My first long trip - Riding to NYC

DOHC1

DOHC1

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I've been tempted to take a long trip this year, but work/school have gotten in the way. This Thursday I'm headed off to New York City on my Ninja 250r, and this will be my longest trip (longest I've done is Toronto to Algonquin park & surrounding area, about 5 hours of riding). Once I get into the city I should be fine, as I was born/lived there for 10+ years, so I'm pretty comfortable with it. Only issue is parking the Ninja (not sure if i wanna leave it on the street in Brooklyn, though the area is relatively safe). I may be able to get a private garage but it's not confirmed yet. Since I'm riding solo, I will be leaving at 5 am, meaning I should be there by 2 pm according to mapquest, 4PM since I will be taking breaks every few hours. I also plan on sticking to the interstate/main highways because I don't want to get stranded on the back roads if something goes wrong - I'll save the scenic route for when I'm going in a group. People do cross country trips often, and I want to eventually be able to do multi-day trips.

Any tips for those of you who have done this trip? Any awesome spots I should hit along the way? Tips for long distance riding? Any input is appreciated!
 
First, have a safe trip! I'd like to travel a distance by bike, one day. But it would be backroads for sure. Sorry, I don't have any advice, suggestions, etc. I'm sure someone else will though.

But, I do have a question. I just bought a 2005 Ninja 250r a week ago. (My last bike was a CBR125). Right now, as much as I would like to travel on the 250, I can't imagine it because it seems to get warm quickly. I mean even after a 10-15 minute ride, the bike is really warm. I don't remember the 125 being like that.

Have you noticed that with your Ninja?
 
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@ Skitta, all bikes get hot it's natural. We are in a really hot summer so that adds to it. Once on the highway on long rides it will be getting cooled by the air and it levels out eventually rather than getting progressively hotter. Also as long as your rad isn't leaking if your bike is liquid cooled and the coolant is topped up before leaving it should be fine. My Magna feels like i'm sitting on top of the sun after riding in the heat for anything over 30 minutes.. LOL!

As for the op's question. My advice is just stay alert, especially on the QEW, i ride the Q to the Niagara Falls area on a weekly basis and there are a lot of nutty cagers heading to the US on a daily basis, and also a few nasty bumps in the road here and there, and sections with long tar snakes between Hamilton and Niagara, watch for those too, they are quite sticky in the heat and like to tug at tires. It's tempting to stare at the sights, especially when going over the Burlington Skyway. But keep your eyes on the road too! Have a fun trip :)
 
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Johnny5 said:
@ Skitta, all bikes get hot it's natural...
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Thanks for the explanation, Johnny5. I suppose it's just a matter of getting used to a different type of motorcycle. The 125 didn't have a choke. I miss the FI. I'll get used to it though.
 
Pack light. Avoid wearing a knapsack at all cost. Use tail bags & tank bag if possible. Good thing about flying solo is you can take breaks whenever you want. You are on your own schedule, so remember if you are tired, get off the road and rest up. Keep your self hydrated. Even though it's a same-day trip, pack your rain gear. Lastly, do a once-over on the trusty ninja 250 before you depart (e.g. tire pressure), and carry your CAA card with you just in case. Have a great trip!
 
My suggestion for a longer trip is to plan some interesting roads along the way rather than staying on the interstate. The highway gets mind-numbing and butt-numbing. Hitting some curvy roads can help you out by having more fun along the way. I've not been to NYC, so I can only suggest that this web site might have some good suggestions. It will take longer to get there, but since you are taking your motorcycle I can only imagine that the trip itself is part of the goal, not just getting there.

+1 on pack light & CAA. Have a safe ride!
 
Have fun, and bring a soft seat or foam to make your ride a bit more comfy

Sent from phone
 
I just got back from NY/NJ two weeks ago, it's an amazing ride, the GPS took me through some small towns and very senic.

Tips: Carry a bottle of Gatorade for hydration (keeps you alert)
Watch your gas tank, don't get lower than 3/4 tank and look for the nearest gas station to refill, you don't want to be stuck.
Some stretch of the interstate is loooong and boring, so take advantage of the rest stops along the highway.
Carry $$ change for tolls and have easy access to pay.
Maintain the speed limit, going faster doesn't get you there earlier.
Travel light as the previous post suggested, strap your bags to the back.
Lastly, make sure the chain is lubed, oil topped, brakes etc and you should have an awesome ride.

Good luck!
 
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That's a harsh trip for a 250cc, cars go at 130 km/h for hours at a time on the I-90.
 
Pegassus said:
That's a harsh trip for a 250cc, cars go at 130 km/h for hours at a time on the I-90.
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So does the 250, the point here is? Is going to be more harsh on his ass than the bike

Sent from phone
 
Have a safe trip! I'm also planning on doing that trip on my cbr250 this year so would definitely like to get your trip report when you come back!
When I drove there this year the gps most direct route went through some interesting towns and nice roads. On the way back we took the interstate and I think total time difference was 1hr faster on the interstate.
 
I suggest getting some bicycle shorts with a chamois. They provide a bit of padding but more importantly they prevent Swass and Swalls. Invest in a good pair, should be about $60-$70, well worth it.

Also if you are prone to sleepiness grab some 5 hour energy drinks, they are easy to pack and won't cause you to stop at every rest stop or gas station.

When you do stop get up and keep moving, walk a bit. Once you sit down and get comfortable you won't want to get up and the bike will feel uncomfortable.

You can get a gel seat or head to Canadian Tire and grab some seat pads.

Don't lean on your hands too much as this will cause, hand, wrist, shoulder and back pain, use your legs they can take more abuse.

Hydrate!!!!!! and eat. (bring snacks and water in case you have mechanical trouble)

Enjoy the view.
 
on the subject of eating ... I'd recommend taking just a few bites of a sandwich whenever you stop for gas just so you have some in your system but not totally full. Hydration is key for the heat alone will wear you down, let alone a full stomach. For me, if I have a regular lunch, I'd start dozing off half hour later.

As for seating of the 250, you can shift around on your 2 butt cheeks as you go, also forward towards the gas tank and backwards towards the passenger seat. Just shift your butt around and you'll be fine.

Never discount the 250 on interstate highways, last season we did a 900km round trip down south with 5 ninja 250's and everyone kept up with traffic.
As mentioned earlier, make sure your bags are strapped down tight! reinforce with a cargo net ($4-6 at Royal)

Again, have a safe ride. You'll have fun :)
 
may I suggest a throttle lock. I bought one for like $11 and it is such a relief on long straight roads.
 
Despite all the fancy words, where are the pics?
We need visualization to make the advanture more interesting
 
Did that trip into NYC last year, parked at pretty secure location (if you want more info PM me, I have an agreement with the owner that I wouldn't advertise it). He stores some pretty high end bikes there, usually 40K+ duc's.

It its fully climate controlled and the owner is a charm to deal with.


We were down there.....left at around 9AM got into the city at 9PM....lots of breaks...every 200kms a 20min break, also we didn't get across the border till 11PM. If you think you can ride in Toronto....you have NO IDEA what NYC is like.....even the police cars will cut you off.
 
Thanks for the input everyone! Definitely going to take breaks every 200 KM's ,regardless of whether or not I'm tired.. I'd rather be proactive about it. All cargo is going to be attached to the back with bungee cords + a cargo net. Is there anywhere local that sells throttle locks? I remember reading about one that was pretty much a tight rubber band that you could slide on and it would hold the throttle in place. Growing up in NYC has somewhat prepared me for the traffic..I've done it numerous times in the cage, but definitely going to be much much more alert on the bike (and will be avoiding rush-hour too). The CAA tip was a good idea..I'm going to go get my CAA Plus membership today (I'm pretty sure you gotta wait 3 days before you can actually start using it). Hoping to take lots of pics along the way, though most will be of just the interstate haha. For the seat I'm thinking of either getting the gel pads or (worst case scenario) just bringing a small, thin pillow to sit on.
As for parking..I'm doing this trip on a student budget, during the 4 days I have off between summer classes, so money and time are tight. Thankfully I can still crash at my old condo in Brooklyn, and get any local help I need from family I have down there..that will save me some money.
So stoked for this trip!!
 
frekeyguy said:
Did that trip into NYC last year, parked at pretty secure location (if you want more info PM me, I have an agreement with the owner that I wouldn't advertise it). He stores some pretty high end bikes there, usually 40K+ duc's.

It its fully climate controlled and the owner is a charm to deal with.
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U just advertised it.
 
Debating between the i90 and the i86, right now I'm leaning towards the 90 because its the new york state throughway (meaning better rest areas etc).. havent been on the 86 in years and cant remember how it is.
 
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