Give me some tips! Long ride ahead on my Honda CBR600?

Question

I need to transport my bike from Chicago down to school in Champaign, IL. They are about 250miles apart. A u-haul costs about $250+gas, I can't afford it. I my car can't tow anything. I can rent a cargo van but I will have to return it at the same location. SO. I think I am just going to ride my Honda CBR 600F3 back.
I have never taken such a long ride before.
The ride is mostly highway in the country side.
Can anybody give me some tips on riding a crotchrocke such a long distance.
I know I will be taking my time and getting breaks as often as I need in the trip.
But anything I should be watching out for?
Anything I should prepare on my bike?
ANYTHING?!
Thanks

Should I follow my friend's car or something?

Answer 1

Sleep well the night before you leave.

Clean your visor on your helmet.

Take a little Advil or Tylenol with you.

Hydrate well before you go, but not so much you are uncomfortable to ride in that chimp-on-a-watermelon riding position on the CBR.

Just before you leave, go to the bathroom and do your business, and use some Gold Bond medicated powder (green bottle) or Anti-Monkey Butt Powder. Take the powder with you.

Put in earplugs.

Leave early.

Stop for breakfast sometime after the first 40 miles.

Travel in shorter segments. Get off the bike and stretch. Make one of the rest stops within the last hundred miles long, walk around in a store, a beach or just a park. It's that last bit that makes you feel every bit of accumulated discomfort, so you need sort of a fresh start for the last bit.

The only way to fight the boredom and the muscle soreness is to break the trip up.

The only things I take on my trips now are my wallet, lots of socks, one extra pair underwear, pit stick, powder, and rain gear if I might need it. Lasts me for days.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I go on rides this long all the time. It shouldn't be a problem. The only thing is the CBR is not the most comfortable mount. 8^< But you're probably younger than I am so you can take more punishment.

Just take it easy. You can do 250 mi. in a day pretty easily, you don't have to push it. Stop every hour or 90 min. and get off the bike and walk around a little to get the circulation back in your butt and thighs. Even if you don't feel like you need to! Bring along a water bottle and drink plenty of water, you can get dehydrated on a long ride, especially if it's hot.

Back roads and US highways are more enjoyable than the freeway but the freeway is probably safer, if you ride carefully, because everyone is going the same direction, there are no idiots making left turns in front of you or pulling out of driveways without looking. Ride with the flow of traffic, passing represents an increased danger.

The CBR is a great sport-bike but on this trip you have to think of it as a touring bike. Keep a lot of space around you, keep your head up, and don't ride like you're in the Grand Prix. Pretend you're on a Harley. 8^)

Answer 3

I have an older CBR600, the F2 model and run 200+ mile trips on Sunday's for fun with my friends. Your bike should be getting 130+ miles per tank of gas. So at the least you will need to stop about half way for gas. This would be a good time to grab some water, clean the shield on your helmet, and stretch your legs a bit. Staying on the highway is boring for me and seems to make the trip longer. The seat on the F2 & F3 is like a 2x4 after awhile on the straight blacktop. Try to move your butt around the seat a bit to keep the blood flowing. Monkeybutt powder might make the trip a little more enjoyable too (check local motorcycle shop). Make sure your bike is ready for the trip by checking fluids and tire pressure. Make sure you are ready by wearing the proper gear and checking weather forcast.

If you could follow a friend that would be good incase you have any problems, but like I mentioned I cover that type of milage on an almost identicle bike weekly with no issues.

Answer 4

I'm one of those mentioned that thinks 250 is not much.
But we don't start that way, and there are some memories around here somewhere, where did I put them?

Plan your trip. Decide which way to go, get an idea for rest stops along the way.
Start with breakfast. A good one, but not Thanksgiving dinner, if you know what I mean. Take your time, enjoy yourself. Don't worry about speed. 250 miles is only 5 hours at 50 mph. Plenty of time in a day. Stop for lunch too, an hour at least. Any trip, no matter how long, can be miserable if you beat yourself.
There is nothing extra special to watch out for. Look out for everything, as you usually do.(I do, anyway).
There is nothing extra special to prepare on your bike either. Do a good pre-ride check, chain, tires, oil, gas, whatever you usually do.
I like to bring something to drink. I'm a coffee hound, by the gallon. So, there's usually a cup holder on the handlebars.


Have a safe trip.

Answer 5

It's a long way but you'll be fine so long as you take a proper break. Force yourself to take a break every 50 miles, it's easy to get a little carried away and press on but you need to take regular rest stops to keep yourself refreshed and awake.

When you get half way, take a LONG break - and I mean a good couple of hours at least. Take a pair of shorts and sandals with you or something that will fit on the bike and change out of those boots and leathers; you won't realize just how physically tired you've become until you're wearing regular clothes and relaxing with a good cup of coffee.

I know some people think 250 miles is nothing - I know a couple of guys who the year before last rode from Bristol (in England) to Germany in one hit - but they all get OLD before their time! They really do; they turn kind of wrinkly and worn looking.

Answer 6

Personally I think you should start out with a used bike for your first purchase and save the new bike purchase for after you have a little experience. Newbies tend to be hard on the clutch and the starter; your chances of having an accident are a lot higher when you're a beginner; and you even have to learn the right way to park, especially on hills, gravel or dirt (bike will tip over if you don't do it right), or on a busy city street (park too close to that SUV and you risk them not seeing you and knocking the bike over). If you get through your learning phase on a less expensive, less shiny bike, you will have a greater chance of keeping that new bike shiny and running well when you finally do get it. I've known newbies who've shredded the clutch in a brand-new bike in just a couple of weeks, then been hit with a big repair bill (older bikes are cheaper to fix), and people who've dropped them or crashed them while learning. And I know two people who couldn't even pass the licensing exams so those new bikes sat in the garage, depreciating in value and gathering dust!

Answer 7

Riding it down to Champaign should be fine, if a little boring. Advice to make it better? Hydrate well. If you're going anytime soon, you may need to deal with heat issues. I like to use a Camelbak on long rides-the tube fits right under my helmet. (You ARE wearing a helmet, right?) The right gear will keep you from getting sunburned and/or windburned. Take the distance in chunks, and limit the time of your stops, and you could knock this out in 3 1/2-4 hours.

Answer 8

I presume you're a competent rider, and used to riding in a variety of conditions. I also assume the ride won't be through any large wilderness areas. So you should be fine, just check your tyres, oil, make sure you've enough fuel.

Answer 9

just saddle up & watch the tail lights in front of you for bounce, it will for warn you of bad road ahead. 250 miles is a cake walk, check the weather, your oil, tire pressure & normal $hit. you'll be ok, unless your a Nancyboy

Answer 10

Earplugs.