[dhgeyer]

We're in a similar state, Bill. I'm also planning the longest ride I've ever done for Spring/early Summer. I'll be riding essentially coast to coast, from here in Merrimack, NH to California and back. I'm allocating a month or a bit more. I'll be riding a BMW R1200R, with BMW sidecases and topcase, and a tank bag. Having a lot of cargo space really helps, especially if most of it is lockable. I want to be able to leave the bike unattended while I go for long walks and take pictures, eat meals, and so on.

Anyway, I also am testing capabilities of me and bike, as this bike is new. I've been paying special attention to getting the large windshield set up so that it doesn't buffet my head. I had to make a pair of air deflectors to make it work, but I've got it licked now. The 1200 boxer engines are very smooth at operating RPM's, and of course have no trouble keeping up with traffic. The weak link is me, and I have to know how much I can push a day. I did a trip a little over a week ago to Buffalo and back. I went out in one day, 433 miles (60 miles winding mountain 2 lane, 273 miles of superslab, and the rest relatively easy federal 2 lane). I did that on 2.5 hours of sleep! I came back over the next two days on all federal 2 lane, and much more sleep. I can do it, but I wouldn't do the equivalent of that first day for several days running. That would be way beyond my limit. It adds up over days, and one thing that should be in our planning (yours and mine) is a rest day every few days, with limited riding, some walking, and a lot of rest. Veteran tourers will generally tell you that.

If you haven't already, check out some of the motorcycle touring websites and books. There's a lot of information out there.