The Motorcycle Tourists Guide
THE MOTORCYCLE TOURISTS GUIDE
SELECTING A TOURING MOTORCYCLE
IF YOU PLAN TO USE the bike you have, the problem of selecting a machine for' touring is already solved. But for those who plan to buy a machine, or trade in the old one, the following points might be worth considering. A little thought beforehand assures greater satisfaction later. SIZE
First, determine what size motorcycle is best for your needs. Most experienced touring riders would recommend a fairly large bike and some would say the bigger the better. This doesn't mean if you don't have a 1,200cc twin you should stay home. Amazing distances have been covered on small machines; New York to Mexico City on a motor scooter, for example. You can go just about anywhere on a lightweight, if you have the patience to sit until you get there. However, touring on a little bike does present problems. On a small machine, about 200 miles per day is all you can take. On a large bike, you can cover great er distances with less fatigue. Since a small motorcycle can't keep up with highway traffic, the ride~.M~ouId equip his little job with a large rear view mirror, keep one eye on the mirror and the other on the road ahead, and he prepared at all times to dive for the shoulder to avoid becoming a hood ornament on a Detroit road yacht. Some states have laws against the use of underpowered machines on high-speed roads. In this age of freeways and turn pikes, it is difficult to avoid these express ways while traveling cross-country. As well as lack of power, space for carrying lug gage is a problem on a small bike, and baggage may have to he limited to the very minimum.
HORSEPOWER
Even moderately large machines can, at times, suffer from a lack of horsepower on a trip. The top speed of the model may approach 100 mph in a road test article; but take the same bike when it's a little old and out of perfect tune, add wind shield, sleeping bag and saddle bags -then ride it up a long grade into a stiff head wind. Under these conditions, if you don't have a generous supply of cubic inches, forward progress becomes an un comfortable strain on both machine and rider. For real hauling power, it's hard to beat cubic inches. This doesn't mean you have to have the largest machine on the market, but it's best to have a bike with a top speed of 25 mph or more above the desired `cruising speed, so you won't have to cruise wide open. Few vehicles are de signed to run at full throttle for long periods of time without trouble, and it adds to safety to have reserve power in case of an emergency.
ECONOMY
You may wish to consider economy of operation before you decide on a particular bike. Some motorcycles are known to have a thirst for gas equal to that of a small car, while others are noted for their dainty appetites. As a general rule, the more horsepower you have, the more it costs to feed those horses. Fuel expense isn't the only cost of owning a motorcycle. The larger the machine, the higher the insur ance rates. You may wish to buy with depreciation and trade-in value in mind. The price of parts for some brands seems unreasonable. Checking on this before you buy might later save you the shock of hav ing to pay $25 for a piston or $10 for a gas cap. Also, selecting a bike with a com pletely enclosed rear chain or shaft drive will save you the cost of having to spend $12 or $14 for a new rear chain every 10,000 miles.
COMFORT
Choose your touring mount with com fort in mind, particularly if you plan to take extended trips. On a long trip you may be sitting in the saddle 10 hours a day for a number of days, so the degree of comfort is important. It's an advantage if the machine is large enough to allow some moving about on the seat to change your position. Another aid to comfort is a soft, wide saddle, particularly if you don't have much natural padding where you sit. Check the suspension. Some motorcycles have suspension so soft that you don't feel fully in control. Others, particularly older machines, have suspension too stiff for comfort. A large, vibration-free engine that cruises without excessive rpm gives one the feeling that all is well in the engine room and adds to the enjoyment of the trip. Give a bike as long a test ride as possible before making up your mind to buy. Be cautious about accepting someone's word on the touring comfort of a particular model, as one man's easy chair may be another man's torture rack. Also, some riders become emotionally identified with their favorite brand of horsepower, and would rather fight than admit it has any shortcomings.
ACCESSORIES, PARTS, SERVICE
Check to see if touring equipment is available for the machine you have in mind. Some motorcycle manufacturers cater to touring riders and market a complete line of touring accessories such as windshields, saddle bags, carriers and seats of various sizes — all designed to bolt on their bikes.
GEORGE HAYS
Want to get out of the daily rut? The job, the boss, the stress of city life wit/i its stop hg/its, exhaust fumes and bum per to bumper traffic? Are you the type who complains you've never been anywhere, never really done anything? Then why not take a trip? Not just aiiot/ier trip in a car, viewing scenery framed by door posts and glass, but a ,eal adventure - a trip on a motorcycle!
Look back on your past life. What cx periences have you rca/h' enjoyed? What stands out in your memory as being worthwhile? Chances are, if you are a motorcycle tourist, you have a wealth of pleas ant memories of tile trips you have taken. Motorcycle touring has a therapeutic value. Being imprisoned day after day in a s/lop or office does something to one's spirit. There is no better way to restore your zest for living than to trade daily frustrations and cares for a mechanical flying carpet that enables you to skim OVCr tile landscape Willie enjoying the sun and fresil air. You return to tile job so re fres/led tilat you ilave trouble relnenlher ing what it it'as you left to forget.
Part of tile fascination of touring by tnoto,-cvcIe lies in its economy. it would be difficult to find a less expensive way of covering large distances in a limited amount of time, particularly if you camp out along the way. Having to feed a four wheeled sludge pump huge quantities of gas every few hours takes the fun out of a trip. A motorcycle, on the other hand, has a small appetite; you can travel for little more than it costs to stay at home.
Inveterate in otorcycle tourists have been known to choose their jobs and wives and otherwise arrange their lives to allow for the habit. They appear reasonably normal during winter, but, wit/i the coming of warm weather, tile addicts are easy to spot. They get a far-off look in their eyes. They can't seem to concentrate on the job. They also start acting a little like caged animals seeking escape, and are then known to disappear for long periods of time . . .
Having decided to give it a try, where does one go to learn the techniques of louring by motorcycle, since literature on the subject of motorcycles is devoted chiefly to competition? A few riders are fortunate enough to have an experienced friend who will take the time to guide their first ventures. But most have to learn the hard way, by trial and error. It is hoped that the techniques suggested in the following series will serve to answer questions and help solve problems that beginners, as well as experienced touring riders, face.
Riding a rare or unusual motorcycle is fun; but for long-distance touring, it might be a good idea to have one of the more popular machines. If you break down far from home and have to send overseas for the necessary parts, your trip is spoiled.
On the other hand, if you ride a popular brand, parts are usually obtainable in the nearest city, and in case of a breakdown,
you could be back on the road in a day or two. Also, it's convenient to have a dealer close to home who is well stocked with parts for your particular machine. It can become aggravating over a period of time to travel 50 miles, or wait for a mail order every time you need a part.
If you have a choice, select the largest available gas tank for your touring mount.
It's difficult to make good time on the road if you have to stop and fill an undersized tank every hour or two. You may travel in areas where gas stations are few and far between, so try to obtain a tank that will give you a cruising range of 200 miles or more.
In any case, don't forego touring because you don't have the perfect machine.
No bike is perfect, and there is no fun like touring on a motorcycle, even though it may not be the best one on the market.
In summation, the following check list might help you select your touring bike.
1. Does the machine have sufficient horsepower for your needs?
2. Do you feel comfortable on the model in question?
3. Is the bike sufficiently large to carry the desired amount of baggage?
4. Are parts, service and touring accessories conveniently available?
5. Is the machine reasonably economical to own and operate?
(To be continued next month.)
