Basic Tips on Preparing for Your First Motorcycle Tour

;

The phrase, “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey” can really encompass the point of a motorcycle tour. A motorcycle tour is when you ride long distances exploring hidden treasures along the way before you reach your destination.

If you’re preparing for a motorcycle tour, try not to get too hasty and spontaneous. Here are some tips to help you have a safe, enjoyable, and smooth sailing motorcycle tour.

Whether you’re going across town, across the state, or across the country, we are here to help you prepare for your next motorcycle tour. Visit us here at BMW Motorcycles of Concord today to browse through our inventory of new and pre-owned motorcycles to help prepare you for your next motorcycle journey.

Finding the Right Motorcycle

There is a variety of different motorcycles to choose from, so when finding the correct motorcycle for these excursions, it’s important to be aware of the different types of weather you may encounter, the type of path you want to take (on or off-road), the amount of storage space you have, and your route.

Regardless of whichever motorcycle you choose to take with you on your tour, make sure that it’s ready to make the journey by making sure that it is regularly maintained, or by scheduling a routine maintenance check-up for your bike before you hit the road.

Pack Appropriately

Just like going on a week’s long vacation, it’s important to bring necessary essentials with you on your journey. Keep in mind, this is not like any other ordinary road trip, considering you won’t be able to pack as heavy as you would if you were to be traveling in a car.

Most motorcycles offer various amounts of storage space and luggage sets that are compatible for most motorbikes. However, you want to make sure you’re accustomed to riding with the amount of cargo you’re planning on bringing prior to the start of your tour.

Here are a couple of key essential things you may want to consider bringing with you on your tour.

• Proper safety and motorcycle gear
• First aid kit
• Shoes
• Clothes
• Water
• Food
• Money

Be Knowledgeable

Like any typical day, you wouldn’t want to wear ski gear in the desert, nor would you want to wear beach wear in the snow. Know the weather of the places you’ll be traveling through so you know what types of clothes to pack.

In addition, know the type of terrain you’ll be riding on. If you’re planning on doing some heavy off-roading on your tour, you should make sure that both you and your bike are able to withstand the ride.

Practice

You can compare a long motorcycle tour to running a marathon. Most people won’t be able to complete a full marathon if they haven’t run a day in their life. With that being said, before going on your motorcycle tour, you want to make sure you’ll be able to withstand the long journey ahead of you. Even though some motorcycles are designed to help make touring easy, the muscles in your body won’t be accustomed to holding certain seated positions for long periods of time, especially if you’ve never tried it before.

Try to prepare your body for those longer seated rides by slowly extending the amount of time you’re seated on your bike every time you ride before heading off on your tour.

Be Prepared

In addition to being aware of your route and what to possibly expect, make sure your body is ready to make the long trip. Even though some of the seating positions for certain motorcycles are meant for long trips, your body still may not be used to sitting in those positions for long periods of time, and you want to make sure that you’ve given yourself enough practice.

It’s also a good idea to get plenty of rest before you hit the road. Similar to making a long road trip in a car, you want to make sure you’re aware of what’s in front of you. However, being more exposed to the dangers of the road on a motorcycle, getting a good night’s rest before you hit the road is extremely important.

Find the Gear You Need at BMW Motorcycles of Concord

Don’t be discouraged if this is your first motorcycle tour. Here at BMW Motorcycles of Concord, we’re prepared to help find you the most convenient and useful motorcycle that will suit your needs.

Test drive a new BMW motorcycle near Oakland, CA today at BMW Motorcycles of Concord. Customize your BMW motorcycle or check out our new BMW motorcycle accessories today near Berkeley, CA.