Longest ride you've ever ridden?

[Taz]

I've done the grand challenge twice on a BMW R1100GS 1600+ kms in 19 and a bit hours and that was keeping fairly close to the speed limit too.

[DEATH_INC.]

Sydney to lands end on a FZR thou via all the backroads, dunno how many k's but it took all day. As for performance, I wore the sides of the tyre out on the last 200 k's or so....

[Taz]

So with those sorts of km's and thinking of the TT2000, how do you guys judge your performance drop off over that sort of riding time - say first part of the trip to the second part. 100% down to 70% or what? just curious

Performance drop off? Whats that? Seriously.

[Kickaha]

I've done the grand challenge twice on a BMW R1100GS 1600+ kms in 19 and a bit hours and that was keeping fairly close to the speed limit too.

Same but riding a Ducati Darmah, 15 litre tank meant a stop every 160kmh

[MadDuck]

From Wellington to Whangaparaoa in one hit on the Harley. Was a pretty good ride and not too sore or tired at the end of it.

[phill-k]

What I'm asking and I'm aware that saddle time creates a level of fitness, but your situational awareness, response times, ability to process information, reactions to situations, all the things we need to ensure our safety on the road. How is that effected by spending the time in the saddle to cover the distances mentioned.

I recently drove Napier to Whangarei, stopping once for fuel, but realised that as the trip progressed my reaction times slip, hesitation creeps in, I become aware remaining focused requires more effort.

Personally over the years I've trained myself when driving to become aware of when my scanning slows up, I watch the rear view mirrors a lot when driving and riding, and when I notice i'm not scanning as much as I normally do, I then make a more concerted effort. On the bike I get really pissed off if someone can come up behind me without me seeing them coming, to me this indicates I'm not at 100%

[shrub]

So with those sorts of km's and thinking of the TT2000, how do you guys judge your performance drop off over that sort of riding time - say first part of the trip to the second part. 100% down to 70% or what? just curious

A good question. I know of one guy who did the TT2000 last year and was so tired he ended up putting diesel in his bike. Personally I don't trust my ability to remain focussed after riding 2000 kms in 48 hours, so will probably never do the ride. I find around 700 kms is pretty much my limit before I start finding myself getting vague.

[ukusa]

Christchurch to New Plymouth a couple of years ago. 2 up as well (the mrs' arse was sorer than mine )
Left 8.30am, Ferry 12.30pm (5.5 hours of rough sailing), then through to NP. Had to stop for a while to repair visor in Wanganui servo as it was fogging up & falling off. Got to NP around 11.30pm. Not sure how many K's it was. Was a bloody cold Easter though, around 6 or 7 degrees from memory.

[george formby]

Amsterdam (Holland) - Mulhouse, Alsace (France)

A very long way indeed, far enough to lose all sensation from the waist down,nearly killed me & in hindsight a very silly thing to do.

[avgas]

"Longest" trip I did was 7.5 hours, and covered 30kms........ I rode that far in about 30 mins then spent the other 7 pushing the bike back.

But the longest distance I did in one go was 827. So not that far. Mind due it was done in only 6 hours and 30 minutes. Which isn't bad considering I went through heaps of towns etc.

[willytheekid]

I rode that bloody thing everywhere - even commuted on it (now THAT is an achievement). I did have an aftermarket seat made up by Dave Sewell though.

I use my 95 sport for everyday transport.....and that hurts!
But the thought of riding from Auck-ChCh.....Arrrrgh the pain!

Once again shrub...Respect!
....I'd still be in wellington crying & crippled! lol

[Kickaha]

A good question. I know of one guy who did the TT2000 last year and was so tired he ended up putting diesel in his bike. Personally I don't trust my ability to remain focussed after riding 2000 kms in 48 hours, so will probably never do the ride. I find around 700 kms is pretty much my limit before I start finding myself getting vague.

I've done 1000km days without a problem, the step up to a 1600km day was huge though

It also depends on the time of day/night you're riding

[Mad-V2]

One day I needed a part urgently for my work truck to get a job done that night. I decided it would be quicker to jump on the bike and get it myself, instead of having it overnighted by courier and get in trouble for doing it the next day. I went from Ohope Beach to New Plymouth and back in around 7 - 8 hours (800k's) not realizing I would be to sore to install the part and get the job done when I got back. It turned out the job wasn't ready for me when I got back anyway
Won't be doing that again!!!! But it was an awesome ride

[onearmedbandit]

Bored at home on a day off a few years back I jumped on my 750 and rode up to Nelson and back, Lewis Pass on the way up and via the East Coast on the way back. Stopped for cigarettes, petrol and food only. Oh and the nice policeman between Cheviot and Home. Had nerve compression damage in my hand for about 2 days afterwards, just a numb tingling feeling.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

[slofox]

I did 1100km in 28.5 hours at New Year but it was in two bites with a night's sleep between mouthfuls...so not really "one" ride I suppose. And I stopped for petrol and coffee a couple of times each day.

Last year I did 470km with one brief stop. That was on the SV. Arse took weeks to recover. Bloody uncomfortable seats on those SV's...