Tips to make your first overnight ride a success

Mike Zimmerman discusses the planning and preparation you can do to support your first journey through the night

Thinking about going on your first overnight – or multi-night – motorcycle trip? Congratulations! You’re about to take your riding life to the next level. You probably have a lot of questions. There’s always more to learn, no matter how long you’ve been riding, but here’s some basic knowledge to get you started.

Motorcycle matters
Make sure your motorcycle is as ready as you are. Are you due for an oil change? Are your tyres in good shape and inflated to the proper pressure? Are there any potential mechanical issues you’ve been meaning to get checked out? Now, before you go, is the time to take care of those things.

Highways or byways?
What’s your objective for the trip? If it’s mostly to get somewhere you have to be, sticking to main roads might be the best choice. If the main point is to enjoy the ride, look for the smaller roads. You won’t cover as much ground in a day, but you’ll experience a lot more. Because it’s not the destination, it’s the journey, right?

Help from your friends
Unless you’re making your inaugural trip alone, talk to the people who are going with you. Riders are usually very happy, even eager, to share their knowledge with rookies.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions before you go and along the way. Also, keep in mind that everybody has his or her own opinions and special tips. There’s no one right way to do most things.

If you’re taking your first trip solo (and good for you!), the same thing goes: talk to your friends before you leave and learn from their experiences.

H-D dealerships
Speaking of help from your friends, make a note of the location of Harley-Davidson^® dealerships on your route and consider them a useful resource. H-D^® dealerships are great places to ask questions, get advice, learn about the best local roads, get suggestions on where to stay or eat, or just hang out for a while. And if you do have a mechanical issue, most dealerships make it a priority to get travellers back on the road as soon as possible.

Harley-Davidson App and Ride Planner
It wouldn’t be the 21st century without taking advantage of various apps and websites to help plan your trip. Harley-Davidson is here to help. Download the H-D App on your phone or visit H-D.com/rideplanner to map your routes, find nearby (or distant) Harley-Davidson dealerships and much, much more.

How far is too far?
If you’re not used to riding 600-800km (or more) in a day, don’t assume you’re going to be up for it. Make that first bite one you can handle by allowing plenty of time to stop, look around, and recharge. Once you get a sense of what a “full day of riding” means to you, think about biting off more kilometres at once. If you’re taking your time, enjoying the sights, 400km or less can feel like a very full day.

Do you have a reservation?
Whether to make hotel reservations ahead of time is a matter of personal preference. If it makes you nervous not knowing where you’re going to spend the night, by all means book that room ahead of time. But others prefer stopping for the night only when they feel good and ready. Yes, there’s a little bit of risk involved, but maybe that’s part of the adventure.

What to bring
We could write a whole article on packing. In general, err on the side of packing light. It’s easy to bring more than you need. Plan to wear some clothes more than once. Unless you’re going to be gone a week or more, two pairs of jeans may be plenty. And if you invest in some synthetic socks and underwear (not cotton), you can get by with just a pair or two. Just rinse them out in the sink at night, wring them out nice and tight, and then hang them on the shower curtain rod to dry overnight.

Don’t bring more toiletries than you really need. Travel-size toothpaste and such is a good way to go. If you’re travelling with someone else, figure out what you might share. Is a hair dryer really necessary? Remember that most hotel rooms supply them nowadays.

Where to put it
In general, put things you’ll need while riding near the top of your bag. Heavier items should go in the saddlebags or at the bottom of a strap-on bag. To help stay organized, consider packing smaller things inside zip-close plastic bags.

Luggage
How much you can bring is going to depend a lot on what kind of motorcycle you have – and whether it has built-in carrying capacity, such as saddlebags and/or a Tour-Pak^™ luggage carrier. If it doesn’t have either of those, consider investing in a good-quality strap-on touring bag. This type of bag can fit on a variety of bike models, so if you’re not ready to commit to a purchase, see if you can borrow one from a friend. A bonus is that this type of bag, depending on its size, often doubles as a backrest.

A backpack is always an option, but make sure it’s not too big to interfere with whatever you may have strapped to the passenger seat – and that it’s not so big and heavy that it will cause you fatigue over a full day of riding. You may be able to adjust the straps so the bulk of the weight rests on the seat behind you.

Gas it up
Some riders like to run their motorcycles almost dry before gassing up, but there’s no honour in pushing the limits. When in doubt, top it off. Better to buy fuel more often than to force an unscheduled stop when you realize you’re almost out. Or worse, discovering the next gas station is out of range when you’re in the middle of nowhere.

Whatever the weather
Fair or foul, weather has a huge impact on your motorcycle ride. Nobody likes it when the weather turns ugly, but you don’t have to let it ruin your trip. In fact, if you prepare for bad weather properly, it can become just another part of the adventure. Good rain gear is a sound investment. And don’t trust the weather forecast. You never know when the weather might turn, so always pack at least a rain jacket. For more than a night or two, a full rain suit is a better bet.

Are your boots and gloves waterproof? If so, you’re good to go. If not, consider making an upgrade. Or, a cheap, temporary fix is to slip plastic bags inside your boots when it rains. This will do a great job of keeping your feet dry, but you’ll still have to dry out your boots at the end of the day. Stuffing newspaper inside them overnight will help that process along.

Eat, drink, stretch
No matter how far you ride, it’s important to take care of yourself along the way. Be sure to fuel your body as well as your motorcycle. Eat healthy snacks, even if you don’t feel hungry. Stay hydrated – drink before you feel thirsty (especially if it’s hot!), and be sure to get off your bike and stretch your legs – and other vital body parts – as often as needed.

Go for it
Experience is the best teacher, and there’s only one way to gain it: get out there and do it! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; just be sure to learn from them. Try different ways of doing things. If something works, great. If it doesn’t, try an alternate tactic. Part of the fun of a motorcycle trip is the uncertainty involved.

Think about it. Which makes the best stories: a trip that goes perfectly or one where you overcome some challenges along the way? Exactly. So be ready for anything, be safe, and have the time of your life.

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