Resonable miles per hour on trip

[Sylvester]

I am leaving Charlotte, NC and riding 4600 miles out to AZ on I20 & I10 and back via Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Four Corners, Amarillo, Texarkana, Nashville and home on I40. Can I average 55 mph? There are two of us, both on Ventures. I would like to make it in 10 or 11 days.

 

[Tom]

Many run very fast and I keep it around 65 and IF they beat me it's less than 5 minutes. At 65 I average 55 VERY easy. In summer months most bikes are loaded at max weight and as hot as it gets I feel safer at 65

[ozzyosburn]

When I take a long trip, I always figure 50MPH average when deciding on how far I can go in a day. This works very well even with me using the cruise control when ever I can, set at 80MPH. Some days you'll average higher, but not much. Have fun.

[Dave77459]

I will typically push it on trips. I fly my wife to the destination and fly to meet her. Getting to and from Utah/AZ/NM, you can achieve 900 mile days. The last day of my trip to Michigan, I went 927 miles in 16 hours, averaging almost 58mph. That was a long, hard day. So yes, you can do it.

 

Last year, I went 3500 miles to those same destinations last summer, riding two up. I spent 8 days. Our hardest two days were coming home. We went 438 miles in 9 hours, and finished the trip going 624 miles in 11.5 hours. Only on this last day did we approach an average of 55 mph, mostly because the speed limit was 80mph.

 

While in the area, we went about 300 miles on average. We relaxed and enjoyed the stunning scenery!

 

If you want, you can look at my Flickr set of the trip to Monument Valley, Zion NP, etc.

 

There are some MUST SEE locations, some of which you may not know about. Have fun on your route planning!

[Midrsv]

Overall you will probably average 55. On the long stretches across the mid section of the country you'll do better than that. We usually run around 70 to 75 mph with a 10 to 15 minute stop every 100 to 120 miles with a decent break for lunch. Once you get in the really interesting area where you want to stop frequently for photos you will slow down.

 

That's a great area you heading to.

 

Dennis

[BOO]

I think it's pretty easy to average 55 on the interstate system.

A lot of people calculate their average in different ways. My brother for example doesn't count his stop times for fuel and food therefore he gets a pretty high average.

I average my time when I am traveling from point to point and I run about 75 on the interstate if the posted speed limit is 70 and I can easily average in the 60's and I do count my gas and food stops. I usually don't sit down to eat and mostly will just eat junk until I get where I'm going.

It's a little harder getting a higher average with 2 people but if your riding styles are similar and your companion doesn't need to stop for long meals you'll be fine. I understand some people have to eat regularly so you would have to factor that in.

3 or 4 years ago I put close to 5000 miles on in less than two weeks and it was a very leisure ride. I stopped at a lot of places and rode with several different members along the way.

Have fun and enjoy your trip,

BOO

[eagleeye]

It's a little harder getting a higher average with 2 people but if your riding styles are similar and your companion doesn't need to stop for long meals you'll be fine. I understand some people have to eat regularly so you would have to factor that in.

 

 

BOO

 

 

I was going to say the same thing about traveling with someone, as your average WILL go down, because there is no way the riding styles will be the same. But, if they are, count yourself lucky.

I've never found anyone that has my riding style, at least as far as stopping times.

 

Steve

[twigg]

is about 42 mph overall average to cover 1000 miles in 24 hours.

 

Most seem to manage a 65 mph "moving average" speed.

 

Pace for the Extreme rides is 62.5 mph "overall average" which includes stops.

 

Pitch yourself down at the regular pace and you will have about 9 hours to rest, refuel etc and still maintain 1000 per day.

 

Your schedule of 500 miles per day is relaxed for LD riding, but mileages tend to drop anyway as the length of the trip increases.

 

Also ... It's harder to ride with others. You need to go a little slower so that a trailing rider doesn't have to speed to catch up, and there is a tendency to push yourself too long, because you think the others can

 

Again .... 500 miles per day is not too bad.

[Sylvester]

Thanks to all.

 

My traveling partner is a good distance rider also and will run with me as fast as I go. He and I are both former LEO's so we run hard. We expect that our visiting moments will be at Grand Canyon and Monument Valley. The stop at Four Corners is only for a picture. Having lived in Nebraska I have been to this area before, but that was two decades ago.

 

[Sleeperhawk]

Mechanic and I spent two weeks on the road, basically the same trip as you.

 

Left here went through Texas to see daughter, left San Angelo, TX spent the night in Alberque, NM, then on to Grand Canyon, left the next day into Needles, California, then to Las Vegas, spent the night there, went over Hoover Dam, then back to Tucson, AZ. Spent two days there. Then up to a little town in New Mexico, then on to 4 corners next day, went across south Colorado to Colorado Springs, spent the night. back into New Mexico came across the panhandle of Oaklahoma, spent night in Medicine Lodge, KS. Up to central Kansas to see parents for about 2 hours, then back to El Dorado, KS, spent 2 days with brother. Then back down through Wichita, KS, through Tulsa, OK, then Little Rock, AR, then Memphis, TN, spent the night in Athens, AL and the next day. Then came home the last 500 miles.

 

Got home, we looked at each other and was ready to go again. That was a blast of a trip.

[Owen]

I generally just figure on about 500 miles in a 10 hour day when solo. That includes gas and food breaks. Maggie likes more frequent stops so I figure on 300 to 400 miles in a 10 hour run. Of course just like everyone else, I have pushed it pretty hard and logged some 800 plus days.

[Rick Haywood]

I am leaving Charlotte, NC and riding 4600 miles out to AZ on I20 & I10 and back via Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Four Corners, Amarillo, Texarkana, Nashville and home on I40. Can I average 55 mph? There are two of us, both on Ventures. I would like to make it in 10 or 11 days.

 

 

We did 5000 miles on 2 lane highways while sight seeing across Coloarado, Utah Arizona and New Mexico in 11 days and there where 3 bikes and 6 people.

[BradT]

4600 miles I would like to make it in 10 or 11 days.

 

 

Your going to spend most of your time on the road. Early starts and should be settled by supper. Your not going to have much time to site see.

 

Sounds like a nice trip, and will be spending alot in saddle.

 

Brad

[KiteSquid]

I normally set up my trip at Mapquest.com and let it calculate the time for riding, but it does NOT include any time for stops.

 

I normally use secondary roads as I would rather see the scenery than what I see from interstates.

 

I pad my time.

 

But sometimes I abandon my planed trip and get on the interstate as I fall behind where I need to be to meet someone.....

 

The reason I use Mapquest is I can transfer the route to my Garman GPS quite easily.... check for compatibility before making your route.....

[twigg]

If you have a Garmin, you should also be able to use Mapsource.

 

It's rather easier to be able to plan a route directly on your PC, then automatically transfer it, and all it's waypoints, straight to the GPS.

[Sylvester]

Don't got none of them nufangled contraptions. I use a map like my ancesters. All in all it is a easy route to follow and we want to spend time at the Canyon and Monument Valley. The rest is to meet Star Touring and Riding members in Tucson.

 

[AKRefugee]

Made to run from San Diego to Charlotte last year with a stop in Phoenix to see the folks.

Trip from Phoenix was as follows (times are per Google maps)

 

Phoenix - Albuquerque NM 419 mi 7:11

Albuquerque NM - Elk City OK 433 mi 6:53

Elk City OK - Clarksville AR 349 5:34

Clarksville AR - Dickson TN 406 6:32

Dickson TN - Charlotte NC 440 7:08

 

Stayed at Motel 6 everywhere. All I needed was a place to sleep and take a shower in the morning.

 

Stay west of ABQ you do not want to be in the town itself, trust me on that one. If you feeling good and can stand another 80 miles Grants NM is a good stop instead.

 

I like to do 2 longer days 1 medium day and then 2 long days on trips like this. Gives me a break when I really start wishing for one.

 

Across west TX NM and eastern AZ it is not unusual to run in to windy conditions. They will tire you out more than you think when you are running at freeway speeds all day and fighting crosswinds. Like someone already said planning 10 or 11 day round trip means you will not be spending a lot of time stopping to see things.

[CaptainJoe]

Averaged 50 mph going no more than 5mph over the posted speed limit from WV to Oregon and back.

 

Stopped one hour for lunch and 15 min rest stop every 120 miles. Rule was stop at gas stations(so we could refuel and get coffee/tea). Started at 8 am stopped around 8pm. Averaged 500 miles a day give or take...

 

With the above parameters it leaves NO TIME to stop and see anything....

 

So if your just trying to get somewhere and stay within the speed limit, without sightseeing 50 mph is do-able...

[BigDawg]

Averaged 50 mph going no more than 5mph over the posted speed limit from WV to Oregon and back.

 

Stopped one hour for lunch and 15 min rest stop every 120 miles. Rule was stop at gas stations(so we could refuel and get coffee/tea). Started at 8 am stopped around 8pm. Averaged 500 miles a day give or take...

 

With the above parameters it leaves NO TIME to stop and see anything....

 

So if your just trying to get somewhere and stay within the speed limit, without sightseeing 50 mph is do-able...

 

 

Captain Joe, were you 2 up? riding with others? Most of your mileage must have been on the interstate, right?

thanks!

Brian

[CaptainJoe]

Riding single on a 650 vstar and with a Harley ultra classic and another Harley...

Averaged 105 to 150 miles per tank full. (less milage per tank the further west I went) don't know if it was the changes in fuel or altitude or both...

 

Yes, it was all interstate....

 

After close to two hrs riding we felt it was necessary for breaks. Luckily none of us were smokers. If you have smokers in your group... all bets are off, cause i never saw one that could go for more than an hour without a nicotine fix...LOL

[Condor]

A couple of years ago I ran 600 miles in 10 hours. Ran about 72-73 (4000rpm) with 5 fuel stops, and two rest stops. Didn't stop to smell the roses. 38mpg @ 60mph average.

[Flyinfool]

Don't got none of them nufangled contraptions. I use a map like my ancesters. All in all it is a easy route to follow and we want to spend time at the Canyon and Monument Valley. The rest is to meet Star Touring and Riding members in Tucson.

 

So much for your average trip speed.

[RedRider]

For a casual pace, 50 MPH overall (including rest stops) is pretty easy.

 

If you really want to get somewhere, you can average 60 to 63 MPH with some discipline. Don't spend time fooling around at fuel stops. Get in, get out, sit there, twist that.

 

You will find speed is not your friend. The additional time required for gas stops negates the additional time saved by a faster speed. Cruising 65 to 70 seems to be the sweet spot. Get over 80 and your gas mileage goes to heck and it will actually slow you down. The real key is to keep you butt in the seat and the wheels turning.

 

If you really want to cover major miles in a short period of time, review the 'Archive of Wisdom' on the Iron Butt website. Not all will pertain, butt there is good advice there.

 

Have a great ride. Stay safe and ride long.

 

RR

[N3FOL]

I pretty much stay on the high end of 70 for cruising speed. This summer, I plan to visit Ohio and clock in at least 500 miles for the day. After reading all the post here, it makes me want to ride more for

long distances this season.

 

Ride Safe everyone.

[friesman]

For a casual pace, 50 MPH overall (including rest stops) is pretty easy.

 

If you really want to get somewhere, you can average 60 to 63 MPH with some discipline. Don't spend time fooling around at fuel stops. Get in, get out, sit there, twist that.

 

You will find speed is not your friend. The additional time required for gas stops negates the additional time saved by a faster speed. Cruising 65 to 70 seems to be the sweet spot. Get over 80 and your gas mileage goes to heck and it will actually slow you down. The real key is to keep you butt in the seat and the wheels turning.

 

If you really want to cover major miles in a short period of time, review the 'Archive of Wisdom' on the Iron Butt website. Not all will pertain, butt there is good advice there.

 

Have a great ride. Stay safe and ride long.

 

RR

]

 

As soon as I get over 65-70 mph my mileage drops right off and I stop more often for fills. so I try not to travel too much faster than 70 as I dont really see any real time savings.

I find that I can do a 1000 miles in a day if I have to, but when on a few day tour i dont like any more than 500-600 miles a day, it just gets tough too many days in a row, and if I dont enjoy myself, whats the point of the holiday?

 

Brian