5 tips for an unforgettable long-distance motorcycle trip

Not every long-distance road trip involves a car. Sometimes they require only two wheels, as anyone who owns a motorcycle will tell you. Even the most liberating of these trips, however, can be made better. Here are five tips to help ensure your next motorcycle adventure is one you'll remember for a lifetime.

[Image credit: iStock.com/FocusEye]

It is important to bring along cash when venturing out on the open road.

• Although most businesses accept credit or debit cards, if you're unlucky enough to end up somewhere so off the grid that they don't have card readers, you could get stuck there without cash.
• Similarly, sometimes technical difficulties occur and the card readers are temporarily out of service. What will you do in that situation?

Having cash is even beneficial because some shops require a minimum purchase to use a card, which is annoying if you wind up buying stuff you don't need or want for the sake of using your card.

Walk into a pizza chain restaurant on one side of Canada and then head into another on the opposite end of the country. Now, what was the difference? Probably, none.

• Local pubs and mom-and-pop diners are where you get a real feel for an area. These places have character, and you're more likely to make friends with locals and the employees at the establishment.

The benefit of non-chain restaurants is you can get far more information about the local area and the awesome attractions that simply cannot be missed before you leave.

Unless you're on some type of tight time schedule, go ahead and stop at every site that's even remotely interesting.

• Although you could only make time for the bigger, better-known spots along the way, once you're through with them you'll likely regret missing the smaller attractions for which others rarely make time. Think of the unique stories you'll be able to tell!

Don't hinder your adventure with time constraints. Allow yourself as much time as possible to explore the nooks and crannies that many people never experience. Who knows what wonders you'll discover!

Unless you think that a liberating adventure can be had over the course of a day, it's always best to have luggage racks or something similar installed on your bike before heading out for a long trip.

• Backpacks simply won't do for a long-distance road trip. Not only will they restrict how much you can bring along, but they're also likely to hurt your shoulders, annoy you by flapping in the wind and even damage your posture over the long haul.

Regardless of how amazing hitting the open road feels, your bum won't feel nearly as amazing after sitting on your motorcycle for hours on end. At this point, you don't really want to have to hop back on your hog for a short ride to the restaurant or gas station.

• Find a hotel that's close to important amenities such as shopping, food and a pharmacy. You'll definitely thank yourself for it later.

Most of all, plan to enjoy your time on the road. By planning well in advance and taking these simple tips to heart, you can be certain that every trip will become an adventure to remember – for all the right reasons.