Planning the Perfect Touring Motorcycle Road Trip

One of the best ways to explore the wonderful outdoors is to head out on a cross-country road trip on a BMW® touring motorcycle. The large network of highways and interstates that span the country makes long-distance travel easy. If this sounds appealing to you, it’s time to start planning your trip! If you’re not sure where to start, keep reading to see our tips below for a successful touring motorcycle trip.

Plan Your Route 

If you’re taking a shorter journey, being spontaneous can work just fine. You can hop on your bike and go wherever the road takes you. However, with a cross-country motorcycle tour, some planning is necessary. You’ll need to coordinate food, housing, gas, tourist destinations, and more. It’s nearly impossible for all those details to fall into place at the last minute, so planning ahead will help you make the most of your trip.

You should brainstorm all the destinations you hope to hit on your trip. Are there any special restaurants you want to eat at? Are there some hiking trails you want to try out? Once you figure out all the spots you want to go to, find a route that’s the quickest, most scenic, or a mix of them both!

After planning your riding route, you’ll want to figure out lodging options. It’s important to reserve your spot in advance, so you don’t have to worry about where you’re sleeping for the night.

Pre-Trip Inspection

Before heading out, you should conduct a pre-ride inspection of your touring bike. This means checking the different aspects of your motorcycle to ensure everything is good to go and your trip is going to be a safe one. Check tire pressure and tread, fluids, lights, brakes, throttle, and more. If you notice anything unusual, you’ll need to take your touring motorcycle to a service department for repairs.

Take Breaks

Your BMW touring bike may be capable of riding non-stop for hours, but you aren’t! Riding your motorcycle will take a toll on your body. Your muscles may cramp up and get sore or stiff. You may zone out when you're riding as you experience highway hypnosis. All these problems decrease comfort and compromise your ability to ride safely. You can prevent these issues by taking regular breaks.

If you’re looking to buy a touring motorcycle, be sure to visit Wooly's Cycles in Marietta, GA, to see what we’ve in stock. We welcome all our patrons visiting us from Atlanta and Kennesaw.