Some of the work was already due for scheduled maintenance, and other items would have needed service during the trip. I do most of my own work, and I'd rather do it in the comfort of my garage and not at the side of the road. To list everything I did would take a whole page, but a few of the bigger items were: rebuilt the forks, new tires front & rear, new front brake pads, and a new carburetor. The Buell had 54,000 miles on it before starting this trip.

How much work is done to your motorcycle depends upon two main factors:
1. Motorcycle condition at the start of the trip
2. How many miles you'll cover

It's easy to ride 2,000 miles in a week. That's only 300 miles per day, which leaves time for sightseeing and side trips. It's not hard to cover 500 miles or more daily if you use the Interstates (ugh). This is more miles in one week than many riders cover in a year! That's why it is so important to make sure your bike is in good shape before starting.

If your motorcycle is in lousy condition before you start, then you'll need to do a lot more work than if you have been performing regular maintenance. I've seen people touring on some questionable bikes, but I'd rather start the trip with high confidence that the motorcycle will not break down and leave me stranded. I tend to ride on remote two-lane roads, so it's critical that I trust my motorcycle.

MUST-DO ITEMS:
Change your oil.
Fix any leaks.
Replace or repair broken parts (turn signals, brake lights, shift levers...)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
Install new tires.
Replace your brake pads if they're getting thin.
Change your coolant if it's been a while.
Replace your fork oil.
Check all bulbs--turn signals, headlight, tail light.
Replace wheel bearings if they've been there more than 10,000 miles or a few years.