Generally it's the only way I travel unless I'm with my dad. He's the only one I can ride with and not feel like I'm being slowed down or having to extend myself beyond my capabilities to keep up with.
I stop when I want, sleep when I want, wake up when I want, ect without any outside input other than what I put on myself.
2007 F800ST
1997 DR350SE
1978 GS1000E
Originally Posted by 119240
My wife bought these wrist bands for us. All your information is available without having to carry a lot. You can record drugs, allergies, ice contact. whatever. It is a $10 annual subscription.
https://www.myroadid.com/
Not just good, but good enough.
I prefer solo touring. Sometimes, you meet other riders at gas stations and team up for parts of the journey. I enjoy the solitude and time to think. When I ride with others, I am distracted as to where they are, and when they have to stop. It's easier to plan when going solo. You're on your own schedule. If you want to take a side trip and explore, you're free to do so.
Joe Dabbs
2011 RT
1975 R60/6
I think I'm sold for all the same reasons that I prefer to ride by myself on day rides...start when you want...stop when you want...change the itinerary whenever you like...ride 12 or 20 hours depending on how I feel...not worry about anyone's happiness but my own. I guess I'll just have to take lots of pictures if I see something good. My wife is going to freak out though. I like the tip about the ICE info on the helmet. I have it on my phone default screen, but the helmet is a good spot if you're unconscious.
Let us know your satisfaction or dissatisfaction when you return from the solo ride to our Maritimes.
As for your wife, onesuite, offers very reasonable phones calls home without exorbitant charges. I call home most nights to let my wife know that it was a good ride that day. I keep an American phone with me for my travels in your country to beat expensive phone calls.
Paul
Retired and riding my RTs, the '87 K100 & the '98 R1100 !
80% of my travels are solo, what if learn from my mistakes
Smile at everyone
Keep your sense of humour
Carry extra gas
Carry extra water
Spot with tracking is you families best friend
Skype & wifi is a good thing
It's a lot like sailing, it's about the journey, not the destination
Many good comments and much advice. In forty year I have less than 1000 miles touring with anyone else intentionally. That said I don't know how to define solo touring. I ride alone most of the time but find I meet the most incredible people along the way. In some cases these people ride with me for short periods of time.
For me the best thing about solo touring is "wondering" about. I wonder what is at the end of an interesting side road and go find out. Wonder about something I find along the way, some thing to see - someone to meet and I can find out.
Cages are great for the family and more but riding and solo touring is best left as something we do alone together.
Pass the mustard and UP THE REVOLUTION!
EDIT:
I'm not so much a loner that I'm averse to traveling with others, yet not concerned about heading out alone. I've had as much fun in groups or with friends as
I've had solo.
Nova Scotia is so amazing. I'd do it again any way possible. Look at a solo trip as a recon run. Take the wife back for some quality time, and you'll have it dialed in, with no worries about her comfort, where to stay, eat, stop, etc.
If I had it to do over, I'd give Nova Scotia more time.
Cabot Trail-Give it three days, and ride it every which way but loose. We stayed at the Maven Gyspy B&B.
Any questions PM me and I'll offer any info I can to help with your planning. I got all kinds of info from folks here and at ADVrider.
A digital camera and a small tripod and you can photograph yourself anywhere. Pix pix pix, or it didn't happen!
As one poster above pointed out, life is tenuous. Live without regret. Take the trip. Sometimes you get a sweet moment while solo that you wouldn't necessarily get if there are others around you. My most recent solo trip (last November) included a quite secluded run up the Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline Drive.
Last edited by bmwrider88; 02-22-2013 at 06:29 PM.
Be The Change You Want To See In The World
I have traveled most my trips alone. Over the last 10-12 years in particular. Most my friends are married, and now raising g/kids. There is some advantage to it. Leave when ya want, stop when ya want, see what ya want along the way. There is the accident thing, but hell we all roll-the-dice every day. I recommend ya give it a try, I think you'll discover you like it. Don't get me wrong, I miss my pals..but they chose their life & I chose mine, and motorcycle travel is what i like, so now i go it alone.
BTW two of my pals were taken by cancer...way too early. Squeeze all the joy ya can out of everyday!
Nothing brings back memories better than a camera. Todays cameras (digital) come in all sizes and store HD photos on SD or mini SD cards. I recently purchased a HERO II and plan to use it as I travel to the rally in Salem, OR and back. This camera along with many others can also record record video & sound. I agree that its wonderful to share something like the Grand Conyon in the moment. Pictures allow you to recall those moments. I prefer to ride solo when traveling long distance as I can set my own pace and timetable.
RIDE SAFE
Last edited by Rpbump; 03-02-2013 at 05:16 AM.
Cave Contents: 1980 R100RT/Ural Sidecar, 2004 R1200CLC, 2006 HD FSXTI
Ride Safe
Someone earlier in the thread mentioned a SPOT tracker. When my husband was planning his 6 week journey from Delaware to Prudhoe Bay, AK, this was my only requirement. I was able to log on during the day and see where they were and if they were moving. At the end of the day, he would use it to send me a text message to say that they arrived safely.
I was telling my friend and a neighbor about it and they insisted I add them to my SPOT tracker list so that when I did my solo trip, they could follow along and know that I was also OK. Prior to that, I hadn't given it much thought but it does provide piece of mind to those you are leaving behind.
I've already commented on this but wanted to add that our trip to Nova Scotia last year was in mid June. It was surprising how few people were up there at that time of year. We had the Cabot Trail pretty much to ourselves, Bar Harbor/Cadillac Mtn (we rode up from PA) was basically empty. Everywhere, in general, tourist traffic was light. Some of the motels and B&Bs were just getting open for the summer. It made for some really great motorcycling.
The most crowded place we rode was the Kancamagus Highway- on a sunny Saturday somewhere near the Laconia Bike Week thing, and there were bikes and people everywhere. Still, tho- it didn't suck!
Be The Change You Want To See In The World
I remember that particular 'alone' moment and it really did change my life somewhat dramatically after that. On that trip that I mentioned earlier on that /5, I was sitting in my tent at the Missoula rally in '98, evening with some small hail falling and I was watching lightening off in the distance between to peaks of the mountains. I was boiling some rice and watching the light show in the hills, hoping that my make shift tarp would hold, when I realized that I had noone to share this spectacular moment with. It was at that moment that I resolved to at least make my journeys a two-up or other partner arrangement in the future and that's what happened. Had some very special times since then. Still not a group person but that sharing part is indeed special. Doesn't resolve your conflict but I do understand what you mean. We now have well over 10,000 pictures to prove it- Bob
I have done a lot of solo travel in a 4wd and will soon be doing some on my F800GS. I have a SPOT ans they are very handy for tracking, but reviews I have seen from folks who had to use the emergency feature vary. If you are going to be going well off the beaten path a PLB (personal locator beacon) is a good idea as well. I carry one in addition to my SPOT and hope to never use it, but when activated it uses the military satellite system and will bring the cavalry to your location.
I think the trick is to balance your life, having just as many "isn't-that-amazing-moments" WITH somebody as you have solo. Or at least don't let there be any great disparity between the two.I remember that particular 'alone' moment and it really did change my life somewhat dramatically after that. On that trip that I mentioned earlier on that /5, I was sitting in my tent at the Missoula rally in '98, evening with some small hail falling and I was watching lightening off in the distance between to peaks of the mountains. I was boiling some rice and watching the light show in the hills, hoping that my make shift tarp would hold, when I realized that I had noone to share this spectacular moment with. It was at that moment that I resolved to at least make my journeys a two-up or other partner arrangement in the future and that's what happened. Had some very special times since then. Still not a group person but that sharing part is indeed special. Doesn't resolve your conflict but I do understand what you mean. We now have well over 10,000 pictures to prove it
Be The Change You Want To See In The World
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