I'm Going Toronto-Washington DC Bike Trip, What's Your Advice?

[MacDoc]

I did not have good luck with AAA either in PA ...took 8 hours for a pick up of the bike just 10 km outside of Renovo on 144 - it was getting dark when they finally "found" me and then the driver was running out of gas so finding diesel on a Sunday meant a long detour....did not get to my motel till 11 at night ....and damn there was a lot of deer eyes along the way.
OP DON'T even think about riding at dusk, dawn or night,....your whole route is chockablock with deer that love to hang around the road edges - even daytime can be fraught but night is a horror show.

CAA was great and reimbursed me for all towing charges which occurred over two days. Get the premiere service.
And FFS make sure you carry travel health insurance.

FWW ...a one day each way is a really stupid idea. There are some superb places to visit on enroute even for a short visit.
The Glass Museum at Corning New York, the Aerospace museum at Dulles Airport on the outskirts of Washington.

 

[Pegassus]

Zip ties and wire have been a god send to keep something out of the way after a tip over etc. you can always remove the broke thing and carry on I suppose. I’m thinking like a signal light or something else that has rattled itself lose and can’t repair it road side.

I’ve had to secure a head light after losing a bolt one trip. Also had to secure a side stand when I lost the return spring on another trip.

I agree that a roll of wire and bungee cords will be a good asset in this trip.

Which 650 Kawi you on, not a KLR obviously with 230 klicks fuel range. Ninja 650, ZX-6R, Z or Versys...likely the Vulcan? I`d suggest a tankbag and tailpack( on the passenger seat) too. Between `em and a backpack( probably unnecessary with the 2 bag and packs) that should hold everything. Second the vote for rain gear, better to have and not need..... Set your tire pressures, spray/adjust chain, check all fluid levels, just the quick once over. Take some U.S. cash, credit card and CAA if you have and your passport. Any of those 650`s will cover your trip, no problem. And don`t push your luck abusing speed limits.

It's a 650cc ER6N motorcycle. I want to buy a tail pack for this trip, you are 100% right. I already put new tires and will check oil/water level the day I go, the chain still looks good, will lube it.

Half the fun is getting there. Take back roads when you can. You will never get packing right, it is a work in progress. Pack a few days before, so on travel day, you can get at it. Wishing you a fun and safe trip. May the exchange rate be kind to your wallet.

LOL I'm not even sure if I will survive the trip, I'm not an iron-butt, will probably make it a 2-day trip, depends how far and tired I am after 8 hrs of riding. If I reach Maryland or West Virginia and I'm still not tired or beaten, I will continue one-shot all the way to Washington DC.

1.Service the bike – Check tires, brakes, fluids, battery, chain/belt and lights.
2.Documents – Passport, licence, registration, insurance and emergency contacts.
3.Plan your route – Fuel stops, accommodations, weather and backup routes.
4.Pack smart – Rain gear, layers, tools, tire repair kit, first-aid kit, water and chargers.
5.Plan for emergencies – U.S. roadside assistance, travel insurance and someone at home who knows your itinerary.

I'm petrified of the chain busting, that's about it. A nail in the tire I can fix on the go, I'm taking the necessary material. Have a jump-starter with a built-in inflator and a tire repair kit.

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[Pegassus]

I did not have good luck with AAA either in PA ...took 8 hours for a pick up of the bike just 10 km outside of Renovo on 144 - it was getting dark when they finally "found" me and then the driver was running out of gas so finding diesel on a Sunday meant a long detour....did not get to my motel till 11 at night ....and damn there was a lot of deer eyes along the way.
OP DON'T even think about riding at dusk, dawn or night,....your whole route is chockablock with deer that love to hang around the road edges - even daytime can be fraught but night is a horror show.

What happened to your bike and how was the issue resolved? If I break down I don't want to spend 1 week in a hotel until my bike is fixed or parts come to the garage in a hillbilly town in Pennsylvania. I agree 100% about the crazy amounts of deer in those Pennsylvania mountains, there's more deer there than any place in Ontario. Have driven that same route many times in a minivan. I plan on riding only maybe 1 hr at night, the last leg of my trip, but I have noticed that days are shorter now, it's getting darker earlier.

 

[MacDoc]

You are an idiot if you ride ANY hours at dusk or dawn let alone night in NY state. Even coming up on the four lane to Buffalo I had a deer galloping along the grass slopes 5 min from the border in late afternoon.
I've never worried about riding the QEW late ...not seen a deer on there after decades of occasional night rides...US tho? just about every ride - day or night but dusk and dawn FUGEDABOUDIT.
I still have nightmares about caging it to New Jersey decades ago and seeing the hundreds of deer eyes glowing along the edges of the highway.
Why anyone would try to do the ride you are contemplating in two days is beyond me. BTW New York has agreements with Ontario and if you get a ticket there ...it's the same as getting one in Ontario....Pennsylvania has no agreement and the cops don't bother.

The bike had a flat tire - not repairable in the field - Harley dealer ordered one in and by the time I finally got sorted and and back to my motel at midnight, it arrived at the dealer the next midday just as I arrived in the tow truck. The Harley dealer with the tire was another 100 km away from my motel and CAA Premiere covered both tows when I got back to Canada. The original tow truck driver was right out of Deliverance....not the brightest bulb.

I was very nervous about deer after blitzing it up from West Virginia in a single go and got caught short in the rain about an hour out of the Niagara Falls/Lewiston border. That was miserable....very glad to get on the QEW/403 and home.

You never confirmed having high coverage health insurance.