How Long Can You Ride For.....

The longest trips I've done in the last 6 years have been North Lincs to Heysham and the return a week or so later in June and August each year. Fuel/Drink/Loo stops always came up before the 2 hour mark and I have been more grateful for a stretch in recent years (now I'm over 55).
My last long trip on the 916 was 16 years ago when I did 2 consecutive 500 mile days, and even back then I was ready for a day off, fortunately in the sunny south of France.
I would have to go back to my GSX Moto Martin in 1993 for the last bike I had that would go for 3 hours without a fuel stop. Bloody Ducatis and their little tanks!

 

Last year I rode from the elephant rally in Germany back here in one go , fuel stops and tunnel , did 1098 miles on a er 500 , didn't feel a thing .

Rode from York to Peterborough Sunday on a zx6r j1 so an older one , stopped half way and it nearly killed me ! About 1-15 mins each bit .

Struggle to do an hour on my 848 .

I'm thinking I'm getting old .

 

I too am getting old. I did 3 hours on Saturday and in the heat on my Street triple I was shot!

That's why I'm looking for a Multistrada 950s!

 

Surprised it’s more sporty than the R tbh having had one. You could try bar risers or change the pegs to rearsets for more room

 

I'm pretty old now, certainly compared to how old I was years ago....

Last year I rode my little Ts185 for 9+hours with fuel stops and it was fine. Sitting upright, bumbling along, taking in the sights -easy. Blasting around for the same length of time on my Monster is something I've not done for a while, and I'll expect a twinge or two when I do!

 

Once upon a time I rode a lot London to Nice non stop, I’m lucky if I do half that now.

 

Last week me and a friend did 340 miles round wales in a day, no issues on the DRZ400 but would feel it on the V2

 

I did 400 miles round Wales yesterday with no real issues on my 790 Duke, have ridden 12 hours from Central England to Val D’Isere on a Speed Triple with only fuel stops a long time ago again with no issues.

 

Once rode from Madrid to Bordeaux 430 miles the day after a friends wedding
It was tough going.

 

480 miles Ballater to Cheltenham a couple of weeks ago. It was on my 1260 Mutley so a bit more upright. Surprisingly not too knackered at the end of it, though I discovered that the Touratech seat does have it's limit on comfort as I do 250-300 mile days at most when on tour, more often 200-250 miles when in the mountains/on nicer roads. In my 60th year so comfort is becoming a thing...

 

I’ve just done 215 miles on very mixed roads. It took 9 & 1/2 hours including 3 stops of probably 1 3/4 hrs in total. Long sections were at 30mph and slow heavy traffic. Basically I was properly stuffed by the end of it.

Then I did a 115 mile day and today I’ve done just under 200 miles, two up, two stops. Each day was enough.

That was in this country. In Spain or France for example I’d expect to cover a lot more ground.

Simply put though, it’s probably best to get off every 60 to 90 minutes. That way it’s enjoyable not just an endurance. That’s why I don’t see the point of massive fuel tanks.

I think the temperature has a lot to do with it as well. The heat of the last few days has been draining.

There are many variables you need to consider. Heavy or light traffic. Fast easy A roads, Motorways or tight nadgery or mountainous roads. Weather conditions, this busy country or Europe.

Do what you can do happily. Not what others do.

 

Up to 300 miles a day.

 

Over 400 miles loads. Easy and stress free on a multi. Proper hard core knackering on a SPS. Bit in between on most other bikes.

The S1000R was hard work with textile jacket tho. Over 80 over distance was a real difficultly.

 

Yep depends on the bike, personally I can ride the 1098 for hours without any real problems but age catches us all eventually & it does seem heavier when it’s being wheeled out between the cars in the morning! It’s the heat that gets to me. Why have Ducati never sorted that out?

 

Numb bum is a consequence of seat width and lean angle.

For comparisons of riding position by model the Cycle Ergo website is worth a look, as are the German company SQ Lab who make bicycle saddles and other ergonomically designed components.

It's all down to the position of the 'sit bones' in your pelvis, which ideally need to sit flat when you're seated. The general rule of thumb being the more upright your riding position the wider your seat needs to be and vice versa. It's why saddles on racing bicycles are narrow. You measure your sit bone position, factor in lean angle and size the saddle accordingly.

It's a lot more complex than adding a gel insert and sadly the options with motorcycle seats are still too limited.

 

All day if I have to. Worst journey was 8hrs in 36°C from Langres to home on 1299. I got a steam vascectomy.

 

That's the issue. I point blank refuse to plan super high mileage days. I ride for pleasure and I want to enjoy my tours, not suffer for them. I do use autoroutes in Europe but only to traverse areas of no interest and that tends to be getting away from channel ports in the main. For these it's around 200 miles by lunch-time but I always factor in a closing 100 miles or so in the afternoon on interesting roads. There after, until day of return, it's 180-250 miles a day depending on terrain.

For me high mileage are for emergencies only.

 

About 500 miles a day on the 939 Supersport. I also have a BMW R1250RS which is much more comfortable and with cruise control can do much longer distances.