I've been wanting to see a good chunk of the country on a motorcycle for years, and just never was able to get the time to do it, or something has always come preventing the trip. So, for the past few months, I've been saving up a little at a time, already have two weeks reserved next year from work to do it, and looks like I may be able to finally get to do my dream. I can do this ride basically anytime from June-August with my work schedule.

Few questions of advice from you experts:

1. What's the best tool to use to figure out mileage along the way? I've been trying to plot on Google Maps, but I figure something has to be easier to use since I don't have exact stops planned along the way yet.

2. Does a loop starting in central IN, going up to SD, down to AZ, and back seem doable in 12-14 days, and leave enough time to see some neat things along the way, or would this amount of time cause me to be rushing and not enjoying things?

3. I've never had a flat tire on a motorcycle to have to fix on the side of the road. Is Fix-a-Flat good enough to carry to get me limping to a dealer, or should I look at learning how to plug a tire and carry a compressor? Should I get an old bike tire and practice plugging?

4. I'm planning on traveling light, and buying disposables along the way and doing laundry every 2-3 days at a motel. I have an Ultra, and debating whether to detach the tourpak for the trip (usually ride around here solo'd out), or leave it on. I figure the extra lights will provide more safety and give me more carrying room, but the bike for me is easier to manuever when the pak is off. Any recommendations which way I should travel from your experiences?

The two guys I usually ride with have no interest in going (neither want to do that many miles), and wife said "I'm fine with you going, start planning it, but it's something I don't have an interest in doing" (and yes, I've tried telling her how great of a trip it will be, but she absolutely hates riding in rain, cold, heavy traffic, excessive heat, and for long miles for multiple days in a row). So, unless I can find somebody around here that has the same dream, guess I'm doing this trip solo.

Getting older, and want to do this before I physically can't. Not sure of exact route yet, as I'm just in the beginning planning stages. Biggest things I really want to see at this point are Custer's Battlefield in SD, as well as the Grand Canyon in AZ. I figure I can fill in many other memorable stops along this path.

Any thoughts or advice will be greatly appreciated, and I'm sure I'll have many more questions over the winter.

 

I have taken a map and marked where I want to go and then use Mapquest(google map may work also) and get mileage between the towns along the route.. this allows me the break my days up according how much I want to ride(btwn 400-500 miles a day). Then I have to determine what time to leave each day in order to make the stops I want and get where I want to be to set up for the next day.. Also check the internet on places you will pass thru or are going to stop for more info.. it takes me many months of planning and adjusting to finally get a trip together.. usually it goes on schedule for the first day then goes to chit after that..But your on an adventure so that doesn't matter..Or, just ride until you have used up half your time and then turn around and go home..

 

Few questions of advice from you experts:

1. What's the best tool to use to figure out mileage along the way? I've been trying to plot on Google Maps, but I figure something has to be easier to use since I don't have exact stops planned along the way yet.

2. Does a loop starting in central IN, going up to SD, down to AZ, and back seem doable in 12-14 days, and leave enough time to see some neat things along the way, or would this amount of time cause me to be rushing and not enjoying things?

For question #2, it depends a lot on what the normal average distance that you plan to travel per day is. Are you going to travel Sun up to Sun down? Do you plan to travel on the road at night for any distance? What is the estimated total round trip mileage? I am in Southern California and I traveled to Sturgis, SD and back. It was around about a 4,000 mile trip all told for me. I stopped in AZ after about 500 miles or so and met up with the friends that I would travel to Sturgis with and stayed with them for the night. For the next leg we all stopped in NM for the night and it was about another 500 miles or so. The next stop was in CO at a friend’s house to sleep for the night and from there it was on to Sturgis to check in to the place we rented. With the other extra people and the extra chase vehicle and the trailer it was 4 days out and 4 days back. I, by myself, could have made this same trip in about 2 days out and 2 days back, but I really enjoyed being with my friends for this trip. I rode 6,000 miles, coast to coast by myself in 9 days, taking 5 days out and only 4 days back. I took it easy going out and that is why I only took 4 days to get back. The elements, heat, rain/hail and cold can slow you down and change your ETA. I personally do not mind traveling at night on the road, but most of my friends do not, so I end up stopping with them. If you do ride at night, be extra careful in AZ and NM as they have Deer and Antelope and big ol’ ELK that come out at night. On the trip to Sturgis, the stops were pretty much planned, but on my cross continent trip, the stops were planed going out, but on my way back I just stopped when I felt like it with no real plan at all. I knew what highway I was going to be taking but nothing else was planned and it was very fun to do it that way. Don’t burn yourself out trying to set distance records either, just travel at a pace that you can maintain and stop when you start to feel fatigued. I think that you have enough time planned so that you can enjoy yourself and not have to feel rushed at all.

3. I've never had a flat tire on a motorcycle to have to fix on the side of the road. Is Fix-a-Flat good enough to carry to get me limping to a dealer, or should I look at learning how to plug a tire and carry a compressor? Should I get an old bike tire and practice plugging?


Fix a flat does not work on punctures to the side walls of the tire and should be used on non-spoke rims. I carry it just in case, but I have not had to use it. I also carry a plug kit that I have not had to use either. My plug kit came with a compressed air container that is intended to get you off the road after the puncture has been plugged.

4. I'm planning on traveling light, and buying disposables along the way and doing laundry every 2-3 days at a motel. I have an Ultra, and debating whether to detach the tourpak for the trip (usually ride around here solo'd out), or leave it on. I figure the extra lights will provide more safety and give me more carrying room, but the bike for me is easier to manuever when the pak is off. Any recommendations which way I should travel from your experiences?


For me, lighter is better too! I did laundry every now and again as needed as you have stated. While I was in Sturgis for Bike week, I just loaded up all of the crap that I had bought as mementos from the trip for my family and friends back home and shipped it home via UPS. No fuss no muss and nothing to carry back home! Hell, I even got back home before the stuff did!

The two guys I usually ride with have no interest in going (neither want to do that many miles), and wife said "I'm fine with you going, start planning it, but it's something I don't have an interest in doing" (and yes, I've tried telling her how great of a trip it will be, but she absolutely hates riding in rain, cold, heavy traffic, excessive heat, and for long miles for multiple days in a row). So, unless I can find somebody around here that has the same dream, guess I'm doing this trip solo.

Getting older, and want to do this before I physically can't. Not sure of exact route yet, as I'm just in the beginning planning stages. Biggest things I really want to see at this point are Custer's Battlefield in SD, as well as the Grand Canyon in AZ. I figure I can fill in many other memorable stops along this path.

Ditto on the do it now before it’s too late thing. Custer State park was one of the really nice rides I took while in Sturgis. Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Black Hills State park, Spearfish too! All of them are scenic rides. I plan to see the Grand Canyon in AZ within the next few weeks or so. It’s so close to me in CA that I can’t believe that I haven’t traveled to it yet.


Hey man, I hope that you have a GREAT trip and that you get to do and see everything that you want to. Take lots and lots of pictures so that you will have the memories to share with your family and friends when you get back. Good luck and ride safe out there!

 

I use Microsoft Streets and Trips to plan any route. it gives me times and milage based on the info that I input such as starting time, speeds, roads ect.. I can estimate fuel costs, set it for fastest route, or shortest, or I can choose which routes I want (takes more time, but worth it)

http://www.microsoft.com/streets/en-us/default.aspx They do have a 60 day free trial...

As for flats..what kind of wheels?? are you running tubes?? these questions make a difference. For me, since I don't run tubes, I carry a plug kit and small compressor that plugs into the lighter socket on the Ultra.

Personally, I'd take the tour pak. With the distance you are travelling, you may need leathers for cold weather, rain gear, and who knows what else. better to be prepared and have a tad extra room, then not enough.

Daily milage depends on you. When riding with the wife, I typically plan for 350-400 miles per day. When alone, I bump that up to 600+ depending on sights I want to see.

As for doable...I am currently plannng a two week trip for this summer. Leaving Michigan, going to the Black Hills, Beartooth, and yellowstone, then over to Rocky Mountian national park near Denver, before heading over to Tennessee near Knoxville, to pick up my daughter (she'll be staying with Grandma) and then home. Streets and trips tells me 9 days of riding from 8 am till 5 pm. Now I'll put in some of the stops and how long I want to stay at a particular place. After that, I'll convert it all and install the routes into my GPS to follow while on the road.

 

Hey fellow Hoosier!

1. I like using the Harley Ride Planner. It figures in the speed limits for the roads you are on so you have an idea how long you will be actually riding. You still need to add break time and stops for sightseeing. I found it to be easy to use and use it often.

2. I recently started to plan a trip to southern Utah and northern Arizona (look for my thread). We are going to trailer the bikes out to Utah and back that is going to take 4 13-hour days ( 2 out, 2 back). And then we get out there we plan to ride 1300 miles around southern Utah and northern Arizona and I figure that will take 6 days with the stopping for sightseeing. So that's 10 days and that isn't riding all the way out there and not going up to SD.

3. What kind of wheels do you have? If they are laced, forget the plug kit. As you know they are only for tubeless tires. I have cast wheels so I carry a plug kit and compressor with me all the time. Hope I never need to use them.

4. Extra lights are good! You want to be seen! In fact I'd recommend the light module that turns your rear turn signals in to brake and running lights be added if you already don't have it. Only costs about $50 (cheap for a Harley upgrade).

 

Thanks for the responses. I'll look into HD's ride planner and the MS application to see which is better to my liking.

I have the stock cast wheels on my Ultra, I'm pretty sure they are tubeless (have E3s on them right now).

We spent hours last night and today trying to get a basic itinerary developed. There's a lot to do in SD/CO areas, so we may just split this into two different rides, and do the AZ/UT ride the following year. We don't want to hurry through anything, after all it's a vacation We will gun it from Indy to SD though using the lovely interstate system, but from that point we'll stay off of interstates until we hit KS on the way back home.

Ozoneman, have a p/n for that mod? I've currently added a backoff module, so I'll have to see if this can exist with the mod you are recommending. We are a few miles outside of Indianapolis ourselves, and you'll have to let us know how your AZ/UT ride goes!

 

Well, GoogleMaps ain't bad. Short of getting a GPS, try MapQuest, the HD Ride Planner.....they are all very similar.


Depending on your daily mileage tolerance, yes. This sounds good.


Well, you are planning on riding out in the West. We have some pretty barren stretches out here, especially if you get off the interstate.

If you run tubeless tires, then get a plug kit and PRACTICE before you leave. If you plug it right, you'll be set. It will be safe. When you do get to a dealer/shop, just have them check it. Or replace the tire. (I ride with plugged tires on my KLR all the time.)

If you run tubes, you can fix these, too. But these are harder to do on bikes without centerstands. Still possible, though. You have to plug the tire AND patch the tube (or replace it).

Either way....PRACTICE before you go.

Start by practicing on an old tire. The put the old tire on your bike and trying it again.

I'd keep the TourPak but leave with it empty. I love acquiring stuff on the way.


You'll have a great time. When you do a road trip alone, you meet more people. You'll be amazed at how much more interesting roadside America is when you ride alone.

I go on solo trips all the time and I am never without a good conversation at a diner or bar. Never. When I ride with my wife, I have a great time, too, but it;'s about us being together. Different experiences entirely.

By "Custer's Battlefield" do you mean the Little Bighorn? That is in Montana, right off I-90 on the Crow Indian Reservation. It is run by the National Park Service and there is a nice interpretative center.

When you get to more specific routes, post again! I can help with your trip through the mountain west.

 

No expert but have lots of long distance experience...

As already suggested, most online systems are helpful. But sometimes it's not the number of miles but number of hours spent in the saddle. Take a good look at the number of hours you can now comfortably spend riding and plan from there.

Central Indiana to Custer Battlefield is about 1400 miles taking a fairly direct route.

FWIW, taking US212 out of South Dakota is a nice ride. I've been to Custer a couple times and unless you want to walk the entire battlefield from the eastern edge, you could easily spend just a couple hours there and see most of it.

Again, depending on the roads taken and hours spent riding, this could be a five-day ride...it's up to you.


In all the years and miles, I've never had a flat. But I do carry a plug kit and have roadside assistance. I also check my tires daily when on the road.

If you use Fix-a-flat, be sure to tell the service guy changing out the tire what you've done...he might appreciate the advanced warning. Sometimes that stuff can be a real mess for the change out.


I carry a waterproof duffel on my rear seat and that contains enough clothing for a trip of three days. Then I do laundry. I don't purchase clothes along the way simply because I've had bad experiences with things that did not fit properly and ended up throwing away the extras. Now I carry my own,comfortable stuff and laundry soap as well as a roll of quarters.

The saddlebags are reserved for rain gear, cold weather gear, extra boots, bike washing mitt and soap, well you get the idea. The trunk I use for things like maps, gloves, first aid kit, tire gauge, sunglasses, and other junk that I can access quickly.


I ride from Georgia to the upper mid-west, Rockies, and southwest every year. And I usually ride solo taking about 10 to 15 days covering between 4000 and 6000 miles. While most find the interstates a real pain, some of the more rural roads can be in bad repair and make the backroad experience a real drag.

Of course there are storms, traffic, and last-minute side trips to deal with. But that's just part of the entire experience and will make you either glad you're on the road or can't wait to get off.

Good luck and ride safe!

 

Sounds like an awesome trip.

I've planned trips the past few years and found google maps to work pretty well. In addition to the plain map you can use the satellite view to see the actual roads. The zoom feature works really well. If you have any specific questions regarding NV, AZ, CO, UT, NM I may be able to help.

Depending on the types of roads you like to ride, and weather conditions you encounter, 250 - 350 mile days are pretty comfortable. 400+ mile days are a bit more work.

I would suggest pacing a tire patch kit and a tool bag. I would also recommend taking the tour pack and don't over pack but pack for all kinds of weather conditions. We've had morning temps of 38 degrees one day and afternoon temps of 117 degrees the next!

The trips we've done involved a pretty good size group (13 riders last year) so it is necessary to plan everything out as much as possible. Since you are traveling solo you have a lot more flexibility. I would still suggest planning out your trip but it will be easier for you to make changes.

Good luck!

P.S. Take a lot of pics and video.

 

Mastery, the part number for the module is 69461-06A if you have flat lens. It is on page 657 of the 2009 accessories catalog. It is actually $58.