Loading ...The first issue is your steed.
The fancy motorcycle for zipping around town at speed or in style may not be the best motorcycle to go touring with. We have two main categories here; fast sports bikes and stylish bikes such a Harley’s and the like.
The problem with fast sports bikes is that they are built for speed not comfort. Your body is molded to the shape of the bike and not the other way around. They will be very uncomfortable if you need to cover large distances of hundreds of miles in a day. Secondly they can be quite thirsty on fuel requiring many pit stops thus breaking your stride too much. Thirdly sports bikes are often very highly tuned and maintenance can be an issue. Storage can be an issue for long trips and you may need to fit everything into a small haversack. These bikes are fine for day trips but can be difficult companions for longer trips.
Stylish cruisers are wonderful works of art and are great for posing on a Sunday afternoon. However they normally have teardrop fuel tanks that need to be refilled every 80-90 miles, a problem of you need to cover up to 1,000 miles in a day. Handling can be a problem on some of these machines when you go exploring minor roads. Chains, sprockets and belt drives among other things can impact on the machines reliability. Their strength is their v twin engines that produce gentle usable power on sweeping bends.
The ideal touring motorcycle has a v twin engine, maintenance free shaft drive, have a long distance between fuel stops, have lots of storage, a fairing to keep the wind off and a power point for charging mobile phones and satellite navigation systems. It should handle well, not be too heavy and should be capable of cruising at motorway speeds all day long.
The normal rules about travelling light apply. However good protective and rain gear is essential are are proper motorcycle boots. On a very long trip the slightest irritant can assume major importance.
Electronics have made travelling easier a satnav can be of enormous benefit. If you can carry a mobile phone such as an iPhone with internet access you can easily check ferry times, call for help and be contactable (if you want to be).
Many motorway service areas in Europe have camping areas for camper vans and tents and you can sleep in the environment that you are travelling in. A small tent and sleeping bag are easily packable. Your motorcycle should be fully serviced prior to the trip.
A few simple maintenance items are useful such as a tire inflater aerosol to get you to the next service station and a basic tool kit with a couple of commonly used spares.
Travelling in groups can provide a sense of security should anything go wrong. The down side is you may tend to travel too fast and there may be conflicting interests. It is entirely possible to travel alone. Finally allow plenty of time for your trip and be flexible with your schedule as you never know what you may come across along the way.
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