Sleepless and other 1000 mile'rs

[kennym4]

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT ?


On Sat. morning I left at 5:30 am with my father, and 3 other Blue Knights (a law enforcement MC) on a ride to Richmond VA for a ride that the VA Blue Knights were putting on for a children's hospital. It was just under 300 miles one way, and it was COLD !!! There were about 1000 motorcycles there, and I only saw 1 other sport bike there, an R-1.
It was more like an escorted parade than a ride. They closed off I-95 for us, and it took us an hour, and a half to go like 30 miles (that sucked). My Pop, and his friends stayed with friends there, but I came home. I have never been so cold in my life.

All together it was a little under 700 miles. I couldn't imagine adding another 300 and some change to that. Maybe if it was warmer ?


I DO know the , but the camera stayed nice and warm.......sitting on the kitchen table :stoopid:

 

[sleepless_red]

I can't explain it. I just do it and believe me, if I have more chance to do it, I'd keep doing it. I've only done it twice and each time, I had less than 4 hours of sleep the night before......too excited that's why. I'm sure you remember me posting the night before and early that morning of September 5 when I woke up at like 12:30AM and just couldn't go back to sleep and then rode for more than 21 hours and not get drowsy. It's the adrenaline, I guess.

What I'd like to try is one of those 3-5 straight days. Only problem is I can't leave the family behind like that but my time will come.

 

[BusaWhipped]

Charity rides are usually like that. It was easier doing 1100 miles just running with semi on the open road than doing 800 miles when I met up with a group of riders. All the extra stops and waiting around wears me out more than riding, and it took 3 hours longer to do the 800 with the group than the 1100 with just semi.

 

[semi]

Charity rides are usually like that. It was easier doing 1100 miles just running with semi on the open road than doing 800 miles when I met up with a group of riders. All the extra stops and waiting around wears me out more than riding, and it took 3 hours longer to do the 800 with the group than the 1100 with just semi.

that was fun except for the rain without any gear kennym4, it is much easier doing the mileage by yourself or with someone you have ridden with a LOT before that you know their habits and are comfortable with...that way, you aren't guessing what is going to happen next and the ride just flows a lot easier

btw, it does help for it to be a little warmer

 

[DaCol.]

LD riding is like football. Some people have the body, chemistry (and lack of brain power to some (my wife doesn't understand but accepts it) OR just are not interested) to do LD's and some don't. Kinda like some football players can run like a gazelle, some like a HIPO

 

[kennym4]

Yeah Sleepless I do remember that, that's how my Pop was. He was ready to go 2 hours before it was time to go.



The ride there wasn't bad, and the ride home alone was even better, it was just so cold (low was 33 degrees), and windy. I wasn't that sore, my back hurt for about an hour on the way home, but it went away. For a while I thought something was really wrong with my bike it had a bad wiggle, then I realized it was me shivering so bad it was going into the bars.

 

[Ben Busafied]

For a while I thought something was really wrong with my bike it had a bad wiggle, then I realized it was me shivering so bad it was going into the bars.

that smidgin of a windshield is a lot nicer in warmer weather eh?

 

[ogre]

i can drive like that. 10 hrs before i even start getting tired, 14-16 hr driving days are normal when the wife and i are going cross country. i'd like to try a 1000 miler, but i don't think chels would want to go.

 

[Fastfrog007]

The weather is what killed ya, cold makes everything suck...

 

[red1100cc]

the easiest way to make miles is to do it alone. i have no tollerance for other people when im trying to make alot of miles. i average 600-700mi a day riding alone. i find it easier on me when i have 3000-6000mi to ride, if i don't do 1000mi days, because they are such a killer.
i have done a hand full of 1000+mi days. the secret is to work up to it. start with a few 600s, then maybe an 800mile, another couple of 600mi days then break out for the 1000+.
riding alot builds up muscles only used while riding.
there are other things, tricks if you will, to the long ride.
getting your bike set up for it. the windscreen was the 1st thing i changed. followed by a good tank bag to lay on. bar changes are also popular, as well as a seat mod of some kind. i've found the stock seat a little hard on the gooch. in hot weather, a little desitin helps keep the package from gettin prickley rash.
it also helps if you learn to eat and drink (especially drink) while you are riding. i keep jerkey and slimjims in my pockets, and gatorade in the tank bag. i also drink a v8 and eat peanutbutter crackers at every gas stop.
some music and a gps helps kill time too. i have ridden w/o music on long trips and always get the last song i heard stick in my head for hours. once rode a wing across AZ. with only an eagles tape. after 1200mi i did not have that "peaceful easy feeling" anymore, so music diversity is a good thing too.
personal gear is important too. i always have good rain gear with me, and when there is any chance it can get below 60deg. i bring along whall blizardproof coveralls and gortex gauntlets. same thing the forest service uses for snowmobile suits. i hate to be cold! nothing will make me find a motel, a shot, and beer, faster than being frozen on the bike.
in all truth i had rather do a dozen 6-700mi days in a row, than a 1000miler. i've already done my iron butt 1000s and 1500s, don't need to impress myself anymore. only reason i would do it again, is if i had somewhere i needed to be "a long way to go and a short time to get there."

sometimes life is all about "want to".

 

[2Wheels2Live]

Nice tips Red I'm a road dog in a car, I can drive forever and never get tired. Just love to drive I guess. Kinda the same on the right bike...but I need comfort though. I'm too big to get really comfy and put the serious miles on the busa, just doesn't quite fit me well enough for that. I think I'd need a connie 14 or BMW 12 or 13 for the 1000+ mile rides

 

[red1100cc]

Nice tips Red I'm a road dog in a car, I can drive forever and never get tired. Just love to drive I guess. Kinda the same on the right bike...but I need comfort though. I'm too big to get really comfy and put the serious miles on the busa, just doesn't quite fit me well enough for that. I think I'd need a connie 14 or BMW 12 or 13 for the 1000+ mile rides

thanks. i like to travel. started as a kid driving to the east coast when i was 16. when motorcycles found me, it was destiny to ride across this great land of ours on 2 wheels.
having the right bike for the job sure helps alot. i rode my father inlaws victory vison to reno and back a few years ago. that sure is a nice tour bike. did great on I-80, all day long. on a dedicated tour bike, almost anyone can do 1000mi days. i've spun the wheels off 3 ol goldwings and a harley, but doing it on a hayabusa IS a challange for sure.
here is a link to what i consider one of the longest/greatest rides i have ever undertaken.
https://www.hayabusa.org/forum/gene...31146-casper-keys-back-travel-log-w-pics.html

if you really want to push and ride 1000mi days, you can always pick up an ol goldwing for the price of fixing the fairing on a knocked over busa

 

[andy and the r man]

I can't explain it. I just do it and believe me, if I have more chance to do it, I'd keep doing it. I've only done it twice and each time, I had less than 4 hours of sleep the night before......too excited that's why. I'm sure you remember me posting the night before and early that morning of September 5 when I woke up at like 12:30AM and just couldn't go back to sleep and then rode for more than 21 hours and not get drowsy. It's the adrenaline, I guess.

What I'd like to try is one of those 3-5 straight days. Only problem is I can't leave the family behind like that but my time will come.

What get's me on even a little ride is my wrists. I guess I should squeeze the tank more with my thighs and take some pressure off...
Is that your approach?

 

[sleepless_red]

What get's me on even a little ride is my wrists. I guess I should squeeze the tank more with my thighs and take some pressure off...
Is that your approach?

Helibars is the secret. I NEVER squeeze the tank with my thighs on the highway. Relaxing the whole body's the key. Even after riding for more than 21 hours, I wasn't sore or anything.
It's funny, I brought a couple of Aleeve with me and I even showed it to my buddy at the last gas stop, I think it was after 11:00PM and I said, "look....I still have it. He just kinda laughed about it.

 

[semi]

What get's me on even a little ride is my wrists. I guess I should squeeze the tank more with my thighs and take some pressure off...
Is that your approach?

i just worked my way up by doing longer and longer rides...i have stock handlebars, seat, and rearsets but did put on a Throttlemeister which helped a lot and now have cruise control...like sleepless_red said, staying relaxed makes a big difference too since your muscles don't wear out as quickly

 

[BusaWhipped]

Some kind of throttle lock or cruise control will help reduce the wrist and hand fatigue. I never squeeze the tank. It's a bad habit you need to break later I'd you are going to do any cornering. Press down on the foot pegs instead.

 

[ogre]

got my buell pegs, helibars and a corbin are next, along with a touring zg for longer rides

 

[warp10]

warm weather is better than cold. electric gear is great. i ride every day it is not raining, but for long runs I just started with a 750 mile run to see the folks, stayed a day and rode backthe next day. Then I went to the Stampede in Reno last year, 950 mile days, 2, and I was there. this year I went a different route, dallas to cody wyo in one day, 1244 miles, then all i had to do was just 2 800+ days and I was there. I guess the secret is to just ride and make sure you are dressed right.

 

[Pardini]

After three months I just received my IBA Saddle Sore 1000 stuff in the mail.

 

[red1100cc]

warm weather is better than cold. electric gear is great. i ride every day it is not raining, but for long runs I just started with a 750 mile run to see the folks, stayed a day and rode backthe next day. Then I went to the Stampede in Reno last year, 950 mile days, 2, and I was there. this year I went a different route, dallas to cody wyo in one day, 1244 miles, then all i had to do was just 2 800+ days and I was there. I guess the secret is to just ride and make sure you are dressed right.

Dallas to Cody is quite the long run!!