10 Tips to help you get there

Here is a small list of things that should be kept in mind when bikers go for a long journey. Got reference from a lot of sources and also from personal experience and so compiled these 11 very important points.

1. One of the most important things will always be to get your bike serviced. Get it serviced from an authorized dealer for the assurance of quality. Check for oil level, clutch, break and other important parts. Also check the condition of the tires. If they are old, then it is best to get them replaced.
2. Arrange for help even before you start the journey. It is good to keep the details of the service centers which will be neat to your destination and the places through which you will pass. Also keep mobile numbers of hospitals and other transport facilities of places near by in case of emergency.
3. A riding gear is very useful when ever you are going for a long journey. A good helmet, a riding jacket (armored will be better), riding pants, riding gloves, knee caps and shin armours. These are few things which are very useful to have. And most important a sturdy pair of shoes. It is also very important to know that along with the helmet, it is very important to have a good visor to it. It is always good to have a scratch proof film over your visor so that you can see clearly. Also if you are driving in the night then it is good to have some kind of anti glare protection.
4. It is never a good idea to have any kind of alcohol when you are driving or you are about to drive. It may be very tempting to have a chilled beer in a sunny afternoon, but don’t do it. It affects even the best bikers.
5. Water intake during the journey is very essential. It is a good habit to drink water during the long journey as your body tend to get dry and dehydrated fast when you are on a bike.
6. It is a good habit to carry the medicines which you tend to consume or few very common ones like Disprine etc so that by chance if you have any such problem, then you can take those.
7. Food – how can we avoid food? It is a very important thing to know that you must have a very delicate balance when it comes to food, if you eat too less then you will get tired quickly. And if you eat too much then you will feel sleepy. So it is always good to have a good breakfast and then a healthy lunch. And also you can always stop at places and have something to eat.
8. Time – the trick is by no doubt “slow and steady wins the race”. Yes, too fast can tire you out very quickly and there is no point in running too slow and cause problem for others. Ride at a very smooth speed like 50 to 60 kms per hour. At this pace you are less prone to getting exhausted quickly and also you bike will not get heated up quickly.
9. Fuel is an important factor. Calculate before starting the journey how much fuel you may consume and always try to get you tank filled when the level is low. Don’t wait for the very end moment. And don’t even consider the reserve when you are calculating the distance over the available petrol. Reserve capacity is really for reserve. And yes it is a nice idea to carry a bottle filled with fuel if the things get really bad.
10. Now the last point which I feel is obvious that we should always understand that our body has a fatigue level. So, if the journey is really a big one and especially if you are covering the distance in days. Then it is a very good idea to rest after regular intervals. This is good for both your body and your bike. Take small breaks of 5 to 10 mins. And if you are still feeling tired then it is better to park your bike and take a small nap. A fresh and energetic body is always better than a tired one for long journey.