Planning to go on a motorcycle road trip? Do you often find yourself fatigued and wishing for the ride to end because it has stopped becoming fun long ago? Taking breaks in between can make a huge difference in your overall experience at the end of the ride.  But too many breaks or unsafe breaks can work against you too. How do experienced riders take breaks in between their long rides? Let’s find out.  

Take breaks every 100 kms 

An average distance of a day trip is about 500-700 kms depending on the capacity of your motorcycle, and the road condition. To some extent the age of the rider also matters a lot. Keeping an average of 500 kms as the total distance to cover during the day, an ideal break gap is about 100 kms. Plan for a strategic break every 100kms or a little more depending on the facilities you find yourself in. If you continue to ride even after exceeding that distance, you will begin to experience an increase in fatigue as the journey progresses. Always make it a point to take breaks at every 100 kms.  

Pre-plan your breaks in advance 

Planning the breaks in advance lets you maximize the utilization of time and make the best of it. In most cases you will probably find yourself on a route that is unfamiliar to you. Plan for the break points in between so that you don’t find yourself in a place without any useful facility. Have a tentative idea where you want to break and how long you want to spend at that place. You should have a fair idea where you want to have breakfast, where to have lunch and where to have supper. Eating without fail and taking adequate rest in between is crucial in order to reduce the risk of health problems while touring on a motorcycle.  

Let the breaks multi-task for you 

Don’t take multiple breaks for different tasks. Try to combine different tasks and complete them in one break. A smart way to do that is to take a petrol refilling break and have a meal at the same time, or within a gap of 10-15 minutes. Similarly, you can combine bathroom breaks with something else that you need to do. This way you cover all of your bases without wasting a lot of time. This becomes even more important if you are going on long trips and plan to take multiple breaks in between.  

Take less breaks after sunset 

The frequency of breaks should decrease after sunset. Plan your rides in such a way that the journey ends well within dusk. It is not recommended to ride after sun down especially if you are riding on an unknown stretch with very little idea of the place. Unless necessary, avoid breaks after dark. If you are riding with a pillion rider, it may be slightly safer but in all other circumstances, postpone rest until you reach the destination.  

Think about the pillion rider 

The pillion seat is usually less comfortable than the rider’s seat which means the person on the pillion seat will be fatigued quickly. Discuss the challenge of being on the pillion seat and keep talking to the pillion rider to keep an eye on his or her comfort level. The moment the person talks to you about a discomfort, consider taking a break in between even if was not planned before. Get a Bluetooth-enabled premium helmet so that you can talk with each other conveniently.  

Keep the breaks short but meaningful 

Take meaningful breaks that helps you manage your energy levels. Too many breaks will only add to the overall duration of your trip and by the end of it you will find yourself rushing to the destination. The ideal time for breaks is somewhere between 10 to 15 mins. Any longer and you risk extending the time to more than that and you will arrive at the destination late, and any shorter than that you will not be rested enough. Therefore, always keep your breaks short and useful.  

Take a break even if you don’t feel the need for it  

Sometimes you may feel like you are full of energy and you don’t need any break at all, but even if you do not feel the need for it, take a break! 

Riding Tips: So, if you are planning motorcycle trips in the Philippines, ask yourself what do you really need during the ride. You need to be safe first, with that in mind, always wear branded riding safety gears and purchase a brand-new premium helmet in the Philippines? There are a ton of options in the market today, .