Topic: Taking a long trip on my bike. Advice from others with experience?

[mhsull]

I have a 77 CB750 4k with about 25k miles on it.  It seems to be in decent shape but I am still learning about how to work on bikes.  I haven't had any real issues with the engine in the past year since I bought it and I ride it fairly regularly.  I am taking  a trip with a few others up on the Blue Ridge Parkway in April.  Few questions:

Will this bike be alright on a 400-500 mile trip?  Can I expect anything to possibly go wrong?  Any advice?  Any tools to keep with me on the road?  I am not sure if I am over thinking this but I don't want to get up into the mountains and realize these things aren't long trip bikes. 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Be sure its in good tune. Adjust your chain. Take lube. Hit the road. Simple. It will work!

[MCRider]

They were designed and built as long trip bikes and were hugely successful as such. Get those doubts out of your mind.

The things to be conscious of are age related, not design  or purpose related. Is your chain up to it. Are the tires fresh. Are the cables lubed and un frayed. Stuyff like that. Otherwise change the oil and go.

Take more money and less luggage.

I did the Blue Ridge on mine in 1992. 2500 miles round trip in 8 days. Didn't do anything to it.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Ps thats just a one day ride!

[deafcaferacer]

Great thread! I want to take mine out west soon. Eager to learn what tips there are.

[mhsull]

They were designed and built as long trip bikes and were hugely successful as such. Get those doubts out of your mind.

The things to be conscious of are age related, not design  or purpose related. Is your chain up to it. Are the tires fresh. Are the cables lubed and un frayed. Stuyff like that. Otherwise change the oil and go.

Take more money and less luggage.

I did the Blue Ridge on mine in 1992. 2500 miles round trip in 8 days. Didn't do anything to it.

This is what I was looking for.  Thank you.  Just wanted to make sure I wasn't getting into something I couldn't handle.  Any tools I need to keep with me?

[cosmicvision]

Ya mon these things are roadtrip machines for sure. Gained a newfound confidence in riding long distances when I got a SOHC4.

Were you lucky enough to get the little factory toolkit with your bike? Methinks you could bring those & some standard tools in a backpack, and be able to fix most anything that could possibly go wrong roadside. As has been mentioned here, do some thorough preventative maintenance beforehand & let 'er rip!

[Stev-o]

The OEM tool kit at a minimum is recommended. When was the last time you had a full 3000 tune up? How old are your tires??
These motors will run forever if properly maintained and not abused. I had a K5 with 62,000 mikes that still ran good.

[andy750]

My K4 has 78,000 miles and has been to 17 countries in the last 12 yrs...and is running better than ever . Id say as long as the bike is mechanically sound they do pretty well on a road trip of 500 miles. Have a great trip and enjoy the ride!

cheers
Andy

[Retro Rocket]

I did quite a few 1000 mile + trips on 750/4's in the 1980's, never had a problem, just do all the small maintenance things suggested here and check you fuel levels occasionally, its easy to run out of fuel on these old girls....{don't ask me how i know}   

[70CB750]

Go for it, you will be fine.

Blue Ridge Parkway is slower, hard to do hundreds miles a day up there, it also makes no sense. The road is to enjoy yourself - and watch for deer.  No hunting up there makes it a regular pet zoo.

If you get north of 33 I could even join you for a ride 

[Bankerdanny]

I would say that you shouldn't expect anything to go wrong, but should be ready if it does. 500 miles is not that far, the only thing I might carry that I normally wouldn't is a spare tube and a CO2 filling kit (go to one of the internet retailers to see what I am talking about), because when you are far from home you never know how easy it will be to find someone to fix a flat for you.

If you have never spent a lot of time at highway speeds on your bike I am going to recommend spending the money on a simple detachable windshield. Plenty of other commenters will talk about the long trips they have made without them, but I find that several hours in the saddle is FAR less tiring if you don't have to maintain a death grip on your bars to keep from being blown off your bike.

I will also say from personal experience that it is very very easy to overestimate how much stuff you really need. When I did the Relay Rally in 2011 I was carrying twice as much stuff with me as I should have. That was partially camping gear I only needed to use once during my 5 nights on the road because of the several very generous members that put us up for the night, but also I carried way too many clothes.

[MCRider]

I would say that you shouldn't expect anything to go wrong, but should be ready if it does. 500 miles is not that far, the only thing I might carry that I normally wouldn't is a spare tube and a CO2 filling kit (go to one of the internet retailers to see what I am talking about), because when you are far from home you never know how easy it will be to find someone to fix a flat for you.

If you have never spent a lot of time at highway speeds on your bike I am going to recommend spending the money on a simple detachable windshield. Plenty of other commenters will talk about the long trips they have made without them, but I find that several hours in the saddle is FAR less tiring if you don't have to maintain a death grip on your bars to keep from being blown off your bike.

I will also say from personal experience that it is very very easy to overestimate how much stuff you really need. When I did the Relay Rally in 2011 I was carrying twice as much stuff with me as I should have. That was partially camping gear I only needed to use once during my 5 nights on the road because of the several very generous members that put us up for the night, but also I carried way too many clothes.

Hence my advice: "take more money, less luggage". I actually heard that on a travel show, and wished I had heard it earlier in life, as I always take too much stuff.

One trick I heard was to pack 1 T shirt for each day. At the end of the day, use it to wipe off your bike, then throw it away. Start fresh the next day, and lighter.

[tlbranth]

I did lots of long distance stuff in the 70's on my 750 - 2-up. The big hassle back then was chains. Lube every stop, adjust every other stop. Oil everywhere. Now I don't mess with it. Take my advice & put on an X-ring chain. Most of your problems will go away. My 750 has never left me stranded. And in those days we had no cell phones. Heading off for Death Valley in August you need something that's not gonna die.

[Deltarider]

Can I expect anything to possibly go wrong?  Any advice?  Any tools to keep with me on the road?

This is not what I'd call a long trip. So just the tools that came with the bike and... looking for adventure, remember?
 

... and realize these things aren't long trip bikes.

What do you mean? I remember Conti choose the 750 for continuous testing their tires on European roads. They did tens of thousands a year. 

[knowsnothing]

One trick I heard was to pack 1 T shirt for each day. At the end of the day, use it to wipe off your bike, then throw it away. Start fresh the next day, and lighter.

MC, i heard something similar... Pack all of those old, crappy, holey pairs of undies you should have thrown out years ago that are living at the bottom of the underwear drawer.  Then, when they are dirty after you wear them, toss em.  Pack gets lighter and the poor undies get put out of their misery

[Bankerdanny]

I found that the chain on my 550 needed frequent adjustments. I would check yours every other fuel stop until you get a good idea of how many miles you can go before you need to adjust. For a 500 mile trip a lube before you leave should be fine, but that said, i toss a small call of chanin lube in my bag in case I get stuck in a rain storm I can lube the chain after it dries.

[dave500]

small parts like spare fuses and globes(globes pack safley in 35mm film canisters) and chain master link are handy,some tape and zip ties,i always carry fresh plugs,if you take it you wont need it,if you havent got it you will need it.

[MCRider]

aND TO THE TOOLS... while carrying the toolkit under the seat, it is a pain to unpack the seat to get to it for chain mantnce. So I put the axle wrench and adjuster wrench in a baggie with a few paper towells and a small can of lube, and put it in a pocket of the tank bag or pack. That way adjusting the chain does not involve unloading the bike.

But WAY beter is an ORing/Xring chain that can go 2500+ miles without an adjustment.

[stickman]

Extra bungie cords, comfortable boots, warm socks, your most relaxed fit jeans, warm jacket, a couple sweat shirts, riding gloves, a few baggies and a rain suit.  Won't always be dry and 80 degrees.  If your bike has a sissy bar, find a sleeping bag to strap on behind you to give your back some support or use your nap sack. A small digital camera with fresh batteries inside a baggie stowed in a handy spot outside you nap sack.  Same for cigarettes and lighter if you use them.  A map and /or gps.  If you are not experienced riding the Parkway, it is easy to get behind on your steering while sightseeing.  Be safe.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

If they'll do miles in town they'll do miles on the road. Get it on the road and outta town!

[70CB750]

Plug your ears and wear a kidney belt.

[steam-powered man]

a few more 

how old is your battery;  sand/polish then snug up both ends of your + and - battery cables; check charging system output; new clutch cable (bring old as spare, had a brand new one break once);  tire pressure gauge;  check spoke tension;  check/replace all cotter pins (esp the rear brake rod bolt);  check head bearings;  tylenol.

have fun and post pics!       

[Stev-o]

Tylenol?!

[Retro Rocket]

Condoms....