Why Long Motorcycle Trips are good for you

Randy David · Feb 17, 2016

Whether it’s a 23 year old Argentinean medical student’s road to self discovery - and that of the entire South American continent - on a Norton 500 or Ted Simon’s Jupiter Travels in the early 70’s on a Triumph, some journeys can be transformative.

Maybe it’s the peace of mind or the little things you learn about yourself, motorcycle trips are a great way to relax, reflect and recharge – R & R & R. Ask anyone who’s taken a motorcycle road trip and they’ll tell you about a ‘moment’ that changes everything.

Wanderlust aside, here are a few reasons why taking a long motorcycle trip might actually be good for you.

It will give you the most wonderful stories
On the road you will meet new people, experience new lifestyles, try local cuisines and enjoy various local festivals. All of this will give you enough stories to last a lifetime and maybe write a memoire. One of the most remarkable things about having a motorcycle trip is experiencing nature and humanity first hand.

It will teach you a lot about yourself
Mixing trips with self discovery may sound clichéd thanks to Eat, Pray and Love, but it is true. Travelling on your own or with friends does teach you a great deal about the kind of person you are. You start off by understanding what your basic necessities are. Do you really need the shirts which apparently were all your favorites? Do you really need a separate shower gel and soap bar? Do you really need all those matching shoes or you can survive with just one comfortable pair? A trip would help you understand how unnecessarily loaded your life has become.

The preparation for this trip can help you psychologically as well. By considering what to take and what to leave behind, think about the things weighing you down in your life. These could range from bad relationships that stress you out to gadgets you’ve come to depend on. The preparation will be the first step towards being on your own and shedding ‘dead weight’.

Read complete article: https://www.maximomoto.com/blog/why-long-motorcycle-trips-are-good-for-you/

Ed Hobgood · Feb 17, 2016

I agree with what you are saying. When we were getting ready for our trip I had to remind the wife we were not pulling a semi trailer and she needed to pick out the thing she needed most. I was surprised in the end she packed everything in two medimun size suitcases. Our trip took us from temp 40-105 degrees so it was a challenge even for me to pack light. We were gone for 28 days and it seemed like we were only gone for a week. The stories we have will last a lifetime and we loved every day.

Gorilla · Feb 17, 2016

MJ and I have been gone for up to 6 weeks. We pull an trailer. She washes twice. I am ready to bet home after 3 to 4 weeks. I love the trips but there comes a time that I need to say enough.

DK Custom Products · Feb 17, 2016

All good stuff in the OP.

I like em for a variety of reasons, in addition to what was post in the OP-

When at home, my preference is to sit in the woods up against a tree than on a couch in the living room. I enjoy and appreciate nature. Being on a bike in the woods is right up there at the top of my list of favorite things.

There are so many new places to see, history, and folks to meet, the road is always interesting and new.

I have my trike set up to be the most comfortable place to sit in my life...more than my office, more than my couch...then on top of that, I'm riding, in the wind, and that has always had an unexplained appeal to me...since 5 years old on my first mini-bike ride.

The perspective when on the road, looking at the hugeness of nature makes me feel more alive than being in my office or riding around town, or working in the shop.

Riding, not necessarily knowing where you will end up, exploring unknown roads, all things that appeal to that desire I have to learn and "see what's over the next rise".

Mary knows, if I were single, there's no doubt I'd be a nomad. In our current connected world, a fixed office is not necessary to conduct much of the work I do to get food in my belly and gas in the tank.

Truly, I feel more at home on the road than I do "at home". Daily rides & weekend rides are just teasers of the real thing for me, which is being out on the road and exploring.

Kevin

DakotaTG · Feb 17, 2016

Kevin- You said it all in your post.

epper: While the wife and I haven't been on a lot of long trips we have still enjoyed many great rides. The last few years we have always gone down to the Black Hills around Father's Day in June. Our local HOG group has a "Needles Run" every year at that time. While the run is usually only Friday thru Sunday a small group of us leave on Thursday to have an extra day to ride the Hills. This year we are even leaving on Wednesday to get in more riding thru that beautiful area. Last July a group of 7 bikes with 12 people ranging from a young lady of 18 riding her own 883 along with her parents on their Ultra to a single rider 73 years old rode from Jamestown, ND to Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada. It was a 10 day trip even taking the ferry across Lake Michigan on the way there and taking the northern route back around the Great Lakes and down into Minnesota. 2800 miles total on mostly two lane roads and beautiful scenery. The wife and I also ride out to Nampa, ID (just west of Boise) at least once during the summer to visit both of our daughters there. Rides have included going thru Yellowstone Park at least 10 times.

There is nothing greater than riding thru some of the most beautiful country on a motorcycle or in our case a trike.

DK Custom Products · Feb 18, 2016

DakotaTG said:
Kevin- You said it all in your post.epper: While the wife and I haven't been on a lot of long trips we have still enjoyed many great rides. The last few years we have always gone down to the Black Hills around Father's Day in June. Our local HOG group has a "Needles Run" every year at that time. While the run is usually only Friday thru Sunday a small group of us leave on Thursday to have an extra day to ride the Hills. This year we are even leaving on Wednesday to get in more riding thru that beautiful area. Last July a group of 7 bikes with 12 people ranging from a young lady of 18 riding her own 883 along with her parents on their Ultra to a single rider 73 years old rode from Jamestown, ND to Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada. It was a 10 day trip even taking the ferry across Lake Michigan on the way there and taking the northern route back around the Great Lakes and down into Minnesota. 2800 miles total on mostly two lane roads and beautiful scenery. The wife and I also ride out to Nampa, ID (just west of Boise) at least once during the summer to visit both of our daughters there. Rides have included going thru Yellowstone Park at least 10 times.

There is nothing greater than riding thru some of the most beautiful country on a motorcycle or in our case a trike.