Distance Riding on 550 airhead

This may be a dumb question but I was wondering if it will be okay to ride my xj550 for like 2+ hours straight on the highway, I know the 550 airheads are not ment really for long distance travel, but I gotta get my bike to the new town I moved to somehow and I cant trailor it. Should I stop for a break every 45 min or so? It is pretty cool out so I figured it would be ok, but I figure better safe than sorry. I did just adjust and clean carbs as well as recently shimming my valves. Im confident it will make the trip with no problems. I just want some reassurance.
Thanks!!

 

If your mixture is right, ie not too lean then you can ride all day. If you had a refueling truck that could pull up next to you while you're riding and refill your tank there would be no reason to even stop! In other words you will break down before the 550.

The concept that the 1/2 liter bikes aren't meant for long trips comes from the notion that bigger bikes are smoother, easier to control at high speeds, have bigger tanks so go farther between refills, and won't wear you out as much due to high rpms. But truthfully if your 550 is in good shape there is nothing stopping you.

I usually stop about every 1.5 hours or so to stretch. Since you are only going 2 hours either stop after 1, refill and take a short break (long enough to let the bike cool a little) or just refill and make the whole drive.

To make yourself feel even better if you are anywhere near an oil change go ahead and do that before the trip.

 

I don't have experience on the air heads. However... At highway speeds is when it gets the most "cooling". I can't think of a better way to ride that far than straight highway. If you're worried about it just go when you're not gonna get stuck in traffic for long periods of time.

Shoot I wouldn't want a bike I couldn't ride for more than two hours!

 

Good point. Thanks a lot guys for the reassurance. Its my first longer trip with this bike so I'm kinda excited to see how well it rides. There are some nice roads along the Mississippi river I have to take in order to get to my new place. Should be fun.
Thanks!!!

 

Sounds like fun. Just don't do what I did the first long trip I took. I got so into the ride that I wasn't watching my miles and suddenly the bike began to cut out on me, it was 102 degrees that day so my first thought was that it had overheated. After it died I pulled over dejected and thinking about where I was going to buy a new engine after towing the bike home. I got off and began to inspect the mill and got up close to see if it felt unusually hot to me, turned it over a few times to listen for nasty sounds and then voila! I looked at my clear fuel line and saw nada! Switched to prime, then to reserve and was back on my way with an embarrased grin on my face!

If you can take some basic tools/supplies with you and be sure and give it a good pre-ride inspection. Have fun.

 

will do! thanks Merc!

 

I have ridden my 550 on trips over 200 miles and had no problems. My butt was pretty sore though.

 

What do you mean, "not meant for long distance travel?" ???

EQUINE PLUMAGE. (Horsefeathers.) Dunno where you got that, it's simply not true.

I've done a few 400mi+ weekends on mine; when I ride to work and back it's 120+ miles round trip. Member RangerG toured most of Canada and the American Northwest on his, many many more miles than I've done with mine. He's posted pics and stories from some of his 2500+ mile journeys. (Mad Canadian, anyway.)

MY butt doesn't get sore, thanks to Sargent Cycles' "Atomic Foam" in the recontoured seat plus a complete suspension rework (and I'm an old fart.) One of the things I love about my aircooled 550 is that it's an "all-day" bike. The whole bike is "electric motor" smooth at highway speeds, and sad to say it's a damn sight more comfortable than my Commando ever was.

I live out in the stix and run 80mph all the time, and regularly get 52~56mpg. RIDE IT (as long as it's in a solid state of tune.)

 

mmmm. never get tired of seeing those pics.

but yeah the bike will be just fine as long as its in proper tune

 

I've done 600 mile round trips on a 550 over 2 days running a pretty constant 70mph on a bike with 105,000 km on it and they'll easily cope with longer trips going faster, the limiting factor is the crappy small fuel tank

 

Hennit,
I've just returned from a 1k ride (albeit on a 750) roundtrip from Milwaukee to Columbia MO last weekend. You couldn't be riding that stretch at a better time..it was absolutely beautiful. My suggestion is to stay OFF the major 4 lane highways and stick as close to the river as you can (there is a Mississippi River Trail....it's well marked..just follow it north or south..you won't be disappointed! There are plenty of small towns with gas stations and boat launches). Might add a half hour or more to your ride, but it's worth it. Ride safe.

 

Nice, That is a such a slick bike fitz. Nice. I am acually moving from Platteville,wi southwest corner to the Lacrosse area Patmac. I follow the river all the way up its a fun ride! Im looking forward to it. I think I might do the oil before I leave though. Everything else is pretty sound though. Hopefully I wont freeze. Time to put my liner back in my riding jacket.

 

Took my 550 halfway across Canada last summer, you can read about it here http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=34905.html
Had no problems with overheating or anything like that. Just check your chain haha!

 

Sure there would be. Unless you rigged a tube to run down your pant leg...