Topic: Going on a 500 mile trip in two weeks

[c_kyle]

This will be a round trip, so I guess it's more like a 1000 mile trip.  Riding from Central Florida to Myrtle Beach, SC.  I'm going to basically head up the coast.  Looking at the map, I didn't really see any back-roads that would get me there, without making 1000 different turns.  I don't want to take I95, so it looks like I'll take A1A to 17 (Coastal HWY).  I'm going to make it a 2-day trip to Myrtle Beach, probably stopping around Savannah, GA.  That shoudl give me some time to ride and check out the scenery.  Anyway, I'm looking for suggestions on what I should carry with me.

Here's a list of things I think I'll bring, so far:

Tools:
Gerber Multiplier
A few zip-ties
2 wrenches (most common sizes, I just can't think of them off the top of my head)
Duct Tape
Replacement fuses
Replacement bulbs
Oil (not sure how much to bring, preferably less than 1 quart)
Brake fluid (in small container)
Battery tender

Other:
Ear Plugs
Small tube of lotion/sunscreen
GPS
Cell
Digital Camera
2 complete changes of clothes
rain gear (if I can find it locally)
Tank bag
Small Rucksack w/ 100oz water bladder inside
Water filter and nalgene bottle

I'll be staying in a hotel, so I don't really need to bring soap and towels and a load of food, or anything like that, I don't think.  It's really just 4, 250 mile trips.  I usually ride about 200-300 miles on the weekend anyways.  I guess it's just that I'll be leaving the state that has me thinking that I need to pack all sorts of stuff.

Thanks for any advice that's offered.

[Jugghead]

If you burn a guart of oil every 250 miles, look out!
otherwise, just buy it on the road. don't need to carry it...
I would think spark plugs were more important.
For tools, maybe you could run through the 500/1000 miles service procedure, and bring only what you need for that-
feeler guages to adjust valve clearance seems important.

[hcritz]

Hey Wulf...
Did a few longer trips last summer...From N MS to P'cola etc.
Sounds like you have the basics covered there...You will need some chain lube...especially if you run into rain. Seems I ALWAYS do...even if NONE is in the forecast. Nice to have a couple of old towels or rags...hotels don't like you to clean the excess oil from the chain with theirs!<G> I find also that one of those elastic waist belts you wear for lifting boxes etc. helps my back on longer rides too...but then I'm an old geezer.
Don't know if you will be riding at night, but I carry a small LED flashlight that fits in the tool tray too...It's come in handy a few times.
Sounds like a nice ride there!
Have FUN!

[upperlake04]

f you burn a guart of oil every 250 miles, look out!
otherwise, just buy it on the road. don't need to carry it...

 Ditto on the brake fluid. Battery tender? Cash/debit/credit card and paper map were probably too obvious to list.

[Cvillechopper]

Changeable head screwdriver. 
Test light??
Maybe an extra set of points if yours have been around a bit.

Don't forget your bobble-head Dwight for the bars

[nickjtc]

Gosh you guys are all pessimists!

If the bike has just had a regular tune-up and oil change, is not showing any obvious signs of concern (burning oil, leaking fluids) then apart from chain lube (and I would have a Scottoiler for that task anyway) and maybe fuses just go for it. If anything dies en route (bulb, maybe) you can always pick one up as necessary.

Frankly, I think you can over prepare for a trip. Should there be a puncture repair kit in there too?

I have the same bike and routinely rode long distances last year with no worries. If something catastrophic happens you have your AAA card to take care of it.....

[c_kyle]

I have an O-ring chain, do you still think I should bring lube?  She doesn't burn much oil, a little, though.  The battery tender, I thought just in case my charging system crapped out, I could still get the bike started by plugging it into an electrical outlet.

Thanks for the replies.  By the time I leave, I should have a pretty good kit.

[c_kyle]

I thought of a puncture-repair kit, but, if that happens, I'll just call the tow-truck.  Basically, if she breaks down, I'll call the tow-truck, unless it's something like a blown fuse, or loose bolt, or something like that.  I don't want to have to hunt down Honda oil, so I still think I'll bring some.  I have some in one of the gallon jugs, and I'll pour some of it into a small container.

[ieism]

Depends how much you ride the bike. When I first got mine I took it on a few long trips and ended up having to fix it on the road 6 or seven times. It had been stored for a few years, so driving it that much simply revealed some problems.
Now I ride it all the time, and i must have done 15.000 miles without a problem. Just regular maintance.
If you bike is in decent shape all you really need is the standard toolkit in the saddle, and some chainlube. Remember; it's not a trip, it's an adventure

I would advice to bring a watertight bag for some clothes,a pair of shoes and your phone and papers. When you get to the hotel after a rainsoaked ride, it's a real bummer if all your spare clothes and shoes are wet too.

[c_kyle]

I should have mentioned the waterproof bag, I have several Sea-Line bags, typically used for kayaking, which will be thrown inside my ruck.  I don't have the tool kit that came with the bike, I guess that's the price I pay for not buying the bike in 1979, when I was one year old.  

[medic09]

I should have mentioned the waterproof bag, I have several Sea-Line bags, typically used for kayaking, which will be thrown inside my ruck.  I don't have the tool kit that came with the bike, I guess that's the price I pay for not buying the bike in 1979, when I was one year old.  

Craftsman or some such are much better tools, anyway...

[IndianRider]

i took my '78 K8 on a 600 mile test ride to the smokies from KY last month after a lot of work to get it on the road and it was a blast .. since i was only going to stay one night there, i didnt even pack an extra set of clothes ..all i packed were tools in the tang bag and the beast performed flawlessly and didnt skip a beat ..

HOWEVER, on another short ride the next weekend, I blew the main fuse and thought I was stranded 15 miles from home until i realized the previous owner taped extra fuses to the plastic fuse box cover .. that saved my ass and as soon as i got home, i got rid of the fuse box as one of main fuse holder terminal was getting hot and melting the plastic ..

So i got one here and found this wonderful mod on how to replace the old style fuses to the newer style for CHEAP .. check out this thread  http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=20034.0     

what an excellent cheap mod ..  i have now installed the newer style fuses and got rid of one of the plastic connector as well .. its running great now ..   just make sure you duct tape a set of extra fuses somewhere on the bike (under the seat or tape it to where the existing fise box was)

good luck on the trip ..

[scott_cb650]

Your list looks better than what I took on a 600 mile round trip last summer.
Don't know about that battery tender but I guess if it's small, what the heck.

Lessons I learned include:
pack rain gear (duh, I didn't)
check your oil often
check the tension of your chain.  Mine got pretty loose.
Yellow highlighter disappears when under the clear cover of a tank bag.
Tank bags however are great, for keeping stuff you need to get at quickly like water, gps, maps, directions, etc..
Blue jeans get sticky after about 5 hours.  I've heard that some where bike shorts under their pants.
A clean towel is nice for wiping the dew off of the bike in the morning or cleaning bugs off of various places.

A long ride is a good time to add a can of Seafoam to the tank too.

Good luck, wear armor and have fun!

[c_kyle]

Thanks for the replies.  I've gone through one can of Seafoam, and am about to add some more.  I have a mesh jacket with armor that is supposed to be much cooler than leather.  It's alright, but it's not very comfortable.  The inside is lined with mesh also, and right where my elbows set is a velcro pocket for the armor.  It rubs my elbows raw.  I wear lycra shorts under my jeans when I ride.  It's the only way to go.  The moisture is drawn away from your skin and the slightest breeze has a great effect.  I'm going to go to Sports Authority and pick up a long-sleeve lycra shirt; maybe that will help with the mesh jacket rubbing my elbows raw.

I picked up some foam grips last night, installed them, and went for a ride.  Quick review of foam grips:

You have to squeeze harder to twist the throttle and the foam doesn't stick to my gloves as well as regular grips.  I thought they would be more comfortable because they're thick and soft, but I'm putting my SuperGrip's back on.

[Gordon]

Gosh you guys are all pessimists!

If the bike has just had a regular tune-up and oil change, is not showing any obvious signs of concern (burning oil, leaking fluids) then apart from chain lube (and I would have a Scottoiler for that task anyway) and maybe fuses just go for it. If anything dies en route (bulb, maybe) you can always pick one up as necessary.

Frankly, I think you can over prepare for a trip. Should there be a puncture repair kit in there too?

I have the same bike and routinely rode long distances last year with no worries. If something catastrophic happens you have your AAA card to take care of it.....

I'm with Nick on this.  Just chain lube, basic tools and spare fuses, as long as the bike is in otherwise good condition and ridden regularly. 

[Bob Wessner]

Maybe we need a poll, "Is your glass half empty, or half full?"

[Cvillechopper]

Broken

[c_kyle]

Gosh you guys are all pessimists!

If the bike has just had a regular tune-up and oil change, is not showing any obvious signs of concern (burning oil, leaking fluids) then apart from chain lube (and I would have a Scottoiler for that task anyway) and maybe fuses just go for it. If anything dies en route (bulb, maybe) you can always pick one up as necessary.

Frankly, I think you can over prepare for a trip. Should there be a puncture repair kit in there too?

I have the same bike and routinely rode long distances last year with no worries. If something catastrophic happens you have your AAA card to take care of it.....

I'm with Nick on this.  Just chain lube, basic tools and spare fuses, as long as the bike is in otherwise good condition and ridden regularly. 

This is what I'm leaning towards, just taking a few things that I might need.  Fuses, bulbs, zip ties, interchangeable screwdriver, most-common wrench sizes, chain lube, flashlight, (still going to bring a little bit of oil).  All that will fit in my tank bag with room for other things.  I would eventually like to get saddlebags or a tailbag for taking trips.  I don't have a passenger grab bar; but, I'm going to bungie my ruck to the seat, I think.  I don't really want to wear it, but I could; I would just have to remove the aluminum stays.