Possible Long-Distance Ride - any tips?

[bfreed]

So... I've been desperately wanting more time on the Buddy. Suddenly, I'm being sent 200 miles away for work on Monday.

By car, it's 200+ miles and 4 hours. By Google Maps, using "Avoid Highways," I'm looking at 200 miles and 5 hours.
I really want to ride rather than rent a car. I also want to make sure I'm not being naive and/or stupid. I'd rather suck it up and rent a car than: a) get stranded and miss the job, or b) wreck.

Anything in particular that's different on a long ride? I've got "stay alert, don't fall over, and keep an eye on the gas gauge" covered. Any other thoughts?

I'd be going out Monday and returning Friday. On the way out, I can make a stop in my hometown after 90 miles for lunch. The way back would probably be straight through.

[BadBrains]

I recently visited my hometown which was 200 miles and 5 hours round trip. Even though the trip took longer on the scoot than it would have in my truck, it felt like time went by much quicker. Such is the nature of scooting! There was a good 6 hours in between however, so I'm not sure if I'd feel the same way if it was a straight shot.

How many miles do you already have on the Buddy? If it's really early in the break-in period I might be kinda weary of driving for 5 hours straight. For me it was also tough to vary the throttle when all I wanted to do was go 60+! One thing I can add is that you be should sure to bring plenty of water in some kind of jug. This may not be as important depending on the weather up there.

[bfreed]

I'm at 350 miles. Changed out the 1st batch of oil last weekend. Still early enough I won't run WOT the whole time. I think the back road I'm looking at will prohibit that anyway.

Water!! Yes. Thanks. *adds water to packing list*

[jmazza]

If you only have 350 total on the scoot, I'd consider building some breaks into your trip. The longest time I've spent on the Buddy is probably about 2 hours at one time (though it was in city driving, not on a long trip) and it does get a little tiring. The Buddy isn't the smoothest ride.

Another thing to consider is that you'll pass the 500 mile mark on the trip and, according to Genuine, should have your first service (not just an oil change) around that time.

[Piedmont]

You changed the oil, or you had the oil changed? I know it's a point of contention but you may void the warranty on the way out if you don't get a checkup first.

[bfreed]

Yeah, I've been weighing the 500-mile thing in my mind. Thing is, that's a problem for me regardless of whether I do the trip or not. The closest Genuine dealers to me are each 1-1/2 hours away (and not in the direction I'll be headed). So doing the 500 mile service at a Genuine dealer would cost me a day of time and 150-180 miles of travel.

Unless someone knows of a Genuine dealer near Bath, NY. Hmmm... I'll check Genuine's site...

As for the oil - one of my closest friends is a mechanic. We worked on it together (along with upgrading the headlight and looking at the deadlights to running lights w/ turn flashing).

[7eregrine]

I can't imagine doing an oil change prior to your 500 mile service would void the warranty?!? Though I've heard stranger things...

[bfreed]

... nope, no Buddy love in Bath. That sounds awful. lol.

anyhoo...
Anyone know how long the 500-mile service takes? I *could* make a significant detour if it's worth it.
It would add an additional hour of travel, plus the service time.

Honestly, I'm leaning towards putting my faith in the Buddy's reliable reputation. Keep good records of my service checks, and really, really, really hope I don't have to worry about valid warranty or not.

I wish Genuine could put in place something for those of us not blessed with local dealers. My local mechanic doesn't necessarily want to get into the sales business, but he'd have no problem becoming a certified Genuine mechanic, if they allowed such a thing.

But now I'm hijacking my own thread. Any more long-distance riding suggestions?

[Piedmont]

I can't imagine doing an oil change prior to your 500 mile service would void the warranty?!? Though I've heard stranger things...

Nope, but not having it checked out by 500 miles does.

[bunny]

Good cell service in case you get stuck. Phone list of friends along the way or within driving distance of all your points.

car charger for said phone. Propeller to stick to your helmet for passersby amusement and waves. (it always perks me up when people wave or laugh at me!)

iPod. earbuds that will fit inside your helmet.

choolate granola bars (so they won't melt) for snacking along the way.

a sleeping bag in case you HAVE to stop. extra camera card. crayons and roll of plain white paper towels (in case you need to make a sign and/or need to entertain yourself). Roll of TP in case you have to stop where there aren't facilities.

[illnoise]

I've been riding for a long time, and 200 or 250 miles is my limit for a day. But everyone's different, for some people that's nothing. I can't drive long distances in a car, either.

Wear seamless lycra underwear, move around on the seat, usually the worst thing is butt pain. Stand up on the floorboards and air out your butt once in a while. Stop and stretch every 100 miles (gas breaks). Stay hydrated and alert, it's hard for me to not zone out. wear gloves, watch for blisters. Keep your knees together or your legs will get tired. wiggle your feet around to keep the blood moving. Eat healthfully, grease doesn't sit well on long rides, pack sunglasses, blister meds, maybe a coleman fuel canister of extra gas.

Dress in layers. wear good boots and all your safety gear.

Bb.

[krysbrezinski]

iPod. earbuds that will fit inside your helmet.

I'd definitely advise against that--whether you're on a bicycle, motorcycle, or scooter, no one is looking out for you on the road but you. A lot of cars don't know how to act around scooters, and on a long-distance trip especially you'll get a lot of illegal passing at high speeds.

Music blaring in your ears and blocking out warning signals is the last thing you need.

[hcstrider]

I am conservative in my actions so I would rent a car and drive to the work meeting next week. From some of your previous posts I get the impression that your Buddy is relatively new and you are relatively new to scooter/motorcycle riding. If I were in your shoes I would probably want to build up my experience by doing some 25 or 50 mile rides before attempting a 200 mile ride. The shorter rides will give you a chance to build up your riding experience in different types of road conditions and weather conditions, evaluate how you will feel on a long ride and give you a better idea of what type of gear you will need for a long ride (rain suit, tire plug kit, cargo nets, bungie cords, etc…) . This is what I would do because I am conservative but I don’t want to dampen your enthusiasm. If I am incorrect about your experience level, I apologize and if you decide to ride your Buddy on your 200 mile trip, I hope that you have a safe trip.

[charltons]

AWWW MAN, GO FOR IT!!!!!

[Keys]

I put in up to 450 miles on my Buddy in a day. It'll do a splendid job.

--Keys

[don'tmesswithmyscootscoot]

I'm sure this is a no brainer, but drink plenty of water on those stops.

[bfreed]

Thank you all!

Just got the details of the trip, and I'll be able to bill the mileage. So...
50.5 cents per mile. Minus 4.5 cents per mile of Buddy gas = 2 free days of pay. I think I'll give it a shot.

Great suggestions, all
cellphone & charger, check.
cell number of coworkers and friends, check.
Marathon energy bars - wife picking up at store, check.
0.4 gallon of gas in fuel canisters, check.
water bottles, check.
think I'll pass on the music for this one.
a stick-on propeller would be just. awesome. wonder if anyone local carries such a thing... hmmm...
ooh - sleeping bag. good point. I'll have to make space. Thanks.

great tips illnoise - I'll remember to keep moving. I guess once you feel the cramp, it's too late. good to keep in mind.

hcstrider - no need to apologize! The Buddy and I are both pretty new, absolutely. It's a valid point, and that's been weighing on my mind the most. Fortunately, I have taken 3 separate 50-mile round trips in the past 2 weeks.

I think I've got a decent escape plan set up:
I'll leave bright and early, and go 90 miles - meet parents for breakfast.
My coworkers will be leaving the office at 9:30 - if 90 miles is too much, I ditch the scooter and meet up with the coworkers.
If still ok at 90 miles, ride another 110 to the destination. I'll try to stay min. ~30 minutes ahead of the others.
The other 2 guys are carpooling in a big truck. If 200 miles is too much, I strap the scooter in the back and come back in the truck instead of riding.

So it's 400 miles roundtrip, with "safety valves" at 90 and 200, and 3 days off in the middle.

thanks again for all the help

[Perkussion]

I agree. No music device of any kind while riding.
I would never go on a trip like that without
1)a cell phone,
2)a can of fix a flat (wrap in a sock so it doesn't rattle in the front compartment thingie.
I always have a can with me!
3) a good pair of sunglasses (under your FF helmet of course)
4) perhaps a small first-aid kit -band aids, aspirin & maybe one of those
air activated heat pads for sore muscles
5) a fuel bottle for extra gasoline.
http://www.bizrate.com/camping_hikingge ... ottle.html

Wow. I'm talking myself into take a long trip, too...

[StL_Stadtroller]

This should cover about everything right here:

Iron Butt Association's Archive of Wisdom

[bfreed]

Great resource! Thanks

[illnoise]

I'm generally a ATGBPATT safety nerd (All The Gear But Pants All The Time), but I listen to one headphone sometimes, with the iPod tucked in a pocket where I can't reach it and be tempted to mess with it, and the cord tucked inside my jacket so it doesn't get in the way, with "level" check on, and the volume turned pretty low.

for tense situations, it helps me relax a little, and for long trips, it relieves the boredom.

I'm not sure, but I think it's legal in most states to wear it in one ear. They also make "helmet speakers," which would probably actually be MORE intrusive, by nature of their stereoness and loudness.

Make a playlist ahead of time so you don't get a 40-minute-long Einsturzende Neubauten track popping up when you're not in the mood.

[jmazza]

for tense situations, it helps me relax a little, and for long trips, it relieves the boredom.

Agreed. I tend to be more focused with music on in the background. I tend to daydream more without it.

As for Fix a Flat, I seem to remember someone here recommending something better- maybe a tubeless tire patch kit and either a can of air or some type of pump?

[polianarchy]

...I think I've got a decent escape plan set up:
I'll leave bright and early, and go 90 miles - meet parents for breakfast.
My coworkers will be leaving the office at 9:30 - if 90 miles is too much, I ditch the scooter and meet up with the coworkers.
If still ok at 90 miles, ride another 110 to the destination. I'll try to stay min. ~30 minutes ahead of the others.
The other 2 guys are carpooling in a big truck. If 200 miles is too much, I strap the scooter in the back and come back in the truck instead of riding.

So it's 400 miles roundtrip, with "safety valves" at 90 and 200, and 3 days off in the middle.

thanks again for all the help

I think that having a backup contingency plan at 90 miles is wonderful. Try and do the same thing for the return trip home, too. You never know what could happen. Best of luck to you! I hope you enjoy your trip.

In my [very limited] experience with long rides, it takes twice as long to do by scooter what it takes to do by car. For example: Philly/Baltimore by car is 2 hours, but it took us 4 hours each way by scooter.

[sotied]

Same time stretch on this end.

Usually it takes me about 22 minutes to get into the city to grab breakfast with my brother. On the scoot I leave about half an hour early and get there just about the same time as I would have in a cage.

The double equation is probably pretty accurate.

[jrsjr]

I also want to make sure I'm not being naive and/or stupid. I'd rather suck it up and rent a car than: a) get stranded and miss the job, or b) wreck.

Anything in particular that's different on a long ride? I've got "stay alert, don't fall over, and keep an eye on the gas gauge" covered. Any other thoughts?

I'd be going out Monday and returning Friday. On the way out, I can make a stop in my hometown after 90 miles for lunch. The way back would probably be straight through.

Lots of folks have gone 200+ miles on their Buddys. I don't think it'll be a problem at all. I just mention the following because you *must* arrive at your destination as planned. A little common sense goes a long way. You might want to check the weather so you don't end up getting caught in the fiercest T-storm in your State for the last decade. You can't plan ahead on the Weather for Friday, so be prepared to improvise then. It's always a good idea to have some kind of backup plan in the event something goes wrong with the scooter. I carry AAA RV Plus. Some folks have a friend with a trailer. Some folks are prepared to make whatever repairs (flat tire, is one that folks worry about) by the side of the road. It's just a good idea to have some kind of backup plan, just in case.

Mind your way.

-John

[bfreed]

In my [very limited] experience with long rides, it takes twice as long to do by scooter what it takes to do by car...

ooh. Thanks for the heads up. I might need to bump my times.

Do you find that to be true mostly because of route or mostly because of speed? Did Philly to Baltimore take twice as long *on the same roads* or twice as long because you avoided I-95? Sotied - do you take the same route by car and scooter, or is there a route difference too?

If I Google Philly to Baltimore, and then "Avoid Highways," it's showing 3 hours @ car speed. Of course that's center to center - not sure what areas of the cities you rode to/from...

If I already have Google routing along lower-speed roads (making a 4-hour trip into a 5-hour estimate), how much more do you think I should adjust by? If it's going to take 8 hours that might be a deal-breaker. I have to be there, ready to use a shovel by 1:00pm... Dawn is at 5:30... yikes.

[polianarchy]

Do you find that to be true mostly because of route or mostly because of speed? Did Philly to Baltimore take twice as long *on the same roads* or twice as long because you avoided I-95?

Well, that's a good question. We took Route 1 all the way down, and it was essentially city center to city center. I think the speed differential is a function of a combination of slower average speed, alternate route, and frequent rest stops (we stopped every 90 minutes or so).

[bfreed]

Thanks!

Baltimore Pike (assuming you bypassed the highway portions of Route 1 - by Kennett Square, etc.?) all the way is estimating 3.5 hours.
I'll probably stop at similar intervals.

So 3.5 hours >> 4 hours. ~15% speed and breaks penalty.

5hr est. >> 5 hrs, 45 minutes.

Leaving at 6 will give me 7 hours - 6 travel and an hour for breakfast. If I'm more than 20 minutes over Google to breakfast, I'll hit McDonald's instead.

[bfreed]

Man, I miss Philly. Not all the time - but looking at the map... wish I'd have known scooters existed when I was in school there. The bicycle was fun and all, but a scooter would have really made it great!

Or gotten me killed. But I was only hit once while on bike, so I'd probably have been fine...

Maybe someday I'll get the Route 30 itch...

[bfreed]

Of course, we did have 4 bikes and about 8 bike seats disappear from our front porch, despite our best locks. So there is that...

I'll have to go read those "how to lock Buddy up" threads now to see how you guys handle that.

[polianarchy]

@ your multiple postings! You're talking to yourself again, aren't you.

Yeah, I'm like queen bee of the "how do you lock your scooter up" threads here. I have had two bikes stolen from my stoop, been mugged three times, sexually assaulted twice, had an attempted break-in at my old apartment, and --the last time I used SEPTA-- pickpocketted. Every once in awhile, I take a look at the crime map just to freak myself out. Did I mention that I'm looking to move?

In answer to your question, we stayed on Route 1 the WHOLE way, even through Kennett Square. There were eight scooters riding down, so the 60mph road wasn't TOO intimidating en masse. But yeah, I wouldn't do such a thing by myself. And frankly, I learned recently that I'm not cut out for long rides. I get bored. I'm going to check out the feasibility of sticking Pinky Tuscadero in the back of my station wagon. We think all I'll need to do is remove the windshield and mirrors....

[bfreed]

I talk to myself quite a bit. That's how I think we'll survive the trip without music. lol.

That's quite a crime list. Harrisburg's a pretty nice town, if you're looking to relocate. it'd be nice to have a second Buddy around here.

Re: Kennett Square, wow. It'd be nice to ride in a pack.
That makes Google's estimate 3 hrs. >> 33% speed/stop penalty. Ouch.
5 hrs >> 6hrs, 40 min.
Hmmm. Food for thought.

Re: Pinky Tuscadero in wagon - that sounds about right. If it's a full-size wagon, with the rear seats down. The Tangster? Frank? (still working...) fits in a 5' pickup bed with no problem.

Come to think of it, maybe that's an idea. Put Clockwork? in the truck > breakfast. Leave truck at parents', remaining 3 hrs >> 4 hrs.
Kinda defeats the gas mileage thing, but the fun thing would remain. lol.
More food for thought.

[bunny]

Come to think of it, maybe that's an idea. Put Clockwork? in the truck

You named him 'Clockwork!'

I *love* it!

[Alix B]

Long rides are fun.
Being on time can become complicated, but not so much for the route you are on. SOmedays wind really factors into my ETA. As an East Coast girl, I just never experienced 30mph gusts or dust devils for that matter.

I carry a Camel Bak for hydration. You will get thirsty and its nice to have a hands free water system. It also conserves waste if you can fill it up from home instead of buy a plastic bottle each time.

All the advice peeps have given you so far is solid.

I carry nuts also. Peanuts and sunflower seeds. THey give me energy. I never knew sitting on my butt would make me so hungry.
But it does and so I reach for the nuts on a break-keeps me from low blood sugar and keeps me alert. Illinoise is correct, grease is bad.

People can be, mostly, jerks on the road. If it's busy out on the road, with a line of traffic growing behind me and no way for them to pass, AND there is a nice shoulder-I pull over
. Road rage is no joke. THose peeps aren't enjoying the drive as much as we are. Pull over for a quick sec, IF IT'S SAFE and let them move along.

It never ceases to amaze me that people want me for a hood ornament.

I use www.wunderground.com for hourly weather reports. It has a search feature where you can examine weather patterns for the past years. Not that necessary for your ride, but it helped me to realize May was the better time to cross Texas, not JUne.

RIDE ON!

[bfreed]

Thanks, Alix! Glad you're feeling better, BTW. I'm enjoying following your journey - thanks for all the hard work.

I had my CamelBak all loaded and what-not (with my full-face helmet, I don't think I could get a water bottle in there if I wanted to...)

Nuts is a great suggestion. I always take trail mix while hiking - don't know why the idea didn't occur to me for riding. Thanks.

As an update - after a day of buying supplies, and another day of packing and mechanical checks, I get a call just as I'm headed to bed that the trip's postponed indefinitely. Great. Glad I gave up my weekend getting ready. What a disappointing end. Honestly, I almost got up at 5 this morning to go anyway. lol.

I'll leave my bags packed, and hopefully I'll get another shot soon. At least I know my tires are properly inflated and my oil's fresh, and that loose wire is fixed, and my spare gas cannisters are full.
That all needed to be done at some point anyway...

[MikieTaps]

dont forget also that the breakin says to let the engine rest for 10 - 15 min every hour of riding during break in... something to keep in mind. and to answer your questions about 1st service, I have heard people say it takes anywhere from 15 min to an hour. Mine took about 35 min.

[BigColdMartini]

I'm middle-aged and have a little arthritis so I would say that a strong lower back would be needed for a long trip. After 10 miles on my Buddy my lower back is so stiff I can barely get off the seat.

I wonder if some of the gas shocks one can buy for the Buddy would help. However, it seems to be more of the leaning forward rather than the roughness of the ride that gets to me.

Have fun and enjoy your youth because one day you'll be sore too.