Long-Distance Riding

If you’re a true motorcycle enthusiast, you’re probably looking for new ways to enjoy all that your bike has to offer. One way to do this is to embark on a long-distance trip on your motorcycle. Whether you’re exploring a town that’s a few hours away or crossing state lines into a whole new territory, you’ll be in for quite the adventure. Toad Suck Harley-Davidson® has provided this guide to long-distance riding. Keep reading to learn more! If you’re still looking for the perfect bike, visit our dealership in Conway, AR near Searcy.

Practice Makes Perfect

We’re all familiar with the saying, “practice makes perfect” and it definitely applies to long-distance riding. You should start by preparing your body for the journey. You’re going to require quite a bit of endurance to power through long stretches of road. When you spend hour after hour in the same position, your joints and muscles will start to ache and feel stiff. Not to mention that your eyes will feel heavy as you grow tired and your mind becomes fatigued. You should only plan a ride like this if you’re feeling up to it. Get plenty of rest, eat good meals, stay hydrated, and take breaks along the way.

You can begin getting your feet wet by taking short rides around town and work your way up to longer ones. This will help your body get used to various lengths of time spent riding a motorcycle. Over time, you can slowly increase how long you ride until you reach the length of a long-distance trip. For example, starting out with a day trip is a great way to prepare yourself for a multi-day bike trip. This is especially important if you’ve just recently purchased your motorcycle so you can get used to how it handles.

Plan Your Route

While it might be tempting to be spontaneous with your route, you’re better off planning ahead. After all, a long-distance trip is much different than riding around your hometown. You don’t want to wind up getting lost in a strange town, wasting your gas, and not knowing where you’ll be able to stop for the night. It can be extremely frustrating to be riding around aimlessly while you’re tired and hungry. You’ll be thankful you planned your route in advance.

Start by mapping out your route from your home all the way to your destination. You can look up traffic conditions and forecasts in an effort to steer clear of tricky riding situations. You’ll also want to look into hotels, restaurants, and gas stations that are conveniently located along your route. This will come in handy so you know where to stop along the way for all of your needs.

Inspect Your Motorcycle

Last but not least, it’s critical to perform a pre-ride inspection before you hop on your motorcycle and head out on your trip. You don’t want to experience a malfunction or breakdown when you’re far away from home. Be sure to inspect every part of your bike before you go. Check the tire pressure and confirm it’s up to the manufacturer’s standards. You should also be looking for any embedded objects and adequate tread depth. Check the oil as well. If it looks sludgy, you should change it before you depart. Top off your fuel tank, check all of your lights for functionality, and you’ll be good to go.

If you run into a need for parts or service during your inspection, our staff would be happy to assist you. Toad-Suck Harley-Davidson® is conveniently located in Conway, AR, serving Little Rock and Searcy. We wish you luck on your long-distance motorcycle trip!