www.zxrworld.co.uk

Next year me and a few mates have a nice little trip planned - Misano via Geneva to watch the motoGP on the ZXR

I'm aware I'll likely need hip and/or wrist replacements given it's close to a 2500 mile round trip in 5/6 days and we'll be camping but this should be the trip of a lifetime. Unsure if I'll have a pillion yet, one of my mates certainly will but I'm hoping to avoid it.

Just thought I'd share. And feel free to offer any advice on long distance riding (I've done 200-300 odd miles in a day before but never this sort of distance)

i managed just over 500miles on back roads and some motorways, depending on your height and weight its really not comfortable, so get as much padding for your butt as you can, consider buying a seat of ebay and taking it to a place to get it made into a "touring seat" so loads more padding and support.

it will kill your wrists and back too so take some decent pain meds. if you can strap the weight to the bike do it, only take stuff on your back if absolutely necessary.

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Get out of your pit early..............and get 100 miles done before breakfast

Avoid stopping if at all possible if you do then multi task fuel food fag drink stretch legs all in one stop


Don't choose a daily destination for an overnight stop.........................pick a time of day for stopping say 6pm.................and stay in the first campsite/hotel you come to....................I well remember wasting hours looking for a specific campsite and riding past others in the process.
Make the trip more of an adventure


French motorways are not as expensive as some think but stick to speed limits the cops can use the tolls to monitor your speed you might find that nearer the race meeting tolls for bikes are free.

Any left turn is the dangerous one in Europe especially for those who are from UK and are used to riding on the right. Take extra care at ANY left turn. You natural reaction is to look the wrong way

Avoid wearing jocks with any kind of big seam................it will hurt after 500/600 miles......................lycra is your friend.

Eat in local cafes and restaurants avoid the big international fast food joints.....................you'll never get to enjoy the local delicacies.

Tell people your Irish cos nobody like you English in Europe. (joke with a hint of truth)

There are certain legal requirements regarding your bike and what you must carry in some countries check before you go.

get some break down insurance

Oh and for the record I've toured all over Europe on sports bikes.............including one that won Superbike Mag award for most uncomfortable seat 10 years running..............been to Poland Portugal East Germany Italy France West Germany Switzerland Hungary Andorra Spain Austria Holland Belgium Lichtenstein Luxembourg and just about everywhere else in between

excellent advice so far chaps

get some heated grips if its going to be cold ive got a set on mine, picked them up for £15 at the bmf and they work fine. I siffer from a bad back and have done for the last 3 years, you wouldn't believe the meds im on, but when doing long journeys try sitting forward and just rest you left arm on the tank and relax your right wrist on motorways, means you can sit up straighter and doesnt put your back into spasm. if i can sit up straight like that at 5'6 then you probably should be able to. As banner said, take some decent pain meds, pm me if you want to know how to get the best out of otc ones, and take some voltarol gel, theyve just brought out a 2.32% one and its brilliant for aches and pains. may be worth getting some neoprene supports for your wrists and knees. Ive had multiple breaks and once out of casts the joint is stiff as anything so i used to sleep in a neoprene support as it keeps the joint warm and stops it seizing

as it happens i'm on a nerve pain killer (gabapentin 300mg 3x a day) anyway from my crash a couple of years ago so that might be helpful...

Ive not tried one, but you might want to try a throttle wrist grip? Its supposed to reduce wrist strain on long journeys?

Wasn't even aware such things existed. Ta

Tell people your Irish cos nobody like you English in Europe. (joke with a hint of truth)

Best advice ive heard for a long time

Gabapentin im finding does nothing, you can buy diclofenac tablets OTC, they could help, wouldn't help me mind, say a painkiller and ive probably tried it/on it, I rattle when I walk, feel like a pharmacy

Works wonders for me. Everyone is different I guess.

Sends on your reason for pain, if its nerve pain then gabapentin should work well, for me its just stronger and stronger opiates, now on morphine, its stupid at 19 im on this stuff

ross46 wrote: if its nerve pain then gabapentin should work

It is. Try going through the screen with your shoulder... It hurts... lol

Rather not... I'll take your word for it! Worst thing is they dont even know what's wrong with me

Me n baz did 1750 miles in just 3 days. Did around 8hrs solid riding per day

I was on an 04 blade and baz on his. Streetfighter before he went mental with its rebuild.

We handled it well. Id say after the first day my knees started to ache. After 2nd day the thin seat started to ache.

U need to b disciplined. We did 100mile stints which is a managable amount between fuel stops. Had a piss and a stretch then back on it. If u break the journey down into 25 x 100 miles rather than the whole 2500 miles its less intimidating.

Enjoy it. Take it easy. Remember to stretch and rest on the go and it'll fly by

Gem