Ducati Monster Forum

So, my buddy is getting married in August and I want to make the trip from my current locale of San Francisco all the way to Simpsonville, South Carolina to get in a little bit of debauchery before he throws his life away.  I'll be riding my 2002 M750 with 40,000 miles on it. 

I've never attempted a trip of this magnitude and I'm looking for advice, tips, stories from anyone with experience.  I haven't even started planning my route yet but I know I want to hit a few national parks and other natural wonders of the great US. 

I've also only been riding for about 6 months now and am pretty inept towards the mechanics and anatomy of my machine.  Advice on spare parts to keep on my person, tuneups and service that needs to be done before I leave, and snags to watch out for along the way would be much appreciated.

Once I make it to the east coast my dad will be riding down on his Triumph speed triple from New York to meet me up.  We will probably ride the blue ridge parkway and explore the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia. 

So yeah feel free to share any advice on routes to take, places to see, gear to use (I will be camping out at night), or just stories about your own trips. 

below, my faithful steed
(http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/9965/ggpark2copy.jpg)
(http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2225/duc2copy.jpg)

Soloing that many miles, you will really want to make sure the bike is in good running order. A valve check, oil change, new belts maybe, make sure your chain and sprockets are in good shape, also your battery. You will likely need new tires before you leave or sometime during the trip.

Take a first aid kit, a tire plug kit, a small bicycle pump, warm clothes, small can of chain lube, zip ties, a basic tool kit to be able to check spark plugs and the sort. A throttle lock or cramp buster would be good to have as well.

Get in riding shape. By this I mean, do some longer day rides to get your body used to being on the bike for such a long time.

Plan your route and then plan alternative routes making sure you have gas stops plotted out.

Have fun.

Make sure you can do a ride as long as your plan requires each day. Especially if you plan to see some sights, you don't want to find out you can't do 300-600mi days with a week of them ahead of you.
Tires will require some planning.

Go get some Pilot Road or similar sport touring tires that might last the trip, or nearly so.  Plan stops in advance when practical, and don't go the full tank of gas between stops (unless you do it on an MH900e like I did last time....only 90 miles per tank), but rather plan to stop every hour or hour and a half...it'll extend your riding day significantly.  Also, wear ear plugs and take a few extra sets if you use disposables.  Earplugs significantly reduce fatigue.  If you're going through areas with sparse fuel stops, there's no replacement for a reserve.  I used white fuel bottles designed for camping stoves...like these:

http://www.backcountry.com/msr-fuel-bottles (http://www.backcountry.com/msr-fuel-bottles)

They don't leak and they beat the hell out of walking.  I used mine three times between Georgia and New Mexico last trip. (The MH900e that I was promised would get 100 miles per tank can be run dry in 89 miles at my typical highway speeds.)

Carry good rain gear, or wear watertight gear daily (as it saves space).  First Gear's rain tight stuff is excellent in my experience and is light enough to wear daily without its liners, so that's the way I roll.  Don't trust cheap rain gear (like Frog Togs or similar) as it's not suitable for a day riding in the rain.  Cheap stuff is OK for a light sprinkle, but it soaks through pretty fast in real rain, and nothing shortens a riding day like cold and wet!  Don't forget your hands and feet, either.  Held's watertight gloves work wonders, and Sidi's watertight boots really are watertight.  I also wore watertight socks on my last trip.  They're available at most camping stores and help when water comes in over the tops of your boots.  Nothing is 100% waterproof, but the gear above is about as close as I've seen.

A big tank bag to "lay" on helps sometimes.  Maybe not as big a deal on a Monster, but I've never ridden one too long, so I can't say.

Don't forget to lube your chain at the end of each day, as pennyrobber mentioned.  Check the air in your tires every morning, along with chain tension, and oil level.  It's the small things that bite you, so don't let 'em.

Don't plan more than you KNOW you can handle in a day, except MAYBE in the last day each way.  That distance varys for each of us, but you know what your tolerance for saddle time is.  Don't think it'll change because you need to get somewhere, 'cause it won't!  The last thing you want is to dread saddling up each morning, so take time and enjoy yourself. 

Few of us get the chance to undertake what you're planning, so make the most of it and leave room to get off the beaten path and see the country!  I envy you...even though I've done it before.   [thumbsup]

If you're in the area (and you will be), don't forget to see the Cherohala Skyway.  If you'll post dates and a rough idea of your intended route I'm sure there will be several suggestions coming your way as to the coolest roads to ride in the areas you'll traverse.

Good luck, and keep us updated on your trip!

There's a couple threads on long rides.

From personal experience:
Start now with core exercises. A strong core with more endurance will help you a lot.
No back pack. OR a very small one. Even with it being a moto specific back pack, I so wanted to be rid of my back pack.
Bring some food and water. keeping your calories up and staying hydrated is very important.

There's also some threads on tool kits. Obviously Monsters are not cargo haulers, so expecting to carry spare parts is a bit un realistic. But good things to have:
Fuses - Including the main (30-40 amp)
Safety wire
Zip ties
Duct tape
Crescent wrench
Allen key set
Mini flashlight - I've got one of the keychain LED light in my underseat. Nice, bright and can be held easily in the teeth if needed.

I'll ponder more...

staying warm, dry, hydrated and prepared is the order of things.

so: warm underclothes ( ie. fleece and/or marion wool) and a good neck warmer and gloves.

good rain gear and waterproof boots

spare water and/or a camel back. I always made sure to drink at least 2 litres of water at each gas stop on a long trip. By the next stop I barely have to squirt.......the wind sucks a lot of water out of you. The wind + heat will dehydrate you very, very fast.

many have already mentioned the tools, first aid equipment and good tires you need. The only extra tool I would add is a small set of vice grips. They make excellent foot brake or gear shift levers if you happen to snap one off.

The last thing I would suggest, if you can swing it, is to replace your stock seat with a sargent. I've done a lot of miles touring on the stock seat and a lot of miles touring on the sargent, and the difference is hugely significant. I've heard good things about the dp touring seat as well. Avoid the corbin, it's a giant hard, brick turd for touring.

most of all............have a blast!

A pair of padded cycling shorts to wear under your riding pants will save you from some soreness.

I would recommend telling someone your route as well. Keep in contact with this person and update them on your position. Maybe have a check in time with them each day? If something drastic happened, its really helpful that someone know what general area you're in.

Buy good lightweight camping gear.  My moto has been cheap gear will fail you when you need it most.  REI or some other local outfitter will fix you up.  At REI the store brand will work fine for your trip.  Avoid Walmart gear.  It is nice to have a little room in your tent.  My wife and I use a 3 person tent.  When I go solo I use a 2 person tent.  Use a cook stove rather than building fires.  On your monster you will need to buy food nearly every day due to the limited storage space.  Camping will cut down on your miles per day but the trip will be more fun. 

+1 earplugs

when are you leaving? i am making my way down to New Orleans in a month, maybe we can meet up!

+infinity

The touring seat (DP or Sargent) will help keep your ass from going completely numb, but if your thighs start chafing where they rub on the seat/tank, you're going to hate life. Some Gold Bond is a good idea, too, especially if your "waterproof" gear turns out to only be "water resistant."

Moto specific textile pants (Tourmaster or First Gear or the like) would also be a wise choice. Protection, ventilation options, and water resistance characteristics all make them superior to denim for long multi-day rides.

another good idea. ask around on local club boards of the states you are going through and see if any one wants to ride with you, riding with someone else is more fun.

In the comfort vien - I like having a long sleeved/legged base layer. If it's warm it keeps pants and jackets from getting stuck to you. Of course in the warm we're not talking long johns to keep you warm, things like Under Armours 'heat gear' or products made by Dainse, alpinestars, Rev'it or others

If you'll be dealing with varied temps I'd look at a balaclava or neck gator. An exposed neck in the cold will rob you of a lot if heat

If you're not already planning on going around it, hit Kansas at night.  Nothing worse than getting on I-70 first thing in the morning and having to ride the flattest road in the history of flat roads.  If you're coming through Missouri, I can get you from one end of the state to the other on nothing but curves :)

+1 ear plugs

Stop every hour and give that engine some rest and your arse.

rain gear.
 
i hated riding interstate on my way from OH to D.C (only 8 hours but).  Next time, it's the back roads if i got other riders.
(disclaimer :  I was by myself and starting taking back roads.  honestly, I thought I was in the middle of a horror flick.  If something happen to me, I thought some nut case was gonna skin me alive in middle of nowhere.  Yep, I hoped on back to the interstate and resumed a boring ride).

got a gps? and how about a nice place to mount it so you wont be struggling to see it.....

Wow, so much great advice.  I'm starting to realize I've got a lot more planning ahead of me if I want to make this ride go off without any big hitches.

For those who want to meet up and ride a stretch, I know I will be leaving towards the end of July and coming back the second week of August.  If you are up for it let me know and I'll send PMs once I get the dates finalized. 

Also whats the logic behind the earplugs?  They reduce fatigue somehow?

Yes.  Noise causes fatigue.  It's also simply more pleasant.  Try earplugs on your next ride.  I wear them almost every time I get on the bike.

You should also try to do a weekend trip before going cross country.  It'll give you a chance to get used to a couple of longer riding days and is good practice for packing your stuff on the bike, especially if you'll be carrying camping gear.

They reduce fatigue, and they also reduce the likelihood of winding up with permanent hearing loss. Helmet noise is louder than most people think.

Food for thought:

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/helmet-noise.htm (http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/helmet-noise.htm)

http://www.msgroup.org/forums/mtt/topic.asp?topic_id=90 (http://www.msgroup.org/forums/mtt/topic.asp?topic_id=90)

I live about 30 min. from Simpsonville, SC in Spartanburg, SC.  If you need anything when you get here shoot me a PM maybe I can help.  Thats a big trip, plan well.

For the sake of those of us outside the USA, what is the distance of the proposed trip and how long are you allowing to get there?

Seems like a pretty big one.  [moto]

Mapquest is your friend.

Over 2,600 miles each way taking the shortest route possible.  Obviously, on a bike you are going to want to take a lot of side roads, so figure at least 6,000 miles round trip.  My body aches just thinking about spending that much time on a Monster...  I did 1,600 miles in 4 days on a VFR and was ready to see home.  Of course two solid days of rain didn't help.It was really fun though.  Especially camping through a tornado warning in Hot Springs AR.  Ended up spending the night in the ranger station due to my tent trying to swim away.

Or google... you could create a public map showing your route and set it up to allow folks to add info. Like good/bad places to stop, things to see, etc

Like all good sports, there is a pain component to long distance touring on a moto.  There is the disappointment of finally getting to your campground and finding out it is full and then having to get back on and ride for another hour. 

Speaking of which, some campsites in state parks have reservations available. When we did a 4 day trip the summer before last, we reserved spots (including at Arches National Park) through this site.
http://www.reserveamerica.com/campgroundSearchResult.do?context=CampingSpot&topTabIndex=CampingSpot (http://www.reserveamerica.com/campgroundSearchResult.do?context=CampingSpot&topTabIndex=CampingSpot)

earplugs = no ringing in your ears after a long day of riding. 

i need a good set of earplugs, after about an hour of riding and i take my helmet off everything sounds weird and garbled.   

I'm in Spartanburg too. Give me a shout if you need anything.

I've ridden across the country a couple of times - long solo bike trips are huge fun.  Things I'd consider essential are few.  I'd take at least two credit cards and carry them in separate places in case you loose one or your wallet, wear ear plugs and stay hydrated.  My favorite method of hydration is to toss a camel back bladder in a tank bag so I can drink on the go without having weight on my back.

Travel light, you don't need much stuff.  

I don't care for padded shorts, but many like them.

Stand up on the pegs every 30-45 minutes for just a few seconds to keep circulation going well.  This makes a huge difference by the end of the day.

Sport touring tires will be needed if you don't want to deal with getting new tires en-route.  My favorites are the Avon Storms, but I  haven't tried the new Pilot Road 3s.

Plan for an extra day or two in Colorado as the mountain riding there is truly awesome.

I really like using a Garmin Zumo so I don't have to deal with paper maps along the way.  I don't normally plan a route out, I just strike out in the general direction and use the zumo to find whatever looks to be the twistiest way of getting there.

If you plan to camp, note that in the western half of the country you can usually find a secluded spot to toss up your tent and get a lot more peace and quite then you'll get in an official camp site. It helps if you aren't averse to riding your bike down a dirt two track lane a bit.

My last long street bike trip was summer '09.  I posted pics and stories from the trip here
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=10889861#post10889861 (http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=10889861#post10889861)
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_O6Rc9bYy2jg/SpMy0mNOPrI/AAAAAAAAKAI/T51AWr-XWxs/s800/P8100110.JPG)


I've also done long trips (and 1k+ mile days) on my TLS and 919. A high tolerance for discomfort and even greater enthusiasm for riding is key.

Don't stress over the planning much - you really can just wing it as you go.  Ear plugs and a couple of credit cars and you can leave in an hour and have a great trip if you need to.  Remember you can always buy stuff along the way (tires etc). 

If you need tires in the Denver area TFOG tends to have good prices and are usually willing to swap rubber on the spot for a traveling rider.

Schedules are for mother-in-laws planning weddings.  Bring some money, your clothes, shove some earplugs in your ears and just go. Sleep on an abandoned bridge, on the side of a mountain, or in the back of a truck stop in Germany.

Thats what I'd kinda hoped to do.  I prefer to just post up in the wilderness or on the side of a mountain. 

You can definitely do that and its what I do, just be respectful about it - tread lightly, leave no trace/trash etc.  Worst case really someone will tell you to leave I think, but I've never had that happen.  You can do it in the east too, but it gets harder as there just isn't as much open space.   I've had some of the most beautiful camp spots you can imagine by just riding along till I saw a nice looking overlook then figuring a way to get to it and tossing up the tent.   

When in the west on National Forest and BLM managed lands you can camp anywhere that is not posted "no camping" for free and it is legal.  On National Parks, most state parks, and of course private land camping prohibited except in campgrounds.  Native Americans also close their lands to general camping.  So, know where you are.  The notion that you can camp anywhere in the west is simply not true.  That there is a lot of public land where you can camp is true.  Not to get political, but the American notion of public lands is one of the things I love about this country. 

Good points.  Also, there is a difference between can and legally permitted.  I'm a bit of a holmsian in that sense I suppose  [laugh]

I did 2500 miles on an '01 Monster last year in 8 days (6 actual riding days, two days of hangin'). No real discomfort and I'm 65 yrs old. Sargent seat was a biggie. The bike was serviced before the trip and was never a problem.

Check out "El Matador and Demolu's Excellent Adventure" thread here, or my "Yankees Invade the Confederacy" in the NMMR section of the Local Clubs forum.

Never been there on a bike but I used to do the hike via 4 wheels. I did it in 5 ten hour days or sometimes I just kinda wandered aimlessly and took weeks. You can never have enough time to cross the country though. There is so much interesting stuff to see, people to meet, and so many roads to take. In the words of our good friend John Steinbeck- "we find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us"

If you're heading through Colorado I can meet you at the border(ish) of Utah or NM, ride back to Denver, and you're more than welcome to crash at my place.  There are some fan-frickin-tastic roads in SW colorado.  [moto]

Cheers,
Adam

Really? Badass! My backyard is a huge ass camp ground that no one knows about! All along I thought it was just for sneaky atv fun times and shooting? As much as I hate BLM, that is cool and very good to know!

Ok ladies and gents, I'm officially leaving San Francisco July 27th and returning (from upstate New York) August 8thish

So once I figure out my stupid computer and Photobucket I will get some pics to prove it, but.....

I just got back from a 32 day, 11,861 mile trans-continental ride on my 696. I camped out almost the entire trip. The only nights I got a hotel was when I got into rain or snow. Yeah, it snowed Memorial Day weekend in Yellowstone! That is awesome that you are gonna camp.... that is the way to go if you are on a budget. There are a few things I would suggest:

Ear plugs- its been said before, but its soooo true. It is a lot more quiet and you will definitely be glad for them around day 3-4.

Camelback- I took mine out of the back pack and put just the bladder in my tank bag. I left the hose where i could grab it easy. But make sure it doesn't leak out of the mouth piece. I had a wet crotch cuz of a leaking camelback bladder.

Compression sacks- You can pick them up cheap at any camping store. You can fit a lot of stuff in a really small area. The thing that the compression sack was best for was my sleeping bag. I got it down to about the size of a softball.

My Monster has a battery tender lead. It has the standard SAE plug. I bought a cig lighter with a SAE plug and threw it in my tank bag. A few zip ties to secure and you can charge your phone, iPod, etc. The battery is 12v and the tender is fused to protect the wiring. I had a iPod, iPhone, and a Scala G4 headset charging overnight and the bike started up fine each morning. Those type things don't pull much juice.

I know you are on a schedule, but try not to push yourself too hard. I started my trip with a friend who wanted to do 6-700 miles a day. And for the first 4-5 days we did that pace. But about the Grand Canyon he got burnt out and headed home (North Carolina). I rode the remaining 25+ days by myself at a much slower pace and I enjoyed myself much more. Fatigue is your enemy. When you get past the point of not enjoying the ride and then you get to the point you have to chug 1-2 Red Bulls at every fuel stop, well... its just bad news.

Enjoy it. There is a lot to see in this country and you will find yourself wanting to stop and check things out and take pictures. TAKE PICTURES!!

I started my trip with Pilot Road 2's on the front and rear. The rear tire lasted about 9,000 miles. It had a bit more left in it, but I was near a friends house and he knew of a good dealership and I went ahead and got a new rear. I got the Pirrelli Angel and i still am running it. The front is still the original Pilot.

I took a small tool kit with me in a small tool pouch that I bought from Wolfman Luggage. Really basic but it got the job done. The only specialty item I had was a large socket for the axle nut. I had to tighten my drive chain a few times. I had to buy a breaker bar from an Auto Zone in Durango, Co. to break the axle nut loose. The bar was about 3 feet long and stuck out of my tail bag. But it was nice to have at the campground in Montana when a pitbull came charging into my campsite growling and snarling at me.   

I wore a waterproof jacket (Olympia AST), Sidi boots and jeans. If it started to look like bad weather I would pull over and slip on rain pants. I saw other guys with full riding suits and they are nice. But it can get pricy. I know that jeans are kind of a false sense of security when it comes to the battle of jeans VS pavement...... but they are comfortable. I also wore Under Armor thermal pants under my jeans. They were real comfortable because the seams were in the right places. Not to get into too much detail, but boxers always seem to ride up and get really uncomfortable really quick. Boxer briefs are also good for longer rides.

I think someone else said it earlier, but you shouldn't get too bogged down in the planning. I agree that you should be prepared, but don't get worked up over it. If you have given yourself an extra day or two and you can easily roll with the punches then you should be fine. And there will be punches. Weather, traffic, finding a campground, etc. But if just keep the attitude that you are riding a motorcycle across the USA on a "once in a lifetime" type journey then all that other shit disappears. I was getting snowed on for about the 4th time in Montana and I just started laughing. Mainly because I thought about all my friends back working their boring jobs while I was out riding the Rockies! You will have a blast!

You say you are riding the Blue Ridge Parkway. Good idea! The end of the parkway in near Staunton Virginia ( about 15 minutes from my house) Then you start the Skyline Drive and it is tolled. $15 and the speed limit drops to 35mph. If I were you...... get off the parkway near Lexington VA. State Route 60 comes down the mountain and meets up with Rt 39 in Lexington. Fun twisty riding along some awesome scenery. The road follows a couple different rivers and Lexington is a college town with an all girls college. August+river+girls= scenery! Rt 39 will take you to 220 which heads north up into West Virginia and Maryland. 220 is an awesome road up through the mountains. There is some awesome riding in this area. But look out for whitetail deer. Quick little bastards!

I would definitely meet up and ride with ya, but I am out of town most of the days you will be riding. But if you have an questions let me know.

T!M

So the time has almost come for me to embark.  I'm working on an loose itinerary using google maps. 

Any advice on how to get through Texas?

My route so far can be seen here
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=san+francisco&daddr=37.79194,-122.38443+to:Death+Valley,+CA+to:grand+canyon+to:Albuquerque,+NM+to:35.36796,-84.12483+to:Simpsonville,+SC&geocode=FVJmQAIdKAe0-CkhAGkAbZqFgDH_rXbwZxNQSg%3BFcSoQAId0o-0-Cm3AEq-cYCFgDHfA76zI0BhpA%3BFeasKAId7IYI-SkP5rTmQUnHgDHe-NErbISOXg%3BFbonJgIdCSZR-SEmONnjZtVU0g%3BFctYFwId_6Gk-Sl7gwnT3QoihzH99tm4zvjTwA%3BFRisGwIdYlv8-ikV-pefYPJeiDHbrqiJHmkjOA%3BFagLEgIdNeYY-ymfTFgh_iZYiDGk8v9psW4UMA&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrsp=5&sz=9&via=1,5&dirflg=h&sll=35.110922,-83.652649&sspn=1.482876,2.90863&ie=UTF8&ll=33.85217,-98.723145&spn=12.031316,23.269043&z=6 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=san+francisco&daddr=37.79194,-122.38443+to:Death+Valley,+CA+to:grand+canyon+to:Albuquerque,+NM+to:35.36796,-84.12483+to:Simpsonville,+SC&geocode=FVJmQAIdKAe0-CkhAGkAbZqFgDH_rXbwZxNQSg%3BFcSoQAId0o-0-Cm3AEq-cYCFgDHfA76zI0BhpA%3BFeasKAId7IYI-SkP5rTmQUnHgDHe-NErbISOXg%3BFbonJgIdCSZR-SEmONnjZtVU0g%3BFctYFwId_6Gk-Sl7gwnT3QoihzH99tm4zvjTwA%3BFRisGwIdYlv8-ikV-pefYPJeiDHbrqiJHmkjOA%3BFagLEgIdNeYY-ymfTFgh_iZYiDGk8v9psW4UMA&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrsp=5&sz=9&via=1,5&dirflg=h&sll=35.110922,-83.652649&sspn=1.482876,2.90863&ie=UTF8&ll=33.85217,-98.723145&spn=12.031316,23.269043&z=6)

Just like you're doing it, spend as little space as possible in it.  Mostly because it is really, really big and it feels like you aren't getting anywhere.

If you can afford it, go with a Corbin seat, you will thank me later.

I wish I could

You are missing the best parts in Texas.  Ride down to Bandera, TX, or Big Bend near Alpine, TX.  You wont believe your eyes but beware of suicidal deer that run in packs of 20.  Also, run up through Eureka Springs, AR, where you will find incredible roads via the Talahina Trail and up hwy 23 (AR) known as the pig trail.  Once you reach I-40 the road becomes a series of twisties to feast.  And lastly because you are so close to the Dragon run up to Knoxville and off to the Dragon and Cherlohola Skyway (spelling).  
If you need tips on CO, AR or TX pm me.  I will gladly help.

Oh, and if you do include Big Bend you should run down through Ruidoso, NM, into the Big Bend area and then north through Bandera, TX.  Just let me know how much time you have and I can help give you ideas.

I agree that there are interesting things to see and do in Texas but Texas is HOT in the summer so my advice would depend on when this trip is happening.  Here is some climate info on Big Bend http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/weather_averages.htm (http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/weather_averages.htm)  These data are taken about mid-elevation in the park.  I can testify that temps at lower elevations can be 10 degrees hotter.   I would not go to Big Bend now.  I'd head across the state fast and spend my time in the highcountry.

whichever way you cut it you are taking the HOT route.  Everyone south of the Mason Dixon line is dripping with sweat.  If you choose the Arkansas route it will also be hot. 
In and near Bandera, TX, take the "three sisters" which are 335, 336 & 337.  It's a great loop and should you choose the southerly route towards East Texas and onto LA (Kisatchi National Forrest).  You can cruiser over some nice scenery.  Decide your route and I will send you the roads.