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Old 05-28-2009, 09:12 AM   #1
Mr Lefty
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Default Planning a long trip?

check this site out...
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tripplan/

they have a LOT of info on traveling on two wheels... through boarders, shipping your bike, packing, places to stop, where gps works and where it doesn't, places for repairs... pretty much everything you need to know.

they've got a list of quite a few trips round the world. and tons more multi-country trips.

They seem to be mostly based in Canada and the UK... but wisdom is multicultural so I'm passing it along.

I actually ran into one of their members Ian Moore (you can find his blog here)

he's on a trip around the world... the WRONG way
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Old 05-28-2009, 10:36 AM   #2
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Good find. I'd love to do some travels by way of motorcycle. Unfortunately my current bike isn't exactly suited to long trips like that.

Heck I'm dreading a planned 8 hour ride in the fall!
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Old 05-28-2009, 11:57 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by CrazyKell View Post
Good find. I'd love to do some travels by way of motorcycle. Unfortunately my current bike isn't exactly suited to long trips like that.

Heck I'm dreading a planned 8 hour ride in the fall!


8 hours? If you start extending your riding range now, by the fall, 8 hours will be nothing! Just takes practice.

An 8 hour trip is the same as a 2 hour ride for me now. Build yourself up and you'll be fine.

Great link also Ebbs!
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Old 05-28-2009, 12:02 PM   #4
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Yup the horizon unlimited folks have probably the best long distance touring information pool int the world. I have opened up my couch to a few of their members in the past who are on long rides.
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Old 05-28-2009, 12:34 PM   #5
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I'm starting my research for a world trip... won't happen for some time... have to get out of the military first... and since I'll still need money that means RETIRING from the military... so 13 years... but hell... that just means I get more time to find people to meet up with and maybe learn a language or two... ()




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8 hours? If you start extending your riding range now, by the fall, 8 hours will be nothing! Just takes practice.

An 8 hour trip is the same as a 2 hour ride for me now. Build yourself up and you'll be fine.

Great link also Ebbs!
No doubt... but honestly... prior to my Indy trip last year... I hadn't spent more than 2hrs on the bike in one sitting. and never ridden over 4 in a day.

that trip I didn't have a day of riding under 6hrs... and only two under 12.

never had an issue... did one day of 904 miles in 16 hrs.

Like ya said G... after the first fill up... the rest of the day feels the same... 2-4-6-12 hrs riding all feels the same... at least until you stop for a couple hours and it hits ya

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Yup the horizon unlimited folks have probably the best long distance touring information pool int the world. I have opened up my couch to a few of their members in the past who are on long rides.
no shit? that's damn cool of ya... Yeah I'll be opening my place up to travelers too if need be... but not many people wanna stop in southern Mississippi
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Old 05-28-2009, 01:04 PM   #6
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I've ridden long distances before. I'm just not thrilled about the idea of doing it.

Traveling around Newfoundland I had some pretty long days.
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Old 05-28-2009, 01:14 PM   #7
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I'm starting my research for a world trip... won't happen for some time... have to get out of the military first... and since I'll still need money that means RETIRING from the military... so 13 years... but hell... that just means I get more time to find people to meet up with and maybe learn a language or two... ()






No doubt... but honestly... prior to my Indy trip last year... I hadn't spent more than 2hrs on the bike in one sitting. and never ridden over 4 in a day.

that trip I didn't have a day of riding under 6hrs... and only two under 12.

never had an issue... did one day of 904 miles in 16 hrs.

Like ya said G... after the first fill up... the rest of the day feels the same... 2-4-6-12 hrs riding all feels the same... at least until you stop for a couple hours and it hits ya



no shit? that's damn cool of ya... Yeah I'll be opening my place up to travelers too if need be... but not many people wanna stop in southern Mississippi

I start mine in 2023, thats when my son turns 18 and graduates high school. I'll retire with 25 years. The general plan is to leave home, then head to alaska for the summer solstice, then down to Ushauanda (southern most city in the Americas) for the winter solstice, explore south America a little more, then ship the bike to Europe, and take a month off of riding and go stay with relatives. Meet up with the bike in Europe and explore that continent, then down through the western countries in Africa, then back up the eastern coast. Head north through southwest Asia avoiding all the nasty countries on my way to India, stay there for a while, then into Southeast Asia. After that, ship the bike down to Australia then New Zealand. And finally finish up the journey with a swing through all 48 lower states.


A great book to buy and read is called Lonely Planet, details alot of places to visit, stay, and routes to avoid, visas, stuff like that.
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Old 06-01-2009, 01:08 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by CrazyKell View Post
Good find. I'd love to do some travels by way of motorcycle. Unfortunately my current bike isn't exactly suited to long trips like that.

Heck I'm dreading a planned 8 hour ride in the fall!
After the Rally...Eight hours Aint Shit...And Like ebbs said...after the first stop its pretty much put your mind to it and grind away at the miles...BUT, I also agree...doing things with no time constraints makes the trip easier...I was trying to make a deadline when I rode from the Gap to the Outer Banks...looking back I DEF should have made it a two day trip...and Just cruised along at a slower pace...instead of Blitzing down the highway at 90-100 MPH.

I have a new respect for my Bike now though...It taught me to buy a Sport Touring Bike for 17 hour Jaunts across the east coast
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Old 06-01-2009, 09:58 AM   #9
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After the Rally...Eight hours Aint Shit...And Like ebbs said...after the first stop its pretty much put your mind to it and grind away at the miles...BUT, I also agree...doing things with no time constraints makes the trip easier...I was trying to make a deadline when I rode from the Gap to the Outer Banks...looking back I DEF should have made it a two day trip...and Just cruised along at a slower pace...instead of Blitzing down the highway at 90-100 MPH.

I have a new respect for my Bike now though...It taught me to buy a Sport Touring Bike for 17 hour Jaunts across the east coast
I've done long trips....I think it's just a mental thing for me.

I get too caught up in my own thoughts and don't pay enough attention. When I'm riding for pleasure it's a bit more focused than that. Straight highway riding is NOT for pleasure.
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Old 06-01-2009, 10:09 AM   #10
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I've done long trips....I think it's just a mental thing for me.

I get too caught up in my own thoughts and don't pay enough attention. When I'm riding for pleasure it's a bit more focused than that. Straight highway riding is NOT for pleasure.
That's why you stay off the slabs. Find an interesting route.
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