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Motorcycle Touring Tips

Long Distance Riding Articles from Biggs Harley-Davidson®

America was practically built to be seen by motorcycle. With mile after mile of highway and stunning scenery from coast to coast, you’ll find something worth seeing if you travel long enough in any given direction. But seeing any serious amount of the country requires living off whatever you can carry on the back of your motorcycle, and that’s no small task. Everything from the way you pack to the way you prepare for your ride becomes important. If you want to have a fun and low-stress trip, it’s helpful to know a few tips. We here at Biggs Harley-Davidson® have gathered a few of the tips we’ve learned over the years to help our customers. If you find your Harley-Davidson® motorcycle needs maintenance before your next trip, bring it by the dealership. We’re located near Carlsbad, California, and we proudly provide service to the areas of Encinitas, Oceanside, and San Diego.


Establish a Route

In the era of modern motorcycles, onboard navigation systems make getting to your destination easy. Some might say too easy! There’s an old school, analog fun to pulling out a map and finding your route. This is made even better when you talk to people at restaurants, gas stations, and campgrounds about their favorite routes and roads. When you want to see more of the country, it’s not always best to let the computer plan everything for you!

Prepare for the Weather

It’s not possible to prepare for every weather event, but a few basic pieces of riding gear will get you through a variety of riding scenarios. Some helpful pieces include:

  • Full face helmet
  • Insulated riding boots
  • Ventilated riding jacket
  • Shielded gloves
  • Neck cooling wrap

Each of these pieces offers their own benefits, but one of the more fascinating things to consider is that riding in cold and wet weather requires essentially the same equipment as riding in extremely hot weather. The reason for this has to do with the way the body exchanges heat with the outside air, but the important thing to know is that by investing in quality gear from the beginning, you’ll have better outcomes in a variety of weather conditions.

Pack Efficiently

Most motorcycles feature limited space for cargo, and what space there is isn’t always divided into packing-friendly sizes and shapes. The most important thing to remember as you get ready for your trip is that you’ll be able to pick up many items along the way and you don’t necessarily have to pack all the gear you’d bring otherwise. Start with a few high-quality essentials such as a reliable camp stove, a packable sleeping bag, and an ultralight tent. Then add some basic clothing, but don’t go crazy with different outfits. (Use a laundromat instead!) If your motorcycle has a cargo rack, you can always invest in some new dry bags and strap them up behind you. Just remember that everything you bring, you’ll need to be able to secure every time you get off your bike.

Health

The longer you ride, the more you need to take care of your body. Riding can cause dehydration, fatigue, cardiovascular stress, and a host of other relatively minor conditions that can become dangerous if you aren’t at a high level of health. Always get plenty of sleep before a day of riding and make sure to eat full meals so you have plenty of energy. Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do. Drink water often and in large amounts so you never run the risk of getting dehydrated.

Here at Biggs Harley-Davidson®, we love motorcycle touring. Hopefully these tips will help you on your next trip. We’re located near Carlsbad, California and we carry the latest from Harley-Davidson®. Stop by our showroom and dealership if you live in Encinitas, Oceanside, San Diego, Poway, Rancho Santa Fe, or San Luis Rey, California!