I am considering taking a month off from work, and taking a nice road trip to Los Angelas, CA. Has anyone here every taken that kind of trip? what am I in for?? Any advice, tips, anything. The furthest I have gone is from NYC to WV. 6 hours.

 

I wouldn't do it on a CBR. You'll end up hating your bike. I'm not very happy with mine at the moment.. and I'm halfway to Florida.

 

I with the post above that I would be wary of spending that much time on a CBR but it sort of depends on you. If it feels good then go for it. If you're not sure then you might want to take a couple of long (500+ mile) day trips to see how it feels first.

But as for advice...

First decide what kind of trip are you thinking about. By that I mean...
- Is this a superslab race from end-to-end or a chance to see the scenery?
- Hotel stays every night or are you thinking about camping?
Depending on what you're trying to experience it's a lot different supplywise.

General advice would be things like...
- Make sure the bike is in perfect condition before leaving (tires, fluids, etc.)
- Have a way to contact help if you need it (flats happen)
- Have a route picked out, but be OK with changing along the way
- Build in time to just goof-off, plowing ahead all the time gets old
- Have the right gear for distance (raingear, warm/cold, basewear...)
..... Don't underestimate the value of a good choice in what you're
..... wearing under your gear!
- Pick a route that takes you to see things you haven't seen
- Be able to repair a flat on the road so you can at least limp to get help
- Have a way to carry water and a snack
..... Dehydration can sneak up on you and affect your alertness
- Think about if you need to carry some spare fuel for emergencies
.....There are some 130+ mile spaces between filling stations in the west
- Think about how you're going to wash your clothes along the way

I can probably point you to a couple of places where guys that do this kind of thing all the time have some decent advice.

 

I say, GO FOR IT !!! I whole heartedly recommend doing the cross-country trip.

bimmerx2 has some good advice. Having done these types of trips myself, I can say that even w/ good planning, there *will* be things come your way that you won't expect or have planned for. Its all part of the adventure...& if you approach it as an adventure, you will enjoy it much more than just a trip.

Try not to have time pressures or place exact destinations/schedules upon yourself. Instead, allow yourself to be more free to experience some things as they come. Sure, a general guideline of what/where you want is ideal, just don't limit yourself to having to follow it to the letter.

Prep/packing for such a trip is a very individual thing. As mentioned though, make sure your bike is in ready condition w/ new/fairly new tires. I could list dozens of items for your checklist but I'm sure you've already been researching & thinking about that already. Frankly, the first time I did this, I thought I'd never have everything I needed. Conversely, the less you take the better. What I mean is, if you let yourself get into a train of thought that you'll need everything, you'll worry yourself to death...& that's definitely not what the trip is about. For the bike, I would recommend taking spare fuses, headlight bulb, electrical & ductape (wrap some around an inkpen, no need to take a roll), tire gage, zipties. I've had tire patch/plug kits on trips but they are bulky, & really, its hard to do this kind of repair on your own in the middle of nowhere. I quit taking them for street trips. Anyway, just try to stick to the basics & keep your load as light as possible. You'll thank yourself later.

Let folks know when you're going w/ a general timeline w/ possible locations. Much like a flight-plan, this will allow folks to help you should something go wrong. Its also a good idea to check in w/ folks from time to time as well to keep them informed. If you will have internet access from time to time, a blog entry could be invaluable for them as well. Example; there was a young Marine that bought a new bike & went on a trip. He was riding some twisities in SoCal, & rode off the side of the mtn. Since no one knew what he was up to, he wasn't found for three days. He lived but it wasn't pleasant w/ his injuries.

As for on a CBR, I've done trips on my 2000 F4. Frankly, I enjoy using my CBR for trips. Its just a super reliable bike that gets good gas mileage. Sure, on any sportbike, riding long stretches of road, especially interstate, can be daunting but the CBR is no more uncomfortable than any other sportbike. As for the interstate, yes, there will certainly be times where you will have to ride interstate when its completely unreasonable to go many miles out of your way just to get to a certain point. In that regard though, I do recommend a variety of dif types of riding. Interstates don't really lend themselves to the adventure experience...its just mindless riding for long stretches for long periods of time. Regional hwys w/ frequent stops are where its at. Don't be in a hurry & see the sights.

Route 66 is a great ride that really lends itself to the American experience. Although Route 66 is broken in many spots, its still a great ride. Actually, there are many good routes off of I-40 cross-country as well. Just all depends on what areas of the country you want to see while crossing.

You can camp (inexpensive lightweight tube-tent), use hotels, even couch-surf. I found that most folks are friendly to traveling riders. I've had folks actually give me money for gas, give me pieces of clothing, take their picture w/ me, cooked dinner for me, sit w/ me at restaurants to talk motorcycles, etc. Give folks a chance, they will surprise you.

Sure, you'll have a gamut of emotions & experiences on a trip of that magnitude but if you keep an open mind, you will enjoy it. Like I said at the start, GO FOR IT! There's nothing worse than looking back after not doing something, & wishing you'd done it.