How do you ride your motorcyle for several hours?

Another beemer rider sounding off (R850R), the stock seat is good and I will average about 500-700 miles in a day. My annual Canada trip (around the lakes) from Chicago is coming up on Thursday. Anyway, I find that the riding posture of the bike has to be comfortable for long trips. Good upright (sit up and beg like a dog) may look funny, but it is real comfortable. If you have a race bike (crotch rocket), you will no doubt suffer from wrist pain and lower back pain, just for the shear fact that you are supporting yourself with your wrists for long periods. If you go the custome HD route, it all depends on the bars and seat...obviously a hard tail will take it's toll. As for floor-boards, I've never had them on my beemers...I like the pegs for corner (apex grabbing) clearance. Regardless, ample breaks and standing on your pegs to switch your weight (slide your butt to the pillion seat if your riding solo) will keep you very happy. I usually rest my legs on the jugs when I need to stretch out. Anyway, keep the rubber side down and enjoy yourself!
 
How do I ride for hours? FAST!

Seriously thought I do not have a problem. I ride an SV 650 FWIW.

If your but hurts try an aftermarket seat by a company like Corbin (my favorite) or Seargent.

As for sportbikes hurting your wrists and back it depends. It depends on the way you and the bike both are built. It also depends on your technique and riding style. It is different than other types of bikes, thats for sure. But if you learn to let your stomach muscles and the wind work for you it is not unheard of to ride for hours. Of course if you ride it like it is designed for (read hitting some serious twisties) you won't have time for your wrists and back to get sore! lol.

I think its great to see this many people riding, though. Whether its a beamer or a Harley or a sportbike it only helps the sport when people do it more and more responsibly.
 
Boy, I'm glad I'm not the only one! I just started riding last fall. Got a '95 Honda Nighthawk 750. Great bike for a beginner and for getting around. Does well in city traffic and has enough power to easily handle highway speeds. However, most of my rides are in the 20-30 mile range. A couple of weeks ago, I joined a group ride. I rode, with breaks, from 8am-3pm and put about 225 miles on my bike. It was no 1000 mile day, but I felt like someone had kicked the crap out of me! Everything hurt. I wasn't sure if it was just a matter of getting conditioned, or if I'd be better off with a bigger, heavier bike. Good to see all the above responses for ideas. In a couple of weeks, I'll be at Americade. The thing I'm looking forward to the most is the demo rides, to get a better idea of what kind of bike comes next. :)
 
T. Erdelyi wrote: <I>The old british bikes especially the Norton Commandos were a nice compromise, but of course no one remembers those. </I>

The first bike I owned was a (new) 1970 Norton Commando. Here's what it looked like:
fastback.jpg


I'm biased, but this one would lose the ugly bike contest. I sold it with ~40,000 miles on it. I wish I hadn't.

db
 
Originally posted by Dave B
T. Erdelyi wrote: <I>The old british bikes especially the Norton Commandos were a nice compromise, but of course no one remembers those. </I>

The first bike I owned was a (new) 1970 Norton Commando. Here's what it looked like:

I'm biased, but this one would lose the ugly bike contest. I sold it with ~40,000 miles on it. I wish I hadn't.

db
Click to expand...

Ugly my ass that's a sweet ride, Norton made a rotary engine bike for a while in the mid 90's and I hear they are makin' them again

nortonf1.jpg
 
Hi Everyone-

Aside from the Langlitz Leathers, Aerostich boots, Corbin saddle, and good physical fitness, I have to suggest the use of earplugs with a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 29 or greater.

The flutter and "thud" of wind coming across your helmet will lull you into sleep and damage your hearing at the same time. Don't worry about the laws about dual plugs, you'll hear emergency vehicles just fine. My personal favorites are Howard Leight Industries.

The better plugs block out the highs and lows while leaving the midrange more or less undisturbed. You can speak in a normal, conversational tone and still hear perfectly since the aforementioned frequencies aren't encountered.

That's my $.02 from a person with 12 years of street riding.

Regards,

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Ooops yes - earplugs - forgot those. I never ride without them, hearing damage is cumalative, irrevresible and often not noticed till it's too late.
I used to ride at work all day and we were issued with custom made ones http://www.headsetservices.com/custom-ear.html where they pour molten stuff in your ear to make a perfect mould, and fit removeable valves which you can then change for different DB attenuation. The little valves only close at certain DB, so you hear speech / light traffic noise etc. but they snap shut to louder noises such as wife on pillion. Headache free journeys.
 
Back in the day I hit Illinois, Indiana, kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Lousiana, Mississippi, Florida, and maybe a couple others all in one summer trip on the road. I can't remember it being anything but fun. I would give up every knife I own to do that again.........
 
I'm getting and have a bad lower back. I've got over 100,000 miles on motorcycles and have been through the various styles. I'm no expert, but can share some thoughts based upon my experiences.

When I had the Electra Glides, 500 mile days were routine if I had the crew to do it or if I was by myself. I cannot overemphasize the importance of handlebar and footrest position(s). I think these factors are even more important than the saddle though I would never ignore the benefots of a good saddle. When I was younger I had a 650 Yamaha and did nothing to it except highway pegs - what a difference in extending range with comfort.

When I got the 850 Suzuki I put an aftermarket cafe' racer fairing on it and realized that I could ride longer with less fatigue. When though the phase with the crocth rockets and found them to be surprisingly comfortable but did not offer enough flexibility of position for the longer trips.

Then I got into Harleys and never looked back except for a great BMW Enduro bike I had in the early 80s. The cooler looking my Harleys were, the less comfortable for the longer trips they were.

I no longer do 500 mile days because of time constraints and too many other interests. I will travel again when the family is older and given todays choices I would likely get a Road Glide (frame mounted fairing :) )and a Corbin seat with backrest. I would want multiple positions for my feet so that I can alter/relieve stress on my lower back. Vibration absorbing grips and good clothing will make the road a pleasure. In as much as I only get out for a 100 or 200 miles with the guys now and again, I ride a NightTrain (95 c.i., 10.25:1 forged pistons, cams, headwork, 42mm Mikuni, ThunderHeader, bumped rev limiter, etc.;) ) and really like it; but it would not be my first choice if I had the time for road trips.

Spark, if you are uncomfortable, you need to look at riding position. Perhaps the current adjustments are not right for you or the style of ride you have needs to be reconsidered. Try to ride as many different types of motorcycles as you can. Get with a group and ask to swap for an hour here and an hour there. Brands are not important, it is the style of mount/rider position that matters most. Then you tweak with adjustments and multiple pegs and what not. Lastly, a quality saddle that supports your back and spreads the load over as much ass as posible without pressing too hard against the aft section of your inner thigh (common problem when not-so-wide people buy so-wide saddles).

Happy Hunting.
 
Just reading y'all posts is making MY back start to ache...ouch! ;)

I think I'll stick to my "short" rides (under 100 miles) and use a trailer if I need to cover more distance.
 
The longest ride I've done is from NYC to Marcus Dairy, CT on my ZX-12R last year. It didn't take that long because we were doing 100 plus for most of the trip. I was fine until I got off the bike. My back was stiff for a while afterward. I give lots of credit to racers for being able to log so many miles at triple digit speeds.
 
I have an '01 HD FXDX with forward controls and mid pegs a small fairing and handguards works like a charm fully adjustable suspension the real trick is to take the time to set up your ride for you, if you want a lot of saddle time then go for comfort if you wanna look cool then do that but sometimes the two dont really mix that well set it up for what you do, if you like to terar it up in the twisties then get a buell or a dyna sport or even a sporty sport. Jeyr
 
I have ridden many different types of motorcycles, and have yet to be able to ride for more than an hour without getting "Numb Butt". I think it's just part of the game. I get off and take a break and get right back on and do it again.
 
Many years ago when I was studying at a varsity about 110 miles from my hometown, I used to return home every 4 months once.

I got up as early as 5.30am before the sun rises and set off for home at about 6.30am. My bike at that time was a Honda 80cc. The journey across two States would take me about 4 hours.

I would break journey half-way. One of the "tricks" of not hurting your back is to sit up straight so that the weight distribution won't put pressure on the small of your back.

I loved those trips home because I get to ride across miles of rubber estates, palm oil estates, padi fields and long stretches of virgin jungle on both sides of the road. Sometimes because it was so early in the morning, the mist would cover the road and I felt as if I am in Shangri-La!

There's nothing but just me, the bike, the quiet humming of the motor engine and the sweets sounds of nature. Time stood still for those four human hours. But for me during those journey, there was no time. I was riding on forever. :)
 
Another Beemer rider here (k100rs). I've done some 800 plus days here and there and the thing that helped me the most was the Corbin saddle. A good helmet, earplugs and sunglasses don't hurt. I also try to wear comfy clothes under my 'Stich (nothing too tight, or with seams that might rub in the wrong places) and good boots. I also have a throttle lock so I can shake out my right hand once in a while. Outside of that, lots of riding helps to prepare you too.

Rob
 
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