How many miles can you ride in a day?

+1 on the vista-cruise throttle lock. After 40+ years of riding, I only recently tried one given to me by a friend. I don't use it for very long at a time, but it's perfect for giving my hand a break, and time to flex the fingers a bit and give the hand a little shaking to keep the blood flowing. It really helps with the cramping issue. Unfortunately, I do have some bikes with a throttle that I can't immediately fit them to, but it looks like with a little fabrication I can make them work.

Ken

ewgoforth said:

Is that similar to a Vista-cruise?

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Yeah, likely just a brain fart away from a Vista-cruise.....

I've noticed that fatigue sets in sooner on a straight road vs windy road. It sets in very quickly if I end up running on a Freeway for some reason.
If the road is challenging and the scenery is beautiful, a lot of miles can get covered without really trying too hard.
As the day wears on I have to get off more often, maybe every 75 miles or so or at the half tank mark, even if it is just for a five minute walk and let the butt re-inflate

Glen

I've noticed the same thin, Glen. Blasting down the freeway is just plain tiring, while flicking through the twisites is still fun. I think part of that is that due to moving your body around more when riding less boring roads. Saves you from overworking the muscles and ligaments in a fixed position. The other thing I've noticed is that I wear out much faster when I'm trying to keep up the pace with younger, quicker riders. I can still whip through a few corners at a good pace, but it takes a lot of concentration on my part, and then I want to cruise for a while and relax a bit. The younger guys I ride with have a tendency to just attack every corner, and trying to keep up with that wears me out. I kind of remember what that was like, but I'm not trying to recapture the feeling. I'm pretty happy as an old guy to just enjoy still being able to ride at all.

Ken

I agree, the interstate feels to me like sitting on a bull's eye waiting for someone to take a shot at me, especially I-95. I prefer secondary roads with a little more character . I've done 500 + a couple times on a BMW, but on my Commando a couple hundred seem the fun limit for me. I always seem to "ride hard and ride short".
Cheers!

L.E.N. said:

Tingling and cramping of the hands is often from the vibration irritation of the carpal tunnel that presses against the grips....
Lance

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Vibration is always a factor with a brit bike and even with isolastics it is always there. I've reduced reciprocating weight to bring down that vibration by another 1/3. I still have to deal with the wind, traffic and travel fatigue but at least the ride is smoother and I know it will go the distance without anything breaking or coming loose. The right hand still needs occasional relief from maintaining twist grip position so I'll switch over with the left hand for a bit when I need to (steering with body lean).

CanukNortonNut said:

Yes. ear protection is good and I wear my quietest helmet on long distance runs. :!: I just finished a long distance trip of 3046.8 miles with my brother-in-law, He on a Honda 919 and I was on my 74 Interstate. I compromised for his bike as he had to get off every 1 1/2 hours to refuel and refreshments and our longest day run of a 10 day journey was 343.2 miles. I could and would have gone longer but It was a bike trip between the two of us. Our agreement was we are ready at 8:30 am and drive till 6:00ish to get a hotel/motel with a/c and a shower. Once I was lead and I knew I was pushing it, :roll: my b-In-L Bill would complain that his butt felt like he was sitting on two hockey pucks for that leg of the journey. :mrgreen:
Cheers,
Thomas
CNN

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Thomas -

That's a good commentary on the preparation of your Norton for it to be able to roll head-to-head (or better) with a modern Honda like that. I find that when I'm on one of my older bikes (the MkIII or one of the BSAs) that it takes a little extra time in the morning to check the "adjustable" things like the chains, the oil levels, etc. as opposed to just wiping the dew off the seat, punching the button, and riding, like I do on my modern bikes ...

Lannis