Long Distance Motorcycling


 
 


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I took my first "long-distance" trip on a motorcycle in 1975.  I rode my 1974 Kawasaki H1 from Kansas City to Garnett, Ks.  This epic voyage of 150 miles round trip was conducted with NO equipment of any kind...except some suntan lotion for my then-girlfriend who went along for the ride.  But it did open my eyes to the idea that you could ride a motorcycle point-to-point, and not just zoom around town.  Still, the idea that you would actually ride cross-country, as my friend Bob Kloss did riding a BSA Victor home for Navy leave from Memphis in 1968, was pretty amazing. 

Flash forward 25 (gulp) years. 

Motorcycle touring is one of the fastest growing areas of our sport, with thousands of people seeing more of America each year via two-wheeled transportation.  Modern touring equipment is a marvel, with wind protection, power, and comfort levels unheard of when I first started riding. 

I rekindled my interest in motorcycling upon my move to Texas in 1990, and very soon thereafter began exploring motorcycle touring.  There are many, many experienced riders out there, from whom I've learned a lot and am still learning.  I want to capture some of this knowledge here on these pages, and to list some useful links.

The Iron Butt Association is the premier source for LD information, and a great place to start for gaining knowledge about riding long distances safely.

Rider Wearhouse in Duluth is a great one-stop source for serious motorcycling gear, and I've always had good luck doing business with them.

 
Calculate time and speed on your long-distance ride with the Time-Speed-Distance worksheet (Excel format)