Plucking up the courage, how'd you do it?

[Whosthedaddy]

*Bizarre Question Alert*

How did you build up confidence to tour, or even for that matter to go beyond your 'comfort zone'.

Its hard to sometimes get round your mental blocks, but I have one that even effects me to some degree in the car.

Distance.

At the moment my comfort zone falls into a very small radius of maybe 20-30 miles.

The idea of being stranded somewhere in the middle of 'no where' and having to seek help or assistance, running out of fuel, and most of all being lost.

Reading some of the threads on here makes having a bike almost worthwhile for the sense of adventure it can bring, and I want a part of that but at the same time I am freaked out by the thought of it.

What did you do?

Little by little and then longer and longer, or just whole hog and off to Timbucktoo and back first time out?
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Faldo]

Funny you should ask that. I've been planning to go to the Barcelona motogp in June, and yesterday I realised that I've never been further than about 150 miles away from home on my bike, and I'm planning a 4000 mile trip!

So I thought to myself I'll go for ride tonight (last night), as I rarely ride in the wet or on motorways or at night and that it'd probably be a good idea to get some experience of all 3 conditions.

So out came the 7r for the 1st time in ages, after 10 miles on the M6 the wind, hail and sleet started, HARD!! I had no waterproofs on, everything was soaking within minutes, boots were full of water, and hands were stinging etc etc. Then the bike started mis-firing, so I stopped for a cig, turned round and came back. It was hard work, and my hands were in pain from being soaked and have 120 mph cold wind hitting em, but I made it back in one piece.

Not the best ride ever, but still found it fun and it gave me the extra confidence I needed to put my mind at rest that my trip is do-able! I did 150 mile in 2 hours including 3 fuel/ciggy breaks. Also changed my my mind about taking waterproofs when I go, a definate must take!

I know it's a bit of a cliche, but just get out there. So long as ya got breakdown cover and a mobile phone what's the worst that can happen?
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Current: ZZR1400
Previous: ZXR 400 L9, ZX-7R P5, ZZR 400, ZX-7R P6, Bandit 600, GSXR 750 Slingshot, DRZ400, DR650, ZX10R C1H, ZXR 750 L1, ZXR 750 L3, '99 ZX7R P4, KTM 300 EXC, ZX-9R E1, TDM850

[Whosthedaddy]

[Toast]

Four things i've got for my first big trip are

Sat nav Mobile phone
Map of the area (just in case batteries fail)
AA cover

and finally the week before i'm going to do some trips starting with a full tank and filling up again when I finish. This should give me a good idea of MPG for the long haul.
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Live long, die old but fulfilled

[Faldo]

Getting lost is the fun part!! I'm sure I'll be getting very lost in France/Spain so considering taking satnav for emergencies as I dont speak foreign languages!

As for tank mileage on the 7r, the most I've had before switching to reserve is 106 miles, but it's usually 100 miles or thereabouts. Scary feeling sometimes on motorway in the outside lane then look down and see I'm on 100 miles!! Quick dive into the inside lane and switch to reserve!

Considering the tank is so fugging big it doesn't hold much does it? I bought a Bandit 600 a few weeks ago which has a smaller tank from the outside, but held £16 of fuel, I normally only manage squeeze about £12 into the 7r.
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Current: ZZR1400
Previous: ZXR 400 L9, ZX-7R P5, ZZR 400, ZX-7R P6, Bandit 600, GSXR 750 Slingshot, DRZ400, DR650, ZX10R C1H, ZXR 750 L1, ZXR 750 L3, '99 ZX7R P4, KTM 300 EXC, ZX-9R E1, TDM850

[Whosthedaddy]

Glad I'm not being paranoid about the tank range then.
____________________
Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Toukakoukan]

I just don't think about it.
I actually learned to ride for the sole purpose of driving to Australia overland :p
I'm well prepared, but I reckon if I truly realised the risks involved I'd be scared witless :p

[Bendy]

[teampots]

in my case when i set off this july to france, i think the most miles i will have done on my bandit will be about a 200 mile round trip so its going to be a shock to my system but i just want to get out and go somewhere.

the only thing that is giving me courage is the fact my parents are backing me on. going by myself so really bricking it tbh
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Current - Fazer 600
Prev - Bandit x2 (Killed) CB400 (Superfour) CBR125
Currently Restoring - Kawasaki S1 250 Triple (Slowly but surely)

[Saul Good]

its not quite france but im planning to get a tent and a stove and heading north on my rxs100 until I get to the top of scotland, my tank has about 110miles range + reserve, I have no breakdown cover and I doubt my phone will work up there, im also going alone.

it might be weird but I kind of want to know what its like to be able to see nothing but hills with night comming in all alone and know im in it atleast till morning!

[roper]

[NSR Mick]

[TheDonUK]

Change your perspective, when i toured spain it was the first time i had ridden abroad, and solo, but i wasent thinking "oh no what if xxx happens", I brought cheap euro breakdown cover and from then on it was this will be great to get away from the craphole that is london.

Look forward to the adventures you will have...

[feef]

'just do it'

My first foreign trip to France was to Normandy.. not very far.. and I'd made longer trips on rideouts round wales.

my first "proper" tour was with the Hippys and others from here, down to Provence, and it was awesome.. not only was it my first proper trip abroad on the bike, but I ended up leading most of the rides..

just fscking do it

a
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Mudskipper wrote: feef, that is such a beautiful post that it gave me a lady tingle
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[ram_doom]

Go to the Scottish highlands, there arent that many roads to get lost on, due to all the hills and mountains
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TL1000s, KDX200

[feef]

[TheDonUK]

Very true feef,

I did the northern highlands on my old GS500, about a 100 mile tank range, there was a few times when i had to cruise aorund in top gear on fumes....

[Whosthedaddy]

[NSR Mick]

[Saul Good]

[alone]

With regards fuel range.. Why not take a small jerry can, run till you hit reserve, then run till it starts to choke and die again. Then you'll have a realistic tank range. The other option is to just check the reserve capacity, and take it as 10miles per litre, which is only 45mpg. Did this when I got the 26l tank for my F650.. Most I've got to so far was about 290miles, had turned to reserve at 270. So long as you do it on roads you know, you'll be fine..

As for trip protection, I'd say; Credit card, breakdown cover, mobile phone, map. None of this pants GPS crap. That's only good for distracting you from the road ahead! and what you gonna do if it breaks? A ripped map can still be read, a crushed GPS is good for nothing!
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Bikes; '06 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (for sale) - '95 BMW R1100GS

[roper]

[PsychoHippy]

I agrewith Roper, take a GPS and a map. A map and written directions are all very good, but they are a right pain in the arse to read in the dark. Whereas a GPS is back lit and speaks to you (so you don't really need to look at it). Maps are great for route planning and asking strangers for directions though, so there is definately a need for both.
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I spend all my money on bikes and beer, the rest I simply waste!

[alone]

You look cooler without a GPS. That's for sure

So there
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Bikes; '06 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (for sale) - '95 BMW R1100GS

[roper]

You never look cool when you're lost .