If you are new to long-haul riding then it’s important that you don’t just take on the adventure without some planning. Otherwise, you’ll run into a number of problems along the way.

When it comes time to plan a long haul ride, the first thing to remember is that your bike is very different to a car. Not just the mechanics of it all, but how things that you would take for granted in a car just aren’t available on a bike, and how that affects your ride.

Planning for a Successful Long-Haul Ride

To help get you started on the way to a great adventure, below are some tips from Ed Welliver.

Don’t Do the Ride Alone

Part of the fun and adventure of a road trip is to enjoy it with friends. And just because you can’t chat and laugh with your friends when you are all riding your bikes, it doesn’t mean that a group road trip isn’t as fun! Speak with some friends or family members and get a group together. Not only is this great for safety, but each time that you all stop to refresh or stretch your legs is a great social opportunity to talk about the sights you have seen and the roads you’ve all been riding.

On the Subject of Refreshing and Stretching Your Legs

When planning your trip and your route, remember that you will need to take more breaks that you would when driving a car. When you’re in a car, enjoying a soda or eating a snack is a pretty seamless affair. However, on a bike, you need to find somewhere to pull over, switch off your bike, get off, take off your gear, all before you can enjoy a sip of soda or water. With this in mind, look for places along your route which have great scenery or somewhere for your group to explore and make the most of the break. Of course, this also means that you can’t ride your bike for as long as you can drive your car. It’s important to be realistic when thinking about this so that you can all reach your destination in time or even at all. Click here to buy 20W-50 Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil to keep your bike running smoothly during a long haul ride. Giving your bike a synthetic oil change before you leave is also a great way to improve its performance and reduce engine wear. To learn more about the benefits of a synthetic oil change, speak with Ed Welliver at (956) 458-9399 or check out the online store for further information.

Plan Around the Weather

When you’re driving a car you have the roof, doors, and windows to both protect you and keep you comfortable. On your bike, however, it’s just you and the open air. With this in mind, be sure to check the weather forecasts for your route, and either plan a new route if there is bad weather expected or look for places you and your group can all take a break and enjoy a coffee indoors while you wait for any bad weather to pass.

Prevent Boredom

Music is a great way to keep your spirits up and to keep you awake during a long drive or ride. However, finding a good radio station and changing it often isn’t an easy affair on a bike, requiring you to stop and pull over just to change your music. Instead, utilize your phone’s music streaming app to create some playlists which you can download on your home WIFI and listen to on the road, even if you don’t have cell reception. A range of playlists for when you are first riding, when you need music to keep you going, or even one for cruising through scenery can be great options. Once you have these, match it with a high-quality Bluetooth headset which incorporates into your phone’s smart assistance function. This device paired with your phone can allow you to change playlists, take and make calls, and even listen to and send text messages without needing to use your hands and relying solely on your voice commands.

Give Your Bike a Synthetic Oil Change in Mission Before You Leave

If you are looking to improve the performance of your bike during your ride while reducing your engine wear, a synthetic oil change can help. Speak with Ed Welliver at (956) 458-9399 for help getting the best product for your engine type and for further information about how a simple synthetic oil change in Mission can help you get the most out of your bike.