How long do you ride in one hit?

[Dr Jekyll]

I find my legs ache after an hour or two. Not necessarily the first hour of the day but by mid afternoon even after a few tea breaks I'm struggling to cover 100 miles without a stop. It seems as much to do with the hours for the day rather than since the last stop. Today I rode from Beaconsfield over to Brecon with a couple of stops, no problem. Then back via Monmouth Chepstow and the M4. I did Monmouth to Beaconsfield in one hit just to check I could do it and my legs felt like they were on fire by Reading.

It's partly psychological I'm sure, the 50MPH stretch past Reading was the worst and once off the M4 I felt better.

The bike's a GS1200 so a 300 mile day shouldn't be an issue, and I've had the same problem on a Deauville, also an exceptionally comfortable bike. I've tried new shifting position on the footrests, standing up occasionally, waving my feet around. Even new and baggier textile trousers. Could it be cramp? Circulation problem? Being the wrong side of 50?

[NDA]

Being the wrong side of 50 I suspect.

I don't ride any more, but when I was a young 'un, I would do London to North Devon regularly in one go. Couldn't do it now.

[Triaguar]

Age is not the thing, it's mentality. I am well wrong side of 60 just done 12 hours with only stops for fuel and nature in freezing cold on a sports bike. The further you ride the further you can ride. It's conditioning like any other physical activity. Oh and just ignore the cramps, they go away after an hour or two. Enjoy

[funkyrobot]

I initially thought this was a pedal bike thread.

[black-k1]

Like many of the 50× Old Gits, a 600+ mile/12+ hour day is not exceptional. It's not common but they do happen. Most of our long day runs will be around 250+ miles, 8 hours of mountain roads.

[bogie]

There are plenty of fit guys riding sportsbikes at 60 years old just as there are plenty of unfit 40 year olds, or those of us with various ailments. I dont think its just an age thing.

Typically I ride 130-250 miles on a fun ride out, with a 130 miles tank range for a break, a couple of tankfuls is a nice ride for a morning or afternoon.

On touring holiday, depends on where we stop, generally no more than 450 miles a day though.

All done these days on a comfy cruiser style bike.

[srob]

Depends on the bike!

15 miles on the Enfield and I’m ready for a rest

[podman]

Agreed! My KR1 does me in after around 20 miles (my hips in particular) but my S1000R ive done a couple of hundred on with no bother, im sure I could do some proper miles on the BM , will find out in a couple weeks when I take it to France.

[Jazoli]

I could ride all day but I've yet to find a seat either OE or aftermarket that will allow me to go for more than 200 miles in one hit, I must have a sensitive arse.

[Speed addicted]

It could be circulation, both the bikes mentioned are pretty upright so you could be cutting off blood supply in the sitting position.

Have you tried something like an air hawk inflatable seat pad? I found it helped on big multi day tours as they allow the blood flow in your arse to keep going.

[hman]

I can ride a new model Triumph Tiger literally all day without discomfort

I can ride an Africa Twin ( the old one) for about 3 hours - the saddle is too squared off for much longer

I can ride a dirt bike all day if its off road and I'm stood up most of the time.

I can ride my 996 for about 1 Hour solid before the pain is so bad that I have to stop for 5 mins, and can then carry on again for another hour.

[Birky_41]

bogie said:

There are plenty of fit guys riding sportsbikes at 60 years old just as there are plenty of unfit 40 year olds, or those of us with various ailments. I dont think its just an age thing.

Typically I ride 130-250 miles on a fun ride out, with a 130 miles tank range for a break, a couple of tankfuls is a nice ride for a morning or afternoon.

On touring holiday, depends on where we stop, generally no more than 450 miles a day though.

All done these days on a comfy cruiser style bike.

This. I'm late 30s and do alot of road riding on a naked bike. I just plan stops typically half way through a tank of fuel which has the light come on typically at 110 miles

I also ride loose. Tensing up which can be from various reasons like nerves, focusing etc really can fatigue you quickly

[Biker 1]

I'll ride 2 hours & then need to stop. I find my lid starts to get a bit stuffy & visor caked in dead flies at this stage. I get a bit stiff in the wrists & neck also.
My riding is usually about 50% fast A roads & 50% tight B roads/country lanes.

[8IKERDAVE]

My bike only does around 100 miles to a tank anyhow so I have to stop then. Normally I'm ready though at that point even just to give the old bum a rest! I normally find 3-400 miles on good roads is plenty, but I've never really done the mile munching motorway rides that a lot of people regularly do I always find a fun route to get anywhere.

[Wildfire]

I can do about 6-7 hours of mixed riding on the sports bike and then I am very uncomfortable, especially if I have a rucksack.

I can do a lot longer on a naked bike.

[supercommuter]

250 miles / 4 hours a day commuting is fine.

Did 900 miles in a day once with wife on the back. That hurt.

[Dog Star]

I've found that the limiting factor on the latest model R1 is the seat - after about two hours it is literally like sitting on a sharp edged piece of concrete, I cannot discern any padding at all. It's just agony. In comparison the 1999 R1 is comfy all day.

I am looking at getting a gel seat from this place...

http://www.topsellerie.com/@EN-FR/seats-petrol-tan...

[supercommuter]

Dog Star said:

I've found that the limiting factor on the latest model R1 is the seat - after about two hours it is literally like sitting on a sharp edged piece of concrete, I cannot discern any padding at all. It's just agony. In comparison the 1999 R1 is comfy all day.

I am looking at getting a gel seat from this place...

http://www.topsellerie.com/@EN-FR/seats-petrol-tan...

Yeh on sportsbikes it is different 100 percent.

My comment above was on an Africa Twin. I could sit on it all day.

My R1....na.

[R1 Dave]

Dog Star said:

I've found that the limiting factor on the latest model R1 is the seat - after about two hours it is literally like sitting on a sharp edged piece of concrete, I cannot discern any padding at all. It's just agony. In comparison the 1999 R1 is comfy all day.

I am looking at getting a gel seat from this place...

http://www.topsellerie.com/@EN-FR/seats-petrol-tan...

On previous bikes I could easily ride all day, the R1 is a different matter. Not only the seat but the position of the clipons too. When I went to the TT the year before last I rode from West Wiltshire to the island in pretty much one hit (stopped for a breakfast half way) and I was in agony by the end. Riding back I did it in one except for quick fuel stops and by the end I found myself riding out of my skin just so that I could get home and get off the damn thing!

[Zarco]

Wildfire said:

I can do about 6-7 hours of mixed riding on the sports bike and then I am very uncomfortable, especially if I have a rucksack.

I can do a lot longer on a naked bike.

Good effort!

I'd have had enough by about half of that.