The first mistake rider makes when taking their bike on a long haul ride is to apply the same tips as they would use when driving a car. Unfortunately, this rarely works out well.

There are some times when it’s important for a rider to be aware of the differences and limitations between a car and a motorbike. One of these times is when you are planning for a long haul ride or a road trip.

Planning for a Great Road Trip on Your Bike

Ace Hi Oil knows just how important it is for riders to stay safe and sane on long haul rides and has prepared some tips below to help you plan.

Why Ride Alone?

Half the fun of a road trip is the social aspect, where you and your friends can talk about the sights you have seen and the roads you’re driving on. Not only is this part of the fun, but it’s also part of the safety. When you are thinking about a bike road trip, ask around to your friends or family members and find other bike owners who are interested in enjoying the adventure with you. And while you won’t be able to chat and laugh with them as you ride, each time that you all stop to give your legs a stretch and to refresh, you will have lots to talk about.

Taking a Break to Stretch Your Legs

A car is a comfortable way to travel over long distances. There’s just no doubt about it. A motorcycle on the other hand, well, isn’t. This isn’t to say that you can’t travel long distances on a bike, it just means that you need to be realistic about just how long you can both travel during a day and between stops. After all, enjoying a soda or some snack food while you drive doesn’t mean that you have to pull over and stop. On a bike, however, it doesn't. Once you have chosen a destination, take a look at your route and find places where you and your friends can safely pull over to take a break. When doing this, don’t just look for regular places, spend a bit of time and locate places where you can enjoy a small walk, do some exploring, or even check out a small town, and really get the most out of your break. Click here to buy 20W-50 Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil to help keep your bike performing well on a long haul ride. A synthetic oil change before you ride is a quick and easy way to help get the most out of your ride. To find out more or for help finding the right product for you, speak with a friendly expert at Ace Hi Oil at (888) 459-9958 or check out the online store.

Don’t Ignore the Weather

A car has a roof. It also has doors and windows. Combined, these mean that you don’t really have to worry too much about the weather forecast when planning a road trip in a car. In fact, many times the car’s numerous climate control features can make you forget entirely that there’s bad weather. On a bike, however, there’s no forgetting. It’s just you and the weather. If the weather forecast for the day of your trip shows some problematic weather, don’t cancel your trip, just look at your route and find places where you and your friends can stop and wait out the weather. For example, if a town you are passing through is expecting a storm, plan to stop either just before it to enjoy some lunch or to make it there before the storm hits and wait it out at a local cafe.

Don’t Get Bored Between Breaks

The radio can be a great way to build the mood of a road trip and to also keep you alert and engaged. Unfortunately, radio stations aren’t going to be available everywhere you ride and there’s no guarantee that you will find the music you enjoy. Of course, it’s also worth remembering that you can’t simply change stations while you ride as you would in a car. Instead of the radio, use your preferred music streaming app to create a range of playlists, such as cruising music for when you are riding through scenery, upbeat music to keep you alert, and a list of your favorites you can sing to. Even better, download these playlists offline on your home wifi so that you can enjoy them even if you don’t have cell reception. Once you have these sorted, head to an electronics or gadget store and pick up a good-quality Bluetooth earpiece. In particular, one which can integrate with your phone’s assistant and music player. With this in place, you can change music, listen to and respond to texts, along with taking and making calls, all without the need to use your hands.

Give Your Bike a Synthetic Oil Change in Fort Worth, TX

Don’t discount the benefits of giving your bike a quick and easy synthetic oil change in Fort Worth, TX before you ride. Not only can it help to keep your bike performing admirably along the way, but it can also work to reduce engine wear. To find out more, speak with Ace Hi Oil today at (888) 459-9958.