Planning for Your First Motorcycle Road Trip

You’ve finally got your first motorcycle and it’s time to hit the road. We’re not just talking that short trip down the street. Rather, we’re talking about taking your ride out for that first long road trip where you can enjoy the open road and the wind in your face. However, before you jump on your bike, be sure that you make the necessary plans ahead of time so that your trip is a great success.

Plan Your Route Wisely

One of the biggest contributors to the success of a great road trip is the route that you take. Therefore, it makes sense to spend some necessary time planning out your route. You’ll want to pick one that is comfortable to ride on. For example, you may not want to hit the major freeways if it makes you nervous driving next to semi-trucks. Instead, you may want to pick backroad style routes that allow you to take in the scenery while feeling comfortable on the roadway.

Wear The Right Clothes

One of the fastest ways to wreak a good motorcycle road trip is to not wear the right clothing. You should look into investing in a good pair of riding pants, ankle boots, comfortable full-face helmet, and shirt or jacket. Avoid loose-fitting clothing as they can be irritating when worn for long distances with the wind. Ensure that you take into account the weather that you’ll be riding through as well. If it’s going to be overly hot, you may want to wear lighter clothing. If it’s cooler, you may want to pack that extra jacket.

Ensure You’re Legal

All motorcycles need to be registered and inspected just like all other vehicles on the roadway. This ensures that you’re legal to drive your motorcycle on the road. You’ll need to have your motorcycle licensing done at a state-approved facility. Once you have your motorcycle license, you’ll need to register your bike and get insurance on it. This will keep you legal on the roadway and ensure that you’re covered if anything bad happens during your road trip.

Make Scheduled Stops

It’s no surprise to anyone who has ridden a bike before that the saddle can give you sores if you ride on it for too long in a single run. Do yourself a favor by planning scheduled stops that will allow your body to take some much-needed breaks. Scheduling these stops at necessary times, like when you need to fuel up your bike, can allow for a smoother trip.

Having fun on your first motorcycle road trip all starts with planning. When you do it right, you’ll have a great trip that you’ll recall for many years to come. If you forget to plan or simply blow it off, you’ll be regretting it later on as your trip doesn’t turn out as you want it to.

Addy Reeds is a freelance writer from Eugene, Oregon. She discovered her passion for journalism while attending the University of Oregon. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @addyreeds1; https://www.facebook.com/addy.reeds