Adventure road trip across America.

Voodooo

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I’ll be 50 years old this coming August 31st. All my life I lived a non adventurous life that literally revolves around work and my business.

Until 2020, I worked 7 days a week, 12-14 hours a day for the past 22 years that I’ve been in business, not taking any days off, no vacations, only taking a week off this past August to spend the last remaining days of my favorite uncle before he passed, my Uncle Ed.

Staying by his bedside, reliving his pass and listening to the story of his life from a young boy, to his 3 tours in the Vietnam war, to how he met my aunt and raised his family and his architect business.

After spending every hour of every day for a week sitting with him talking about everything, I realized how short and fast life goes by.
He died on my 49th birthday which hit me hard. He would of been 73 on September 14th. His and my aunts 50th anniversary was on September 5th.

Seeing him pass was one of the hardest things I witnessed and to this day I still hear him and feel him near.

I find myself seeking a adventure of my own and feel if I don’t, my time will come and I won’t have any stories to tell or remember. I realize now that there is more to life than working it away. I need to take time for myself and enjoy the life I was given as it’s done and gone before you know it.

I decided I want to do a motorcycle road trip across America starting from New York City to Seattle Washington, down the pacific coast line to Los Angeles, back across the US on old Route 66 to Nashville Tennessee then back home to my home in Michigan.

How do I prepare for this?
being that the space for luggage and travel items are limited, what essentials do I need?
Im not concerned about more than a 2 or 3 day supply of clothing, small tent, limited camping supplies, basic tools, spark plugs, few quarts of oil, oil filter, camera, small charge packs to charge cell phone, go pro, etc.
motorcycle jacket, gloves, rags, tire plug kit, tire inflator, rain gear etc.

I want to do this on a new Triumph Speed twin or Scrambler street or 1200 XE. I know other bikes are more comfortable and offer better wind protection. But I have a desire to rough it lol.
I’m leaning more towards the scrambler because in some areas I’d like to take the beaten path.

Is this a insane idea and have any of you done this? What is a realistic mile per day / distance coverage?
I’m not looking for a cannon ball run record, but I’d like to do it in a 4 week period during the early summer months.
 

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This is the least crazy idea i have heard. I have had the pleasure of riding in the US twice and it was a great on both occasions - scenery and the general experience. And my riding companion from both trips is no longer with us so that just reinforces the idea of making time for these things sooner rather than later.
Great that you had the relationship with your uncle, and what better way to honour that than this and perhaps subsequent trips.
 
I’ll be 50 years old this coming August 31st. All my life I lived a non adventurous life that literally revolves around work and my business.

Until 2020, I worked 7 days a week, 12-14 hours a day for the past 22 years that I’ve been in business, not taking any days off, no vacations, only taking a week off this past August to spend the last remaining days of my favorite uncle before he passed, my Uncle Ed.

Staying by his bedside, reliving his pass and listening to the story of his life from a young boy, to his 3 tours in the Vietnam war, to how he met my aunt and raised his family and his architect business.

After spending every hour of every day for a week sitting with him talking about everything, I realized how short and fast life goes by.
He died on my 49th birthday which hit me hard. He would of been 73 on September 14th. His and my aunts 50th anniversary was on September 5th.

Seeing him pass was one of the hardest things I witnessed and to this day I still hear him and feel him near.

I find myself seeking a adventure of my own and feel if I don’t, my time will come and I won’t have any stories to tell or remember. I realize now that there is more to life than working it away. I need to take time for myself and enjoy the life I was given as it’s done and gone before you know it.

I decided I want to do a motorcycle road trip across America starting from New York City to Seattle Washington, down the pacific coast line to Los Angeles, back across the US on old Route 66 to Nashville Tennessee then back home to my home in Michigan.

How do I prepare for this?
being that the space for luggage and travel items are limited, what essentials do I need?
Im not concerned about more than a 2 or 3 day supply of clothing, small tent, limited camping supplies, basic tools, spark plugs, few quarts of oil, oil filter, camera, small charge packs to charge cell phone, go pro, etc.
motorcycle jacket, gloves, rags, tire plug kit, tire inflator, rain gear etc.

I want to do this on a new Triumph Speed twin or Scrambler street or 1200 XE. I know other bikes are more comfortable and offer better wind protection. But I have a desire to rough it lol.
I’m leaning more towards the scrambler because in some areas I’d like to take the beaten path.

Is this a insane idea and have any of you done this? What is a realistic mile per day / distance coverage?
I’m not looking for a cannon ball run record, but I’d like to do it in a 4 week period during the early summer months.
Like the sound of your dream, we all have dreams about biking road trips. I’d take a breakdown/assist motor organisation subscription, credit card, toothbrush/paste, spare pair of boxers and gloves and a camera. Anything else I would buy and then discard along the way. Good luck in your planning and enjoy the biking life.
 
That is only 6615 miles according to google maps or 236 miles per day.
The first 100 might be the hardest, the last 100 the easiest, maybe somewhere in the middle you might say out loud, what was I thinking.

The reality is you could gear up, top off the fuel tank and leave with little more than your wallet in your pocket as option one .

The difference between a day ride and multi day ride is you just keep going which gives you the option of considering it an ongoing day ride so you ride (live) in the moment.
 
In ‘17 I rode across Canada I was 61 , rode a 10 yr. old Ducati ST3s .... 6500 kilometres one way .... prepped bike myself , very satisfying ride over 16 sleeps .... didn’t carry much gear .... used cheap motels and washed own cloths .... zero issues with bike other than chain adjusts & lube ... similar reasons for ride as you ... met some great folks , viewed some amazing places and enjoyed ever moment of the trip .... plan early , think it through , have a great time !
 
Sounds like a great idea to me.

I’m kinda with Stuart and TW, I don’t think you have to over process this, it ain’t the Arctic or the Sahara etc, you‘re staying on home turf, own language, currency, no visa worries, etc, etc.

You could plot the entire route on a Tom Tom or similar and just follow that from start to finish. Hardly the most romantic method though!
When I did R66 I used the sat nav as a high level guide and plotted more detail excursion using pen and paper with notes stuck to the wind shield. But that probably tells you more about my (poor) sat nav skills than anything else.

Biggest advice I’d give is to download Hotels.com or Booking.com or similar. I did R66 in 2018, we booked the first night in Chicago and the last night in Santa Monica and NOTHING in between. Each evening we lookat the maps, decided how far we wanted to go the next day and booked the next night using hotels.com. So long as you’re not too fussy, it’s very easy and hassle free.

Many motels / hotels in the US even have DIY coin operated laundry facilities so if you’re so inclined, you can use them and reduce your need to carry lots of clothes.

Likewise, using modern ‘wicking‘ clothing is really easy to rinse out each day and dry out overnight.

You could do this with nothing more than some cheap throw over saddle bags, and perhaps a roll bag on the pillion seat if you need more IMHO.

If you intend to do this on a Thaiumph scrambler type thing I’d seriously suggest investing in a comfort seat.

Sounds like a lotta fun to me !
 
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Excellent plan.
Travel light and slow.
Don't carry stuff (like oil..) you can buy everywhere.
Always carry water and some food.
Plan no more than a day ahead.
Don't make the mistake of uploading a route in your gps (satnav)
If you have the choice, take a light bike, one that you can pull out of the ditch by yourself.
Take the small roads,and be prepared (try..) to get lost.
You will have the time of your life.
 
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Road trips are great if you have enough time to really enjoy the journey. Four weeks might be a bit too short for the type of travel you’re thinking of. You have to give yourself some extra time for days when you don’t feel like riding/touring. When you may want to spend sometime visiting sights in the city or location that you arrive at. I did the touring thing back when I was in college. Back and forth from NYC to Missouri to school ever year. Did trips to San Fran and back, To New Orleans. All on a CB450. My college buddies had CB350’s and a BSA Lightning. Those were great times, great experiences. It is better if you have company.

I think you’re right about the early summertime. You may still encounter hail storms, and thunder storms, but you’re not likely to have ice or snow issues. I guest at 50, you’ll want to stop at models/hotels. When I did my road trips, I was 20, and we carried sleeping bags and parked at campgrounds like KOA. Every few days we would get a motel room so we could shower and clean up. That was all we could afford at the time. Also, if you plan on using a Speed Twin or Scrambler, wind blast will be a fatiguing factor for sure. If you want do long mileage per day, you need a windscreen. The most mileage that I ever did per day was 400. On a CB450 the wind just knocked the shit out of me, and I was pretty exhausted that night. I never did that much range in a day again. Knowing the seats that Triumph put on their bikes, I would also suggest an air hawk seat cushion. A sore tailbone can turn the trip into tour-ture. Sorry for the pun.

The route that you’re planning will probably be 6,000 miles or so, round trip. Expect to do maintenance on your bike during the trip. You should start with a new drive chain and tires. You’ll need an oil change and oil filter change during the trip too. Of course, you have to do preventative maintenance every day before starting out on the road. Does your current insurance have road side pickup? If not, get it.

Then just enjoy the experience.

Not sure is you know the lyrics to Born to be wild but,

Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure And whatever comes our way
 
At last good news , an adventure on motorcycle yes ,it’s bloke thing I guess , I did my trip age 55 after working 50/60 hrs a week for years & looking after everyone , wives , kids the norm etc.
No need for map or sat nav , have a tank bag & write notes on it the night b4 of where u wanna go , 200 to 300 Miles a day is fine .
Def hook up with American legion/ a VA medical centre & volunteer for the memory of your uncle , they will be glad to see you, I did just that in Bath NY & still I touch with all I met . For me it was in memory of my grandfathers arm regiment ( raised a £1000 for the PWRR) on my just giving site.
I met up with. 961 owners s as long the way which was great, great thing about your trip is you know where your going end up but u don’t know is what’s going happen along the way .
Motor museums & historic sites along the way u can plan for , I always like to find a motel with a bar/diner next door , I finished up in Seattle , 1200 Miles from Santa Monica , that PCH 1 is too long for short trip but u can do a bit for the views
You will have a blast I’m sure
Adventure road trip across America.
 

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When I packed for my CC ride as mentioned ,travelled light ....ride gear was :Klim goretex jacket & pants , Sidi rain goretex boots , heated vest , 2 sets of modern tech long johns & tops ,ride jeans ,2 pairs each of poly sock liners & merino wool socks , 3 sets gloves .... had heated grips , panniers, tank bag plus small waterproof roll bag on back seat for a minimum of street clothes .... just added a couple tools to included Ducati kit under seat , tire plug kit & mini compressor, sm. first aid kit , some wire and connectors with roll of tape ... carried litre of water & 2 Snickers bars at all times .... plus a toilet “go bag” with emergency items just in case ... started back east from Kamloops BC 12/13 of May .... prolly a little early for Rockies cold rain, sleet & snow several days .... never got wet or cold .... each night planned a rough route , made rt. & exit number, with direction and posted in window of tank bag each morning .... bought fuel soonest after getting to half tank always .... checked weather each morning on local tv station ... did not always have cell signal .... stayed off big hywy’s and always rode secondary roads , more time , but saw a lot more country and met more folks along way , plus funky cafes , avoided all cities like the plaque ... yup , was lost several times but eventually found my way home .... I prefer to ride solo on the long ones , myself enough to worry on ..... anyone thinking on a big ride , just do it ! Be happy you did !
 
You may well know the routes better than i as a non local, but we used Butler Maps (www.butlermaps.com) to help pick the best non Freeway roads. Wouldn't have ridden the Beartooth Highway and some other gems without them.
On a day ride i just want to ride, only stop when i must. On tour i try to make sure to stop and smell the flowers. Don't pass a scenic outlook without at least a pause, take photos at the high points on passes etc, if for no other reason stop every now and then and look at the road behind you. The world can look completely different when viewed from a different aspect.
I hope it all comes together for you, and we get a travelogue on this site at some point.
 
Best memories of bike trips are small town stories. Once stopped in small town bar and an albino catfish at a local lake died. You had to be there, I'll never forget. Like the man said don't plan to far ahead enjoy the small town, back roads. Pack light. Enjoy, make life time memories
 
I graduated High School in 1980...our class motto was "Go For It". Soooooo, Like some of the other guys said, travel lite . Just take a credit card & Go for it! Cj
 
I’ll be 50 years old this coming August 31st. All my life I lived a non adventurous life that literally revolves around work and my business.

Until 2020, I worked 7 days a week, 12-14 hours a day for the past 22 years that I’ve been in business, not taking any days off, no vacations, only taking a week off this past August to spend the last remaining days of my favorite uncle before he passed, my Uncle Ed.

Staying by his bedside, reliving his pass and listening to the story of his life from a young boy, to his 3 tours in the Vietnam war, to how he met my aunt and raised his family and his architect business.

After spending every hour of every day for a week sitting with him talking about everything, I realized how short and fast life goes by.
He died on my 49th birthday which hit me hard. He would of been 73 on September 14th. His and my aunts 50th anniversary was on September 5th.

Seeing him pass was one of the hardest things I witnessed and to this day I still hear him and feel him near.

I find myself seeking a adventure of my own and feel if I don’t, my time will come and I won’t have any stories to tell or remember. I realize now that there is more to life than working it away. I need to take time for myself and enjoy the life I was given as it’s done and gone before you know it.

I decided I want to do a motorcycle road trip across America starting from New York City to Seattle Washington, down the pacific coast line to Los Angeles, back across the US on old Route 66 to Nashville Tennessee then back home to my home in Michigan.

How do I prepare for this?
being that the space for luggage and travel items are limited, what essentials do I need?
Im not concerned about more than a 2 or 3 day supply of clothing, small tent, limited camping supplies, basic tools, spark plugs, few quarts of oil, oil filter, camera, small charge packs to charge cell phone, go pro, etc.
motorcycle jacket, gloves, rags, tire plug kit, tire inflator, rain gear etc.

I want to do this on a new Triumph Speed twin or Scrambler street or 1200 XE. I know other bikes are more comfortable and offer better wind protection. But I have a desire to rough it lol.
I’m leaning more towards the scrambler because in some areas I’d like to take the beaten path.

Is this a insane idea and have any of you done this? What is a realistic mile per day / distance coverage?
I’m not looking for a cannon ball run record, but I’d like to do it in a 4 week period during the early summer months.


How about a week’s trip first as a scouting mission, with what you plan to take later. Good for feedback as to what you enjoy/need etc?
 
Lots of good advice there Scott. In 2016 I rode around Australia, 18000km in 42 days. Couple of observations:

Make sure you take time to see the really interesting stuff. I blew past a lot of really cool stuff which I regret. Chances are I will never go back again and simply don’t remember large parts of the adventure.

Putting up and pulling down a tent wore pretty thin for me after a couple of weeks and I abandoned it for a comfy motel room. Camping gear may also lead you to overpack, it did for me! If you can afford (and want) to ditch the camping idea you will have way more flexibility.

Date/Time stamp your location each day with a simple phone image of a road/accomodation sign or even better, something memorable. I didn’t and can’t remember half of the places that I stopped at.

Anything over 500-600 Km a day can get a bit of a grind, however beautiful the scenery, as the days can blend into one another. Mix it up. Long, short, short, long, rest, or something similar. No need to plan this too much if you have the freedom to take accomodation when you need/want it. My longest day was 900km - painful!!

Talking of pain, just about any seat can be made bearable with a partly inflated Airhawk, nestled under a good quality sheepskin! Invest in cruise control and pick any travelling companion(s) very (very) wisely! A bad fit will ruin the trip.

Be aware that adventure touring is addictive, this is unlikely to be your last.

PS. I’d take the scrambler every time:D!
 
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Guys thanks for all the advice and input. I’m really needing to do this. I definitely will not rush the adventure because I know the first time is the most exciting time.

I don’t want to plan to much and would much rather go where the road / trail / path takes me.
I definitely do not want to stay strictly on asphalt, I want to venture out and take the path less traveled.

The hardest part is scheduling my time away for a month. That’s gonna take some planning.
 
I am glad I did my transcontinental adventure ride at age 26. I set out with a credit card and all the clothing, spares, and survival stuff I could pack in an Army duffle bag tied over the saddle.

I still have the Atlas I rode, and all the memories as well.

It hurts to even think of a 300 mile ride today.

Slick
 
Often this can be a good opportunity to learn that the World really can get along without you for a few weeks......

And if it turns out it can't then you need to do longer trips until it learns that it can.
I was thinking exactly the same Clive!
 
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