How many miles in one day (trip)

[Donk45]

So, my wife and her family are heading to the lake house in Pulaski NY on thursday morning and I need to stay and work that day. I am debating on whether I should take the spyder up there later on and do some serious driving or if it may be too much. I have only had the spyder for about 3months, but love it and put about 3400 miles on it so far.

From my house to the lake house is about 410 mile (est 7hours). I'm wondering if this is nothing or if I should maybe stay and crash in a hotel on the way up. I may be leaving really late (like 9pm).

Also, I may then drive into Montreal (216 mile) to visit some friends on sat, and back to the lake on sunday. Stay at the lake till tuesday and then drive the 410 miles back home.

SO, what are some of your guys longest day trips (how many miles?) and how was the ride/comfort?

 

[NancysToy]

So, my wife and her family are heading to the lake house in Pulaski NY on thursday morning and I need to stay and work that day. I am debating on whether I should take the spyder up there later on and do some serious driving or if it may be too much. I have only had the spyder for about 3months, but love it and put about 3400 miles on it so far.

From my house to the lake house is about 410 mile (est 7hours). I'm wondering if this is nothing or if I should maybe stay and crash in a hotel on the way up. I may be leaving really late (like 9pm).

Also, I may then drive into Montreal (216 mile) to visit some friends on sat, and back to the lake on sunday. Stay at the lake till tuesday and then drive the 410 miles back home.

SO, what are some of your guys longest day trips (how many miles?) and how was the ride/comfort?

For me, 300 is easy, 500 is fairly comfortable, 800 pushes the limits, and over 1,000 is an Iron Butt Saddlesore 1000, and not for the meek of heart......er butt. This is a pretty individual thing, and depends a lot on the speed limit, how hard you normally ride, whether you have a windshield, the weather, etc. In Canada, or off the Interstate in the US, you can't figure on averaging more than 50 mph, so we are talking a good 10-12 hour day to do 500 miles, including gas stops. Not difficult to do one of those, but each day gets harder and feels longer.

 

[BRPjunkie]

I'm a lightweight when it comes to long days, but had no trouble doing 400 miles on the Spyder. You need to stop every 150 miles anyway for gas, so two refuelings and you're there.

 

[BajaRon]

There is such a wide variation in riding styles, pain threshold and butt ability that you'll probably just have to work this one out yourself with trial and error.

On our trip to CA last month we did 800+, 1100+ and 600+

On the way back we did basically 3 800 miles days.

It was harder on some than others. And sometimes you're up for it and sometimes the bod just says NO!

You can always play it by ear and crash when you can't take anymore. That's the way I like to do it.

 

[bjt]

The biggest key for me is riding when I'm tired. When I did back to back 1,000 mile days, I was fine as long as I wasn't tired. Once I got tired, I hated riding and was just counting down the miles til the next fuel stop or stop for the night. Even 40 miles when I'm tired is a trying ride.

If I was doing your ride and leaving at 9pm, I'd probably ride for a few hours and find a motel at my first gas stop then finish the last 350 (+ / -) miles in the morning. Otherwise, I'd stay home that night and try to wake up early (4 or 5 am) in the morning and ride it all in one day. The 410 mile ride all at once isn't bad as long as your Spyder is setup to be comfortable to you. Things like an upgraded seat, highway pegs, risers, better windshield, etc. can really make a difference between riding a pleasurable 400 miles or 200 miles of pleasure and 200 miles of pain.

 

[widowmaker2011]

The biggest key for me is riding when I'm tired. When I did back to back 1,000 mile days, I was fine as long as I wasn't tired. Once I got tired, I hated riding and was just counting down the miles til the next fuel stop or stop for the night. Even 40 miles when I'm tired is a trying ride.

If I was doing your ride and leaving at 9pm, I'd probably ride for a few hours and find a motel at my first gas stop then finish the last 350 (+ / -) miles in the morning. Otherwise, I'd stay home that night and try to wake up early (4 or 5 am) in the morning and ride it all in one day. The 410 mile ride all at once isn't bad as long as your Spyder is setup to be comfortable to you. Things like an upgraded seat, highway pegs, risers, better windshield, etc. can really make a difference between riding a pleasurable 400 miles or 200 miles of pleasure and 200 miles of pain.

Yeah , what Brian just said. We just finished 2 450 plus mile days back to back , riding 2 up in bad weather (rain lightning ) and its not a big deal unless you get tired. I haven't done 1000 but 800 is fine as long as you are alert.

 

[Lamonster]

Riding by yourself is much different than riding with someone else or a group. In a group you tend to push yourself further than you would by yourself. That can be a good thing and that can be a bad thing.

I wouldn't focus on the miles as much as how you feel at the time. On my 1200 mile day last year I took a 1 hour nap at a rest stop and I was good for another 6 hours after that. I mostly focus on fuel stop to fuel stop and that seems to work pretty good for me.

Take your time and enjoy the ride. If you feel tired stop, if you feel good keep going. I know for me I don't like riding in the dark too much because I don't see good at night.

Have a great ride :doorag:

 

[BajaRon]

The biggest key for me is riding when I'm tired.

I agree. I can take just about anything else. But once I get too tired it is a loosing battle.

Can't say how many miles I've put on a motorcycle while sleeping as I wasn't paying much attention at the time.

But I have fallen asleep on my bike. Not recommended!

 

[Donk45]

Thanks for all the heads up/advice...much appreciated.


I think the longest trip I have done so far was about 200 miles, and I was fine after that. I dont have any upgrades to my spyder as far as comfort (pegs, risers, or seat) but none of that has bothered me on past rides of about 200m. I'm about 5'7 and 30 years old....:spyder2:

 

[Some Guy]

200 miles with the stock seat is 180 too many! :gaah:

 

[Lamonster]

200 miles with the stock seat is 180 too many! :gaah:

My 1200 mile day to Sturgis was on the stock set. Not sure how I did that. nojoke

 

[Some Guy]

My 1200 mile day to Sturgis was on the stock set. Not sure how I did that. nojoke

I wouldn't have been able to sit for a week after that!

(I love my Corbin!)

 

[Putt-Putt]

We do 500+ a day on weekends all the time. I would say that is up to the individual. But I think we could go 800+ with the Russell Day Long seat that we now have.

 

[Donk45]

any recommendations on seats? Still want it to look more sporty than touring...thanks

 

[bjt]

any recommendations on seats? Still want it to look more sporty than touring...thanks

For sporty looking seats, I'd go with the BRP comfort seat, the Corbin or find someone who can tweak your stock seat with the addition of better foam and reshaping the seat. If I was a billionaire Spyder philanthropist, I'd buy every SpyderLover a Russell seat. That's how much I like mine, but it has the touring look that you want to stay away from.

 

[bjt]

Thanks for all the heads up/advice...much appreciated.


I think the longest trip I have done so far was about 200 miles, and I was fine after that. I dont have any upgrades to my spyder as far as comfort (pegs, risers, or seat) but none of that has bothered me on past rides of about 200m. I'm about 5'7 and 30 years old....:spyder2:

All those upgrades help to take away one or more things that cause you to have a bad ride or make you want to end a ride early. If you don't have issues with back, neck, shoulder, butt, leg, knee, etc. pains, then you probably don't need anything else to do long rides.

 

[smokster]

Best way to get to know your bike is to take it on a long trip.
That being said, listen to your body on how far you can go.
Having an aftermarket seat is best after the 200 mile mark. Ever since I got mine, my butt never got sore again.

 

[widowmaker2011]

Best way to get to know your bike is to take it on a long trip.
That being said, listen to your body on how far you can go.
Having an aftermarket seat is best after the 200 mile mark. Ever since I got mine, my butt never got sore again.

Ive done 800 in a day on the stock seat and no issues, every butt is different.... Now the hindle on the other hand.... I just took it off after 4000 miles.... I cant take it anymore , the BWAAAAAAAAAAP is awesome and annoying at the same time , I just went back to stock and my head is thanking me. There is more that goes into fatigue than we think.

 

[effgjamis]

At my age, 400 miles is almost a breeze... At 30 yr of age with no health or physical problems, 800 would be about right, provided you could follow Lamonster, or Docdoru.

Like eveyone said in this post, gass stops iss the way you can measure your continual ability. I personally would think I would stop at least every 90-100 miles, strech your legs and perhaps fill up the tank.

 

[j45p3r]

I rode 375 miles (back roads about 8hrs of driving) and my rear end was begging for mercy.