Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique Distance Riding

I have the 2008 America, fully stock engine, 18T front sprocket. Most of my trips are on rural roads, with the occasional 10-15 miles on the interstates. I'd like to go longer distances.

How many of you have ridden distances on the interstate? How many consecutive miles can this engine handle at 70-80mph speeds?
Thanks

The bike will go farther than you can. I have done over 1000 miles in one day, and I know there are others here that have done the same or more. I cruise at those same speeds or faster. I even had a 17 tooth sprocket at the time so my rpms were higher than yours would be.

I have gone to Nelson, BC from Portland, OR the last three years, ridden to Logan, UT, and then again Portland to Idaho, Utah, Arizona, across California and up the 101 from Orange County back to Portland. I did that trip with Z both of us on 07's.
We are just pups compared to what Moe has done, and many others here. Soooo....as Dave said, your bike will take you anywhere you want to go.

I did 1200 miles with only stops to eat, P, and gas up, North East PA to Florida.

I should say that was in over 100º F heat with a 16 tooth front sprocket and generally sustained speeds of 80 to 90 mph.

theres a few of these bikes with over 100,000 miles on them. thats a pretty good day ride

Wow, I guess no need for a bigger machine, with what I 've read here!! I'll definitely crank it up a knotch or so.
Thanks

Ride 'til you drop 'cause the bike won't quit until you do.

These bikes love the open road, love to purrr all day long at 4500 or more rpm, my longest so far has been to Nelson BC from Edmonton, fair scoot, and did very well indeed, i had to stop, bike wanted to keep going, think i even saw a tear comming from the exhaust

What kind of trip are you thinking about?

Crap, all these e-mails went to spam, sorry for not replying.
Trip would be about 6 hours, from Marietta Ga, to Memphis, Tn. Another one from Marietta Ga to Panama City, Fl.
Longest trip so far is only a hundred or so miles, averaging around 75mph. Handled great!

Never done a thousand miles in a day but not far off. I changed to the 19t front sprocket which makes travelling at speed for long periods a less buzzier experience and also cuts the petrol down a tad but thats a personal thing I guess. We have a lot of flat country over here so not a issue with changing down for hills all the time!!!

6 hrs! That's a short ride on a Saturday!

Edmonton Alberta to Brandon Manitoba. Stopped for gas, bio and food. Next day, Brandon to Thunderbay Ontario. Next day Thunderbay to Timmins Ontario. That's 2900 kms in 3 days. Not the longest posted here but not bad and no back pain.

I'd definitely use my high-speed low-drag backpack for a back rest for that long of a ride!

You can dog it as long and as hard as you want, and do it for days on end.

I made The Georgia Rally from Houston non-stop (and back), 3 years in a row, going on the Myrtle Beach a couple of years ago...mostly all Interstate at 80 mph, I think with the 17t front sprocket the first 2 years, but I'm back to the 16t now (and had that for the Myrtle Beach trip). I'm definitely sticking with the 16t front, stock 42t rear.

Many, many several hundred mile days, multi-day trips. Thee engines love to rev, and seems I'm most often at 5K rpm, or more, or getting there as fast as I can.

And on a 790cc motor, to boot.

I'll roll through 92K miles next weekend on a trip up to N.W. La. and back.

Then heading to the Texas Hill Country again next month for another British Invasion...

GET OUT THERE AND RIDE!

I thought 80 was cruising speed. I rode from Houston to Littlerock Arkansas in one day about 400 miles and regularly go to Austin and back in a single day. Much of it doing the ton, if ya will.

Al, after riding to/around/from last year's Midwest rally I logged something on the order of 1500 miles in 4 days. Thought it was the best way to see if Black Beauty (2007 BA 865cc) could handle the miles. I tend to ride pretty conservatively & try to stay off the slab as much as possible. I generally stayed between 55-75mph depending on the road condition (and some of them 2 lane Iwegan (aka IOWA)roads were pretty bad).

But all that road trip & the rally did was spark my interest in doing some serious touring. So, this May/June I'll be logging something on the order of 4.2K miles to CA, camp in Big Sur & Sequoia Natl park & to hang with the BA mems at the SWTF rally in June. Go for it man!

Longest I have gone in one sittin is Canandaigua, NY to Fayetteville, NC, mostly on slab, including a nice trek around the Capital Beltway in a driving rain storm. The next morning finished up by going Fayetteville to Daytona Beach, FL. Not a bad two day jaunt. Anyway, as others here have said, the bike will go farther than you, so do what is comfortable.
Go Your Own Way!!!!!

Al, the SWTF (aka South West Triumph Fest) is (like many BA.com rallys) an annual event. I believe Dwight & others plan & coordinate it each year. Check out the Rides,Rallies,Events threads.

Anyhoo, the midwest west rally (now known as the Great River Road Rally) was alot of fun last year & it was great to meet fellow BA mems & put faces to the usernames ya know. So I kinda got it in my mind I should go meet some more of the gang from this looney bin wilst on the road west this summer.

Hopefully I will get about 150,000 out of my 2006 TA, currently have 82,000.

Do Lolo Pass from Missoula, Mont. to Lewiston, Id. One of the longest (99 miles) smooth stretches of twistys West of the Continental Divide. Beautiful river and mountain scenery the whole way.