Motorcycle Trip Planning: From a One-Day Ride to Months on the Road

Motorcycle trip planning comes down to five decisions: what kind of trip it is, which roads you'll take, how far you'll ride each day, what the bike will carry, and what you need to check before you leave. Get those right and the rest is details. This hub gives the short version of each decision and then points you to the Margumi guide that covers it in full.

New to all of this? Start with our step-by-step guide on how to plan a motorcycle trip.

Key takeaways- Plan around hours, not miles. A rider handbook says experienced riders seldom ride more than about six hours a day and should get off the bike at least every two hours.- Phone navigation needs a backup. Google Maps offline areas only guide you if your whole route is inside the downloaded area.- Load the bike low and forward, and keep the two sides even.- Check tires, fluids, lights, chain or belt and controls before every ride.

Start with the kind of trip

The trip's length decides most of the plan: how much you carry, how far ahead you book, and how much the bike needs before you go.

The planning focus column is our editorial summary, not a rule from any agency. If this is your first trip of more than one day, read how to plan a motorcycle road trip as a beginner and a beginner's guide to motorcycle touring.

Route and navigation

Most riders build the route in a navigation app and then carry a backup, such as offline maps or paper. Google Maps lets you save an area for offline use, but it only guides you if the whole route is inside that area, and you get no traffic info or alternate routes offline. Google's two-wheeled routing is listed for about 40 countries; the United States, Canada and European countries are not among them.

For scenic roads in the US, the federal America's Byways program points travelers to maps, directions and visitor information for designated routes.

• Choosing a planning tool: how to choose a motorcycle trip planning app, motorcycle trip planner apps: features to compare and how to choose a motorcycle trip planner
• Paper and digital maps: choosing a map for a motorcycle trip

Daily distance and rest

Plan the day in riding hours. The California DMV motorcycle handbook says experienced riders seldom ride more than about six hours a day and should take rest breaks, getting off the bike at least every two hours. Fatigue also builds faster in long cold rides, which can cause chill, dehydration and numbness.

How many miles that means depends on your roads. Six hours on interstate covers far more ground than six hours on mountain switchbacks. The long-trip guide linked above shows how to build rest days into a multi-week plan.

Packing and loading the bike

Whatever luggage you use, remember that most motorcycles aren't designed to carry much cargo. Keep the load low, place it over or in front of the rear axle, and balance the weight between saddlebags. Stop and check it regularly, because loads work loose.

• What to bring: motorcycle trip packing list and motorcycle road trip essentials checklist
• How to load it: how to pack a motorcycle for a trip
• Printable version: motorcycle trip checklist for download and printing
• Sleeping outdoors: the complete guide to motorcycle camping

Bike and rider checks before you leave

The California handbook's pre-ride check covers tires (pressure, wear, tread), fluids, lights, turn signals, battery, brake light, chain or belt, and kickstand, followed by clutch, throttle and mirrors once you're seated. With a heavy load, set tire pressure and suspension to the recommended settings for the weight. Incorrect loading and tire pressure are common causes of wobble.

Step-by-step checks are in motorcycle trip checklist: what to check before you leave and how to prepare for a motorcycle road trip.

Riding with a passenger or a group

A passenger changes the plan. The bike responds more slowly and needs a longer distance to stop, so you ride a little slower and leave more space. For group riding, groups larger than four or five riders should split into smaller groups, and everyone should know the route, with frequent stops planned on long rides.

Budget

A trip budget usually covers fuel, beds, food and fees. Fees are the easiest to pin down: a US resident annual national parks pass costs $80, and the non-resident pass covers the holder plus passengers on two motorcycles. For a worked example of a classic route, see how much a Route 66 motorcycle trip costs.

More ways to plan

• How to plan a road trip by motorcycle
• Touring on a cruiser motorcycle
• How to start a motorcycle trip blog
• Where to go: motorcycle touring destinations around the world

Gear for the trip

Pick riding gear for the worst weather on your route, not the average. Protective clothing helps even in heat because it prevents dehydration and wind burn.

If you need gear, Leather Collection motorcycle riding gear covers cowhide jackets, pants, chaps, vests, gloves and boots, made to order with custom sizes. See also motorcycle touring gear and packing essentials.

Related guides

• For rain, heat, cold and wind on the road, see our guide to motorcycle riding in bad weather.

FAQ

What is the best motorcycle trip planner? It depends on what you need: curvy-road routing, offline use, or sharing with a group. The app guides listed under Route and navigation compare features rather than naming a winner.

Does Google Maps have a motorcycle route planner? Google lists two-wheeled routing for about 40 countries and regions, mostly in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The US, Canada and European countries are not on that list.

What is the 12-second rule on a motorcycle? Riders use it to mean how far ahead to look. We haven't checked a primary source for the 12-second figure itself. The California handbook tells riders to look at least 10 to 15 seconds ahead.