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 Hope I'm still doing it at his age...
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.

[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

[Juniper]

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

[Skiwi]

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

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 really enjoyed SH6 from Greymouth to Te Anau in a day ( @ 700km ) was getting in @ 600 - 800km per day doing the SCRR was pretty F*&^ked after each day ( 6 days start to finish ) but was up at 5am each morning ready to do it again

[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.