. Use gas time to your advantage. You shouldn't be riding more than 150 miles wo a stop and stretch. It's not a race.

[@msghazi]

I'm heading out to St. John's from Edmonton in two weeks. We'll be pushing pretty hard with some long days. I know I'll be tempted to keep stops short, but taking a stretch and a walk is great advice.

[@CaribooHarleyRider]

@@msghazi stretch and hydrate :-) ...fruit and grains over junk snax, also magnesium and zinc help with night cramps

[@danpintal1215]

Did you have to reserve in advance all the motels?

[@msghazi]

@danpintal1215 that's up to you. I reserved all my hotels in advance. Some people prefer to just pull over when they get tired and find a place to crash. You can get some good deals if other people canceled last minute. Be careful in touristy spots, hotels tend to be booked months I'm advance

[@duncan883]

I feel some of your pain. I took an advance class weeks before my first trip to the tail of the dragon. I’d only been riding for a year. The twisties and the highway were pretty intimidating for me. I managed to make it there and back home safely. This was an organized group ride. I was lucky that someone paid attention to my skill set and decided to help me. It was a 2 day ride and after the first day I knew that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the group, and it rained that entire day. Luckily I stayed at the motel knowing my limits and not wanting to hinder the group from enjoying themselves. It was a learning experience and I’m still learning as I just returned from a trip to Daytona bike week. I decided to stay in a hotel halfway down and back. This helped with my confidence traveling alone and for 500+ miles total one way. I also experienced cold weather on the way home. I layered up and took it like a man lol. You made some good points about preparing properly. I like to live and learn myself, but it’s also good to get advice from experienced riders. Sorry for the long rant. Safe travels to you .

[@KuntryBoy4Lyfe]

Hey Duncan, just curious as I'm a new Harley rider myself. I did own and ride a Can-am Spyder for about a year and a half, but I never did long trips on it either. My question is, how many miles did you get in during your first year of riding and if you can remember, about how many miles did it take you to start feeling comfortable enough to get on the highway? I bought a 2023 Street Glide Special and I haven't even broke it in yet. I'm up to about 200 miles now and I take it out as often as I can just to get comfortable with it. I'm doing very well and learning fast. I'm even good enough now to ride in heavy traffic around town, but it's still a little tough getting used to the weight at slow speeds. Going from 3 wheels to 2 is very different, but it was a great decision! Just starting up my Harley adds a few hairs to my chest every time, lol.

[@duncan883]

@@KuntryBoy4Lyfe I had planned on doing 3000 miles the first year, but ended up with a lot more. Not riding full time due to winter in NC, I have ridden approximately 13,000 miles in 23 months. You just have to ride every chance you get. I purchased a Street Glide for my first motorcycle ever, because I didn’t want to have to buy and trade in. Decided to get what my goal bike was and learn how to ride it. I’ve been blessed and covered while riding it. I started out doing local back roads in order to avoid traffic and improve my confidence and get the 45 mph speed range down. Then I would do one exit to exit on the highway and then increase it every time out. You also may have to adjust the rear shocks to get rid of the loose rear end. I force myself to do more as if I’m experienced. There’s a lot of people that say you’re not experienced enough to do long rides or ride with more experienced riders. How do you accomplish this if you’re told that you’re not experienced or ready. I a lone wolf right now and I know my limits. I’m working on getting better. You also have to remember that in the training course you was taught slow riding skills. The experienced riders that have helped me on how and when to use the front or rear brakes properly have helped a lot. Take an advance motorcycle course and just continue to ride and practice, of which I need to do more often. I follow different you tubers and review their advice on becoming a more experienced rider. Keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down. Safe travels.

[@alripley5335]

​@@KuntryBoy4LyfeI know that feeling your talking about with a big bagger. The weight and power is intimidating. Get on that fkr daily. Low speed maneuvers are where it's at. I been clocking 30k miles yearly for a long time. You'll only get better riding em. Yup I've wrecked a few times and dropped them a DOZEN times. Riding alone is the absolute best as is long road trips. Best of luck!

[@heathenbiker]

If someone can learn from me here's what happened. I decided to go from Houston to the Texas Twisted Sisters (3 hills we call mtns), a popular biker destination here in Texas. It's about 300-400 miles to get there, and then about 40 miles or so of twisty roads. So i booked a campsite at a state park and headed out. I arrived at the hubcap grill (where everyone goes for biker bar atmosphere and souvenirs) at 5pm only to find it closed. Also in the hills it gets dark at 5pm. My expensive cellular provider, verizon, also has no coverage there, so once i exited google maps i couldn't pull it back up so i had no idea how to get to my campground. While in Houston the temps at night were 50-ish in the hills 400 miles to the northwest the temp that night i found out later was 29! So.. lost, dark, no dinner, no campground, deer all over the place, i decided to make camp just off the driveway of the restaurant. Slept with all my gear on freezing to death. Even ran the bike for a while so i could cuddle up to the tailpipes! Next time I'm bringing a real honest-to-goodness map. And downloading an offline map. And bringing warmer gear than i think i could ever need! I also make the dumb assumption that therecwould be gas ststions along such a well known destination. Nope. Next time I'm bringing extra gas too!

[@johngaulding3710]

Leakey resident here. Sorry about the ride but it does make a good rode memory. Yeh we are out of the civilized world out here but we like it that way. Tourists from the big cities give us a laugh when their expecting all the amenities they are use to. This area is crazy with wildlife and never ride at night. You're not even safe during daylight. Hope you can come back out and enjoy it.

[@heathenbiker]

@@johngaulding3710 haha! I grew up in the country. But been living in the city since 18. I never felt like such a city-slicker till that night!! LOL! Loved the ride. Will definitely be back, just better prepared.

[@allangosling6134]

for seat discomfort and pressure points some people use sheep skin on the long rides. I have one and not yet tried it.

[@morrisdennis]

A modular shoei is my choice...

[@clarson2916]

Nice video! I purchased my first motorcycle, two years ago in 2021, when I turned 65. A Yamaha V-Star, 250. I rode that little motorcycle over 18,000 miles during that first year. I live in Nebraska and rode to the Pacific coast in Oregon, the Atlantic coast in Florida, and from the upper peninsula of Michigan, through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and back over the mountains of Colorado. I actually crossed the Rockies three times on different trips. I really didn’t think it was that big of a deal, but I had done a lot of long distance, bicycle riding during my life. Congestive heart failure makes a motorcycle work better for me now. A few key things. Don’t wear anything cotton. No cotton blue jeans. No cotton underwear. No cotton anything! Make sure the rain gear you select keeps the water out of your boots. Your rain pants need to cover the top of your boots even when you’re seated on the motorcycle! Your socks need to be wool or synthetic because water will still get in, but your feet will stay comfortable. Even in summer, I wear wool socks. My layers are, synthetic or wool long underwear, an extra insulating layer for my torso, light weight wind resistant pants and top that fits under the protective gear, synthetic mesh protective gear, and then rain gear. Add and remove layers as needed. Three pairs of gloves, hot weather gloves, cool weather. gloves, waterproof insulated gauntlet rain gloves that are long enough to fit up under my rain gear. The dry bag with all my extra clothing is on the seat right behind my back, so I can use it as a back rest. One last piece of advice. As we used to say as young bicycle racers, and ultramarathon bicyclists… HTFU (harden the F up) Don’t wast time trying to make your motorcycle comfortable. If you want total wind protection, smoothness, and comfort, quit kidding yourself and just take your F-ing car. 😂 I’ve subscribed, and I’m thinking either Alaska, or Maine to California, with my 2007 Honda Shadow VLX 600 this summer. For an old man with congestive heart failure… time’s a wasting :) One more thing… I ride alone, and I cannot imagine riding with a group. When you ride with a group the ride is about the group, and your memories and interactions are with the people in the group. When you ride alone your memories and interactions are with the places you go, and the people you meet along the way.

[@redsorgum]

I’ve owned two VStar 250’s, great motorcycles. I put over 11,000 miles in one year just riding on the weekends.

[@TheRomans9Guy]

Man, you’re an inspiration! I just turned 50 and I bought my first bike late last year, a 2000 Valkyrie. I’m looking forward to putting together the gear you described and hitting the road!

[@clarson2916]

@@TheRomans9Guy A Honda Valkyrie! That’s a little bigger than my first motorcycle. My little 250cc Yamaha was a great bike, and I still kind of miss it. It was so easy to work on, and to just generally deal with. Nothing about that motorcycle was heavy or expensive. Everyone told me I needed a bigger bike, so I got the 600cc Honda Shadow. It’s really bigger than I need. I still do all of my own maintenance, but pulling off the wheels is actually work with the Honda. But, I’ve gotten use to it, and it was cheap enough. Besides, I enjoy motorcycle riding, but I don’t really enjoy motorcycle shopping. One more thing… Be careful out there, motorcycle travel is addictive! :)

[@keithrowell8895]

Wel aren't you special. Nothing wrong wen having cotton pants shirts. Wear cotton and road from Northern California to South West mo.and Kansas St 8 degrees. Little hard to believe some ones rode all them miles on a 250. Had a 750 Honda 2003 worst bike ever been on

[@clarson2916]

@@keithrowell8895 Someone likely rode all them miles on a bicycle too. Now that person would be special. 👍

[@Henry.58]

In my case when traveling from central Ohio to Tennessee on my 1st solo ride the 12" apes I purchased before going saved my neck,I also have back issues and the pain and stiffness goes right to my neck. I also stopped about every 75 miles and hung out talking to complete strangers and just refueling so to speak. Something about riding in the foothills of Appalachia alone at your own pace does wonders for the soul.

[@JohnnyRebKy]

That’s what I like to do. I don’t worry about distance. I just ride at my own leisure. If I stop every hour, horse around, and only make 200 miles in a day…then so be it 😂. It’s about the journey not the distance.

[@BossMan302]

My first road trip was 1260 miles on a 2020 iron 883 with only a saddlemen step up and slip ons for mods. Talk about things you should have done differently? My hands are still vibrating. It was awesome.

[@bobhartman2571]

All you said is correct on a long trip, but carry a small towel to wipe the seat, rubber surgical type gloves to wear inside glove that maybe wet, extra socks. Tire repair kit, air refill pump for tire, tools, battery booster in case your battery is dead.

[@shlangevin]

I have put over 75,000 miles on my 2017 Road Glide and the one thing that I have found is to have a pair of ear plugs. That and packing pretty much the same ever time so i am not digging and unpacking a saddle bag to find my rain gloves when they are in the other bag. The other is a heated Jacket, not only for those early morning rides in the mountains but also in the rain. If your cold you lose focus and thats not a good thing.

[@ronfriedman8740]

Yup, the right gear is important. A good windscreen reduces the fatigue and keeps you warmer. I've got a heated saddle & grips.

[@hogfit]

We do a road trip almost every year, last year it was California to Nashville and definitely not the express route, we did 5800 miles in 22 days. So believe me when I tell you, you will learn something from every one. We've ridden in rain, snow and 112-degree heat, which was maybe the most taxing of all. I have a check list that I keep, and I try to update it after a trip with anything I may have learned or thought of. Keep it up, the memories are priceless.

[@ZebraActual]

Could you please post your checklist?

[@FlipandTheBlueMule]

I'm a Florida rider... straight n flat.... and moved to the mountains of western NC... it aint easy (and I'm 65yo disabled vet) teach an old dog new tricks

[@kennethcortes1609]

I tour quite a bit, I travel with padded fxrg pants and jacket. They are waterprooof, but can be vented when its warm. In the winter I layer with thermals and sweatpants, then the fxrg pants. Summer, I wear shorts and when off the bike I take it off and wear flip flops as well. I carry 3 pairs of gloves, one gauntlet with thinsulate, and my helmet is a bell star with the transition shield (No more shield changes) I'm never cold even in the upper 20's.I ride an ultra limited, the mods I made was a seat (Mustang summit heated) and backrest.(The factory bars are adjustable, they go forward and back quite a bit. (I'm 6'3"") Makes all the difference. Last year I did several plus 1000 mile trips and was dry and comfortable the whole time. Thanks for all your content, Especially the carry content.

[@ZebraActual]

Transitions shield rocks! I love mine, and it's worth every penny.

[@garymaclean6903]

Speakers when ear buds work so much better? No clear visor. Poor riding gear. (bare arms, little protective gear, little good rain gear?) And chaps was your go-to... Yah, it's like you're trying to only learn the 'hard way'... What's wrong with proper padded riding pants, available at most quality dealers? When it's cold add some long underwear. I've never been cold, even when the temps are just above freezing. You choose heavy insulated gloves over heated grips? And why didn't you buy a clear visor too? If you have decent sun glasses, why do you need a tinted visor too? Back pain most of the trip. Maybe riding isn't for you until you get that fixed. Trips aren't supposed to be an endurance. If you're not experiencing is as a pleasure, you're doing it wrong.

[@logut80]

Not trying to be rude but have you never been on vacation before? Lol Always check the weather conditions for where you're going so you know what clothes to pack, I just took that it was commen knowledge to do that.

[@leonelpineda5464]

Great vid, my two cents, which u probably know, watch for deer especially at night, I hit one last fall riding up in central CA coast, thankfully I didn’t go down but I did kill it after I hit on my right side of my SGS. 8k in damage but able to ride it back home to a shop. Ride safe bud. 😎

[@ronfriedman8740]

Yup! After riding all day, I simply refuse to ride mountain roads at night - too much wildlife roaming about.

[@ProbablyStonedComments]

Friggin deer man, standin on side the road…all menacing and what not. 🤣

[@scrumpymanjack]

2.48 "I'm prepared for anything at this point," he says wearing a T-shirt on a motorcycle. That, alone, tells me that I'm not learning ANYTHING here.

[@myronmosley2167]

I live in north Georgia and when you mentioned “real twisties” that’s pretty much everything out here as this whole area is on top of a mountain range. I absolutely love riding here, twisties and beautiful scenery as soon as I pull out of the neighborhood. You definitely have to be solid on planning your lines, and looking through the turns to where you want to go or you may end up riding off a 200 foot drop off. A lot of roads around here don’t have guard rails so the only thing that will stop you from reaching the bottom if you go off the edge are trees if you’re lucky lol. And I’ll never buy a tinted face shield, visibility conditions change too much. Right now my helmet has a clear face shield, and I just wear shades under it so if it gets dark or rainy I just pop my shield up and take my shades off. When I get a new helmet I’m going to get one with the built drop down internal shades so I don’t have to carry shades with me but for now, what I have is good enough. And I always dress in layers, but that’s something I learned in the military that carry’s over. Because if you don’t need it, just take it off, but when you do need it but you didn’t bring it because you thought it was gonna be warm enough or it wasn’t going to rain hard and it does, it gets miserable real quick and there’s nothing you can do about it.

[@ronfriedman8740]

Another Georgia rider here. Don't spread the word, but we are blessed to have some of the best riding east of Mississippi. 😉 I'm always up in North Georgia, North Carolina & Tennessee from spring to fall & ride just about year round, making day trips to central Georgia during the winter. Located in north metro Atlanta, I routinely get my fix for twisties riding the Suches loop & the Richard B. Russell scenic hwy for a quick 150 mile run. While the Dragon is just 4 hours away, I often opt for other rides like the Moonshiner 28 or the Cherohala. Ride safe and enjoy!

[@TK-cl1jm]

2:50. Yikes! Are you seriously stopped in the suicide lane to change your gear?! Crazy.

[@moefugger]

When someone starts out doing trips on a bike , it turns into a learning curve for sure. Some things ive learned , if its cool in the morning when you leave , put all the gear on before you go. You can strip it off as the day gets warmer. Also , get a heated vest !!! Having your core warm does wonders for overall comfort. Heated grips also make a huge difference. You'll learn over time...take less stuff , especially clothes , you wont need them. You,re spending the majority of your time riding and dont need alot of laundry. You;ll also learn to pack so stuff you may need during the day , is accessible. I ride an Ultra Limited and i use the side bags for riding gear , me and my girl get one each. The tour pak is for luggage. , then i have a small hard case harley bag on top of the tour pak that is for daily stuff like water, sunscreen, smokes , snacks etc , that way its super easy to get to. Got this down to a science after a ton of trips ! One last thing , if im on a road i dont know , slow down on the corners , better safe than sorry ! Looking forward to the next video for sure , always good to see other peoples adventures

[@OneDown5Up]

We all learn the hard way. Chaps are ok for cold weather, but much better to have vented waterproof riding gear so no need to even stop. The HD fashion crowd may not approve, but way more functional. Opt for the transition visor too, much easier.

[@Peter-mcmcmc]

Really appreciated seeing another side of you in this video. Respect the eff out of your objectivity in reviews, and now respect your humility and grace with regard to admitting that about your vision (letting your eyes get away from you). So many KZbinrs try to be Billy Badass, and it always feels like bullhiz, so thank you for keeping it real! And great footage, btw. ✌🤘

[@KindredGh0st]

I've you get a back rest... There's no going back. Idc anymore if my bike doesn't look cool anymore. Fictio function over form from now on.

[@johnnydangerously7186]

Dedicated touring bikes come with lowers, tour packs, heated grips and seats for a reason. My first big road trip was 2000 miles round trip to Sturgis on my Springfield. That trip quickly taught me the difference between a bagger and a dedicated touring bike. I know ride a Roadmaster.

[@dry509]

Newbie here..are lowers, like on an Ultra Classic Harley, supposed to protect the lower legs from the knee down? Asking because I talked to two people on Harley’s where debris hit each in the lower leg and almost chopped their legs off.

[@clarson2916]

@@dry509 If you get hit with road debris you might be riding too close to the traffic ahead. I stay back at least 150 yards or more from semi trucks and most other vehicles. A chunk of tire tread can do worse than take your leg off, that shit can kill you!

[@dry509]

@@clarson2916 Good to know!

[@dry509]

@@clarson2916 P.S. what bike do you ride btw…?

[@clarson2916]

@@dry509 I retired and purchased my first motorcycle, a 2014 Yamaha V Star 250, in February of 2021. I rode that little Yamaha all over the country, over 18,000 miles, in 2021. I Purchesed a 2007 Honda Shadow VLX 600 in December of 2021. I rode it into both Canada and Mexico, over 11,000 miles, in 2022. The Honda is a great motorcycle. Really well built and nicer finished than the Yamaha, but I kind of miss the little Yamaha. The bigger 600cc motorcycle wasn’t really necessary. I’ve probably spent more that $8,000 traveling in the last two years, but after selling the Yamaha and purchasing the Honda I have about $2,200 invested in my motorcycle. That’s about the right balance :)

[@lifeenvironments]

Just did Indiana to DC on my Goldwing. At one point, the spring on my center stand broke, which made a hell of a raucous as tne stand drug on tne pavement. Bungee cords and zip ties saved the day - 2 things I almost took out of my toolkit. As long as I've toured, not a single trip has passed without lessons learned. You'll have many more. Congrats on your first trip! Wishing you many more!

[@winnerwolf9546]

One thing I watch out for at night in the mountains is night vision with the displays ...I actually don't count on my phone at night cause one wrong glance at a phone .... off you go to Valhalla

[@morrisdennis]

Been thinking about a heated vest that plugs into my cigarette lighter?

[@frankiemac8891]

Rinehart is a Joke, hahahahahaha. You talking "Speakers", hahahahahahahaha. That's biking to you, hahahahahahaha.

[@bigg2768]

Not meant to sound harsh but common sense and the ability to think independently and plan ahead are PRICELESS. But, I’m from the pre interweb generation.🎉 Pretty sure this content creator could have watched the other countless vids already posted on how to prep for a road trip and 100% avoided 100% of his ‘problems’. Just sayin.

[@LivingOnCash]

I think there are people that just want to be internet famous and benefit financially from creating videos. The actual content is irrelevant as long as it can get clicks. I don't know if that is the case with this guy but I've seen so many videos that are full of useless information or just stuff that most people with any modicum of common sense already know.

[@johnjackson54]

West Coast to East Coast and back in 30 days. Every other year. One year by way of Sturgis. 2017 we called it the strip club tour. A 9,000 mi ride. Hit strip clubs in every city we stayed in that have them. Sometimes four in a night. Good times

[@ejdtm]

I could make a huge list of what I’ve learned or was taught. Rok Straps instead of bungees. Tire Plug kit. Light wool socks. Wicking, non-cotton underwear. Thin glove liners for extra cold days. Backrest 100%. When buying new bars, make sure your hands are not above your shoulders and make sure they’re not too wide. Making slow tight turns with tall wide bars, sucks. The list gets a whole lot longer when you add camping into the mix. But it’s fun as hell.

[@twisneski86]

Dude, my intent here is not to be mean. But this video sounds like a new rider going on a road trip. You did no research on the weather of where you were going. Didn’t bring any layers for any situation. Forgot your clear visor. Your video started out strong and had me interested. And at about the four minute mark you lost me. I still consider myself a new rider having started in 2018. But if I’m going on a road trip I am checking the weather for the local time of the year of where I’m at and where I’m going and bringing appropriate clothing and gear. You did a piss poor job “planning” your road trip.

[@HegshotRides]

The video is called every mistake i made on my first road trip lol. So yeah i made mistakes but I owned up to it so others can learn from it

[@charlesjr916]

My dad and I rode from Detroit to Folly Beach, SC and I wore a back brace the entire ride because I have arthritis in my lower back and I can honestly say it helped. It was our first road trip and we made some mistakes as well. We learned from it so when we ride to Houston this year it'll be better

[@HegshotRides]

Nice man. That’s a hell of a ride.

[@roblow5522]

I used to have an old Goldwing many years ago. If the roads were clear and it was above freezing I went on many winter rides. I Iearned a long time ago that if you don't keep the wind out whether it be up your back, down your neck or up your sleeves, you won't stay warm. Sometimes I look at all the RGs and I think man they are cool looking bikes. But when a cold pissing rain is blowing over that stubby windshield and up the sleeves of those outstretched arms hanging on to those apes. I think well that shark nose fairing is still a good place for a radio. Just my shitty opinion, don't take it to seriously. I have an Ultra Geezer now and if I might need it I have already packed it whether it be tools or gear. I don't melt in the rain but I have given up those winter rides. We have internet now days so cabin fever is not as big of a problem.

[@Grizzlydonzac]

My son & I did a road trip when he was 16 he had a street glide. We hit 15 states 9200 miles in 45days had a blast and learned a lot

[@randyholcombe4234]

Your rain pants will work as a wind barrier / 2nd layer when it gets cold. Base layers are good and pack well; they can be put on if weather turns cooler. I always ride trips with 3 pair of gloves (standard, warmer and waterproof). Nearly froze my hands off in July on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the rain once. Carry layers like long sleeve T-Shirts, quarter-zip fleece etc.

[@morrisdennis]

A heated seat and grips.

[@seancoe8254]

That’s a sweet helmet! Where can I find it?

[@HegshotRides]

It's an Atlas 3.0

[@curtiscollins2174]

Being a fair weather rider of 47yrs. Try not to ride in rain or nighttime. Much higher danger and takes enjoyment out of my rides. Retired, I can pick and choose. Humble opinion.

[@hookdog8640]

Tank bag for glasses,camera, snacks. Ciro drink holder + a yetty. Rickrak for clothes. Saddle bags for camping gear or clothes layers and tool roll. You're on the right track, brother. Sounds like Mike got a lot of experience. I do 14 to 25 days of trips at 1 time. Listen to your buddy he won't steer you wrong.

[@Jonathan-L]

7:20 ... good save!

[@msghazi]

I rode from Victoria BC to Toronto ON when I was a young man. I had a Yamaha V-Star 1100 Classic. Beautiful bike. I was not prepared. The bike was not prepared. Flash forward 20 or so years, and I'm riding my Harley from Edmonton to Newfoundland and back (one week each way with a week in St. John's). I feel much better about this trip!

[@kennethcole1551]

When I was 7313 years ago, I took a trip from Beverly Hills Florida to Tok Alaska it was about 5000 miles one way I pulled my camper behind my motorcycle. I stayed in Providence and state and federal parks. I only rode about 300 miles a day because I wanted to enjoy the parks when I got there I went out to Montana Alberta Alaskan highway and then I had to come back. And then I went to route 80 the word Drawings to route 70 And I follow route 70 of the Rocky Mountains and then I went to Texas and everything come back to Florida for the half months 14,000 miles beautiful trip

[@FLYBOY123456789]

oh my...five mins into this and I'm shaking my head...so much for preparation...and careful planning...thumbs down.

[@beanoil]

Raw, yes. Appreciated, absolutely. Always easier to strip down than add on. A good base layer, (doesn't have to be MC gear) such as Under Armour that absorbs moisture and wicks it away is a must. A simple sweatshirt from WM packs small, and is usable. I use a Textile jacket (prefer Tourmaster) with a removable liner. I can easily remove the liner, open the vents, take off the sweatshirt as temps rise. I carry 4 sets of gloves. Light, (OSI cool), armored, (many available), waterproof,(long cuff) and snowmobile. Heated grips...can't stress that enough. Mine are HOT, in heavy rain, wisps of steam come off the gloves. Rainsuit: After 55 years of riding, I've had a few. and settled on Tourmaster Defender as the standard. Get is sized to go over your gear. I ride with waterproof boots, TCI from Italy. Keep the honest, straight up content coming!

[@LilySpencer-c9k]

As someone who rides coast to coast every few years (Canada) I've learned many tricks for long distance riding but the #1 thing I tell people is to stretch out your gas stops! Gas and go is the quickest way to shorten time you can spend in the seat, if you want to be able to do 600-900 km day after day weeks on end this is a must... I like to take at minimum 15 minutes at every gas stop, same for bathroom stops... 20 minutes is even better. Walk around, do some deep stretching, drink water or electrolytes, give your body some time to settle. Next year I'm going on a 12+ week road trip accros Canada including Newfoundland, Digby Wharf Rat Rally in Nova Scotia and Friday the 13th Port Dover Ontario in Sept before heading home to BC.

[@RebeccaHill-n8c]

Good video, man. I can relate to a few of those experiences minus the rain, thankfully. Did 1600 miles from Philly to Acadia, Me. I thought I over packed for mountains being it was August.. yeah we stopped and grabbed a layer for the 6am starts. Lol. The winding roads started my realization to practice and be proficient at U-turns as we were shooting from the hip. I have a respect for the lost craft of map reading. Google gives me anxiety in trafficked city highway. Much better rider because of the experience

[@ericwilliams626]

Wind. You absolutely need gauntlet gloves. I have many gloves and the only ones that work are gauntlet. I use runners warmers from Costco. They work. Also use a handkerchief for your neck and face. First Manufacturing offers great jackets and gloves at a reasonable price.

[@BlokeOnAMotorbike]

I did a 260 mile roundtrip on my 125 just before Christmas, I knew it was going to be cold and wet so I took two pairs of gloves (heated full gauntlets and knuckle leathers), five layers on top and three on the bottom (including a full merino wool base layer and waterproof outers), didn't have a choice with my helmet - my full face lids were both waiting for new pads so I was stuck with my open face - so bally and gaiter got put on as well. I was toasty warm even through the sideways rain. January 4th I'll be doing a 350 mile round trip (which'll take the better part of 14 hours so I'll be leaving and arriving in the dark).

[@1966impala100]

A few things from riding over the years. Properly sized windshield. Pair of pants one waist size larger than you think you normally wear. Chap stick and sun block. Carry your wallet in your tour pack/bags, that little bit of pressure all day can give you a sore back, neck ect. Notify your bank, credit union you’re out of town and using your cards. I.c.e card on you for emergency contacts if something happens to you. Air tags on my bike, and tour pack ect.. I want my stuff back and my wife can see where I’m at. Ride within your limits, know when to say when. From about 9pm to 5 am you will find it’s time to pull for the night.

[@raymondpontremoli4500]

Love the look of smoked windshields but they suck at night....I switched over 30 years ago....clear visor at night with yellow glasses, smoked visor during the day or clear visor during the day with Polaroid glasses. I prefer the clear visor with Polaroid

[@Inthewind24]

My first big trip was on my Tiger 1200. Surprisingly comfortable riding. I definitely over packed. Tool kits, tire pumps, charging cables for anything. The best piece of kit was a good rain suit, ear plugs , and cleaner for my visor. I guess the rest was “just in case” but I felt I could have packed a lot lighter. Can’t wait to do it again.

[@robertmatetich2898]

Some of your discomforts are Harley related. Other bikes, including Indian, BMW, or Honda have them sorted out from the factory. As for the sound system, you can't beat in-helmet earphones. Another lesson that I'll share, even though you won't pay attention, is not to jump on the first solution that comes to you. Try alternatives. Harley intentionally builds imperfect bikes in order to support it's parts dept. and third party suppliers. Most Harley riders are so focused on the peripheral benefits of Harley that they're willing to buy a bike that only has one good feature. Accordingly, they expect to have to change so many aspects of it that it costs them a fortune. Historically this has been marketed as "making it your own", and crazy's are literally buying it.

[@harleyhawk7959]

need warm toasty gloves, then go to a snowmobile dealership. I have a pair of cold waterproof gloves, no matter how wet your hands stay dry. a pair of mittens for cold weather keep your mits warm, but kinda suck working the brake and clutch. electric under coat, plugs into bikes with a thermostat. goretex riding suit for rain, motorcycle rated chaps, and jacket. I road 500 miles in rain with a half helmet and motorcycle glasses, my gortex raining coat has a hood made for over helmet. works wonders, harley gortex Rain Coat, and Bib Lowers.🎉

[@louieavi]

Ha! Jedi practice with blast shields. You dont need a clear visor LOL. After 6 years of riding I consider myself a new biker so you sharing was informative. Cheers!

[@Bullwolf1965]

We did a butt burner from Ormand Beach FL to Richmond In. 1023 miles and cold as hell in the Smokies in I75.

[@JohnnyRebKy]

I’ve never been further than here in KY down to Smokey Mountian national park and Cherokee NC. Did a camping bike trip down there with a buddy. But I want to ride to Colorado and see the Rockies! But man that distance I just dunno if I can make. If I had bought an ultra I prob could but my heart wanted a heritage softail so that’s what I got. I just dunno if I could make it or not. Bad back and had a few surgeries already. But I wanna go so bad !

[@christopher2399]

Most of us are hard headed and have to learn the hard way.... Some of us learn from our mistakes some people will never learn. One of the biggest lessons I learned was choose very wisely who you want to ride with. Some people wanna ride 85-90mph in the rain, some people wanna ride 600-700 miles a day. Choose people who have the same riding style as you and have a serious sit down with the other riders what their expectations really are.

[@johngaulding3710]

Never Never Never ride at night. We could ask "Mr Safety, the motorcycle magazine writer" about this subject, but he violated his own rule and paid with his life. Be smart and be safe

[@mackpryor6887]

2016 Road King. One of the best things I bought for comfort was taller bars. Surprised me.

[@PainterD54]

You have to make sure you bike is comfortable for you because being a little uncomfortable makes the ride miserable. Good rain gear and warm clothes underneath is so nice in the rain you will be happy you have it on. And heated grips are must (for me anyway) they seem to make your whole body warm. My stereo also helps on long rides!

[@301joey1]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing, Im not trolling but that camera 60s flash back stuff is a buzz kill, its to busy!!! Not hating just putting it out there! Thanks again for the info.

[@ProbablyStonedComments]

DON’T THINK, your heated grips are gonna keep your hands warm…even with gauntlets.

[@carlhursh505]

Frogg Toggs for rain and wind breaking. Chaps tend to let your nuts freeze. Harley people just don’t know how to travel, sorry.

[@frase32]

I know SO many people who buy heavy and expensive touring motorcycles and then literally never ride more than 100 miles from home. It makes no sense to me. At the end of the day it's their money and their choice, but it doesn't mean it's not dumb haha.

[@larrycrass2641]

Wrangler Thinsulate lined jeans. One layer keeps you warm even when wet makes bathroom stops quicker and easier.

[@one60studios74]

I live close to the Colbach dealership. There are so many backroads that are just like the dragon and not busy at all. I feel fortunate to have grown up riding the roads in east Tennessee

[@redneckgearheadgarage495]

I spent 7 years in central mn before moving back home to swmo. I've found my snowmobile gloves/jacket are amazing for riding on those cool days. Great video BTW

[@dustincollins16]

I hate chaps. I bought some leather bibs with zippers all the way up the legs. Keeps more warm than just your legs

[@tomjones407]

This should be called, How to Advertise My Page.... Waste of my time....

[@GT-sj3si]

I've spent several weeks in that part of the NC, TN and VA smokies. There are a couple of maps that show the Named mtc routes like the Rattler, The Diamondback, etc. Living in SC myself it's my go to area for a few days or a week of wind therapy 😊

[@FlipandTheBlueMule]

Its a serious workout on the curves and especially with apes. I have 16s and its a workout

[@chadbaillie6760]

I packed way too much for my first 1700 km trip. But enjoyed it to the fullest with a group of 12

[@CaribooHarleyRider]

BTW/ All the roads here in BC are twisties so thats not an issue for me...we love our twisties! We have our own verison of tail of the dragon, British Columbia hwy 31A 😁

[@ProbablyStonedComments]

Rule #1… Mail all your wife’s shit to your destination, hairspray won’t pack down. 😂

[@tylerthrash3155]

Older I got the more wise I got and now I always rock a clear visor with flip down shades. Been there done that haha gloves wind guard for the hands help. It sounds funny but get something to cover your crotch if it's really cold your little buddy will thank you.

[@jackrobinson8945]

I notice that you have one of those short little windshields on your bike. They look cool but they're useless on a long trip. I also never use a tinted visor, just a clear one with sunglasses.

[@zib714]

How much outa pocket were you picking up the extra needed items on the road. I have a 1000 mile trip to the mountains coming up.

[@ericmartin6657]

As far as you're not being able to see in the rain get you a windshield wiper device for your motorcycle helmet which you can get online

[@morrisdennis]

Doesn't look like u understand what counter steering is? Most ppl dont understand it. Master it, it will make u a btr rider.

[@markguthrie6333]

Going through Kentucky, it rained so hard i had to stop. Blinded by the sideways water bullets.

[@frankiemac8891]

38 degrees, hahahahahahahahahaha. What a joke. Hhahahahahahahahahaha. At least you are out there putting miles on. Good for you. That is what it takes. You gotta put miles on.

[@louieavi]

Yeah below 40 degrees is too cold and above 110 is too hot. If the ride is not enjoyable, I don't ride.

[@JohnStephens-g6h]

For a motorcycle video guy you really don’t seem to be a very experienced guy.

[@morrisdennis]

I avoid night riding i hit a deer one time, totaled my bmw 1200 lt slid 283'😢 it almost killed me...

[@extremebaggers7817]

I would’ve freaked out and you know exactly what part of the video I’m talking about

[@mattmccarty72]

So basically this is an act of stupidity to advertise throughout the video. Horrible !

[@aaronwhite5206]

I stop putting shade visors on my helmet for that reason cause when it rains it’s always dark so clear visor and sun glasses

[@1rebel13]

Novices have no business on $30k bikes nor on the internet attempting to teach others their lack of knowledge.

[@tylerpoling5609]

I ride with a Bell helmet. I'll never get away from their transition visors

[@ZebraActual]

Same here.

[@TheVeroneeLife]

Great video bud. From sc also, where about you from?

[@TrueHelpTV]

you gotta do the I-40 challenge... pheww it will suck the life out of you lol

[@colinmikesell1487]

ur info is so so....and you talk way to much...just saying...

[@prakashspex]

Could have bought a clear visor a dozen times...

[@morrisdennis]

Start off with short trips and work ur way up 2 longer trips.

[@mikehubble3962]

Harley the gay mans bike. Stop & get U a bud light too.

[@dry509]

So the lowers on your bike did not protect your legs?

[@BillyHeaton16]

Could’ve went to Walmart and got layers

[@allenshelledy1803]

Good information, and thanks for sharing 👍

[@morrisdennis]

I riding a 114 rg limited currently...