Traveling on the Cheap

Motorcycle travel is, by its very nature, less expensive than lugging along 3,000 more pounds of vehicle. Going on a 500 mile weekend trip with a bike can save more than $50 over taking a car.

Gas prices and a rumbling recession should be no reason for a motorcyclist to stay at home. How can the determined motorcyclist save money and make their trips less expensive? Here a few hints.

• When going on a trip that will include an overnight stay, strongly consider camping. There are many places in the United States and Canada where the motorcycle rider can camp very inexpensively. Free camping can also be available with a little planning and research. If you are the daring sort, guerrilla or covert camping may be of interest. There is no planning, just finding a discrete place to put the tent up at the end of the day.
• If you decide camping isn't for you or you are in a situation where you must stay in a motel, don't stay in a Hilton or Ramada, find an old cheap motel somewhere. Be sure you can park your bike nearby, preferably right in front of your room. There are plenty of good, inexpensive rooms out there. Sometimes you just have to ride around to find them.
• Then, there are always couches at friends' and relatives' houses. Or arrange for places to stay through couchsurfing.com or posting on craigslist.com It does work.
  
• Eating can be expensive if you go to restaurants for every meal. If you must eat out, make it breakfast. Not only can a piping hot breakfast brighten your morning mood, but for the same money you would spend for dinner, you can get a LOT more food. Don't eat breakfast, or for that matter any meal while on your trip, at a fast food restaurant unless necessary. Would you put nasty, unfiltered fuel out of a beer bottle into your $15,000 BMW? Not unless forced, right? Consider the same with the food going into your stomach.
• If possible, buy your daily food supply at a grocery store, and only buy one day's worth. Think about what your body needs, not what it wants. Simple protein like peanut butter on tortillas with a side of apple slices and carrots may not sound like much but is rather inexpensive and good for you.
• Don't buy many souvenirs. They are a monetary drain and take up valuable bike space.

There are a lot of websites out there with many more hints and ideas. Whether you are thinking about your next coast to coast ride or just a weekend trip, it pays (or rather can save you money) to do a little research and planning.