Long rides: comfort?

[rocketman1]

Interested to know what distance Kiwi Bikers have ridden in one day and how you felt at the end of it, and what bike you rode.
My best is TeAnau to Picton in one day on a GS BMW bit tired, but not sore.

[swarfie]

Interested to know what distance Kiwi Bikers have ridden in one day and how you felt at the end of it, and what bike you rode.
My best is TeAnau to Picton in one day on a GS BMW bit tired, but not sore.

Did Picton to Dunners via the inland route (about 700k) in a day about three years ago (on our way to the Burt) on my '92 Gilera Saturno 500 Bialbero with my old man (79 at the time) on his Honda GB500..wouldn't have done it without the aid of my Airhawk seat tho'.....sore arse and tired but the old boy gets my respect :niceone: Hope I'm still doing it at his age... :wings:
Oh and I do recommend the Airhawk air seats..they're brilliant for bikes with minimal padding on their seats...not cheap but worth it !

[SMOKEU]

After a ride to Akaroa and back on the SRAD, my ass feels like I just got out of an African jail.

[MarkW]

7 Rusty Nuts 1,000 milers on RG500, RZ350, K100 (twice) and NTV 600 (three times). The RZ350 trip had an Auckland to Tauranga trip to the start and the Tauranga to Auckland return after the event so that was about 2,000km all up. The RG500 was ridden from Branson, Missouri to Los Angeles, California in 3 days. And then there was the ride from Queenstown to Blenheim in a day on my full knobby equipped DRZ250. Gel seat needed for that one! I still regularly clock 800km plus days on my current NTV650.

Sensible pace, good gear and the right attitude is all it takes. One guy did the Rusty Nuts events on an NSR80 and made it.

[2smokes]

Worst time I've ever had was 10 hrs on my motard. Only stopping for gas and coffee breaks. Felt like I'd been raped. I had to stand on the pegs for the last bit. Took two days before I could sit down in comfort!
I've done similar on other bikes with no issues. So as usual horses for courses.

Some guys have buns of steel. Know a guy that's done the 1000 on a 50.........twice.:eek:

[swbarnett]

My best effort to date was Auckland's north shore and back again via East Cape - a little over 1200km. Took about 17 hours all up including stops.

This was on my '06 GSX750F Katana. Got home with absolutey no numb-bum; best seat I've ever had on a bike. I felt like I could've kept going (the next day I was wishing I had).

[Mushu]

I once did Taupo to Christchurch in a day on my R6, only breaks were gas stops and the ferry (and I got pretty sea sick on the ferry so I was glad to get back on the bike) didn't really bother me too much, only reason I was tired was I didn't get to bed till 3am. Next best effort would have been Nelson, Picton, back to Nelson, Motueka, Westport, Hanmer, Christchurch in a day, and I'd do that one again just to ride Queen Charlotte Drive again.

[Big Dave]

Longest day - 1,200km in daylight - 2-up on an XS1100. Western Australia. No dramas except for boredom. Did another 1,000 the next day.

[Hitcher]

On six occasions I have ridden at least 1,600km in 24 hours, once on a ZRX1200R, once on an ST1300, twice on an FJR1300, once on an Aprilia Shiver and once on a GSX1250FA.

There are others who can lay claim to more of these than can I.

[Gremlin]

4x 1600km+ in 24 hours (or less), a couple of 1000km in 13 odd hours (for one, I rode to Wellington from Auckland overnight, then did the 1000km ride as it started - so that wasn't 13 hours, was under 24)

1850km in 25.5 hours (ok, not quite a day) but included some gravel high country passes and the odd stream. 2000km in 24 hours is probably the furthest.

First 3 1600km and a 1000km ride were done with a KTM990SM all the other stuff was a R1200GS Adventure. I think once or twice I've tried a seat pad, but mostly just the seat and cycling shorts. For all the big stuff, it's best to prep beforehand, just like any big endurance event, you get fit before hand. Condition afterwards varied, complete scale of shattered to feeling great and ready to ride again...

[Blackbird]

5 Rusty Nuts 1000 miles in under 24 hours rides, 1 Southern Cross round NZ in 5 days ride. 3 of the 1000 milers were on a BMW K100 RS with a sheepskin seat cover. Narrow bars and marginal effectiveness of the sheepskin gave fairly painful rides (backside and wrists). Did one 1000 miler and the Southern Cross on a Blackbird with a Rider brand aftermarket seat. Backside was perfect but wrists suffered because of riding position. The last 1000 miler was on a Street Triple with an Airhawk pneumatic pad. It was the most comfortable bike of the lot with the more upright riding position and the Airhawk was a revelation. The only (slight) downside was the wind blast from a naked bike but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. So there we are...... Every bike is a bit of a compromise :laugh:

[Juniper]

Ok so my pissy little Cape and back in 2 days seems pathetic now!! 1,000km in 2 days. :baby:

[Skiwi]

500km on the KTM450EXC with the stock "seat" and felt like my arse belonged to George Michael for the last month:buggerd:

700km on the V-Strom and felt fine apart from a little tired

[insomnia01]

done a few Grand challenges, C1KC's & managed to get in on the final SCRR this year :drinknsin really enjoyed SH6 from Greymouth to Te Anau in a day ( @ 700km ) was getting in @ 600 - 800km per day doing the SCRR :innocent: was pretty F*&^ked after each day ( 6 days start to finish ) but was up at 5am each morning ready to do it again :Punk::Punk:

[Andy67]

1600km or there abouts in 21 hours with Blackbird in the 2010 Grand Challenge on a BMW K1200R, felt pretty numb despite gel pad and sheepskin which was probably worse than sticking with the standard seat. 400 to 800 Kms more times than I can remember which seems to be the sweet spot for me.

Last weekends ride round the eastcape was about 1400kms door to door with days ranging between 400 and 600 Kms. Awesome on the K1300R. Abetter seat than the 1200 but still got a bit numb on day 3.

[EJK]

Queenstown-Invercargill-Dunedin-Christchurch in one day (evening) on a ZX10R, roughly 700kms. I was physically tired (lack of caffein) but didn't have sore back or bum much. ZX10R is a rather comfortable tourer with a throttle rocker.

[mossy1200]

2 up with 2 weeks luggage on a blackbird, Dunedin to Milford and back in a day. Only 800km but not being able to move around with a passenger behind makes the buttocks sore.
400km per day is a lot more comfortable on a holiday cruise.

[Shadowjack]

Two TT2000's - longest day on these was 1,200 kms in 14 hrs. Otherwise, a fair few 600-800 kms ridden just for the hell of it, and various tours of the North and South Islands. All done on the TDM850, with an Airhawk (mostly for seat comfort, but also for opening out the knee angle).

[Flip]

On the Road King did Wtn to Oamaru in one day, incl the ferry. No probs.

[ruaphu]

New Plymouth to Wgtn 2 up (wife and I) picked up a mate and his wife on their bike and rode back again same day. We rode on our ole Suzie Vl1500, very comfy but too many fuel stops!!!!! No chance of getting a sore butt cos of that feckin tiny tank, was only good for 160-170K. Cos of this my wife had the Suzie traded (as a surprise pressie) for a kawasaki VN2000, more grunt, more space and a tank good for 320K's with room to spare. Now we both manage sore butt syndrome after 600 odd K's of touring, now we're biking, lol.

[mulletman]

Done a longest day ride 1000km, ChCh - Nelson , sunny east coast up wet west coast down:mad: dragged out to 13 hours, stoked i had my airhawke seat on the GSX1400.

[nonie]

North of Whangarei to Welly on a fairly regular basis.
M50 = sore bum, sore back
GSX750 F = ok bum absolutely no pain in back
C50 = comfortable but shoulders a wee bit achey
V Strom + bliss !!!!

[Maha]

Normally looking to kick my bike in the head after 550 ks or so riding 2-up.

[jafar]

2032 km in 2 1/2 days on a Honda vfr 800. Gulf of Mexico(clear lake) to Chicago. All up over 10,000 km in 4 weeks on the VFR, no problems with the bike or doing the distance in it either.:eek:

3300 km in 5 days on a BMW F650 gs, Houston Texas to L.A. via the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas & a few other places. Easy bike to tour on :innocent:

[nzspokes]

700k on the Hornet. Down to Taupo via TeAwamutu. No worries. Will be doing a 1 day run to the Cape soon which will be a bit over 1000k.

[Maha]

2032 km in 2 1/2 days on a Honda vfr 800. Gulf of Mexico(clear lake) to Chicago. All up over 10,000 km in 4 weeks on the VFR, no problems with the bike or doing the distance in it either.:eek:

3300 km in 5 days on a BMW F650 gs, Houston Texas to L.A. via the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas & a few other places. Easy bike to tour on :innocent:

Luxury, I once rode 3 days 2hrs and 23 mins in -3 conditons wearing a Hawaiian shirt and bordies stopping only to take a piss/eat a pie and drink a V, damn Rotorua can get cold.

[jafar]

Luxury, I once rode 3 days 2hrs and 23 mins in -3 conditons wearing a Hawaiian shirt and bordies stopping only to take a piss/eat a pie and drink a V, damn Rotorua can get cold.

you need better gear & a better bike :facepalm:

[Grubber]

I rode for about 12 minutes at Puke racetrack on Saturday and i was sore as shite when i got home.
Mind you the hitting of the tire wall may have been the problem there.... as you were.:brick:

[bluninja]

In 1981 I rode my A100 400 kms across the Pennines to my cousins engagement and 21st party in Morecombe. The next day I rode 600 kms to Portsmouth including a blown rear tyre near Manchester. So that was 1000 kms over a 24 hour period on a learner license :eek5:

I've also done Monza in Italy to central France in a day about 1200 kms, most of the time in France was pouring rain and standing water on a ZX9r.

Long distance is a bit boring after a while, you just want to get to the other end and don't enjoy the ride as much IMHO, but there are exceptions.

[doc]

Rode a sporty from Auckland to the my 1st Brass Monkey left Bombay BP at 4pm and arrived at Palmerston before pig route 4pm next day. Never again. Think Winston left Cold Duck and got back to Invercargill non stop. Don't do it now, rather stop and smell the flowers on the way.

[BMWST?]

queenstown to blenheim in one go on a ducati 900 s2,i was sore ,sore sore....

[KoroJ]

I've managed a few longish rides.

Did Cape Reinga to Wellington (1100Km) in 12 hours and Bluff to Picton (via inland route - also 1100Km) on the 09 Sthn Cross.

Rotorua to Wellington (via East Cape - 1000Km) in 11 hours

3 TT2000's (one had 1550Km day)

6 Cruisy Capital 1,000Km Cruises

6 Grand Challenges including the 25th which included an 800Km Friday and the 21st which included a 500Km extension for 2100Km in 22.5hrs...I guess that would rate as fairly long ride!!

All were done on big tanked ST1300's. These trucks allow one to go between 4 & 5.5hrs in a stint between fuel stops. I've managed to feel fairly shattered after one or two of these rides.

[banditrider]

10 x GC's, 4 x Southern Crosses, Mini's return, 3 x TT2000's, 4 x C1KC's and plenty of other big days in the saddle.

Did my first 3 GC's on my RF900 and they were the worst comfort-wise (engine vibes numbing hands). Longest one was 22 hours in a "weather-bomb" on the Connie. Standard seats on all bikes although often with a sheepskin to make you feel like you're a bit more comfy.

I stand-up on the pegs and stretch in all sorts of weird ways often (say every 50km/h zone you run into) and it seems to pay off at the end of the day.