I'm planning my first long solo ride, from Oregon to New Mexico. Any tips?

[CeremonialDogfart_imp]

I will be riding the CB and it will be my first real long-distance ride. I have done a 300 mile day before, but it was on a 250 dual sport and I was following a car. It also happened to be in cold rain the whole time. That was when I learned that my waterproof pants were not very waterproof at all. It wore me out but I think I will be much more comfortable on this bike.

I have a big Wolfman Beta duffel that fits the bike well and I'm shopping around for a good tank bag. I'm also looking into getting a detachable windscreen and a mesh jacket. I pack pretty light so that should be all the storage I need and the windscreen should help a lot with fatigue. I don't plan on camping, just staying in motels and such.

I also have a small toolkit to fix little things that could go wrong and a CO2 plug kit under the seat for emergencies. For security all I have right now is a disk lock.

I have made the trip multiple times in a car, but this will be my first time on a bike. I love the country I'll be going through and I plan on taking a more scenic route than usual, though I haven't laid it out yet.

Are there any tips experienced tourers could give me to make the trip more safe, fun and comfortable? Anything I may not know I need or want?

Thanks in advance.

[The Spaceman_imp]

Gold Bond Powder. Apply liberally to your (yours...not the bike's) undercarriage before riding.

It helps avoid the dreaded "Monkey-Butt" symptoms. Nice scent too.

[CeremonialDogfart_imp]

That does not sound like a bad idea at all, Spaceman.

[flynrider]

Gold Bond Powder. Apply liberally to your (yours...not the bike's) undercarriage before riding.

It helps avoid the dreaded "Monkey-Butt" symptoms. Nice scent too.

Gold Bond? After the Monkey Butt corporation went to all the trouble to make a specific remedy? (Yes, this is a real product)



As to the original post, I've made a lot of cross country bike trips and comfort is the key. Windshield is a good idea. Keeping dry is way up on the list. I also use a sheepskin Buttpad from Alaska Leather http://www.alaskaleatheronline.com/servlet/StoreFront and some kind of throttle lock (I use the Go Cruise on my CB11).

[Elipten_imp]

Where in New Mexico? If north all okay. If south can be hot as heck so need hydration and along the border security is an issue. If going more than 100 miles south of Albuquerque, have I'd as often check points on I25. If riding through reservations/pueblos do the speed limit! Not kind to speeders.


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[Cormanus]

Flynrider is right on the money about staying dry. A good wet weather kit, including something to keep leather gloves dry, is pretty important when you have to keep going. An alternative to the buttpad (Apple tried to tell me this should be 'but toad') is an AirHawk seat cushion http://www.airhawk.net/airhawk-products.aspx.