The Costs of Riding Cross Country
When you’re riding across the country, you need to factor in a number of different costs that will be associated with your trip. It’s not just a question of throwing a leg over your bike and going - you need to think about the cost of gas, food, lodging, and emergencies like breakdowns, accidents, and the subsequent towing fees. At Gina’s Motorsports of Monee, we’ve written this brief guide to help you break down how much it’ll cost you to get out there and see the country. And when you’re ready to shop for a new bike or accessories, please come visit our dealership in Monee. We also serve customers in Chicago and Kankakee County.
Gas and Bike Prep
How many miles per gallon does your bike average, and what is the cost of gas along your route? There are a lot of web resources available that’ll help you calculate your cost per mile in fill-ups. To help optimize this cost, make sure your tires are properly inflated and in good shape before you leave - improperly inflated tires can cut gas mileage significantly. It’s also just common sense to do a basic maintenance check on your bike before you leave - fluids, hoses, belts, chains, everything. These basic checks will also help you avoid a potentially expensive maintenance surprise along the way.
Food
Before you hit the road, determine your food budget for the trip. Do you want to eat in restaurants, or do you want to bring food with you? Do you have any dietary restrictions that will require you to be more selective in your food or restaurant choices? It’s probably a good idea to map out your food stops before you leave, so that you don’t find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere with no food options nearby.
A good way to save money on food is to bring basic snacks with you - beef jerky, nuts, trail mix, dried fruit, etcetera. These munchies can help stave off hunger and prevent impulse buys at truck stops. Bring plenty of bottled water, and consider things like cold brew coffee or tea in cans or bottles to help you stay alert. Stay away from energy drinks - they tend to provide a quick burst of energy followed by a gnarly crash, which is not what you want on a long trip.
Lodging
Are you going to stay at hotels during your trip? That’s obviously going to be a major expense. It’s a good idea to book your hotels before you leave and find out if they offer things like free parking, breakfast, and other perks that’ll help you save money.
On the other hand, maybe you’re planning to stick to campsites. In that case, your costs are just the gear you’re bringing with you - tent, sleeping bag, camping equipment, food, and other supplies - along with the fee for the campsite. An additional cost here might be installing luggage racks or other equipment on your bike to carry your camping gear.
To save money on your trip, see if you can put together a route through places where you have friends that might have a couch for you to crash on. Staying with friends is a great way to save money - and you get to see people you might not have seen in quite a while. Plus, they may also give you food for your ride - bonus!
Other Costs
A cross country trip can involve a lot of other tangential costs. Do you want to document your trip as you ride? Factor in the cost of, for example, a helmet-mounted camera. Do you need new gear - helmet, jacket, boots, etcetera? Are your tires in good shape, or do you need to replace them? Do you want to add a bluetooth receiver to your helmet to allow you to make calls or listen to music or audiobooks while you ride? Factor all these costs in before you leave to make sure you stay within budget.
We hope this general guide has been helpful in giving you more information about the costs of taking a cross-country motorcycle trip. Get out there and have fun - we encourage it! And when you’re ready to shop for gear, accessories, or a new bike, we’ll be here at Gina’s Motorsports of Monee to help you find what you need. Happy riding!