Topic: First "long" ride

[nccb]

Tomorrow evening I am heading across state on the highway.  Its about a 200 mile trip and its the first time I have done ride over 60 miles, especially highway driving.  Its sad, but I am looking forward to it.  Our car is to small to contain my wife and I , two kids, and a dog, so I will be riding behind them 

I have put about 4k miles on the bike since I have had it but want to ask, what are some things I should pay attention to, if any, since it will be held at higher RPMs for a prolonged amount of time.  Its about 400 to 500 miles out of an oil change so I figure I will change it when I get back.  Just did a 3k tune-up on it about 100 or so miles ago as well as put a new rear tire and chain on.  Didn't synch the carbs though

[goldarrow]

Well, get carbs synch before you head out.  Look for gas station at about 100 miles.  That's what I would do. 

[nccb]

I don't think they are out of synch, so I didn't synch them.  Probably unneeded background, but I would rather hear from experience about typical issues that seem to be more likely to occur on longer rides.

[Wobbly]

Well, if it runs okay, the carbs can wait until you come back. 200 miles is hardly a long ride. Just check the tire pressure before you go. And since you leave in the evening, you better check your lights too. I don't think you need to look for gas after 100 miles either. With the ridiculously low highway speeds, you get excellent gas mileage and have no problem to reach a gas station after getting on reserve. No high rpms either in fifth at those speeds. Besides, following the car, you won't be stranded.

[goldarrow]

i should probably ride at lower speeds more often to see if my bikes can go 200 miles before next fill up.   

[martin99]

These bikes were designed to run all day long. The 3K tune-up is good prep, don't see what else you need to do apart from the obvious - tyre pressures, check lights working etc. I usually break up a long ride, stopping every 100 miles or so. Gives the bike a chance to cool down, gives you the opportunity to check nothing is about to fall apart, and in my case allows some feeling to come back into my hands and backside!

[DustyRags]

Pack layers. 200 miles can cover a lot of ground, and it can get pretty warm at lower speeds at noon, and downright frigid at high speeds in the evening.

[DH]

oil level
fuel level
brakes (operation)
lights
tire pressures
chain adjustment and lube
no massive/dripping oil leaks
enjoy...

[Phoenix]

Take extra fuses.  My first out of state trip had some electrical problems.  Turned out to be a short in the ignition.  Glass fuses can be hard to find when you need them.  My recent trip, by myself, got into five states.  Flawless.  Enjoy it.  It's made to be ridden.

[dhall57]

These old 750's love the open hwy nccb. I have a 750K6 and I prefer it over my 70KO on rides of any distance. It just more comfortable. Earlier in the year i rode to the BRP in the NC mountains and spent most of the day riding the parkway. Round trip was about 450 miles and my bike ran great. Out on the open road I ran 70-75 most of the time taching 5g or so. Other times just keeping up with traffic I was doing 80-85. No problems these bikes could run forever at these speed. The only problem I had was me not the bike. My throttle hand got tired and crampie. I need to get some type of cruise device or throttle helper.

[nccb]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'm looking forward to it. 

[fendersrule]

Plan on stopping every 30 minutes for 5 minutes each to give your butt a break. Make sure your wife understands the signals when you need a break.

Pretty cool for someone who can ride 100 miles straight without a break on a CB750, but it's something I can't do, even at age 28. Stop along the way, even just for a little bit. I personally stop every 40-50 miles. Helps with your concentration.

Aside from that, ditto to what everyone else said. Tire pressure is the main thing if everything else seems fine. Just ride.

[6adan]

You seem to have your bike in good shape so you should not have any trouble. Do not worry about high RPM these bikes were made for it. I rode my 70 750 from Cal. to Alabama in three days but I was a lot younger then, this was in 1970 and some places out west my cruse speed was wide open throttle.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Adjust and oil your chain, air your tires, check yer oil and get on and ride. If it does fine as a city boy bike it will be fine on the road. Miles are miles. That AIN'T high rpms and that DEFINITELY is not many miles! Set it at 70-75 where it's in it's sweet spot and enjoy. Stopping every 30 minutes is a waste of time!  You'll never get there. When it hits reserve it's time to watch for a station, get gas, rest yer ass and take a leak. Good time to look it over too as that gives you another excuse to rest for a few more minutes.     

[scottly]

On a bike, I find 100 miles to be a good distance between breaks; in a car, 200 miles. The secret to covering miles is to limit the break time to 15-25 minutes per break.

[dave500]

use cotton wool in your ears,takes the edge of the wind noise but still lets you focus on noise around you if you need to.

[Wobbly]

Plan on stopping every 30 minutes for 5 minutes each to give your butt a break. Make sure your wife understands the signals when you need a break.

Pretty cool for someone who can ride 100 miles straight without a break on a CB750, but it's something I can't do, even at age 28. Stop along the way, even just for a little bit. I personally stop every 40-50 miles. Helps with your concentration.

Perhaps you should try to get in better shape instead of accepting this as God-given. I am 53, and my driving days are easily 12 hours on my BMW RR--compared to which my Honda is a sofa. Barcelona-Berlin on my 750 K7, only stopping for gas, got me almost 1,200 miles (left in the evening, arrived next afternoon). My longest trip on my Honda in Europe was 7,000 miles (Europe and North Africa) with my wife as a passenger, and in the States from San Diego to Honesdale, North East PA, and back. Just took my RR from the Army Hospital (LRMC) in Germany to Italy and back in one day, riding hard 17 hours. By God, if I would stop every 40 miles or every 30 minutes, I wouldn't get anywhere. Off to the snowy Alps tomorrow. Southern Spain in December (almost 5,000 miles). I guess people are not cut out the same way anymore (an observation I make in the gym on base with our young soldiers as well). Sorry for drifting off, but I am amazed.

[bluezboy]

Plan on stopping every 30 minutes for 5 minutes each to give your butt a break. Make sure your wife understands the signals when you need a break.

Pretty cool for someone who can ride 100 miles straight without a break on a CB750, but it's something I can't do, even at age 28. Stop along the way, even just for a little bit. I personally stop every 40-50 miles. Helps with your concentration.



you tell them wobbly, I'm 54 and I know I'm in better shape than most men half my age, so riding my 73' 750 8-10 hours with short gas breaks is easy. It sounds like some of may need to man up.

Perhaps you should try to get in better shape instead of accepting this as God-given. I am 53, and my driving days are easily 12 hours on my BMW RR--compared to which my Honda is a sofa. Barcelona-Berlin on my 750 K7, only stopping for gas, got me almost 1,200 miles (left in the evening, arrived next afternoon). My longest trip on my Honda in Europe was 7,000 miles (Europe and North Africa) with my wife as a passenger, and in the States from San Diego to Honesdale, North East PA, and back. Just took my RR from the Army Hospital (LRMC) in Germany to Italy and back in one day, riding hard 17 hours. By God, if I would stop every 40 miles or every 30 minutes, I wouldn't get anywhere. Off to the snowy Alps tomorrow. Southern Spain in December (almost 5,000 miles). I guess people are not cut out the same way anymore (an observation I make in the gym on base with our young soldiers as well). Sorry for drifting off, but I am amazed.

[70CB750]

Don't sweat it, if the bike is reliable to run around town, just kick the tires and hit the road.  200 miles pretty much gets the bike nice and warm

[dhall57]

My K6 can get close to 140 miles before hitting reserve. My KO about 110. Gas stops are the only stops I make when riding any distance. Just enough to stretch my legs and go to the little boys room if need be and take off again.

The true distance rider on this forum is Andy. Him and his 750 cover a lot of asphalt. 200 miles to him is like riding around the block

[70CB750]

How can nccb hold her from running? 

On a good day it takes me 50 miles to make it home from work - the distance from the office to my driveway is exactly 1.6 miles 

On a normal day about 10 - 15 miles.

[fendersrule]

Plan on stopping every 30 minutes for 5 minutes each to give your butt a break. Make sure your wife understands the signals when you need a break.

Pretty cool for someone who can ride 100 miles straight without a break on a CB750, but it's something I can't do, even at age 28. Stop along the way, even just for a little bit. I personally stop every 40-50 miles. Helps with your concentration.

Perhaps you should try to get in better shape instead of accepting this as God-given. I am 53, and my driving days are easily 12 hours on my BMW RR--compared to which my Honda is a sofa. Barcelona-Berlin on my 750 K7, only stopping for gas, got me almost 1,200 miles (left in the evening, arrived next afternoon). My longest trip on my Honda in Europe was 7,000 miles (Europe and North Africa) with my wife as a passenger, and in the States from San Diego to Honesdale, North East PA, and back. Just took my RR from the Army Hospital (LRMC) in Germany to Italy and back in one day, riding hard 17 hours. By God, if I would stop every 40 miles or every 30 minutes, I wouldn't get anywhere. Off to the snowy Alps tomorrow. Southern Spain in December (almost 5,000 miles). I guess people are not cut out the same way anymore (an observation I make in the gym on base with our young soldiers as well). Sorry for drifting off, but I am amazed.

I may not be in the army, but please don't imply I'm not in shape. You'd think quite different face to face. Ever have grown to 6'4 and experience the effect on the lower back?

Again, I'd like to see someone ride 100 miles straight without a windshield with our twisty curves and 75 MPH speed-limits up here in southern Idaho. Fatigue depends on the type of road too.

I guess the 20 people group I was in were all in bad shape to want to take breaks too. Lol.

You're giving #$%*ty advice to someone who has not been on a longer distance trip to not take short breaks. As in, if breaks are bad for you. I'm saying to take them when he feels fatigued. 

[Duanob]

Perhaps you should try to get in better shape instead of accepting this as God-given. I am 53, and my driving days are easily 12 hours on my BMW RR--compared to which my Honda is a sofa.

What you can do and what you should do are two different things. Even airline pilots are limited to 10 hours of operation at one time. But it's your life take it as you wish. I wouldn't want to be on the road with someone that's been on two wheels for 12 hours.

nccb I think you've got lots of good advice. Fendersrule had a great comment about communicating with your caravan. Ride as long as you feel comfortable. You will notice you ride for longer and longer stints as you get used to it.

[acollin]

I'm with the folks who say the bike will,be fine, but the rider is always a question. Young and strong means little when it comes to hours of focus.

While I don't know your set up, the ride with a faring is wildly different than with your body as a wind break. The helmet you use could also have an effect on your comfort. I'd recommend -- full face with a freshly cleaned face shield.

Good luck--- enjoy it.

[Bankerdanny]

+1 on ear plugs. I know in my case when riding without a windshield wind noise or the lack of it made a huge difference in terms of fatigue. Personally I use good quality headphones and listen to music or talk radio on longer trips. Although I do usually spend some time without sound from the 'phones to enjoy the music of the engine.

Enjoy the ride. 200 miles is going to be 3 hours or more of saddle time, and if you haven't done any multi-hour riding in the past it takes getting used to. This is a good intermediate distance to learn about what you might want to change for a longer trip. I had a small removable windshield for my prior 550. It made a HUGE difference in comfort, particularly if you have the original rather high bars that keep you in a very upright position. Without the windscreen your chest is like a sail and at 70-75 you have to grip the bar pretty hard, which gets old fast.