# Motorcycles: how do you learn? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 29, 2000, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-how-do-you-learn/31237 "2000-08-29T20:02:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2000, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-how-do-you-learn/31237/41 "2000-08-31T21:32:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Just read the link about the 1000 mile days, kinda chuckled a little bit, on one of my trips out west, I rode from just south of LA to Vancouver WA straight through. Yea, my ass was numb, (also when I got to the area, there were no hotel rooms anywhere, ended up sleeping on a covered picnic table at a wayside!) but it was really no big deal. Spent the next day seeing Mt St. Helens, drove to Ellensberg WA stayed the night, then drove all the way to Dikenson (sp) North Dakota. First day was just over 1100 miles, the last day was just under 1100 miles. Did the trip by staying focused and maximising my time. Yes, it was a Gold Wing, but I was still filling up every 150-175 miles. One morning (Labor Day, 1995? '96?) I hopped onto my trusty Yamaha XJ600 Seca II for a little ride. I didn’t really know where I was going. I figured the bike did. Off we went on the 10 from West L.A. to Santa Monica. North on PCH. Nine hours later I was in San Rafael (north of San Francisco). Had a little side-trip to Laguna Seca on the way. Little did I know (this being unplanned and all) that there was a Renaissance Faire in Novato and an Art thing in San Francisco. No room at the inn, as it were. I stopped at a place in San Rafael and there was one room left. There was also a guy ahead of me at the counter. He decided that $35 was too much to pay for a room and left. _Swoop_! Having been looking for a place to stay, I took the room. I’ve already mentioned my soreness in this thread, but it wasn’t that bad. I took off the next morning down Hwy 1 and got stuck behind people who didn’t want to drive over 45. That made for a long day. By the time I was almost to Cambria I was going nuts. I had to get off the bike for a while. Walked around for about 1/2 an hour and then found my way over to the 101. The ride was much better from there. Picked up a little rain in Oxnard. Did I mention this wasn’t a planned trip? That’s why I was only wearing a denim jacket for protection. I was shivering and wet and uncomfortable. Finally made it home from the Bay Area after about nine hours (including my little walk, and a lunch stop, plus the gas stops every 200 miles). Sure I was sore, numb, cold and wet; but I wouldn’t trade the experience. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2000, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-how-do-you-learn/31237/42 "2000-09-01T03:22:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Limey \* > \*\*Just read the link about the 1000 mile days, kinda chuckled a little bit, on one of my trips out west, I rode from just south of LA to Vancouver WA straight through. Yea, my ass was numb, (also when I got to the area, there were no hotel rooms anywhere, ended up sleeping on a covered picnic table at a wayside!) but it was really no big deal. Spent the next day seeing Mt St. Helens, drove to Ellensberg WA stayed the night, then drove all the way to Dikenson (sp) North Dakota. First day was just over 1100 miles, the last day was just under 1100 miles. Did the trip by staying focused and maximising my time. Yes, it was a Gold Wing, but I was still filling up every 150-175 miles. > > bdgr, liked the crack about the Lucas refrigerator, btw, I,m 6’3" 300lbm I try not to ride next to mirrored walls when on my sportbike or Norton. I’d probably die laughing at myself. > > Chow \*\* Understand that. Even on my harley, I cringe when I ride past reflective surfaces. It is kinda fun to whatch the look on peoples faces when I ride on big harley, and still make it look small. I used to have a really streched out panhead chopper, it was 6’6" axle to axle. I think I actually fit that one. Wish I still had it. Lucas, because gentlemen don’t go motoring about after dark. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-how-do-you-learn/31237.md?page=2)