Touring By Motorcycle
Seeing the sights from a motorcycle sounds great but is that possible with every motorcycle? What do you have to do to stay for hours in the saddle without getting tired or worse...a sore behind? How many miles can you cover in a day? These are all good questions. Let's attempt to answer them for you.

The Bike
Today, street bikes seem to be classified as "touring," "sport touring," "standard," "cruiser," "dual purpose" (meaning street and dirt), and "sport" motorcycles. While you can ride around the world on any of these, the dual purpose and sport bikes are the worst choices for serious, long distance motorcycle travel. The true touring bike is the cream of the crop for the long distance traveler. The comfort, protection, range, and load capacity of the touring bikes are superior to all other types. If you plan to ride all year and in all types of weather, you should seriously consider a touring bike.

Most touring bikes are big motorcycles, usually equipped with a plush dual seat (often with backrests), full fairing with lowers, stereo and intercom system, luggage (typically including both saddlebags and a tail trunk, plus additional storage in the frame mount fairing), low maintenance shaft or belt drive, engine guards (crash bars), floorboards, heavily valenced fenders for maximum protection, and heavy duty electrical system capable of powering electrically heated riding clothes, driving lights, and a multitude of other accessories. Touring bikes tend to be the largest and heaviest of motorcycles, and because of that they typically provide a little less performance than other types of bikes with equivalent displacement. Don't worry though, they will still pull like a train. Unfortunately, they are also apt to be the most expensive motorcycles.

Whichever motorcycle is chosen, remember the old adage "no less than 600cc for the highway."

The Saddle
A saddle that stays comfortable is counter-intuitively hard. Not hard like a stone, but so hard that you don't "sink in" it when you get on your bike.

If you do sink in your saddle, there will be only one way to sit: you will have to stay in one posture. And when you spend hours in the saddle, you will have to be able to change the way you sit from time to time. A harder saddle allows that.

Also consider a broad flat saddle that allows for movement front to back. When you are able to sit more at the front or at the rear end of the seat, your knees will be glad too as they will be bent in a different angle each time you change position.

Take a Break
Make sure you take a break before you get tired. Stretching your legs from time to time will result that you are able to ride much longer before getting tired. When you find the ideal place for a break, enjoy it for a while. The same applies for eating and drinking: eat or drink before you get hungry or thirsty.