Motorcycle Travel Mistakes To Avoid (5 Beginner Tips)

Five common mistakes for beginner motorcycle trips. If you are traveling on a motorcycle you might want to avoid these mistakes that I made on my first few big trips.

Things like not budgeting correctly, not eating local, not making new friends and more. Make sure to stick around to the end for the bonus tip, this one is important!

Hope you enjoy this video, thanks for watching!

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🏍 WHO IS TIM COLLINS OF FTA ADVENTURES? (FORMERLY FORTY TIMES AROUND)
A lifelong adventure enthusiast and a long time motorcycle traveler, I have spent the last few years honing my craft as a motorcycle adventure specialist. I am currently living full time on my motorcycle, a 2015 BMW R1200GS named Lupe.

Motorcycle travel and camping have become my largest passions in life. I have a meticulous nature that helps me analyze gear, technique and tactics in a way that is highly beneficial to anyone looking to embark on a motorcycle venture of any scope.

[glenncurrie]

My biking experience ( 50 years) has taught me that extreme cold, heat and/or fatigue will sneak up on you and make you do things that never turn out good. Know when to park your bike!

[Onwardx]

I found the passion at 55 years old...not too late :) Whatever age you find it is the right time.

[danwilliams]

It is so hard to explain how positive it has been to talk with people on the road while traveling solo. Faith in humanity restored.

[advridertim]

1) Taking to much stuff, 2) Not having quality gear, 3) Not wild camping enough, 4) In to big of a hurry, quantity doesn't mean quality, 5) Be way more careful picking campsites, myself and a friend nearly drowned a few months ago when we were caught in a flash flood, while in our tents, it was the stuff nightmares are made of....

[lkld]

I think anyone, who has ridden a motorcycle on longer trips, can attest to Tim’s tips. I too, wished I had started earlier in life, but I’m doing it now.

Better late, than never.

[psyekl]

My mistakes on my first solo trip: 1) I took too much gear: I could have left a few bulky items of clothing behind, I was carrying far too much food and water and a couple of items of gear were pointless. 2) I passed a gas station in the desert: I misjudged the distance between fuel stops and the range of my motorcycle and was forced to use my reserve bottles. There was still some doubt about reaching the next fuel station. 3) I took the wrong gloves: I needed to purchase a pair of winter gloves from a truck stop to continue on. 4) I should have started riding earlier in life!!

[wernervivier]

Well Tim, if you think you waited to long. What must I say. I am 62 years young and my Adventure Motorcycle Travels start next year only. I thoroughly enjoy your videos. They are informative and inspirational. Happy and safe traveling

[bocfat]

a heartfelt video, makes you feel like you've been friends for awhile and he wants to share his mistakes for your benefit

[AstheMagpieFlies]

Yes!! My first 1, 000 mile trip when I realized I could do this thing, that going multiple days away from 'home' was ok, I took like 3 photos.
The reason this is so devastating to me is that the RV Park I stayed at was owned by this little old lady that came out and met me to check me in. She couldn't believe I was alone (haha and made me promise that If I came back to her RV Park that I wouldn't be riding alone XD) and she brought me pie, and then to make sure I wasn't "alone" she introduced me to everyone who was set up around me, the family next to me fed me dinner and helped me set up my really awful walmart tent lol
I have one shitty cellphone picture of my tent and that's it. No photos of that RV Park or the family that essentially adopted me for a night.
I still have a hard time remembering to take just as many photos of the places I stay and the people I meet (with their permission) as I do of the bike.
I'm so glad I have video of the gentlemen that helped me in the woods, but I wish I had also gotten a photo with all of them. Although I beat myself up a lot less about that one seeing as I had a broken wrist and was trying to escape the mountains XD

I will say that I've never really made the budget mistake because I've never had enough money to not be aware of how much I'm spending. lmao

[DoodleOnAMotorcycle]

One mistake I did while on my bike (just a full day, haven’t gotten hardcore and made a long trip of it yet- that’s why I’m watching your videos!) is not have a backup phone charger and have no clue where I was. I got lost, my phone was dead, and had no clue how to get home. A couple stops pointed me in the right direction, but now I have a portable charger and a USB charger that connects to my battery 😄

[mikehurley]

The man that has never made a mistake has never done anything.

[billdeel]

Im too focused on making time and tend to want to keep moving. I need to slow down and talk to people. Thanks for your insight. 🤔

[curtisdammann]

very inspiring. thank you for this video! I am 28 and finally got my motorcycle licence. Purchasing a Honda CB500X and starting my adventures soon!!

[flyinggyros]

Hey Tim. Good suggestions. When I’m on the bike I will stop if I see a police officer and ask them where they eat. They usually know the better mom and pop places and lower prices. It’s also something they don’t expect during their day. It probably brings a smile to their face. We are all guilty of your bonus tip.

[gwpack]

1. (video and journal) From watching you I bought an ION and a GoPro for this trip
2. (meet new people) Travel solo and short distances. Travel solo and you will meet people. Slow down and enjoy the journey. I have pedaled a bicycle cross country at 15 mph. People and places is what its all about. I had a quad-mate in college named Huell Howser - became a TV personality in California. Huell used to say there were dozens of human interest stories within a mile of you at all times. Take your time and relish the marrow of life. I plan on a 1000 miles in 4 days. 330 a day for three days and a flex day. When I was in Utah in April I was snowed in for a day. Waited an unplanned extra day in a hotel while the roads and bridges cleared. Ate up a flex day. Used the opportunity to wash and dry laundry. Then the Burr Trail made a casuality of my SW-Motech rack. Took a second flex day to fix it in Moab. You get the idea.
3. (eat local) I, too, look for local places to eat. Look for lots of cars in the parking lot and something good must be going on. Or ask around. People will tell you good places to eat.
4. (cushion days) I plan on extra flex days. I am old and don't go fast. When I am "with" someone we don't ride in formation. Instead we have rally points. On my trip to Alaska I will hook up with others for a few days. Mostly people I met on my 2017 trip. I take a day off for sightseeing or bike maintenance or laundry or to catch up on sleep. I can't agree more with planning in cushion days.
5. (Budget). In order for me to afford 90 days and 20, 000 miles on the road I've got to go cheap. I eat oatmeal and coffee for breakfast in the morning and have one meal on the road. I might have a granola bar before retiring. No alcohol ... too expensive. Ice water with lemon is usually free. I sleep on the ground in my tent where possible. One thing I have to consider is electricity at night for my CPAP. On my V-Strom I rigged a recharge system for a a 21 ah aux battery. Use it and recharge it off the stator on the road. I haven't rigged it up on my Honda NC750XD yet. But I will. Boats use the same sort of system. If the weather is really crappy I stay in a cheap hotel. I do put a tarp over my tent where I can go outside if it rains.
(Bonus): I turn 70 next year. You are the age of my kids. You have plenty of time. Nonetheless great advice. Just keep on keeping on.

[ralfhedin]

I just watched this video again, for the third or fourth time. I love it, especially that your "theme" is more philosophy than what things you shouldn't forget to pack.

[hmiddle]

Another great video Tim..

One of the things I learned on a long trip across country last year, have a contingency plan... I had the drive belt break on my bike, outside of Albuquerque. Being a mechanic who built this bike, I rarely think about someone else having to work on it. This was a HUGE job that I could have easily done at home, but being 30% into my trip, I had to bite the bullet and pay to get it done.. worse even, how to get to the shop.. In my mind, i always thought renting a truck would be my out. Making calls on the side of the interstate found the only option was a 27' UHaul for a crazy price or tow truck for close to the same... fortunately, a good samaritan with a trailer happened to turn around and pick me up, delivering me to the shop 1hr Now I carry insurance that provides towing.. Keep up the good work, be safe!

[mrpdc]

Damn man, this video was so personal. And such a big ‘learning school’. I’m about to get myself an adventure bike, so I can go on long, 1000s of miles trips. And this video, more than the ones about stuff to bring, made me understand the value of the emotional part of the video.

[YourMistakeSir]

I am 48 and have only been riding for about 5 years. My father worked for Harley Davidson as a mechanic and rode bikes for a very long time before selling his bikes while I was a kid and swore me off them due to the dangers. So I never gave it another thought until about 6 years ago when a close friend talked me into taking the basic course, getting my endorsement, and buying a bike. I love it and wished I hadn’t listened to my dad. Hell, I never listened to him about anything else. Lol. It truly does offer a freedom that nothing else does. The solo camping side of it in a dispersed or primitive area allows you to learn more about who you are deep inside.

[johnahutra]

Appreciate your advise. You are a real rider with a good heart. Don't let riding late get to you, you started when you could, when it was your time. I know you're trying to tell people to just go and start their trips which is appreciated. Take care boss.