If you enjoy cruising on your motorcycle on the weekends, then you might be contemplating a ride on your bike cross-country. However, there's more to it than simply hopping on your bike and going on the open road to see the sites. You will need to make sure that both you and your bike are ready for such a long journey. If not, you may find your peaceful cross country trip is plagued by stiff and sore shoulders and arms, back aches, and even motorcycle problems if your bike has not had proper maintenance before the trip.
One way to help alleviate these problems is to first do a complete inspection and service on your motorcycle. Change the oil, check the spark plugs and the battery, and make sure that your engine is running smoothly. You don't want to be 1,000 miles from home only to find yourself stuck on the side of the road waiting for assistance. Taking an afternoon to cover some of these simple basics can help ensure this will not happen to you.
Finally, aches and pains are going to happen, and there is no preventing them entirely. But you can work to make them better. First, make sure that your seat is comfortable for your sitting position. If your back is sore after just an hour or two of riding, this is not going to improve over time. Also, make sure to wear padded gloves or put grips on your handlebars that will cut down on the vibrations to your arms, and if needed, adjust your handlebars and your leg posts to accommodate your ride.
