How to Go Touring on a Budget

Long-distance motorcycle trips are a blast. You get to see new sights, chase adrenaline rushes, and shake up your daily routine. But touring trips can get expensive fast if you aren't careful. We rounded up the top ways to go touring on a budget. This way, you can you can take as many trips as you want without worrying about eating into your finances too much. If you’d like some of our staff’s personal tips, visit Barnes Harley-Davidson. We proudly serve those in Langley, Surrey, and Richmond, British Columbia.

Reduce Housing Costs

Your lodging can be one of the most costly parts of a motorcycle travel budget. It's amazing how expensive sleeping somewhere else for a few nights can be! One great way to save money is to sacrifice a bit of comfort. Swap out that bed for a sleeping bag. Choosing a campsite over a hotel, motel, or Airbnb can be a cost-saving option. Just make sure the campsite allows motorcycles, because not all do.

Another great approach is to choose places with the fewest amenities as possible. A motel without a pool will be cheaper than one with a pool. A campsite without electricity will be cheaper than one with power hookups. See if you can go "bare bones" to save money.

Of course, the best housing price is free. Do you know anyone who lives along your motorcycle route? See if you can crash at their place for a night or two. It'll give you a chance to catch up with each other and net you huge savings. Consider giving them a nice gift to say thank you, though. You can take them out for dinner or even just bring them a bottle of wine.

Reduce Food Costs

You're going to need to eat three meals a day on the road, but you don't have the luxury of buying in bulk and storing food in a fridge. Your motorcycle can only handle so much food. Food can quickly rack up your costs and you don't want to be stuck eating Top Ramen every day. One approach is to look for housing with a free breakfast. You can eat a massive breakfast for free and then spend less money on lunch (since you'll be less hungry).

Another strategy is to go to an all-you-can-eat-buffet. These places tend to have decently priced lunches and you can stay and get your money's worth. Then you'll need to spend less on dinner since you'll be less hungry.

If you can, try to limit how much you eat out. It's convenient, but the cost of food plus the tip adds up fast. Cook meals whenever you can. Brew your own coffee instead of going to a coffee shop. Try to limit what you don't prepare yourself.

For those who really want to save money, visit local grocery stores. Ask if they have any foods with aesthetic imperfections or ones that are too close to the expiration dates. They often can't sell these and are going to throw them away anyway, so you may be able to get them for free!

Reduce Gas Costs

The longer your trip, the more gas you are going to guzzle. You can't avoid needing to fill up your motorcycle, but you can avoid paying outrageous prices each time you do. Start by finding the cheapest gas station near where you want to stop. Apps like GasBuddy pull the prices from plenty of options so you can head to the ones with the lowest price. If you do this each time you fill up, the savings will pile on fast.

Another strategy is to join a fuel rewards program. Plenty of grocery stores, for example, give you fuel points when you buy groceries. Save up your points for your motorcycle trip.

You can also work to improve your fuel efficiency so that you'll need to fill up your motorcycle less often. Keep your load light. The more weight you pack on your motorcycle, the faster it'll burn fuel. Keep your speed under control as well. Going the same distance at a faster rate also burns fuel faster. You can even look into motorcycle upgrades that are designed to improve fuel efficiency.

Having fun on your motorcycle trip shouldn't break the bank! With a little creative thinking and the right strategy, you can travel as far and as often as you want. If you need any parts replacement or maintenance before your next trip, visit Barnes Harley-Davidson. We proudly serve those in Langley, Surrey, and Richmond, British Columbia.