Ducati Monster Forum

I'm finally done with grad school and have a profession leaving me with ungodly amounts of free time days/weeks at a time.  So I'm thinking about setting out on my first long trip at some point before winter comes back.  I've been riding for 2 years in and around NYC on my Ducati 696 (first bike).  The longest trip I've taken was up to the Palisades in NJ with a friend when I first got the bike... it was rough for many reasons (fear being the primary one).

So now I'm looking into wanting to take trips that are on average 6 hours long and I'm looking for tips from other Ducati riders.  Or maybe someone to tell me I'm just crazy.  What are your thoughts?  How much does fatigue build up?  Even if I plan to stop at all the rest stops and/or every hour, will it be enough?  Should I be sure to have a friend with me (even if in a car)?  What are your thoughts on taking shorter "practice trips" in the range of 2 hours or so?  Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

 [beer]

Well, how long is long? 

There's been some good discussions on long trip prep - like all day for multiple days.  So you might search a bit for those.

6 hours... good day but not super long. You're not crazy at all. You'll be stopping every couple hours for fuel in most cases - so that's give you some off time to stretch, take in some water and grub. Staying hydrated is a biggy, so plan accordingly.

Having a buddy along is never a bad thing, but not exactly necessary. If you are ready and your bike is in good order then you've hit the biggies - the rest is fate if you will.

As far as fatigue, that really depends on you. IF you're used to short hops, then it'll build up faster. Having a strong set of core muscles can do a lot to fight off fatigue. YOu won't be as prone to resting weight on the bars, which makes your arms tired and slow.

IF you're at all tentative, it's never a bad idea to start smaller. Perhaps pick a lunch spot 60-80 miles out. Ride there, take in lunch and back. Rinse repeat with a sport that is further each time.

My longest single saddle day was going from Deals Gap NC to Washington DC on my 900... way longer than 6 hours - so 6 can be done w/o much problem. That's my day trip sort of time.

We've been riding for similar lengths of time.  I ride a 750 Monster and have done several 400 mile trips.  The thing I find most tiring on longer trips is long stretches of straight road.  For some reason, that causes me the most hip, leg and butt pain.  Driving on less traveled roads with some variety doesn't seem nearly as tiring to me.  I usually try to plan routes that avoid long stretches of straight, well traveled roads.  Researching a route and visualizing your trip down it can really help reduce the apprehension and will give you ideas on where to stop and rest or sightsee etc.  Also watch the weather before you leave so you can plan in the effects of rain, wind, heat, etc.  Use that information to modify your expectations of distance traveled, etc.  Our driving circumstances are considerably different, mine is very rural with very little to no traffic so your experience may be different. 

Being a relatively new rider  myself, I get a pretty good sense of accomplishment, completing a long trip.  Just plan well, have a positive mental attitude and don't drive beyond your abilities. Have Fun!

Six hours isn't all that long.  I would recommend that you try to stop at least every hour to stretch and walk around.  Okay, I don't always do that, but I usually wish that I did, especially after 8 or 10 hours.

Wear earplugs.  You will last much longer than without them.

Just go do it.  After a few six hour trips, work up to eight, ten, then multi-day trips.  When you get to multiple days, I would strongly recommend not riding more than 300-350 miles per day.  Otherwise you'll get too tired to enjoy the trip.  Even on my one-day trips, I don't enjoy much of the ride past the 350-mile mark.  Usually I'm in "survive until I get home" mode by then.

+1 on the ear plugs. Even if you don't have aftermarket exhausts (aka a loud bike) the wind and other ambient noise gets to you after a while and does wear you down. Scotts very right on this one.

And a +1 to the 300-350 comment. By the tail end of that you're getting saddle sore no matter what

Which brings up another excellent point.

Underarmor and/or leather riding pants will help keep you from getting saddle sore as quickly.

gel seat prevents alot of saddle sore. i know my stock seat made me want to rip my butt cheeks off.

Six hours is a breeze man...the enjoyment you get from riding is so beautiful! Like someone here said,take breaks,hydrate and you're good to go. ;D

wear cycling shorts as your underwear, the padding in the shorts makes it so that you don't need extra padding on the seat itself, makes a huge difference.

also +1 on the going with a buddy always good to have someone else around if you can swing it. also since monsters at best get around 50-55 mpg at highway speeds, you will have to stop every 1.5-2 hours anyway depending on speed to fuel up good time to get a bite or just get off the bike for a bit to stretch you will need it.

also the earplugs are essential, without them you are pretty much screwed, the wind noise will have your ears ringing in 1 hour even in a "quiet" full face helmet it.  everyone is right get some earplugs the disposible kind you buy for shooting work great.

6 hours seems a lot when you start out because you haven't done it before but in reality, you can ride all day, cruising around nice roads with your friends, hitting some twisties and that's going to be more than 6 hours.

Yep, all good advice above. 6 hours goes by fast when you're having fun. [thumbsup]

You might want to try some anti-itch powder for your rear if you're concerned about saddle sores or pressure spots. Riding leathers can be pretty unforgiving if you're out riding on a long, hot day and get sweaty. Gold Bond powder works really well:
(http://www.goldbond.com/_images/gbpowder_page.jpg)

+1 on all that. When you stop for the day, loose the bike shorts right away and get into some loose pants. Getsome really good undies or spare no expense bikeshorts you can rinse and dry overnight. The good ones breathe well dry really fast and don't get funky easily. The cheap ones you will hate very soon.

Castelli, or Hincappi I would recommend.   

Funny how much of this thread is about ass  [laugh]

+1 on the gold bond. I did a 3-day trip last summer and it definitely helps! you basically want to give your whole body a dusting with it before you get dressed, and especially any parts that get sweaty and/or chafed on long rides.

Moving around in the seat and periodically flexing and relaxing your arms/legs/butt while riding keeps the blood flowing and helps with the soreness on long rides.

Stop often to take pictures. gives you a chance to stretch and remember, pics or it never happened!

+1 on the cycling shorts. I recently did a 12 hour/550 mile day and wasn't sore at the end.

try not to carry anything on you. no backpack, etc. let the bike be your mule.

Travel light,relax and enjoy the ride... [thumbsup]

<<<<< 100% agreement with the Gold Bond recommendation...

i stack my bike up with a lot of shit. but my friend took it overboard when he recently strapped this badboy to his bike.

so you have no excuse if you dont carry atleat half as payload as this.


















(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ZBP1WPoIGVo/TDPb9JSMPcI/AAAAAAAACJU/dKJtiHHD8eo/s640/IMG_0244.JPG)

Other must haves: Rain Suit, Ibuprophen.

A second set of gloves. If you get one set wet, it's ice to wear the others while the first ones dry.

or do it like this guy, tent and sleeping bag inside a garbage bag. not sure you want to put your new 1100 on the dirt like that though. 25mph on dirt roads = lots of nasty kick up.


(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZBP1WPoIGVo/TGsj4Y_-9VI/AAAAAAAACRM/YkySX1elwr0/s640/IMG_0401.JPG)

He Man, that looks like you in the picture

Along the lines of not carrying anything on you and putting it on the bike, kayaking gear works well on motorcycles.  I use a 40L Seal Line bag to carry clothes and sundries, so I only have one thing to grab if I'm hoteling it.  You can find them at REI.  Attached with RokStraps, you should be all set. 

Other suggestions include a Camelback, electrolyte tablets and an iPod loaded with podcasts and audiobooks.  I'm kinda weird, so I put essential survival gear in my Camelback, like a good camp knife, survival blankets, compass, lighter, matches, magnesium bar and dry tinder.  But like I said, I'm weird.  Careful on the size of the knife if you're crossing the border. 

Also take a tire patch kit and, at the very least, a dozen CO2 canisters to fill tires.  The law of CO2 canisters states you'll have exactly one less than you need to fill a tire, so I favor a Slime compressor.  You'll need power to run it, but you probably have a battery tender pigtail installed already. 

Depending on the roads you take, you might want to take a Spot Tracker for piece of mind. 

That's why I have a bicycle tire pump instead of CO2.  It's a little bit more work, but it never runs out of air.

But... That's not a farkle!  ;D

Here's a few long trip tips... I've been there, done that, and (almost) got the certificate.

I plan a tank of gas to go 150 mils (s2r1000).  First half of the day on a long ride, 150 miles between stops isn't bad.  After lunch, I like to make two stops per tank.

Full riding gear, plus bike shorts.  Jeans, boxers, briefs, whatev... are not designed to be ridden on and have seams in the butt area.  Riding shorts (or underarmor) and leathers generally take that into consideration.  Good gear makes for a good ride.

Eat well before, during, and after.

Plan your route.  You will notice the effects of the distance more on straight, boring rides.  Pick out a route with turns and you'll increase your time in the saddle greatly.  Also, don't just think about the destination when you are planning, cool shit along the way makes things better too.

Ride the speed limit.  Wind on a monster will really drag you down.  Also, the rest of the trip sucks after you get singled out from the pack of cars you are keeping pace with just because you are on a motorcycle and get the ticket.

Plan for the weather.  On long trips nowadays I will always take both my regular gloves and my winter gloves.  Extra socks if it's an overnight or day long journey... getting caught in a rainstorm and riding home in wet socks sucks.

On that note, definitely take a bag of some sort.  Tank bags, saddle bags, and seat bags are the top choices obviously... I always end up cursing myself for using a backpack.

I like music... inside the ear earbuds have similar effects as earplugs.  Many people will say that music is a distraction and you shouldn't have it.  I put the MP3's on shuffle and don't touch it till i stop for food or get where I'm going.

Ibuprofin.  With my goofed up knee I couldn't survive without.

Finally, and this one just rehashes some of my previous points, if you see something cool, stop and check it out!  Your joints and muscles will appreciate it, and it will keep your interest.

One of the best rides I've ever had was this one:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Aztec+NM&daddr=38.0222836,-108.0554127+to:40.13668,-110.42591+to:Twin+Falls+Idaho&hl=en&geocode=FdLcMQId8iiQ-SkvZI9qYXY8hzEI0wg4COGYew%3BFYssRAIdjDSP-SlvQEATLi0_hzEP-pORAB0OWQ%3BFehvZAIdyghr-Sk1yaw4mVZOhzGROpYsQ4ZMbg%3BFZd1iQIdOXct-SmvbrLFpKOsVDGqwfgs7HfLJA&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=9&via=1,2&sll=38.058905,-109.077759&sspn=1.872776,4.22699&ie=UTF8&ll=39.631077,-111.203613&spn=7.32592,16.907959&z=7 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Aztec+NM&daddr=38.0222836,-108.0554127+to:40.13668,-110.42591+to:Twin+Falls+Idaho&hl=en&geocode=FdLcMQId8iiQ-SkvZI9qYXY8hzEI0wg4COGYew%3BFYssRAIdjDSP-SlvQEATLi0_hzEP-pORAB0OWQ%3BFehvZAIdyghr-Sk1yaw4mVZOhzGROpYsQ4ZMbg%3BFZd1iQIdOXct-SmvbrLFpKOsVDGqwfgs7HfLJA&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=9&via=1,2&sll=38.058905,-109.077759&sspn=1.872776,4.22699&ie=UTF8&ll=39.631077,-111.203613&spn=7.32592,16.907959&z=7)

I could have taken a more direct route, but this was much more fun. I coulda got there quicker, but I stopped for the scenery.  Coulda been cheaper, but I ate well.  Great trip. The next day was back again on a different route.

All good advice.  One thing I always make sure to do on the mental side of things is to realize it's going to take you longer to get there on your bike than it will in a car.  Between the fatigue and the gas stops I usually add an extra 15-20 minutes for every hour it would take in a car (i.e.- how long google says it will take) so don't rush and just take your time. 

I bought one of those uber thick gel pads for the BMW but it actually works out better on the Monster.  One of the benefits I hadn't thought of is that it raises my ass off the seat an inch or so which is just enough to alleviate the pressure on my knees, as well as dampening the vibrations.  +1 on the bike shorts too.

A riding buddy is nice too.  The difference in 10 miles an hour is a tiny tiny twist of the wrist so having someone else there to moderate things and keep you alert is handy.

Someone already said it, but WATERPROOF YOUR SHIT.  Years of camping/backpacking has taught me that nothing can mess up a good trip like wet gear. 

Other words of wisdom gleened from unfortunate experiences:  Make sure your back pack is zipped up all the way, or at least make sure nothing important is on top :).  I was fortunate enough to loose only toothpaste and shampoo.

+1 on the earplugs, you should have to stop for fuel often enough to let you stretch.  Don't know about the 696, but on classic monsters a Sargeant seat helps a ton.  Interstates suck and fatigue you, I try to run backroads or highways if possible, even if it takes a bit longer, enjoying the ride is most of the point.  It's also possible to stretch for a few seconds while on the bike, you can stand up on the pegs or stretch a leg out by the front wheel to keep the blood flowing.

Also make sure you are plenty warm.  What would feel like a nice cool breeze on a 30 minute ride will chill you and make you shiver after an hour or 2

long trips can get tough on the body. like many have suggested, dont be afraid to take breaks. stop by a mini mart and get a drink and stretch your legs. comfort was obviously not the main priority in building the monster but it is a great bike and i love my 01 M750.

for really good trip tips you should watch long way round with Ewan McGregor and Charlie Bowman. great show. buy it and watch it, its amazing.

I too ever so whole-heartedly emphasize the importance of the Sargeant & camelback. Having lived out of my camelback for over a week, I was amazed how much I could fit into that little thing and how much I didn't really need anything more!

Six hours doesn't seem long for mixed riding but if its 6 hours of straight twisties it can get incredibly exhausting, especially in heat - don't push yourself when you feel your pace and even body positioning dying towards the end of the day and don't forget to save some energy for the ride home - that's how I ended up shiny side lots of places in the air and down.