Dave Svoboda, a long time contributor to the motorcycling world, recently wrote the following to the COG list:

Corbin.com

Russell Sadles

IMHO, for a really long-haul day (>600 miles for me), a Wing-Wing or other full-dress would be preferable to the Concours. But definitely not preferable for anything but long-haul days. I have done many 600-mile (and one 1000-mile) superslab days on the Concours, and I agree that it's not a livingroom couch, but it's not bad, as touring-bikes go. (Old definition of touring, that is--any bike that can carry a sleeping-bag.) Also, there are many general long-haul riding ideas that help me a lot.

1. Optimize the riding position for you, personally. If that means higher bars, do it. For many of us, the bars are just fine.
2. If your butt burns, look into a better seat. (Corbin is good, Russel is better.)
3. Ride with elbows bent and wrists straight. Makes a huge diff.
4. Throttle-lock, throttle-lock, throttle-lock. Even an electic- smooth Wing-wing needs a throttle-lock.
5. Find a riding position you can hold forever. For me it's one- handed (right), turned a little sideways toward the right hand, and slouched under the bubble. (Like the Beatle's tune, "Twist and Slouch". :-) I can sit in that position and listen to the stereo most of the way across Nebraska.
6. Take aspirin or other pain reliever, before you start out, and then follow the instructions on the package. Pain, even light pain, is tiring, and fatigue is your enemy. (Hey, I feel pain sitting in a CAR all day. I don't expect touring to be painless.)
7. Drink water or juice, not caffiene. Drink enough water that you have to pee every 100 miles or so. The quick breaks keep you fresh, and dehydration is very bad.
8. Wear earplugs. The high noise-level of interstate speeds is damaging in the long-term, and fatigues you in the short-term.
9. Pace yourself. For me, a 600 mile day is: wake, coffee, get on the road. Pay for the coffee by having to pee in the first hour. After 100 miles, stop for breakfast. Rest of morning, I do another 200 miles, taking a 5-minute rest break in the middle. Get gas if I have to. Now we're halfway, and it's about noon or one. Take a lunch, walk around a bit, maybe take a 15-minute nap, and gas up if you didn't. Get back on the bike at two, do 200 miles, with a 10- minute break in the middle. Now it's six o-clock, and I'm at 500 miles. For me this is a full day, but if I need more miles, eat some dinner, walk around, get gas, and start back out at seven. I get 600 miles by ten pm. If I need more than 600 miles, I get up earlier, and shorten the lunch and dinner breaks.
10. Don't ride for the destination, ride for the route. This is a philisophical thing, but it makes a HUGE difference to me.

In summation, I feel the Concours is a wonderful bike for long-haul touring. I want a bike that I can adapt to interslabs, but can also be much better than me in the twisties. And leave me enough money to buy gas. I can't say all those things about any other bike.

I'd also suggest a look at Bill Stermer's excellent book, "Motorcycle Touring and Travel: A Handbook of Travel by Motorcycle", available from Whitehorse Press, (800) 531-1133), and also Bill Cooper's book "A Rider's Guidebook" from the same source.

• You might also want to check the long distance tips section on the Iron Butt Rally page.

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