Planning a Cruiser Motorcycle Trip

Riding a cruiser motorcycle is one of the most freeing experiences. If you’ve never embarked on a long-distance journey with your bike, you’re in for a real treat. This type of trip allows you the freedom to see the country on your own terms and at your own pace. All the while, you’ll be enjoying the breathtaking scenery and feeling the wind on your face as you enjoy the open road. But before you get too carried away, make sure you take the time to plan accordingly. If this is your first time planning a cruiser motorcycle trip, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve created this guide with everything you need to know. Read on for some tips.

Choose a Destination

There’s a time and place for aimless road trips without a destination in mind, but a motorcycle trip is a different story. Sure, you can deviate from it a bit, but you still want to have a destination in mind.

Start by determining how much ground you can cover in a day. If you’re a new rider, this may not be much. Be sure to plan for plenty of breaks so that you avoid feeling fatigued. When you spend a full day riding and your body isn’t quite accustomed to it, you can easily lose focus. You’ll be putting yourself in danger as well as those around you. When you have a destination in mind, you can plan the rest of your trip around getting there while budgeting your time wisely.

Make an Itinerary

Next, you’ll want to make an itinerary that plans for all the stops along your route. If you need to, make reservations ahead of time. You don’t want to be roaming around in the dark in a strange city looking for a vacant sign when you’re tired. Remember that your stops should include places to refuel and where you can eat and rehydrate. When you ride for long stretches without stopping to stretch, it will take a toll on your body. You also don’t want to run out of gas or be dehydrated in hot conditions, so planning ahead can help you avoid this.

Pack Wisely

It can be rather challenging to pack for a bike trip. A cruiser motorcycle has limited cargo space and you don’t want to unbalance your bike with too much extra weight. Pack your basic necessities while trying to reduce weight where you can.

Bring a refillable water bottle with you and refill it at each stop instead of packing multiple bottles in your luggage. Be sure you have a first-aid kit and emergency supplies such as a flashlight, repair kit, radio, and cell phone. Don’t forget your chargers! If you plan on going camping, you’ll want to opt for lightweight and compact supplies. You can add panniers and other forms of storage, but you don’t want to unbalance your ride. Do what you can to reduce the overall weight as much as possible.

Now you’re ready to hit the road! We hope our tips for planning a cruiser motorcycle trip have been helpful. If you have any questions, be sure to contact us at Hideout Harley-Davidson® in Joplin, MO. Our team will be happy to help you find the bike of your dreams if you’re still searching for it. We proudly serve all those in Springfield, MO, and Rogers, AR.