Dreaming of a cross country motorcycle jaunt? Here’s how to do it.

Whether your inspiration comes from your dog-eared, college-era copy of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance or from classic films like Easy Rider or Motorcycle Diaries, it’s undeniable that the idea of a cross-country motorcycle ride can romance you with its lure of the back roads.

No matter if you’re a weekend rider or a novice wanting a little more freedom in your life, we have some tips that can help you achieve this goal.

Saddling Up

The first step toward living the dream is learning to ride. If your idea of a mid-life crisis is a new Harley or even a Vespa, that’s a good start, but you still need to learn to ride it without wiping out. Call AAA and ask them to refer you to a local motorcycle education course, where you can learn the ropes and get street legal.

If you have a license but no wheels, you can rent a bike from The Lost Adventure. If you want to go all hard-core, you can probably even take bike mechanics classes from your local community college.

Next, have your bike checked out by a professional mechanic. While he (or she) is checking the bike, research your soon-to-be leather-clad butt off. Since the answer always starts with a question, here are a few:

Are there states you want to avoid?
Do you have friends you want to visit?
Speaking of couch surfing, is any old hotel cool, or should you download a mobile app like the Orbitz app?
What’s your budget for this trip? (Count on $100/day or less.)
Is there a Starbucks in Greasy Corner, Arkansas? (Look it up.)

Get your research squared away and map out your plan. It’s cool if your plan is to not have a plan.

Whatever steps you need to get here, do it. Now, you’re here, you’re legal, and you’re ready to hit the road.

GPS or no GPS —that’s totally the question

Purists might say that it’s cheating to get your directions from anything but a laminated map, but if you’re into the latest gear, we recommend a Bluetooth motorcycle helmet for safe, hands free communication, entertainment and GPS.

Speaking of gear, having the right waterproof saddlebag, is a must-have, along with rain gear and gloves. Add in zip ties and duct tape, a flashlight with extra batteries, and a Leatherman tool. Pack this gear in an organized way; don’t put your rain gear at the bottom of your saddlebag. Baby wipes are important; put those at the top (you’ll see).

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You may want to carry a compass, but certainly take your phone and charger.

Having a small first aid kit and a bike tool kit is never a bad idea. If you map out your route and are stopping at a friend’s house, why not ship yourself supplies? Or, just forage wild dandelion greens by the side of the road. Seriously, good road food includes jerky, nuts, dried fruit, and granola bars. Riding makes you hungry; it’s more physically demanding than you realize. Invest in a couple of really good liter water bottles. You’ll drink at least one thermos a day.

One big tip is to break in your gear before heading out. Part of the allure of biking is that you’re out in the elements. Kind of like cowboys riding a horse, you’re going to get stiff. Your hands will ache. Make sure your helmet is comfortable; otherwise you’re going to have a hell of a neck ache.

Skip the Interstate, smell the cows

Statistically speaking, May through October is the best time to ride. You should allot a couple of weeks and prepare for about 4,000 miles, give or take. We recommend traveling East to West, if you can. Why? Psychologically, you’ll start to naturally clear out your mind as you leave the more heavily populated east coast for the West’s wide-open spaces.

If you’re a purist, whatever that means, you may want to just wing your route. If that’s the case, check out the awesome Google feature called “avoid highways.”

No matter how you plan it, take time to document every second. Strike up conversations with people and be curious about their lives and where they live. If you want to meet other bikers, check out the biker community at meetup.com. Use social media to make connections in the towns you’re traveling through.

The final rumble

If motorcycles were more common in the 1800s, Henry David Thoreau would have probably hit the road. Thoreau was an environmentalist way before Al Gore made it mainstream. Good old H.D. said, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” If you instinctively know what this means, maybe accomplishing this one-damn-fine-thing on your bucket list is exactly what you need.

If you’re finally ready, the road is still waiting.

Author Tina Bahadur

Tina is a co-founder of Motorcycler. At Motorcycler, she manages the creatives and leads the community outreach program. Tina is a travel addict and a coffee junkie.