Road Trip On The New Vulcan..How Far?

[mrfuni]

Question and looking for advice.
One of the reasons for moving up to the Nomad was to take longer trips. Longest trip I've taken on my Honda Aero 1100 was 250 miles in one day. What would be a reasonable expectation for miles in a day on the '07 Nomad? I'm in Florida thinking about heading north into Georgia and most of the riding will be highway/interstate. Bike is stock with a gel/sheepskin pad. Weather should be nice for riding.
Appreciate any suggestions and advice. Thanks ... Joe

[blowndodge]

you should be able to ride that Nomad as far as you want. I'm gettin older so I'm not into riding past 4-500 miles in a day. You won't find any more comfortable ride so only your butt is the limiting factor.

[flightdoc]

Wife and I rode 350+ miles in one day this past August. It was pushing the limit for us. 250 is about our range, comfortably. I personally have ridden more than 10 hours in a day, many time, many years ago. If we need to push it then we try to leave early so we can stop several times along the way. I like to stretch my legs about every hour.

[Top Cat]

I have ridden 2-up with Cindy and gone 400 miles. As BD said your butt will be the determining factor. The Nomad is capable of going a lot further than the human body can. :)

[rlfaubion]

400 miles is a long day for us, but doable. 250 is good, but a little short. As long as you can take it will determine your mileage

[trip]

Everyone that has posted so far is right, mrfuni....your daily mileage really is determined by how your butt and body feel.

The highest mileage day that I've had so far is 480 miles.....from Moab, UT to Taos, NM...and that was through mountains, rain, cold and partially at night. My butt felt fine the whole trip, but my body was a little tired.

[dui546]

I made the journey from Virginia Beach, VA to North Western PA and the trip was a little over 430 miles. I only stopped for the cause, coffee with ice cubes, and the cause again. That gave me a total of a little over 860 miles in less than 3 days. I rested my butt on the 2nd in my fathers hot tubb. AND...I definitely needed some spa time in my own hot tubb after I got to the homestead. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

HOWEVER, the ride was awesome and I look forward to doing longer journeys with less distance per day and a couple of overnight stays without a time restraint.

[waterman]

As everyone has said this is a much better ride than many motorcycles. I have put on more than 400 miles in a day without much issues other than stopping about every 100 miles to massage the posterity. ::) This next year I will probably go on a couple of trips that will require 500 to 600 miles in a day. However, much of that will be on the interstate at 80+.

[dank]

This bike is amazing for touring. I've gone over 400 miles in one day with my wife. Nice day with a lunch picnic. We stopped because we got where we were going, not because we felt we had to. Last summer I rode my Nomad distances of 480 up to 760 miles on 4 consecutive days. Have gone over 600 many times. It gets tiring by the end of a 600 or 700 mile day, but so does driving a car. It is a great distance bike. Kawasaki designed the ergonomics and seat extremely well. Highway pegs help so you can vary your leg position. So does advil. I do find the head buffeting gets tiring on the longer days at 75 mph.

Had a Concours, which has a longstanding reputation for Iron Butt Rallies. Also rode it 700 miles+ several times. I prefer the Nomad for those distances.

[rcashell]

1500 miles in 5 days this fall. One day was 13 hours including stops. At about 160-200 miles per tank, rest stops and scenery stops, you should be taking breaks about every 3 hours or so.

[Todd]

My record is 527 miles in one day, riding 2up with my wife. (9:30AM to about 11:30PM) Very little highway or interstate and mostly in the Western NC mountains.

The previous day went a little over 250 the same way.

It was a little long but not bad at all. I dont find the seat as uncomfortable as some on here have. It's the most comfortable motorcycle seat I have had.

I think 300-350/day is a nice daytrip.

[mrfuni]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and comments. I have a 630 mile trip planned, and haven't decided to break it up or try it straight through. Joe

[dank]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and comments. I have a 630 mile trip planned, and haven't decided to break it up or try it straight through. Joe

Just go for it: you'll probably get there and wish you could keep riding, but set it up so you can stop if you find you feel like it and are ready to quit. This is supposed to be fun after all. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[bobzinger]

The longest I've done in a day was 452 and it was easy miles. But I take a 200-350 mile ride almost every month with our motorcycle fellowship.
You'll need a more comfortable seat for all day riding though.

I've ridden over 500 in a day But I like the 3-400 mile days. Gives you plenty of time to take breaks and enjoy the scenery and travel during daylight hours.

[naugaman]

Then I take it from reading how many miles people travel in a day that you would not want to ride with me. I typically push 650 miles in a day. I stop every 120 miles for gas and back on the road. The longest day I had was 800+ miles. I was still feeling really good and was thinking of completing the Iron Butt run. But it was dark and I was alone so I pulled off the road.

My wife likes the gel pad when she rides. I tried the beads but after a couple of days, they got old. I am just back to the stock seat and seem to enjoy it.

[mrfuni]

I guess we can drift this thread into:

"How many miles did you ride in a day."

[naugaman]

I think you can see from the posts, the Nomad can be put to the test and do very well. I expect a lot out of my bike and I am well pleased. You will enjoy riding your 07 mrfuni.

[blowndodge]

This bike is amazing for touring. I've gone over 400 miles in one day with my wife. Nice day with a lunch picnic. We stopped because we got where we were going, not because we felt we had to. Last summer I rode my Nomad distances of 480 up to 760 miles on 4 consecutive days. Have gone over 600 many times. It gets tiring by the end of a 600 or 700 mile day, but so does driving a car. It is a great distance bike. Kawasaki designed the ergonomics and seat extremely well. Highway pegs help so you can vary your leg position. So does advil. I do find the head buffeting gets tiring on the longer days at 75 mph.

Had a Concours, which has a longstanding reputation for Iron Butt Rallies. Also rode it 700 miles+ several times. I prefer the Nomad for those distances.

Do you have the oversized lowers dank? If not you won't have any helmet buffeting at 90. That made the buffeting almost completely disappear for me. Helmet buffeting is the last reason Iwould need to stop now, not one of the first like before.

[dantama]

To the original poster, I would plan a stop half way on your 600 plus day. That way if you aren't feeling up to a long day you already have a stop planned, if you feel good, you can cruise right past it to the final destination.

I ride long rides. I've done 900 plus days. I did those on my 1500 Nomad with the smaller tank. My butt needed a break that often anyway, so I'm not to concerned about having a larger tank.

For me, the most problematic thing about the long days (other than the butt) is staying awake. I've had a hard time staying awake while riding on those long ones.

Staying alert while on a bike is imperative, and starting to doze off is not good from a safety standpoint, there fore I try to usually only go about 500 miles.

350 miles is my day trip ride. When I leave the house and go up in the mountains and back, I usually do about 350 miles. On trips I do longer.

My longest multi day trip was 3,800 miles in 8 days.

The real limiting factor, assuming the wife isn't with you, is how long will it still be enjoyable, and you'll be alert enough to be safe.

[Todd]

Then I take it from reading how many miles people travel in a day that you would not want to ride with me. I typically push 650 miles in a day. I stop every 120 miles for gas and back on the road. The longest day I had was 800+ miles. I was still feeling really good and was thinking of completing the Iron Butt run. But it was dark and I was alone so I pulled off the road.

My wife likes the gel pad when she rides. I tried the beads but after a couple of days, they got old. I am just back to the stock seat and seem to enjoy it.

I'll ride with ya!! I just normally stay off the roads that I can make much speed on. Looking forward to the Rally(s)...hope to be able to have a few that will ride to and from (and maybe from one to the other) http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[ds06nomad]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and comments. I have a 630 mile trip planned, and haven't decided to break it up or try it straight through. Joe

Along with what everyone else has attested to regarding the Nomad's willingness and ability to take LONG daily rides, and the butt factor.... the only other contingent will be the seat itself. Iron butt riders can handle hundreds of miles a day in the stock seat; others of us need an upgraded seat.

As for 630 miles in a day. That's a lot. Maybe have a Plan A and a Plan B in case the ride or rider gets weary and or sore. Hopefully, there's no hurry and having no urgent time schedule affords you the opportunity to cruise lazily and enjoy the ride and sights more. Drink it in and ride safely!

Daryl

[unwind2]

Been to Ontairio Canada from TN summer before last and last summer to Lake George,NY for Americade and up to Niagra Falls (even though been through there the previous summer - went with another couple who had not been there). 2500 round trip travel time.

We normally drive 8-9 am until 5-6 pm occasionally longer. No problem on the Nomad. I have the stock seat but on road trips I put a sheep skin on the seat (think its called a but buffer).

[michiganmike]

I've ridden 636 miles in one day, and it was a 15 hour day, because much of it was 2 lane back roads going 55 MPH or less. I had many stops for gas, meals, and sitting on the shore of Lake Michigan. It's not just the distance, but also the time, and the speed you ride at. I hurt when I got home because the last 200 miles were on the expressway at 80-85 MPH in heavy but fast moving traffic. That was stressful. My trip this summer will be back roads to South Dakota and I am planning on no more than 425 miles per day to get there. If I was doing all expressway, I would have no problem doing 600 miles per day.

[rflnomad]

We did about a 350 - 400 ride with no problems. As others mentioned, the limit is the seat/your butt is the factor. We are 157.3 miles from our garage to the Daytona Speedway entry and we are just getting warmed up when we get there! That is the great thing about the Nomad. What a great road bike.

[quote:pyzimcgp]Then I take it from reading how many miles people travel in a day that you would not want to ride with me. I typically push 650 miles in a day. I stop every 120 miles for gas and back on the road. The longest day I had was 800+ miles. I was still feeling really good and was thinking of completing the Iron Butt run. But it was dark and I was alone so I pulled off the road.

My wife likes the gel pad when she rides. I tried the beads but after a couple of days, they got old. I am just back to the stock seat and seem to enjoy it.

I'll ride with ya!! I just normally stay off the roads that I can make much speed on. Looking forward to the Rally(s)...hope to be able to have a few that will ride to and from (and maybe from one to the other) http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif[/quote:pyzimcgp]

I'm planning on that Todd. I was serious when I said I was planning on hitting the Mid West Rally too. I plan on forging ahead from West Virginia and make way over to Arkansas. Is that what you're planning as well? BTW, I've ridden around 400 miles in one day.

[mrclean]

My girlfriend and i did 1500 miles around the UP of Michigan this fall in 4 days. Have done a few 400 mile day rides to go to our favorite dinner place. A 350 average day is a comfortable day for me. Stopping about every 85 to 110 miles for a stretch.

[dank]

[quote author=dank board=general thread=1197316517 post=1197320116]

Do you have the oversized lowers dank?

No, I don't. They are on my project list for this winter. I appreciate the comments, suggestions, and reviews you and several others have made about them. Never would have occurred to me that they could solve the problem otherwise. I'll have them on when riding season returns next March or April. (Hoping it is March.)

[dogdoc]

So far 360 in one day in July heat, I prefer 250 or so since age is a factor, you sprouts will SEE!

[oledawg]

michiganmike about summed it up. It all depends on the roads,speed,and traffic and in my case I guess age plays some part. My wife & I are pretty comfortable with 250 to 350mi. day's traveling on secondary roads, as we enjoy speeds between 50 & 70mph to take in the sights & sounds. For us its more the journey than the destination. I've also found that for me NOTHING beats a SHEEPSKIN for comfort. They don't look good but they do the job better than anything I've tried over the years. Like Mike I don't like the Superslabs, but sometime there almost a necessity. We love to take pictures and sample the cusine whenever the opertunity presents,and secondary roads offer more of that opertunity. And we really don't set out with any mi. plan, only a sketchy idea of a destination. I kinda like that freedom when riding. Follow the Sun, Enjoy the Journey,Enjoy the Ride!

[cactusjack]

My longest thus far (bought bike in late Sept) was 359 miles from Phoenix to Showlow and back, a big loop. Next summer, I'm planning a Phoenix to Salt Lake City trip. That's about 700 miles each way. I figured I'd break it up and do it in 2 days up and 2 days back, with a few days in between to visit family and friends.

[ringadingh]

Ive done a few 4-500 mile days and by then my ass is telling me its had enough, Moral is, you don't have to be a brain to be the boss, just an ass.

[dogdoc]

I agree Ole Dawg, with the sheepskin and the philosphy of riding.

[ponch]

I've done 400 miles in a day, and the only caveat I will give is that if the seat bothers you at all, it only gets worse. The only way to find out is ride. A rider on the Delphi board, Fart, fixed the seat himself, which is the cheaper way out:
http://fart-10dollorfix.blogspot.com/

I may do this myself.


Question and looking for advice.
One of the reasons for moving up to the Nomad was to take longer trips. Longest trip I've taken on my Honda Aero 1100 was 250 miles in one day. What would be a reasonable expectation for miles in a day on the '07 Nomad? I'm in Florida thinking about heading north into Georgia and most of the riding will be highway/interstate. Bike is stock with a gel/sheepskin pad. Weather should be nice for riding.
Appreciate any suggestions and advice. Thanks ... Joe

[bobzinger]

That's kind of what I did to my stock seat, but changed out the foam to med weight memory foam. It was much better than stock...but when I had the bucks I still bought a Russell.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd60/bobzinger/foamseat1.jpg

[ponch]

How did you staple the cover back on? Fart is an upolsterer by trade, so he had an air powered stapler. Can you use a regular staple gun? I imagine the russell is very good...



That's kind of what I did to my stock seat, but changed out the foam to med weight memory foam. It was much better than stock...but when I had the bucks I still bought a Russell.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd60/bobzinger/foamseat1.jpg