Well, I am heading out this Friday for a round trip from Oklahoma City to Mt Rushmore and Yellowstone and back. This will be my first real road trip on my bike. This is also my first bike, and my max. distance has been about 6 hours one way. If anyone has any great recommendations, please let me know. I think I'm about ready, but will definitely have a sore ass for a few days!

a support belt like they wear at home depot, ff helmet, preinspection of bike, extra light bulbs.

preperation-H might come in handy. actually be sure and take a break rehydrate and eat plenty of energy food

I didnt see any pictures of your bike in the gallery. Buy a throttle rocker for 10.00, Do you have a windshield your going to wish you did for this ride.

Carry water for yourself. Some tools, earplugs,fuses, spare key, Leatherman tool, extra oil, cargo net.

www.micapeak.com/info/mclist.html might help with a checklist.

What lagerdrinker said plus

Wear sunscreen

Stay hydrated

Check your engine oil daily in the AM and your tire pressure a couple times during the trip

Check your light function daily while bike is warming up

Ride cautiously on roads you don't know

Watch for wildlife, esp at dusk, and in the Nat'l park

If you're riding with someone else, ride your own ride, not theirs

Take lots of pictures

Enjoy :tour

--Chris

Have agreat time!...check out little Big horn (Custer's Last Stand) on the way to Yellowstone.;)

3500 miles in 10 days should be a nice ride,no hurries,no worries.
I've done 6000 in 9 days before.:D
Don't forget the sunscreen! It sucks getting burnt the first day out :roflblack

A backpack with a belt will help to support your back.
A small windscreen will help.
Use your rear passenger pegs wile your riding to relieve stress on your back(Put your pegs out before you take off) and most importantly, take your time, it's a trip, not a race.

I agree with everyone else's ideas. I might add some first aid crap just in case a little something needs tending too. Man have fun....memory mak'in is about to start.......RIDE SAFE..........pictures when you get back...................

Sunburn? How thw heck do you get sunbrun through all your leathers?

Well I am at about mile 5,000 in my east coast to west coast trip.
NJ to WY (3,332 miles)
WY to CA (900 miles) <= I'm in San jose tonight
CA back to WY, I leave in the AM
then back to NJ on the 15th

I will be in the Yellowstone area from this Friday to the 14th.
Post up and I'll meet you. I know the roads pretty well here.

My tricks of the trade are:

1. Mustang seat
2. Back support, biker's friend or similar
3. Full face helmet
4. Handlebars that don't make you lean into them.
5. Bring warm clothes, the Yellowstone area had snow last week.

later
dec
Asbury Park, NJ
and
Dubois, WY

pack light,bring only enough cloths for 2 days,utilize motel laundry facilities.Wear lose clothing but not clothing that flaps in the breaze.Pack up bike totally the day before and take it on test run.Bring tucks medicated pads for that "new azz" feelin!Wear lite headgear or lite helmet if needed.Eat lite meals at stops and drink alot of gatorade or electrolite drinks.DON"T FORGET YOUR RAIN GEAR! and bring an extra sweat shirt for those cold mornings.

I did 3590 miles from Chicago to Orlando,Datona,Key West and back in 8 days just 2 weeks ago.

man, lots of great ideas that i never thought of posted here.
ide also bring pepto, diarhea or even that sour stomach feeling sucks riding a bike...and far from home.
just take what is gonna make the trip comfortable. fresh clean socks always make me feel good also.

Looks like you got lots of ideas on what to take. Ride safe and take lots of pics! I think Xena posted this trip checklist...check it out.. http://www.micapeak.com/info/mclist.html

Thanks for all of the replies! I have a few items that will help: rain gear, windsheild, mustang seat, hwy bars, pegs and chaps, fwd controls, ff modular helmet, backpack that will be my backrest, tools, plugs, saddlebags, and an Ipod. I'm going with 2 other guys, but they are riding a softail and electra-glide. Thanks again for all of the help, look forward to sharing some stories and pics.

i have some heel rests that i use on long trips with my fwd controls. i use the heel rest as a 'secondary' footpeg from time to time. i noticed that you have hwy bars in addition to the forwards, but those are very similar in position to the fwds.... you need something that can give you wide variations in leg position to keep your joints from locking up.

Sunburn? How thw heck do you get sunbrun through all your leathers?

on your face :wonderlan

make sure you get some chapstick with sunblock in it don't use carmex, or anything like that, make sure it actually has an SPF rating, any of the other crap just magnifies the sun and makes things worse... it sucks having sunbruned lips.... I have no one to blame but myself, just this last weekend we went to Big Bear, I forgot to put mine on on the way back, and riding back into Vegas with 113 degree heat, it sucked... my lips got burned, and that just ruins everything... the good thing is mine only lasted a day or two, but non the less, make sure you have it.

One more if you have'nt left yet, a c02 tire plug kit is worth it's weight in gold sometimes! Have fun!

I wonder how hometown83 is doing?

I just got back from the Yellowstone area myself, but
I did not run into him.

My trip was 8,252 miles, 23 states and 2 oceans.

Most important thing to take a little pack of tissue for those unexpected detours behind a tree. Mother nature call call at the most crazy times. Don't pass no gass drinking the different waters in the areas that you will be traveling in. Don't need the squishy feeling out in the middle of BFE

My trip was 8,252 miles, 23 states and 2 oceans.
So, where's YOUR thread? Did I miss it?

--Chris

I wonder how hometown83 is doing?

I just got back from the Yellowstone area myself, but
I did not run into him.

My trip was 8,252 miles, 23 states and 2 oceans.


Welcome back Decman

Don't need the squishy feeling out in the middle of BFE

Ha, you said BFE....think I've been there a time or 3!:doh

So, where's YOUR thread? Did I miss it?

--Chris

werd! there should be lots to see and tell! how bout it.

I will, I will, I just need some time.