Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned While Traveling

[@FFL-vg9ro]

All great points. But then again, the most memorable parts of all the trips I’ve taken, are the screw ups - riding 45 minutes in blinding rain in the dark to the nearest hotel room - thinking you knew the route, and getting hopelessly lost, and then finding the best restaurant ever in the middle of nowhere.

[@RickGaston-t8m]

Just discovered your KZbin channel, I'm 71 years old, been riding for 54 years, just finished a 6100 mile cross country tour solo. The times I did not have motel reservations lead to some very stressful times, riding in to a lager town or city I had never been to, trying to find a motel using my GPS in heavy rush hour traffic, with very aggressive drivers. I have watched a couple dozen of your videos and your thoughts echo mine almost exactly. I really enjoy the philosophical aspect of your videos, none of my friends know who Alan Watts is. I am not in great shape physically and very overweight, and I too gave up camping when I was 68 years old. Thanks for putting these videos together

[@franknunez7204]

If I'm not mistaken, statistically, 1/3rd of injuries happen in the area of the head/face that the chin bar of a full face helmet protects. So, using a half helmet is in some ways like not wearing a helmet on every third ride. For hot days, they have cooling vests, but depending on your bike it may be too much extra cargo to haul if you're adv'ing it. I use skull caps which I get soaked in water and wear under my helmet. But, I don't have so much experience in the heat and appreciate advice. I appreciate your videos, thanks man.

[@Jason_MotoPhotoAdventures]

Tire pressure checks is now something I will add to my regimen. Thanks for that, I always take it for granted.

[@stevebratten6592]

Aftermarket TPMS is only $60 bucks on Amazon. A lot cheaper than $25,000 BMW! Absolutely love mine. It also monitors tire temperatures! 110° in Kansas 🥵

[@CarrionDC]

Thank you for sharing your experiences. They are very helpful.

[@captratty2167]

All good advice and stuff I also have learned. Another tip - the dreaded sun in your eyes! Time your departure or arrival to avoid low sun. If you can’t see well, neither can that car driver behind you. Think about that for a moment…

[@1959Dragon]

After eight years of commuting 55 miles each way, into the sunrise/set, and 50 years to forget the bad parts, that is part of my instincts, but not my consciousness. Thanks for the reminder..

[@alainmichaud6747]

great video as usual , to answer you question : Traveling to much on highway ...I get bored as most highway here have not much to see, I like to take road were I enjoy , I prefer taking 1 hour more of riding but enjoying the scenery and more rolling and twisty roads. To many of my riding buddy's have one idea to get there and as fast as possible, got lots less riding buddies now and enjoy my rides more ( even if riding alone) . Alain & Yellow

[@markmath2883]

All good points! I have been riding since 1972. I would add: Make sure the bike has sufficient rubber to complete the trip or at least schedule having a new replacement somewhere on the trip (my Valkyrie shed a six inch piece of rubber on the Blue Ridge Parkway on a Saturday afternoon of a 3-day weekend). Have AAA. Bring an air pressure pump and battery jumper.

[@marklammers6117]

Your comment about picking your riding buddies carefully is great advice. It’s best to ride with others who have a similar level of ability and we have also found out the hard way that sport touring bikes do not mix well with big cruisers.

[@branguzzi1]

That Honda Cub was my first bike ever. Three speed centrifugal clutch. I rode the hell out of trails back behind our home.

[@tobypaone3426]

Great video as always. I would like to add to make sure you are hydrated, do take some time off the bike and maybe most important of all, have a good attitude. Mistakes and/or accidents will happen, especially when motorcycling. It will rain, it will snow and we will always forget something on our road trips. A good attitude is the most important of all...don't leave it behind!

[@garymaclean6903]

I'm 73 and find my endurance is less every riding season. I used to be able to ride with few breaks for 10 - 12-hr days. Now after about 5 hours I start to feel fatigue creep in. There's no point pushing well beyond that if the ride stops becoming enjoyable, and turns into an endurance test. Yes, a good night's sleep helps, but long rides on technically challenging roads can be both physically and mentally trying, even with an extra break tossed in. 'Hacks' simply means innovative approaches to solving a problem. I agree not all 'hacks' are great solutions, but often it's good to know how others dealt with their problems on the road when you may not have access to too many choices.

[@The_Grimey_Gravy]

My latest lesson learned: Always carry more than one method of payment. I was exhausted at ~1200mi of a Bun Burner and left my card in a gas station and when I went to pay for gas 200mi later... no card to be found. Luckily, I was able to find a station that used Apple Pay through my phone, but hard lesson learned.

[@henryhawk978]

I'm a loner. RIDE SAFE OUT THERE! Enjoyed the video.

[@paullee6663]

@henryhawk978 Me too. I'm sure some people enjoy riding with a group, it's just not for me.

[@risinbison1106]

My hard life lesson learned is to always do a pre ride inspection. This means tire pressure but also chain tension, oil level and, as I found out, coolant level. Pinhole leak in one of my lines I didn’t catch and started overheating in the middle of nowhere U.S.A.. Electrical tape and water from a nearby river was the only way I got to a town with repair parts.

[@markowsley4954]

I have to agree with all of your points, this is one of the best lists for traveling I've seen. Many of them can also transfer over to traveling by car, especially about prebooking hotels. This past year my wife and I took my elderly mother with us when we drove to Las Vegas from Florida. I made sure to make reservations for the trip out and back plus ensured that the mileage per day were well within her limits. It made for a very pleasant trip. On motorcycle trips I see this being even more important to make sure you are riding safely.

[@shegocrazy]

I didn't know about reverse wind chill. Good tip!

[@painsrides]

Good to see the Victory again 😉

[@backroadjourneys7674]

Agree on the TPMS... I installed an aftermarket TPMS and it has alerted me on two occasions when my rear tire picked up a nail and well before the tire pressure got dangerously low. I camp but keep it real simple... tent, sleeping bag, and camp stove... nothing else. the more camping gear the longer it takes to set up, break down, and pack - minimal is best. Ride Safe.

[@hijinx4u]

Great Video. I live in Las Vegas so I carry evaporative gear (towels and hat) that you wet and ring out, for when we're off the bike hiking, eating, and stretching. Don't forget to stretch. Wet wipes are really handy and help you to feel fresh all over, just don't flush them, please. Hope this helps someone.

[@milolabrett6549]

All good tips but I did learn a good hack from you once and that is soaking an Under Amour T- Shirt and wearing it wet underneath my jacket with the vents opened in extreme heat.

[@BootsandJeansRiders]

Booking ahead...We do a mixture of both, especially on our current "Roaming The USA" trip (Day 276) We would change directions at the drop of a dime. But when we know our destination, we "try" to book ahead. However, if we don't book ahead, we usually do a slower ride with plenty of stops, this way we aren't burnt out at the end of the day. You know we camp a LOT! and agree that daily setting up and take down can sometimes be a pain, especially if you are on a time limit. Number 6...DOB Day Of Bike, is a must. All great points Craig.

[@snailsfrogslegs119]

Excellent advice. I've made most of those mistakes (except I never travel with companions so that never came up). But ALL of the others you mentioned; I have experienced and learned from them too. Anyway, you give great advice here. Regards...

[@ElectraWillem]

I agree to all your points. Ride with your buddy's four day's straight in the rain on a long motorcycle trip, and then you will now who they really are.

[@Leonard-kd7uj]

Hi from Uk i normally set a days mileage that allows time to stop enjoy the aarea your in And breaks with factored on a mileage that you know is easily doable on the roads you chose to. Ride oh yes as. You rigghtly said book in advance ride safe

[@NedRochford]

My wife and I ride our own bikes. She does not have my endurance so we have to make sure that we: rest, eat and drink frequently. We also limit ourselves to 400 miles per day, though on many occasions, 300 was proper. Craig, all excellent points. We have, after about 8 years, finally figured out what works best for us! 2023 Tiger 1200 GT Pro, 2017 Spyder F3S

[@LTVoyager]

I prebook based on when and where we are riding. For most trips in the lower 48, we prebook, but only by a few hours. We generally stop for an afternoon coffee break around 3:00 and then book a hotel for the night. By that time we know how we feel, how the weather is, how the traffic and road conditions are, etc., and we will decide if we want to ride 50 more miles or 150 more miles and find a place and book then. This is early enough to be all the folks coming off the road after 5 PM, but late enough to get some good deals at hotels that still have a lot of rooms left at that time of day and start offering deals for that night. My experience has been different than yours in regard to the economics of booking ahead. For every time I have saved money by booking ahead in an area that got busy and had high rates that day, I have lost money 2 or 3 times when our pre booked price was much higher than the rates being offered at the last minute in hotels that haven’t sold out and want to fill their rooms for the night. Now, when traveling in places like Alaska where the hotels and towns are limited or in Europe, we tend to book well ahead. We booked a couple of days ahead on our trip to Alaska and that worked well. We had only one town where finding a hotel was a challenge as they had some sort of large race in town and most of the hotels were full, but we finally found a B&B a few miles outside of town. In Europe, we book the entire trip in advance simply because we aren’t as familiar with the areas and how hard it might be to find a room on the fly.

[@Sebastopolmark]

Hey Greg, all good points. As they say - everything is fine until it's not! !! !!!

[@OleHorsefly]

Thank you! I have watched many of your videos and I appreciate how observant you are and pass on wise tips. I have travelled many miles on extended trips as well and experienced many of the things you describe. Planning a long one this year and it's nice to have reminders....

[@Lee-sk2ov]

Everything you said is pretty spot on. I live in Texas so long sleeves and water are a big thing to me in the summer. I always wear a jacket or long sleeves no matter how hot outside. Drink water. Way back done the half helmet thing. It sucks full face much better. I ride by myself so it took me a while to slow down and take in some sights but I’m learning. Like you said just listen to yourself. Be smart first. I always try and book a hotel a day in advance. Especially in the summer months winter is not so bad. Slow down have a good time and stop and think first. All that comes with age. Be safe

[@northerniltree]

Travel Tip # 62: If you can't find (or can't afford) a motel room, simply speeding by and simultaneously flipping off a local constable will often get you free lodging for the night.

[@VagaBumAdventures]

Only if the hate the 1st amendment 😂

[@kyleturner6829]

Since I have the same bike, same year, I'm going to go ahead and subscribe. You're very experienced, (like me, 43 years) and you are very aware. I appreciate your viewpoints. Thanks.

[@kyleturner6829]

Perfect! I like your style. Very well said on every point.

[@mkelley51]

I have been educated by the school of hard knocks too. Especially the rebooking of hotels. I was traveling with a few friends and the leader determined that we could get a hotel after a couple hundred miles. There were several conventions in our route and we rode an additional three hundred miles in o get a room. Always book ahead.

[@TheEasyrider1200]

Camping takes time to get used to. There is a lot more noise and comfort issues to work out. I've noticed the first night is always the hardest as I become accustomed to the sounds again. Two things: Take a week or a few weekends close to home to sort out what or what doesn't work camping. Next, if I'm pulling up stakes everyday, I use my Hennessey Hammock which is like a tent you hang up between trees. It's way easier to set up, tear down and fairly comfortable.

[@paullee6663]

I've done my fair share of 'hacks' over the years, the last one being duct tape and cable ties to repair a broken speedo cable/drive. It worked very well and lasted the rest of the trip and more (500 miles?) It was pretty important, not for the speed, I could judge that pretty well from the Tacho, but for the odometer, as my bike doesn't have a fuel gauge and needs E5 fuel which is pretty hard to find in some parts of Wales.

[@MichaelJones-ir3cc]

All very good points! I have experience with every topic you brought up! Great video, thanks for sharing 👍

[@briangleason5597]

Thank you Sir, Enjoymand be safe.

[@frankcates3909]

Good stuff., thanx

[@generichards6497]

Great points that you made. Some of those also goes for riding in a vehicle.

[@jimpartin1144]

Sage advice!

[@KRfhp]

Great video! I’m very much the lone wolf type when I travel long distances. For me it just adds to the adventure. While my overall experience is limited, I do prefer to find places to stay along the way. I’m sure that will slap me in the face one day, but much like riding alone, it just adds to the adventure.

[@garymaclean6903]

The ability to find accommodation can depend a lot on the season. Off season, there's little risk, but peak vacation travel in popular areas is pushing your luck, and more likely to result in accepting whatever you can find that no one else wants (too expensive, or a dump), and a huge waste of your time when all you want to do is stop to rest. Booking ahead puts you in control, and always presents more options, as you know where you want to go, and you can choose where you prefer to stay. It can be cheaper too than 'standard' rates.

[@paullee6663]

Have to say, I kind of miss the Victory...🥲 Love that 'cockpit /dash' and the colour. She sure was a good looking motorcycle that's for sure.

[@joelahnstein2281]

as usual, excellent points that need to be taken on board by all riders. just a comment on the rain gear to avoid that sort of discussion: i wear gore-tex all the time, even in Texas Summer. (lots of ice in the pockets and all vents open. LOL)

[@PaodeCasa]

Great video! Regards from Brazil!

[@mikemills5144]

On long trips I always have way too many things to see, that way I can pick and choose what fits thw schedule. I also try to put in a flex day. Maybe use it to see some other things but use it if there is a breakdown, need maintenance or some other unforseen event. Good list...still love that Vision.

[@johnmichaels6794]

All brilliant!!

[@SomeRandoDudeOnline]

The rain gear one really hit home as I have made the mistake of no rain gear on a long trip. The first and last time I got caught without rain gear, I had to keep stopping and huddle close to the engine to try and warm up, then go a bit further, stop, huddle, warm up a bit, repeat. It was miserable. I don't ride anywhere without rain gear now.

[@BrewCityRider]

Excellent points Craig! Even though I have been bitten by the no reservation thing, I still rarely do it haha.😅

[@pistolpete6321]

Great tips!

[@MinnowMoto]

Good riding partners need to be flexable. I let whoever has the smallest tank and/or least stamana set the pace. Talk about speed limits prior to hitting to road helps alot, same with rest stops and rain gear. When riding solo I often push the to hard. Only stoppong for gas. I 'm still learning how to not over extend myself. Great stuff as always.

[@KetilDuna]

Annoyingly sensible, all of it. I ride a half helmet locally, but not on a trip. Buy really good rain-gear - it will be splendid to don if it just gets cold. Remember to bring said rain gear. If you don't have to see the bathroom, you are not drinking enough. Consider a camelbak or several bottles of water in your pack. Put a sticker low on your windshield that says "Smile while you drive". Happy driving, and thank you for this!

[@big566bunny]

I like the Camelbak (or similar); when using water bottles it's far too easy to drink when convenient (like when taking a photo or refueling), or when feeling thirsty. By then you are already dehydrated. A Camelbak lets you sip every 4-10 minutes and this keeps your hydration more steady.

[@williameichberger3664]

I ride in Houston and every place near.i ride a lone and never had a problem with people, places, things and cops . I pull over and rest sometimes and have people pulling over too check and see if everything is good.keep the rubber side Down be careful.

[@marekpapro4897]

Bardzo słuszne uwagi. USA to piękny kraj, szkoda, ze nigdy nie zobaczę tych dróg na preriach. Nauczyłem się tego, że najlepiej podróżować motocyklem zupełnie sam. Wiem ,że po USA mogło by być to niebezpieczne, olbrzymie odległości, itp. W Polsce nie ma niestety żadnych pustkowi i jest bezpieczniej z tego względu. pozdrawiam z Polski

[@teecee2146]

Good advice 👍🏽

[@2dollarbill650]

Don't judge the cold by just standing still. Peaple often forget about that wind chill.

[@curthenry9398]

Riding stay hydrated. The Hurt Report states that 25% of motorcycle accidents dehydration is the leading cause. I like sugar free Pedialyte to stay hydrated and do have water bladder in a in the tank bag for often sips of water. Hot weather I have stopped mid-day and visited a movie theater. A couple of hours in a cool dark space with plenty of free water, you feel great when you get back on the bike.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Hydration is important, but I don't recall or can find that the Hurt report states that figure you site.

[@illb10minsl8]

What's the silver bag on the back of your bike?

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

That is a DrySpec D38. You can find it listed in the Gear section of my website under Bags and Packing. www.livingofftheslab.com.

[@FajaGallagher]

Sorry to such a late comment. I'm 65 (retired) and don't have any long distance tours under my belt, so I'm looking for some advice. My college roommate and I are like-mined and want to start a week-long tour of Colorado, where he has relocated and retired. He has an AfricaTwin and I have a 1250GS, and we have all the gear necessary. You make multi-day tours look pretty relaxing and our question is this. How do you manage, as a solo rider, the concerns of breakdowns and possibly being stranded? It would be no help calling my wife in Ohio! Ha!

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

First make sure you bike is in good condition with good rubber before you go. Then, get a breakdown/towing policy from AMA, BMW or AAA. I have AMA and BMW. Know at least how to plug a tire and think about getting and learning how to use a tow rope. People are generally very helpful. greenchileadv.com/collections/adventure-touring/products/dynatow-dynamic-towstrap

[@donryan383]

Great video… did you say dray beard. I think meant white beard. Long past gray. 😀

[@clemc5457]

I rode cross country (AZ, TX, OK, KS…) to southern Minnesota in May 2021. The wind was the biggest problem for me. In addition to the normal crosswinds, the blow-by from oncoming semi trucks, on two-lane roads, really got old. The wind was atrocious just south of Spring Valley, MM and nearly knocked me over. Other than that it was a nice trip. What do you do about pre-reserved hotels if you’re unexpectedly delayed (bike breaks down, etc)? Are the hotels accommodating? Although I knew, well in advance, where I intended to stay, I only booked day to day.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

I try to pick places that allow cancellation but in some instances we have lost a deposit. No big deal, and this is very rare. We had to do this in 2022, when the BMW was down. We cancelled one room rebook another and in our case rented a car to continue.

[@Juergen732]

Lesson#1 riding a motorcycle is not all that its cracked up to be.

[@rogue5643]

I don't book ahead, never have, never will. Stealth camp always. Saves a lot $$$$$ for other things. Food, gas and maintenance items. Always carry tent and hammock.

[@davescrazy-trailer6542]

Do you miss your Victory Vision

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Cathy does.

[@williampowell2722]

they need to make a lighter weight American v twin as we get older we can be encouraged to keep riding in comfort with a large enough tank

[@darrellschuler5201]

After riding for 50+ years, I had my first on road accident at about 10 miles per hour and it probably totaled the bike. After riding aggressively (fast) over the passes in the Swiss Alps all day I decided to go see a landmark that would mean something to my wife. I was returning after dark in an area I did not know and cautiously pulled over to check my google map. I did not see the 2 inch lip from the road to a pull off. It caught my tire and the bike went down without warning. Lesson? Don't ride at night...in an area you don't know... when you are tired. You are already making bad decisions. It may just hurt or you may really pay a price.

[@markmattson4752]

👍

[@voolkhan]

❤👍

[@hhplymouth9473]

I am old enough to know what usedto be called tips are now called hacks. I do not use the word hack as it is these days. Just a grumpy old man talking. Do not take it personal.