Tips/Tricks/Advise for first long road trip

[limeex2]

TourMaster has nice rain suits, bags, tank bag at a decent prices. As mentioned, get your butt ready. At the beginning of the year my Versys seat sucked. By the end of the year it seemed fine. Look at your stock tool kit. They have most of the proper sizes, just low quality. Bring the same ones but your own better quality. I used to take a film container put some 5&6mm nuts n bolts hen wrap some wire around it, then secure it with some duct tape. Make sure your electric system is up to date, a LED headlight will consume less power and make you way more visable.

 

[Wingsconsin]

This can be done without too much angst

This can be done without too much angst

IF you truly have the mechanicals up to snuff and sorted out you have a bike that IS easily capable of doing what you want to do...

I too have a 1983 GS850GL and have ridden some longer days on it - 400 - 500 miles is easily do-able IF you seat is right --
The OEM seat was torture for me so I had a custom Diamond seat made on an extra seat pan I found on eBay -- it was $600 but I can ride ALL DAY with no issues.

Consider LD Comfort underwear to avoid chaffing (Google it)

Consider a throttle rocker and/or a throttle lock

Vista Cruise is teh preferred throttle lock for a short rest

I have a volt meter on mine showing me the function of the charging system

Here you can see the Ram mount for my Zumo550 GPS on the left and the Ram mount for my phone

The 850 will tell you when it is time to stop -- the smallish tank will need fuel every 135 miles +/- at highway speeds so that is your chance to rest a bit.
Every 135 is 4 stops in 500 miles so no trouble.

Take notice of the cities you are riding through or around - rush hour traffic can easily Kill an hour of time (every time I go through Chicago I add 1 hour expected delay)

Carry a credit card and cell phone for emergencys and an extra quart of oil -
On MY 850 at highway speeds (75-80mph for prolonged periods) the bike eats a little oil -
I have redone the seals and it doesn't leak so it just gets evaporated or something...

Tires are your life line - be sure to have GOOD NEWish tires and check them often (every day) for proper pressure - low pressure heats and eats rubber quickly.

Have tunes - a Sena 20S system can play music into your headset wirelessly from your phone or a bluetooth enabled GPS (GPS another good choice)

The 850 can run all-day at prolonged highway speeds and not be 'buzzy' to exacerbate fatigue - Eat light - keep moving - be patient with those cage drivers who do not see you -

My bike has saddlebags and top case from SHAD - water resistant and easily and mounted - and a tail bag I use for clothes -

I packed and spent a week on it in June 2019 covering 2500 miles - some days 500 + others 250 -

The bike never skipped a beat