Long-Distance Motorcycle Riding Safety Tips
Long-distance motorcycle riding can be a tremendous way to have a great vacation. You can spend more time enjoying your bike, see amazing things that most people will never experience, and leave behind all the stresses and concerns of daily life. If you love to ride, you should take a long-distance motorcycle ride at least once in your life.
However, long-distance motorcycle riding can come with dangers. Fatigue can dog you on the trip, increasing your risk of a motorcycle accident, and traveling on unfamiliar roads can be risky. Plus, there are tons of hassles that can let the air out of your fun if you let them. If you want to have a long-distance motorcycle ride that you will remember for all the right reasons, follow these safety tips.
Prepare Yourself for the Trip
The most important piece of safety equipment on your motorcycle ride is you. Your body and your brain will get you out of most dangerous situations if you’re prepared for them. Here’s how to prepare.
Make a Plan
Start by planning your trip. Know where you’re going to go and what routes you’re going to take. Figure out who you’re riding with. Plan each day’s ride and know where you’re stopping for the night. Get reservations whenever you plan to stay at a hotel or campground. Yes, you need reservations for campgrounds, especially in Colorado these days. Even if it’s midweek, get a reservation.
When you’re planning, understand that your trip will likely not go according to plan. Traffic, construction, and weather can all change your plans unexpectedly. When you’re doing your initial planning, keep an eye on possible alternatives in case you have to make last-minute changes. By expecting the unexpected, you can avoid frustration and won’t have to make difficult decisions on the fly.
Let Others Know Where You’re Going
Make sure some people know when you’re leaving, how long you’ll be gone, and the route you might be taking. That way someone will know where to look for you if something goes wrong.
Get in Shape
Long-distance motorcycle riding is challenging for your body and mind. Riding your bike 20 minutes to work and back each day won’t prepare you for spending eight hours in the saddle every day for a week or two. Instead, take time before your trip getting used to riding for longer distances at a time. Do at least one full-day ride before you travel so you know you’re up for it.
Practice Riding with Luggage
We know you love your lithe bike configuration while riding in the city, but when you are taking a long-distance motorcycle ride, you will need to carry supplies. That means having bags and luggage compartments. Know how much you plan to pack for the ride and spend at least one day riding with the full weight of gear.
Prepare Your Bike for the Trip
You also want to make sure that your bike is ready for a long-distance ride. Here are a few tips to make sure your bike is ready to go the distance.
Consider Replacing Your Tires
Where the rubber meets the road isn’t just a cliché, it’s an expression of how important your tires are for your safety. On any ride, there’s a good chance that your life could depend on how well your tires can translate the decision your brain makes, the maneuver your body performs, and the power your engine delivers into actual motion on the road. Make sure your tires are up for the job when the time comes.
Tune Your Bike
Hopefully, you give your bike a springtime tune-up before you start riding each year. However, it’s worthwhile to tune it up again before your long-distance ride. Just like your body, your bike might be used to 20-minute commutes and might not be ready for the rigors of riding days that are eight hours or longer.
Configure for a Long Ride
We’ve already talked about luggage, but there are other changes you might want to make to your bike for long-distance riding. Get a more comfortable configuration for your seat and handlebars. Install your windscreen if you don’t normally ride with it. Everything should be set up for long-distance comfort and ease so you can avoid fatiguing too early.
Travel Smart
When the time comes to travel, there are a few different strategies you can use to make your ride a little better.
Get Started Early
Getting on the road early can help you make the most of the daylight hours. Especially if you’re leaving from Denver or another large city, you want to get out of town before rush hour starts. You don’t want to spend the first hours of your vacation stuck in traffic.
Stop Frequently
It’s tempting to want to log as many miles as possible each time you ride, but doing that can actually slow you down. Riding too much at once can make you fatigued, which will mean that you’ll need longer stops later in the day. Taking numerous short stops can help you maintain your energy. It’ll also give you opportunities to eat and stay hydrated.
Minimize Caffeine and Alcohol Consumption
Caffeine can help you get started in the day, and it’s tempting to load up on it throughout the day to keep your edge sharp. However, too much caffeine can make you wired and set you up for a crash. Meanwhile, alcohol can make you sluggish and might impair your judgement.
Save your caffeine consumption for the morning, and your alcohol for the evening, and try not to overdo either one.
Ride Relaxed and Safe
When you’re riding during your commute, you’re trying to get to and from work as fast as you can. You might gun the throttle, slam the brakes, and weave through traffic. That’s not the way to ride when you’re going a long distance. You need to save your energy to avoid fatigue, so it’s best to ride relaxed. Don’t push it too hard, and you’ll enjoy your riding days much better.
Plus, a relaxed ride can free you up to enjoy more of the scenery that you’re riding to enjoy.
Do You Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
Unfortunately, despite your best efforts to be safe on your long-distance motorcycle ride, you can’t do anything about the behavior of other drivers on the road. Often, their casual negligence can cause an accident that results in serious physical injury.
When this happens, you need an experienced and passionate motorcycle accident lawyer to advocate for you. At Pushchak Law, we are dedicated to helping motorcyclists injured by the carelessness of other drivers. Motorcycle accident attorney Brian Pushchak has made motorcycle accidents a key focus of his practice. This specialization gives you an advantage in your case that can help you hold the other driver responsible for their negligence.
With our exclusive Informed Decisions™ Approach, we take the time to listen to you and determine your true goals. Then we use our expertise to recommend the best legal strategy to achieve those goals. We will give you our personal contact information, and we’re always available when you need to ask us a question or make a decision about your case. While Mr. Pushchak will give you his expert opinion regarding your strategy, you will always have final say on how we handle your case.
To get our help in handling your motorcycle accident lawsuit, please contact Pushchak Law today for a free initial consultation. We serve clients in Denver and the surrounding areas of Colorado.
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