The Perfect Ride; Possible or Not?

Road Test Indian Chieftain classic.

- Harry Fisher

A motorcycle, the open road, clear blue skies and warm sunshine, an eagerly anticipated destination and the perfect soundtrack; what more could you possibly want?

That we all love to ride is without question, but there are times when the need for something more fulfilling than beating the traffic at rush hour becomes so strong that it simply can’t be resisted. There are plenty of people who manage to cover significant distances every weekend but, for some of us, outside influences prevent this to the point where a long ride is not only something to be looked forward to but essential to our health.

Riding long distances just for the sake of it has never appealed; 500km on a Sunday morning just to end up where you started isn’t my thing. Whereas the journey is the experience, the end point is important; arriving at a destination with a few days to savour being somewhere else and with the return journey to look forward to is key. One problem with any long journey that starts in Gauteng is that the first hour or two can be deathly dull; long, straight roads through a featureless landscape. There is no avoiding it but there is a solution.

Firstly, choose your bike carefully. Long distances need comfort and good wind protection. An unstressed, but powerful, engine is essential and, as the roads will eventually become interesting, a decent and entertaining chassis and good brakes are a must; it doesn’t have to be a superbike or even a sports bike but something that will go around corners without giving you a heart attack every time is always helpful! Luggage capacity is useful to avoid having a bag on your back.

Right, there is a description of every single touring or adventure bike on the market, all of them brilliant. But might I offer an alternative?