Travel by motorcycle – bikerbuys.com
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There are many people who decide to take advantage of the weekends in good weather to discover new places traveling by motorcycle. A plan that a priori seems very attractive that can be truncated if you are not used to long-distance routes. Below are several tips and recommendations for all those who are going to make a trip of this type for the first time:
Chests and suitcases
The amount of luggage to be carried will be determined by the distance to be covered, the duration of the journey and the number of people traveling on the motorcycle. The first thing to do is distribute the weight well among all the chests or suitcases. Do not load everything on one side; otherwise the motorcycle will become unbalanced.
Although the suitcases are watertight and waterproof, if it rains, it is quite likely that the water will end up entering the chests. To prevent the luggage from getting wet, it is advisable to protect all the objects inside by storing them in plastic bags.
On the other hand, you have to make sure that the suitcases are well secured. On long trips, suitcases tend to move, so it is essential to tie them very well to avoid losing them. It is also advisable to cover them with some fireproof material since, as they move, it is possible that they approach the exhaust pipe and become damaged.
Clothing
No matter how hot it is, you should always wear a suit with protections. You should not drive in a T-shirt, without gloves, without a helmet or without proper footwear. Although the journey is short, if you fall and do not wear the appropriate equipment, you run the risk of being burned and seriously injured.
Also, you have to wear a change of clothes, but never in excess. A good option is to wear old or propaganda t-shirts that you don’t mind wearing and throwing away. In this way, the suitcase is emptied and there is room in case you want to keep memories of the trip.
One detail to keep in mind is that the clothes, especially the interior, are comfortable. Normally, garments with many seams start to bother when they have been driving for several hours.
Food and drinks
Motorcycle trips are exhausting and that is why it is very important to be well fed and hydrated throughout the journey. Isotonic drinks are perfect to cool off and maintain the mineral level in the body. On the other hand, energy bars take up very little space and are an excellent aperitif. Carrying cans of ready-made food isn’t a bad idea either.
Status of the bike
Before starting a trip, you should check that all the components of the motorcycle are good. You have to check that the brakes, shock absorbers, filter, fluid level, wheel pressures are in good condition. Part of this check is straightforward and can be done by the driver himself.
When going on a long-term tour, it is recommended to take the motorcycle to a workshop to have it checked more thoroughly and to make sure that there are no damaged elements that may break during the trip.
If, despite having carried out the necessary checks, you suffer a puncture or breakdown on the trip, a basic repair kit can be of great help. Help is difficult to find in remote places and help can take a long time to arrive.
It should also be borne in mind that sometimes the routes pass through remote places where the closest gas station could be a few kilometers away, so it is advisable to refuel whenever you have the opportunity.
Documentation
You always have to put the insurance, the driving license and the ID. In addition, it must be verified that the documents that have an expiration date are in force and will be valid for the entire period of the trip.
Physical well-being
Finally, we must not forget that motorcycle trips involve great physical exhaustion and that the body will be subjected to postures to which it is not used. It is advisable to do a series of stretches before starting the journey and after each stop to avoid muscle pain.
If you are going to make a long trip, the ideal would be to take tours of at least two hours in length once a week in the months before the getaway. The idea is that the body adapts to being on the motorcycle for long periods of time.
At this point it should be remembered that the General Directorate of Traffic recommends taking breaks every two hours or 200 kilometers, in addition to having had enough sleep in the hours prior to the trip.
