Is 480 Miles Feasible?

Those mileages are relatively easy to do, but as others have said, it depends on the time you travel, the type of road you are riding, how often you need to stop for fuel (200+ miles on the GT).
I often did over 600 miles in one hit on my old '91 Trophy and latterly on my Exploder, from central France to Northampton and over 500 from Northampton up to Dornoch in the NE of Scotland. Both runs involve over 10 hours in the saddle. For me, the plan is to plan my stops, but have a contingency and be prepared to stop and have a rest if you need one, and a really early start, so breakfast is well into your journey. The first couple of times I planned an overnight, but found that I really didn't need to and really enjoy the occasional 'marathon' ride.

 

For me the big problem is "numb bum". I can barely manage 100 miles before it becomes severe. Thereafter I really need to stop every 50 miles. Maybe I just have a bony arse (or/and farmer giles). This despite having the seat on my Bandit re-upholstered at Tony Archer's in Huddersfield. Although riding up from Devon last year I set off at dawn and when my arse started to ache I kind of lay forward on the tank. This lifts one's arse off the seat and gives some relief. Doing this and cruising at 90 ish while the motorway was quiet I made excellent progress.

 

Sixty four year old upholstery sags a bit dunnit?!

 

Having followed you for a week last year, let me tell you," There is nothing bonnet about your ar5e".

Edit;- predictive text, for bonnet read bonnie.

 

You'll be fine. Last year Scottish trip Rich & I rode from north of Glasgow to Essex in one hit. I was riding a Naked Thruxton R, he a Tiger. Had a ten minute break every fuel stop ( approx every 150 miles). I was surprised how well I felt when I got home. Go for it.

 

It has all been said in terms of doability, so just get planning and enjoy your trip.....
Wessa

 

I've waited a while before jumping in on this one, partially as I didn't want to make a contribution that sounded simply like an entry in a "pissing up the wall" contest!

I've done a fair number of long, one-day rides on a number of different machines - probably the longest being Phoenix, Arizona to Shingle Springs, California (about 840 miles) which I've done 3 times now - once on a GL1200 and twice on a Kawasaki Concours (Z1000) The ride itself was challenging but not "difficult" and certainly not impossible with such comfortable bikes and relatively good roads.

What does occur to me, though, is that nobody has yet mentioned a consideration that I personally think might be a very important element to factor in to your decision making process - and that is what you might be doing the day AFTER your long ride. I've always found that the semi-europhic state of head hitting the pillow after such a long ride has been instantly and totally reversed when you finally wake up the following morning! By then the ride has become a mental drain for a couple of hours until I'm back on an even keel later in the day. If you're contemplating doing something of major importance on the day after your return, then seriously consider breaking the journey so that your arrival home finds you fresh and alert rather than dulled and stiff! You'll also have much more contingency time in which to properly prepare for whatever it is you have to do the day after the ride.

It's fundamentally impossible to know how comfortable your bike is, your stamina - mental and physical - and resilience levels, etc. It's impossible to predict road, traffic and weather conditions - all of which will have a bearing on the requirements to concentrate - hard - for up to 9,10 or more hours so, whilst we can all give good and useful examples of long rides; tough rides; easy rides and similar rides, they won't necessarily be entirely relevant to your specific circumstances.

Whatever you decide, I hope you can get some enjoyment out of the ride and that you stay safe before, during and after!

Best of luck.


Regards,

Adie

 

I have done many 350 - 400 mile days with no problem. My highest ever in one day was approx. 730 miles from La Rochelle in Western France to Torrevieja in Eastern Spain. It was all motorway (where available) and I have to say it was long and it was too much. Some people like the Iron Butt-type days but I don't. I wouldn't do it again. From memory it was something like 14 or 15 hours with 15 minute breaks at fuel stops.