15 Ways To Stay Fit On a Motorcycle Tour

Motorcycle tours are one of the most fun adventures riders will ever experience. Motorcycle fitness is essential for riders since riding a motorbike demands stamina, fitness, and strength.

Not being in physical shape on a motorcycle tour can result in fatigue, reduce handling and control of your motorcycle itself, and reduce reaction time which increases the risk of crashing.

To reduce the likelihood of getting into an accident, you need to improve your physical fitness. Here are tips on how to stay fit on a motorcycle tour. 

• Table of Contents
• 1. Wear Running Shoes
• 2. Plan Your Routes
• 3. Cycling
• 4. Swimming
• 5. Hiking
• 6. Endurance
• 7. Glute Strength
• 8. Core Strength
• 9. Bodyweight Training
• 10. Improving Flexibility
• 11. Get Enough Sleep
• 12. Eat Healthy, Eat Less
• 13. Stay Hydrated
• 14. Focus on the Positives
• 15. Don’t Push Yourself
• 16. Last Words

1. Wear Running Shoes

Riders who do not wear durable shoes or boots run a greater risk of injuring the lower extremities in the event of a motorcycle accident. To prevent injuries, riders should wear closed-toe shoes or boots.

These types of footwear will protect your ankles from twisting and reduce the likelihood of your bones breaking.

To ride and stop a bike, you need enough ankle support. Your feet are, however, prone to significant twisting and contouring in the event of a crash. To keep your feet intact and protect your ankles in this scenario, you should wear boots. Most vital, whether there is an impact or severe twisting, your shoes protect your feet.

When trying to regain control of your motorbike, the instinctive response is to slam your feet against the ground to stabilize yourself. Wearing appropriate footwear might provide enough traction, help you maintain balance, and reduce the risk of foot injuries.

2. Plan Your Routes

Preparation is key when coming up with a fitness plan. You are less likely to complete your fitness plan if there are more obstacles standing in your way.

You will not have to worry about getting lost if you plan your routes before you set out. You can use MapMyRun and Garmin Connect to help you plan routes and destinations.

3. Cycling

Cycling is a great way to stay fit on a motorcycle tour since it's a low-intensity exercise, improves cardiovascular health, and improves your general well-being. Cycling requires little to no equipment and can help you stay fit at a leisurely pace.

It is possible to rent a cycle for a day at most tourist destinations if you want to go exploring.

4. Swimming

Swimming is another fun, low-intensity exercise that you can do at local swimming pools or at public lakes or beaches in wilderness areas.

5. Hiking

Hiking is a suitable exercise if you enjoy wandering through forests and hilly areas. You can find possible hiking routes using imformation provided by MapMyRun and Garmin Connect.

6. Endurance

To remain fit on a motorcycle tour, it is advised you gradually improve your endurance. Exercises that increase heart and lung capacity are known as aerobic exercises. Your body will be able to take in more oxygen and facilitates the flow of nutrients in the body. It is advised you engage in aerobic exercise at least three times per week, with each session being at least 30 minutes.

Simple workouts, like walking or light running, can help you build up endurance if you're not in peak physical condition or don't want to work out at a gym. Other exercises that can help you build up endurance include swimming and cycling. Speak with your doctor before starting any cardiovascular workout program in case there may be any health concerns.

7. Glute Strength

If you have weak glutes, the probability of suffering from back pain becomes higher. If you suffer discomfort in your hips or similar health issues, you become more susceptible to back pain.

The hips are where you build up muscle and fat. If you are very skinny, you might want to consider putting on extra weight. Possible exercises to increase glute strength include weightlifting, squats, planks, and deadlifts.

8. Core Strength

Improving core strength is essential to stay fit on a motorcycle tour. Deep abdominal and back muscles that surround the spine make up your core muscles.

Motorcyclists should develop their back and abdominal muscles to improve stability and balance. To stay balanced, you must utilize your core muscles, your arms to hold onto the handlebars, and your thighs to grip the bike while turning. The best exercises for improving core body strength are yoga and pilates.

9. Bodyweight Training

Bodyweight training includes exercises such as squats, lunges, press-ups, chin-ups, sit-ups, and isometric exercises. You can a;sp pick from a variety of exercises for a CV workout, including standing sprints, burpees, jump-ups, running lunges, skipping, etc.

10. Improving Flexibility

Improving flexibility is considered a core part of a rider’s workout routine. Riders need to have good flexibility in their back, neck, thighs, and hamstrings. An efficient way to increase and maintain flexibility is by doing stretching exercises every day.

When creating a stretching routine, start with a 5-10-minute warm-up, then follow with an aerobic exercise. Make sure to start your stretching workout routine several weeks before the day of your motorcycle tour.

Remember to maintain good body posture while doing stretching exercises. If you don't, you risk getting hurt. Prior to hitting the road, consistency and dedication are crucial to developing flexibility. Naturally, it is not feasible to increase flexibility in the two days leading up to a motorcycle journey, so begin many weeks in advance.

11. Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep will help improve your overall mood. If you are sleep deprived, you risk becoming fatigued, suffer reduced reaction time, have less awareness, and will be more prone to road rage.

When you are on a motorcycle tour, try to avoid riding after sunset to give you enough time to find a safe place to park your motorcycle. Make sure you get 7-8 hours of sleep so your mind and body can be fully rested for any activities you have planned for the following day.

Lack of sleep can lead to fatigue and it can also affect your vision that can making it hard for you to see lights, signs, and other drivers on the road.

12. Eat Healthy, Eat Less

To stay fit and healthy on a motorcycle tour, eat fewer quantities before embarking on a motorcycle tour. Riders find it hard to focus if they feel bloated and heavy on a motorcycle tour. Try to eat a healthy breakfast and a light lunch. Focus on eating a healthy diet with the right amount of nutrition and dietary fiber. Avoid eating large portions before going on a ride. 

13. Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated during a motorcycle tour will help maintain energy and improve concentration. Drinking enough water will help riders keep cool and lower the risk of muscle cramps. Hydration also improves the quality of sleep, emotional well-being, and overall physical health.

Carrying a water bottle is useful if you are traveling on a route with few grocery stores and fuel stations.

14. Focus on the Positives

Travel anxiety is common among motorcyclists. The idea of traveling to an unknown destination and leaving your comfort zone can cause riders to become nervous. Instead of worrying about uncertainties, focus on the positives of a motorcycle trip.

To get in the right mindset, practicing meditation and yoga in the morning could help get rid of any nervousness.

15. Don’t Push Yourself

When doing fitness training or riding on a motorcycle, make sure to engage at a reasonable pace. Don’t constantly try to push yourself beyond your physical limits. Take short breaks during your tour and break up your entire journey into short segments rather than trying to complete the trip in a single attempt.

16. Last Words

If you are planning a motorcycle tour, make sure your body is in the right physical condition. Motorcycle trips can be demanding on your physical and mental health. Poor overall fitness can turn your trip into a nightmare. To maintain concentration on a motorcycle tour, focus on improving endurance, glute strength, core strength, and flexibility. Moreover, you can improve your level of fitness on a motorcycle tour by engaging in bodyweight training, cycling, swimming, and hiking.  

If you have an older motorcycle, you can improve its aesthetics, comfort, and performance by installing a few parts available at Viking Bags. There are different luggage options, including saddlebags and sissy bar bags to improve the storage capacity. Other aftermarket parts include fairings, sissy bars, crash bars, and handlebars.