Tripping

[The Stranger]

So if one is planning a long trip what is a reasonable distance to allow for in a day.

Note I did not ask who has the biggest balls and sat in the saddle for the longest.

I realise that there are many variables, just a good target for a days ride, keeping it safe.

[Big Dave]

How long is a piece of string?

[Hitcher]

If you pace yourself, and if the weather and roads are good (traffic and road condition), then 700km isn't unreasonable. Anything less than 200km is hardly worth getting all dressed up for...

[White trash]

I ride from Auckland to Welly regularly, stopping only for fuel. You don't see much, but ya get there.

[crashe]

I rode my Virago from Ak to Hastings (461kms) in 4 and 1/2 hours... just cruising...and that was long enough.... stopped for pitstops, petrol and food.
Plus dealing with the cold, did it at the end of April.

I am planning to ride down to Wellington at some stage, but will stop off in Palmie on the way throu.... so that will be a longer ride.

Also planning to ride to New Plymouth as well...

I guess it depends on where you are planning on going thou and how sore a arse you want at the end of the days travel..

[Skyryder]

So if one is planning a long trip what is a reasonable distance to allow for in a day.

Note I did not ask who has the biggest balls and sat in the saddle for the longest.

I realise that there are many variables, just a good target for a days ride, keeping it safe.

There's a hell'va lot of vairables to take into account but excluding them anything over 700 k's is getting into the danger zone. That's a consevative estimate. Possible to do a lot more but concentration is getting a bit flawed by 700 k's.

Skyryder

[scumdog]

Hokitika via Arthurs Pass to South Otago on a Sporty in mid summer (40 degrees temp) is my limit (too far really) and C.B. was NOT happy with that distance without rest. (O.K. we had lunch at Twisel but you get my drift).

Oh, 740km in distance.

[Skyryder]

I ride from Auckland to Welly regularly, stopping only for fuel. You don't see much, but ya get there.

I did that last Christmas and came through the Desert Road. Never di get the milage. What's the distance?

Skyryder

[White trash]

Myself, Jimbo600, Fizzerman and BusaJim all rode together from Picton to Alexander with gas stops and one beer stop only. 874km? the route we took and after that long on a GSXR, you know about it.

[White trash]

I did that last Christmas and came through the Desert Road. Never di get the milage. What's the distance?

Skyryder

'Bout 670 that way I think. It's 30kays shorter to go through National Park, Taumaranui way and skip Hamilhole.

I went from Papakura, to Newlands via SH22 and the Paraparas in 6 hours 20 minutes on Riff Raffs SV earlier on in the year. One of the all time best rides I've ever had.

[Zed]

So if one is planning a long trip what is a reasonable distance to allow for in a day.

Note I did not ask who has the biggest balls and sat in the saddle for the longest.

I realise that there are many variables, just a good target for a days ride, keeping it safe.500-800kms. Your personal fitness is one of the more important variables, some people are completely stuffed after only a couple of hours riding let alone the whole day! :thud:

[crashe]

500-800kms. Your personal fitness is one of the more important variables, some people are completely stuffed after only a couple of hours riding let alone the whole day! :thud:

Yep Zed is correct about fitness levels..... which is why I am building up my fitness before I do another run either back to Hastings (in November), Wellington or New Plymouth.

I have found that just going out on rides at the moment that I get very tired.
When I did the Coro loop recently... I was so stuffed after that ride.
I have found since I had my operation that I am no where near full fitness, but I am working on it.

[SARGE]

So if one is planning a long trip what is a reasonable distance to allow for in a day.

Note I did not ask who has the biggest balls and sat in the saddle for the longest.


i do Auckland - Rotorooter a few times a year.. heading down over labour weekend again ..sitting on my balls much longer than that and i start talking to myself in Portugese.

iPod and a few smoke breaks to keep the voices in your head at least talking in the same language and you'll be sweet.

i did Cleveland Ohio- Bristol Tennesee in a day (12 hours.. hey ..i was on a Harley FSXT..a few twisty roads slowed me down) day's rest and onto Miami Florida for the Jimmy Buffet show (12 more hours)

3 days hangover recovery and a day to find my handlebars ( LOOONG story...bolted to a headboard in the Dade County Holiday Inn... :innocent: ) and i was back in the saddle to Atlanta Georgia to hook up with a friend (6 hours through Florida swampslands in the in the fog is WICKED!) Both of us headed to Myrtle Beach South Carolina, saw Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet and partied at some HUUUUUUGE titty bar..dont remember the name of it but they had a VW Beetle painted up like a boob..:gob:

Ended up 2 days later trying to get tickets to the Brickyard 500 in Indianapolis and 3 days later in Clevland and back into rehab :stoogie:


what was the question?

[limbimtimwim]

So if one is planning a long trip what is a reasonable distance to allow for in a day.Note I did not ask who has the biggest balls and sat in the saddle for the longest. I realise that there are many variables, just a good target for a days ride, keeping it safe. 500K does me. I reached this conclusion because that is two tanks for me without getting nervous of running out of fuel. My days when I am mucking around go like this:<UL><LI>Get out of bed<LI>Small breakfast<LI>Go somewhere<LI>Have lunch<LI>Fill up tank<LI>Go somewhere else<LI>Fill tank<LI>Find somewhere to sleep<LI>Find food<LI>Sleep.<LI>Repeat</UL> That's if you want to ride the next day, and the next, and the next, etc etc. If you have a finite trip in mind, then you can go futher. Mind you, I rode from Haast to Picton in one day once, which wises.co.nz tells me is 673Km, but mate that's a long 673Km in the rain. I would never repeat this effort, I was totally f*&^&*ing destroyed at the end, and this was on the back of 2 weeks of being on holiday. On hindsight it wasn't wise and highly unpleasurable.

So I suggest you take it easy, and you'll be more comfortable.

[crashe]

Plus I would also take into account, whether or not the roads were twisties or more straight roads.. on a long trip.
The more twistie they are, the more tired you will get, due to concentration.

[SARGE]

. My days when I am mucking around go like this:<UL><LI>Get out of bed<LI>Small breakfast<LI>Go somewhere<LI>Have lunch<LI>Fill up tank<LI>Go somewhere else<LI>Fill tank<LI>Find somewhere to sleep<LI>Find food<LI>Sleep.<LI>Repeat</UL>


its the food and sleep hunting that really take it out of you.. anything longer than a week on the road eating shit food out of cardboard boxes and vending machines reaks havoc on your body.

[crashe]

its the food and sleep hunting that really take it out of you.. anything longer than a week on the road eating shit food out of cardboard boxes and vending machines reaks havoc on your body.

Not unless you are used to eating that stuff all the time anyway...lol.

[sAsLEX]

Plus I would also take into account, whether or not the roads were twisties or more straight roads.. on a long trip.
The more twistie they are, the more tired you will get, due to concentration.

often find the opposite, once I get off the policed roads and on to the twisties and pick up the pace the brain pops back out of hibernation and concentrating on lines etc with an upped pace actually keeps me awake alot more and moving around on the bike keeps the muscles alive.

worst bit about long trips out of auckland is the bloody motorway on the way back in, puts you right to sleep unless a bit of splitting is implemented


--round 500 to 600 k if riding for more than a few days, oh and and on your bike will be easier than say a NC30!

[scumdog]

One up? A breakfast of beans on toast, a coffee and on the road.
'Lunch' at Amberley, Tea at Picton.
No smokes and minimal fuel stops.
Of course two-up? Hmmm, her-in-doors has a more tender toush = more stops.

[Zed]

...anything longer than a week on the road eating shit food out of cardboard boxes and vending machines reaks havoc on your body.Havn't you seen that vid Supersize Me (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390521/) about the guy who submitted himself to soley eating McDonalds for 30 days...interesting results if I recall! :puke:

[Dragon28]

Last year I did Picton (Well technically from Wellington, but I slept on the ferry crossing) to Mataura (Just south of Gore) in a day .. and I don't think that I would attempt that again in the near future, by the end of it I was shattered.

I think that somewhere between 600 and 700 should be a good maximum limit, but your mileage might vary.

Always important to remember if you are starting to feel tired, take a break, better off doing a shorter distance and living to tell the tale, rather than the alternative

Keep it safe

[scumdog]

Last year I did Picton (Well technically from Wellington, but I slept on the ferry crossing) to Mataura (Just south of Gore) in a day .. and I don't think that I would attempt that again in the near future, by the end of it I was shattered.

I think that somewhere between 600 and 700 should be a good maximum limit, but your mileage might vary.

Always important to remember if you are starting to feel tired, take a break, better off doing a shorter distance and living to tell the tale, rather than the alternative

Keep it safe

I did that same trip in a newly bought '63 Galaxie of unknown reliability, not the best for a settled stomach!!
Got there in the end.

[Dragon28]

I did that same trip in a newly bought '63 Galaxie of unknown reliability, not the best for a settled stomach!!
Got there in the end.

I get to do the same trip again early in the new year, unfortunately I have to take the cage and not the bike :weep:

[oldrider]

So many men (or menesses) so many opinions.
You have got a bike that will deliver you plenty of distance very quickly and no doubt that is why you bought it.
If you are touring you have have to compromise between what you want and what you like or need.
How are you going to look back on your trip when you get home.
I have always been a rip shit and bust artist bashing my balls on distance. Now I am getting older and the fun police are more active I go slower and her on the back is happier and I am really enjoying the little bike.
I now see and experience things that were just a blur before.
Planning helps, find out what and where you are going.
I know planning is boring but some planning pays off.
400/500km a day is far enough day after day etc.
Carry only what you need you can always buy essentials and throw away what you no longer need.
Travel as light as you can and give yourself time on your stops to get the necessaries you want. Hope that helps. Cheers John.
PS: When you get down here the rides are generally longer anyway and be carefull if the ice don't get you the gritt will. Enjoy.

[scumdog]

I get to do the same trip again early in the new year, unfortunately I have to take the cage and not the bike :weep:

In those circumstances I would say your biggest crisis would be 'where the food places are at'

The rest is a cruise.
(well when I as young we use to go Balclutha-|Christchurch- Blenhiem-Nelson (sleep 4hrs)- Murchison-Buller-Hokitika-Haast-Wanaka-Dunedin- (Big Daddy had a take-a-ways Burger bar there - no KFC/Mackas then) then home.

THIS WAS A WEEKENDS PISS TRIP!! - (burned off a train heading into Hokitika and the Haast Pass was gravel throught the Makarora!!)

[Ixion]

Apart from the obvious variables of road, climate, fitness, riding position, there are two other very important considerations.

One is, how long is the total ride. If it is only one day you can push a bit harder, knowing that you can recover the next day. But if the ride is to extend over several days then you need to consider that what was OK on day 1 may be tiresome at best by day 4. And pushing too hard turns a pleasant experience into an endurance exercise.

The other thing is, what is the purpose of the ride? If you are (say) riding from Auckland to Wellington, and you need to be there as soon as possible - because you have matters to attend to and have only a limited time of work for instance; or if , say, you are riding down to see family and want to spend as much time as possible with them; then you will push harder.

But if it is a touring ride, to see the country (by far the best sort of motorcycling), then it would be folly to plan too great a distance in a day. Commiting , even only mentally to a long run each day , means that the excursion down that side road to see what that interesting signpost was on about, must be forgone. As must likewise the leisurely luncheon at that very nice cafe. And the interesting conversation with the chance met fellow traveller will needs be abruptly curtailed. A large part of the enjoyment of the ride will thus be lost.

Taking all into account, anything from 200 miles to 400 miles is practical. The former will be a pleasant meander, the latter a purposful jurney in haste.

[scumdog]

Also it hinges around how many are involved, if just me I coud ride over 1000km because the only one to have pressure is ME!!
With C.B. and moi it is a different story - we cut it down to 500km if possible.

[Artifice]

chch -nelson. nelson-wellington. wellington -castle point-wanganui. wanganui-palmey-auckers. auckers-whangarei- russell. each ride is a decent day on a bike. i have also done wellington-napier, napier-east cape-tauranga. tauranga coro loops auckers.
from russell,(thats in the bay of islands) i like to go on day trips to whangarei, or around kaitaia and back(love that gorge), or through the forest and say "Hi" to Tane Mahuta. lots of good roads i expect ill see a few of next week.
its ok to do long days on your first and last day of a holiday (first day your fresh and last day you get to rest up after) but try to keep the mileage down in the middle. I've found on my little sprotsbike(gsxr400) my knees and throttle shoulder get to be agonising if i dont keep the distances down. dont be afraid to stay in a town for a day in the backpackers and just chill out they're good like that. it gives your joints a chance to recover.

oh yeah i read somewhere that it takes the same amount of time to ride the bike across the road from the petrol station and stop at a cafe as it does to stop half a tank later. so it pays to stop at the half a tank stage for you meal break and get a free break in. also if you leave early in the morning you can get the majority of your riding done before noon when traffic starts to get heavier, giving you more time to sight see. now since im blathering on im going to shut up and drink my beer. ttfn.

[ManDownUnder]

It's about as far as you can go (the old drill a hole through the middle of the earth... from Auckland... do the math!)

I did it one time - nearly killed me... in fact I'm not convinced I didn't die.

On a bike however? Depends on you. Why go for "distance"... to me that's just someone trying to do the most/be the biggest/best/etc

all of which translates to machismo BS.

Ride till you want to stop. get off walk around th bike, relax for a but then either carry on, or change your plans.

[SPman]

When I was young and stupid, Haast to Hamilton, with a 7mth pregnant wife on the back of the Ducati - sleeping on the ferry! wanted to get back to Auckland but my aunt in Hamilton hid the keys and made us stop!!
Now - depends. Going to Welly or anywhere by myself, its get there quick mode, touring - well - whats the rush (other than a tasty set of twisties, of course). 100km - 200km - 400km - whatever. Last summer found about 2-300Km was fine, for prolonged casualness!

[RiderInBlack]

I plan on 400-600Km per day when I'm on tour. I will do the odd 700+Km if I have to be @ a destination by a set time.

Part of Last March Trip Logs:
Day 1 - Whangarei to Taupo: 285Miles (456Km)
Day 2 - Taupo to Welly: 245Miles (392Km)
Day 3 - Welly - Ferry - Picton - Arrowtown: 545Miles (876Km)
Day 4 - Arrowtown - Milford Sounds - Gore: 364miles (582Km)

[The Stranger]

Ok people.
Thank you all very much for your constructive answers.

I got to go to Palmerston North from Auckland. It is not so much the trip down that I was concerned about as there is no time pressure there.
I am working the day on Sunday and then leaving at 5 on Sunday to come strait back for work on Monday. Was just trying to get a perspective.

Again thanks a lot.

[Lou Girardin]

When we do the South Island, I'll do Welly in one go. But when the Bandette is with me we'll do 350 to 400 k's per day. It's easier on her botty, gives time for touristy things and is an easy pace for sightseeing. And causes less IRD anxiety.
The longest leg on this trip was Q/town to Geraldine via Mt Cook.
In '03 3 of us (one up) did Blenheim - Westport in one day. Then Westport - Greymouth - Arthurs Pass - Amberley - Lewis Pass - Nelson on the next day. But that wasn't very relaxing. Fun though.

[Blackbird]

With a stock Blackbird seat, it starts to hurt above 500km without a break. With a custom one like mine, 1600 km in 19 hours is still fine - it's my wrists that kill me then!

[oldrider]

And the interesting conversation with the chance met fellow traveller will needs be abruptly curtailed. A large part of the enjoyment of the ride will thus be lost.

One of the things you will notice if you are fortunate enough to grow older is the part toilet stops start to dictate how you trip around the countryside.
Leathers are not the most cooperative apparel when you are busting!!!
Combining toilet, food and petrol stops takes on a whole new meaning.

This brings attention to Ixion's quote above. The number of nice people that you meet at the above stops if you are not in a blazing hurry, is phenomenal and always adds so much to our trips.

One of the things I want to do is buy myself some KB identification items so that I can clearly be seen by other KBr's just to add to the flavour of the trip. Cheers John.

[limbimtimwim]

its the food and sleep hunting that really take it out of you.. anything longer than a week on the road eating shit food out of cardboard boxes and vending machines reaks havoc on your body.f you are going to cruise around the place, you may as well experience the good food on the way.. So not much McShit for me.

[oldrider]

With a stock Blackbird seat, it starts to hurt above 500km without a break. With a custom one like mine, 1600 km in 19 hours is still fine - it's my wrists that kill me then!
I got "rider" (MacDonald's Tauranga) to alter my seat just like your pic and what a difference it makes. No more tortured testicles and scrotum for me and her on the back says her seat is really comfortable too. Can't say enough good things about Mac's outfit. Customer satisfaction supreme. Cheers John.

[Blackbird]

I got "rider" (MacDonald's Tauranga) to alter my seat just like your pic and what a difference it makes. No more tortured testicles and scrotum for me and her on the back says her seat is really comfortable too. Can't say enough good things about Mac's outfit. Customer satisfaction supreme. Cheers John.

Yep, they're tops at everything. They replaced the hard top on my wife's MX5 - same day service and a flawless job.
Geoff

[zeRax]

shout the tab and ill let you know :)


blackbird where'd you get ur comfy seat and was it expensive @_@? they do custom jobs? or just blackbird parts from that blackbird uk store u so adore

[Blackbird]

shout the tab and ill let you know :)


blackbird where'd you get ur comfy seat and was it expensive @_@? they do custom jobs? or just blackbird parts from that blackbird uk store u so adore

Nope, Ian MacDonald in Tauranga. He built it using the base of my existing seat. It was a full rebuild and cost $525 delivered. Best money ever spent. I could honestly ride forever on it and not get numb. See thread: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=10174&highlight=seat+custom

[zeRax]

nice, definatly need to sort this seating out on the zxr, sore as ass, didnt think about making seats thin'r on bigger bikes, that'll be something to think about when i get my full ;)
cheers_b

[pritch]

Ok people.


I got to go to Palmerston North from Auckland.



Depends on the bike. Most BMWs would do that no trouble. A trail bike would leave you almost paralysed (again the sad voice of experience...).

On the Hornet I limit it to about 500k per day. Maybe better bars might extend that, I'm working on it.

Good luck.

[Rashika]

One up? A breakfast of beans on toast, a coffee and on the road.
'Lunch' at Amberley, Tea at Picton.
No smokes and minimal fuel stops.
Of course two-up? Hmmm, her-in-doors has a more tender toush = more stops.

possibly something to do with the not-quite-a-cushy-armchair-by-a-fkg-longway backseat on the sporty?? :dodge:

[scumdog]

possibly something to do with the not-quite-a-cushy-armchair-by-a-fkg-longway backseat on the sporty?? :dodge:

Is this the voice of experience I hear??? :wait:


Luckily C.B. is tolerant or we'd be on a Tour-Glide or similar barge-with-armchairs-and-stereo.

[marty]

cambridge palmy return in an afternoon (800 - odd k)

chch - cambridge non stop except for fuel and ferry. (800 odd k)

so about 800k i'd say. i tend to get a bit impatient over the last 200 though :)

[Lou Girardin]

Is this the voice of experience I hear??? :wait:


Luckily C.B. is tolerant or we'd be on a Tour-Glide or similar barge-with-armchairs-and-stereo.

Buy her a touring seat ya tight prick. <_<