Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Most miles in a day?

All,
Curious about some of the mileage you'all have covered in one day...comfortably. I'm looking at going down to Myrtle Beach Bike Week in a few days. About 350 miles from East Tennessee. I guess I'm wondering what to expect...never done that far in one day. Thanks

Thats easy. I do that on any given day when I go for a ride if go for a full days ride.

Farthest I ever went on a bike non-stop was from here in the Poconos to Cody Wyoming to see Yellowstone. I don't know the distance but it took me 36 hrs. Good thing I stayed with a friend out there cause I slept almost as long!! LOL

Dag, I did a ride from Charlotte to Knoxville back in Feb. I did it in 5 hrs and it wasn't bad. I ate lunch there and then went riding through Gatlinburg and some state parks. I was done after that. I think it was 420 miles in one day. However I couldn't have done it without a backrest. Dean

I did that ride on a hard tail with long springer front end. I was much younger than I am now though! It was actually on the bike in my photo gallery.

I won't make another post for this but I saw below where dmillican can't go as far in a car and I am the same way.I drove straight through from Orlando Fl. last fall and could barely keep my eyes open the last hr or so. Think the drive was only about 11 hrs if I remember right maybe 12.

My longest days were:
1050 miles to sturgis in 06
1100 miles to wisconsin in 04 (got lost for a little while)
700 miles numerous times (twice last week for Georgia Rally but that was on my Sprint)

I think the key word is "comfortable". When I was 20, I took a 71 Triumph Trophy from Oil city, Pa. to Columbus,Ga. in one shot. It was about 895 miles. I don't remember it being comfortable. Going to the Ga. Rally from Tulsa, I went from here to Nashville. It was 623 miles. There wasn't one mile of that I would call comfortable, since it rained all the way and with all the rest stops it took about 11 hours. I have heard that an average safe time on a motorcycle is 6 hours. I think the key is lots of breaks and as little Interstate as possible. Enjoy the ride and scenery if possible.

I once did 350 miles (Antwerp, Belgium to Hamburg, Germany) on a 175 cc, single-cylinder, two-stroke BSA Bantam. It's not the miles, it's the vibration.

I put a picture of the Bantam in the Photo Gallery if anyone wants to see what that odd little bike looked like. It got me thousands of miles around Europe and then got stolen back home.

1044 in 22-1/2 hours...DOCUMENTED and Witnessed!! No BS no brag just the facts! and around 20 hours your start to "see" things

On the America, 750 miles during daylight with several extra stops. In 1973, I rode from Florence, AL to Fresno, CA in 36°15' - 2143 miles, on a '67 BMW R60. I had a lot to smoke along the way to keep me going.

p.s. Rob, you done good!!!

Back when I'z a young 'un, I rode from Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi to Fort Lauderdale and back over a 3-day weekend, 750 miles each way. The first 750 was more or less comfortable. The last 10 miles of the second 750 were so bad I had to ride standing up because of a bruised asss. Ahh, youth. And BTW, yes, she was worth it.

Not mentioned yet is a windshield. Without it, slab running gets to the neck and shoulders. With a shield, 400+ is easy.

Back roads are slow, but it doesn't get so boring and you don't notice the saddle as much. Slower speeds negate the windshield factor.

My hat's off to the Iron Butt riders. I don't have the cajones for that.

What ever it was out to the NY rally. 400 or so? No shield in the rain with the deliverance over the mountain on a slightly better than a logging road detour.
And hats off to the iron butt guys also. I knew I couldn't pull that off with my bike or my butt. So I stayed home.

I have done 600 miles ina day before without any problems; just tired after the day. I took and extra 10 minute break whenever I needed to stop for gas and that helped.

Someday I would like to attempt an Iron Butt ride.

Soren

It really all depends on the individual. 350 miles a day would be a really easy and relaxed day for me. That would be in the realm of a Saturday ride for me. 500 miles a day is a longer day, but plenty doable. I did have a more than wanted day turning 800 miles plus small change in one day. None of that was on an Interstate slab. If you are going all back roads/highways miles take longer, if taking the Interstate slab, the miles get eaten away pretty fast (I don't care for the slab, but have ridden on them at times of necessity)

In the early 80's I used to "commute" to work on a Honda Magna 45 from Greensboro, NC to Fort Payne, AL which is around 450 miles. Then I'd catch the bus for three day weekend of gigs and run home on Monday. I was also 25 years younger and spent a lot of time with my feet on the rear pegs laying on the tank...

A question like that draws every iron butt on the forum out of the woodwork. So, here's a different prespective. I'm 58 and really enjoy traveling on my America, but I don't consider me or the bike really designed for too long a distances. My longest is 450 miles and it was OK, but I was pretty worn out at the end. I've made a number of 250 mile trips that were very enjoyable and not taxing at all. If I had to do more than that I would make sure I was well rested and prepared for an "adventure".

You shouldn't have a problem, especially if you focus on the fun and adventurous aspect of motorcycle traveling.

Dave,
What everyone has said is true, however, it is true from their perspective. Since you haven't done it and since you have concern and since you have a destination, I suggest planning to do it in two days with a stop over. If it works out that you feel it unnecessar, then you'll know the next time. If you do get a bit tired the rest will do you good and you won't arrive late or damaged. My old buddy Grump said recently, "It's not the distance anymore - its the ride.", and I agree. It doesn't matter how many miles you go as long as they're good ones. So, don't risk a bad back on the first attempt. Enjoy the ride.

Riding between Helena and Nelson, BC, via Thompson Falls, MT, is around 450 miles. I feel that ride in my butt. It's a long day for me. I don't see any iron butt rides in my future.

In March I did Texarkana and back. For lunch.

Seems like it was around 650 miles.

Several 300-400 mile days. Stock seat. No problem here.

Feet get heavy on the pegs, so I use the rear pegs a lot on the road, then alternate with the front for a change of position. What I can't figure out, is what do those of you do when a pillion aboard? A day that long on front pegs only seems quite a chore, but probably no less than for the pillion on the rear pegs only all day.....floorboards would be the answer I'm sure, but for most of my solo running around, the kickstand accessibility with the boards on keeps me thinking I don't want them. Once on though, I'm sure they would stay on.

If the pillion ever gets aboard, that means I will have the Touring seat, so that may make a difference, too.

I did around 400 miles on a Sunday in January... It was bloody cold, I was in an open face helmet and I started hallucinating at around 300 miles. Ade couldn't understand how I was coping in the open face, I just thought it was keeping me awake. Ray just thought I was bonkers.

Probably am...

300 miles in a day was the most for me. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Stock Speedmaster seat on my America, and Kuryakyn pegs. No rear pegs at all, but sometimes I just stick my legs out and rest my ankles on the pegs with my feet hanging down. That helps quite a bit. For me, the toughest part was the burn I got between my shoulders. My back isn't so great, you know? I would do it again in a heartbeat!

longest one way distance in one day for me was 850 miles.

lots of advil. lots of one lane each way back roads beat me silly.

would i do it again?

better believe it.

stv

550 miles on a 2002 america to sturgis. no windshield, no back support of any kind. 103 degrees. all to say i "rode mine to sturgis." the group we met up their had TRAILERD his fully loaded 2003 road king from minneapolis....and he had the balls to give me ****** for riding a triumph. All i haqd to say was: i rode here on 800cc, what did you ride here on?

644 miles on the way to Sturgis last year. I'd just returned from Afghanistan and was really pumped to party. I was sore and hot and felt like 6 pounds of crap stuffed in a 4 pound sack, but would do it again in the blink of an eye.

1176 in 21:56 Colorado Springs to Nashville. Take regular stops and yes, the mind can start to play games with you.

I will do a New Orleans trip to Birmingham Al once a year at approximately 380 miles. Other than that, it is weekly rides at 200 miles give or take.

If you're not used to long runs, take a minimum of 20 minutes at every gas stop and stop for a leisurely lunch at about the 250-275 mile point. Once the ache begins, it's too late! It's all about the journey anyway. On the way back, you can push the envelope a bit to see what works for you.

I refuel at least once on every ride (except when I take the scooter). Gotta confess, I'm diggin' that little thing.

700miles each way to/from GA07. About 13 hrs or so.

567 from Anderson, South Carolina to Brownsburg, Indiana, and then 591 from Columbia, Missouri to Dalton, Georgia... And I was pretty well pooped, but it was still fun!