Here are some of the things we’ve learned, which we hope will be helpful.
1. Chasing The Sun
When we’re on the road, we like to be up at 6:00 am, shower, breakfast, pack and on the bike by 8 am (earlier if possible). It’s an incredible feeling watching the world wake up from the seat of a motorcycle, and if you’re planning to do big miles, the earlier you start, the earlier you can finish. As a rule, we are off the bikes before dusk, certainly sunset. Why? Well, dusk is when critters like to run out in front of bikes. The changing light can also make it harder for drivers to see you, and it’s harder for you to see the road.
2. Consider Wearing Earplugs
Consider wearing earplugs, not just to protect your hearing, but to dramatically reduce fatigue. Helmets are noisy places, especially at higher speeds on bikes without big windscreens. Your brain tries hard to process all the wind noise and determine if there’s anything important in there it needs to hear, which is an ongoing mental strain. Earplugs cut out most (not all) of the noise, and once you get used to them you can hear what’s going around you much better. One real area of benefit is your increased ability to hear any mechanical noise coming from your bike, which is a huge safety plus.
3. Inspect The Bike Regularly
It’s critically important that you are aware of any mechanical issues your bike might have before you start it, ESPECIALLY on a long-distance, solo ride. So, check your bike in the morning before you start it, check it when you wipe it down when you park it for the day, check it when you fill up, when you stop for lunch, for a photo……often!
The main things to check are: tires – tread ok, no cords showing, no punctures, nail heads? Chain and sprocket – any kinks, broken teeth, metal shavings? And leaks beneath the bike, any oil or anti-freeze on the cases of the bike? Especially with suspected leaks, clean the bike, start it, let it sit and run for a minute, check again. Take care of your bike and it will take care of you.
4. Travel Light
When we first started touring, we tended to overpack our bags and it hardly had room for a change of clothes. Now when we tour, we can go out for three weeks with one small bag. How do we do it? Well, we stick to the essentials and be more selective when you buy your bags, make sure it will last. We only use the Nomad Bags as it’s strong, well made and big enough with the option to add additional capacity.