When I bought my Goldwing, it was instantly begging me for a road trip. The problem is that I have never done a road trip on a motorcycle before. I tried to prepare for such a journey. I talked to friends that have had motorcycles for most of their lives, but none of them have ever been on a trip like I was looking forward to. After some considerable online research, I found a few packing lists that gave me a good start. Between those lists and my own experience from the last 8 years on the road, I thought I had a good idea of what to expect. While many parts of the trip, I foresaw, I also learned a few lessons that would make the next trip easier… and there will be a next trip. 

Planning

Where to go is the most challenging part of planning a trip. There are many places that are interesting throughout the US that I wish to see. I have seen much of the US in my day job via the Interstate Highway system, and I am a firm believer that the purpose of the Interstate highways is to allow you to drive from one coast to the other without anything interesting to see. Sure there are a few things that dot the highway that are interesting, such as the Cadillac Ranch just east of Amarillo, TX, but for the most part, the next hundred miles will look awfully like the last hundred miles. So for the best ride, I recommend checking out part of America that is often over-looked, the US and state highways that connect every small town, ranch, and major metropolitan area throughout the US.We still have not decided where to point your nose. There are many things to consider:

• How much time do you have?
• How many miles do you wish to drive in a day?
• How often do you stop for pictures and other sightseeing?
• Do you plan on camping or staying in a hotel/motel?
• What is the weather like? (This is especially important from the onset of fall through late Spring)
• Who is joining you for this trip?
• What are their preferences?

But after I ask these questions, I still cannot tell you where you want to go, so this is something you must figure out on your own. If you are like me, I generally don’t take too many pictures over the course of a year, but I will return from a trip like this with about 40-50 pictures per day. All those stops take time, but a trip should not be about the destination, but it should be about the journey. Plan on finding something fun, and something different to do on your vacation.

Preparing for the Trip

First, before considering a multi-day trip, make sure that you know how your bike handles with the added weight of the gear that you will bring with you. This means packing like you would for a long trip…the extra clothes, tools, camaras, etc (or at least the weight and bulk of these items) and going for a trip around your hometown for 20-50 miles. This extra step will make sure that when you are on unfamiliar roads (bumps, turns, etc), you will know what to expect from you bike. For example, I ride Goldwing with hard saddlebags and a hard trunk, but my Dad who I enjoy traveling with has a heavy cruiser from that other manufacturer with leather-like saddlebags and a luggage rack. The design of the touring bike kept all my packed items very secure without shifting, but my Dad had to remember every morning that he had a touring bag secured to the sissy bar that served as both a backrest and a secure, waterproof way to carry gear. However, this bag was the equivalent of a passenger who did not cooperate with you in the turns, which is fine, as long as you are expecting it. Also, check out my packing list and my lessons learned posts that may help you prepare for your trip.