This is mostly directed at the US riders since I'm trying to find ideas for my 2011 summer trip.
Where is your favorite place to ride?
Or, if you had a week off, where would you go?
I'm in MN and constantly flip flopping on whether or not I'd like to go out West for a week long trip or circle all of the great lakes...
Looking for ideas on other cool places also.
Start as close to the Rockie's as possible, Yellow Stone and work your way south though any part of the Rockie's till you get though half of your time then come back up on a different road.... That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it........... :fing02:
In a week, you could hit Mount Rushmore, Devil's Tower, and Yellowstone.
How about a trip to Banff?
How about Niagara Falls? Or how about the Tail of the Dragon?
As for my personal plans, sometime next year I'd like to either go to the Florida Keys or Las Vegs / the Grand Canyon. I could do either of these trips in a week.
If you haven't experienced the Canadian Rockies and eastern B.C., I suggest you do so. Great scenery and some superb m/c roads, along with all those friendly Canucks make the area a fine destination. It's not that far from you.
While circling the great lakes would be a cool ride that I hope to do someday, you aren't going to find a ton of twisties. I would rather hit someplace with some mountains. For me the ideal trip is basically TMAC, you might want to consider hitting the rockies, though.
But then again, your goal might not be riding the twisties. What kind of ride are you thinking? Highway Tour? Scenic? Sport-oriented? Iron-butt distance gobbling? Seeing small-town America?
[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on 26 December 2010 - 02:53 PM, said:
While circling the great lakes would be a cool ride that I hope to do someday, you aren't going to find a ton of twisties. I would rather hit someplace with some mountains. For me the ideal trip is basically TMAC, you might want to consider hitting the rockies, though.
But then again, your goal might not be riding the twisties. What kind of ride are you thinking? Highway Tour? Scenic? Sport-oriented? Iron-butt distance gobbling? Seeing small-town America?
I would like twisties but it's not mandatory. Just not straight and flat the entire time. Part of the trip it's fine, but not for all of it. I'm looking for mostly scenic tour and also some small town / off the beaten path exploring.
If I were to be starting out in MN, I'd consider these four week-long rides:
1. Custer, SD: lots of nice riding in the Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, Badlands, and, of course Wall Drug. Avoid going near the area during the tribal gathering at Sturgis in August, unless you like to follow large groups of cruisers at a snail's pace.
2. Deals Gap area at NC/TN border just south of the Great Smokey Mts. Incredible roads galore! Nice people, very MC friendly area. Make it into northern GA if you have time--the Dahlonega/Suches, GA area is a MC mecca. A must: the Cherohala Skyway, and, just for grins and to be able to say that you did it---the tail-of-the-dragon (Rt. 129 right at the border of NC/TN).
3. White Mountains in NH: go through Alleganies, Adirondacks, and through Vermont. Beautiful rides everywhere. The Fingerlake distict of NY is very scenic.
4. Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Nice scenery, fun roads, MC friendly area.
[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on 26 December 2010 - 02:53 PM, said:
While circling the great lakes would be a cool ride that I hope to do someday, you aren't going to find a ton of twisties.
I started doing that this year, having ridden around Lakes Erie and Ontario during one long weekend. Hoping to continue my Great Lakes tours this year, doing Lake Huron or Michigan if possible. Would like to finish all the Lakes within the next few years.
Favorite place to ride is western NC and eastern TN during TMac, which I hope to do again in '11.
From Minnesota, you could head West through the Black Hills, on to Yellowstone, then up in to Montana to Missoula and then take Hwy 12 West. Hwy 12 between Missoula and Lewiston Idaho is a National Scenic Highway that follows the Clearwater River that Lewis & Clark took West. At the summit of the pass on the Idaho/Montana border you'll come to this sign. It doesn't exaggerate. There's only 1 place to get gas for nearly 100 miles, so you won't be bothered by anyone but the deer. The second year I did this ride a group from Edmonton stopped while I was taking photos - they said they'd been coming South for this route for the past 12 years. It was a great ride.
Well, I live in the Finger Lakes area of New York State-so I know it's nice country with lots of different wine tours. But for me--it's off to the Tail of the Dragon, N. GA, and the roads and mountains in that area. I guess when you live in an area that others want to tour--you look to tour some place else!!! LOL
Thanks for all of your replies. I seriously contemplated the tail of the dragon. The trip is this upcoming summer so I still have time to change my mind but I'm really liking the around the lakes idea. I added a spur to visit NYC briefly to see ground zero and Wall street. I really had the idea of going west, or going east. I have a sister who lives in UT so I figure that we'll be on a family trip out there someday anyways and can drive through the badlands, yellowstone etc... On the other hand, when are we going to take three small kids on a trip around the great lakes.
So a tenative plan brings me around the north side of the lakes into upstate NY and down to NYC. From there I'd go West over the North side of Lake Erie into Detroit. Then around the southern tip of Lake Michigan and either up the West side of Lake Michigan or across Illinios and up the Mississippi...
I'm not sure how to post a google map picture but here's a high level tenative map. http://goo.gl/maps/yBMr
[image: View Post]Cogswell, on 27 December 2010 - 07:33 PM, said:
From Minnesota, you could head West through the Black Hills, on to Yellowstone, then up in to Montana to Missoula and then take Hwy 12 West. Hwy 12 between Missoula and Lewiston Idaho is a National Scenic Highway that follows the Clearwater River that Lewis & Clark took West. At the summit of the pass on the Idaho/Montana border you'll come to this sign. It doesn't exaggerate. There's only 1 place to get gas for nearly 100 miles, so you won't be bothered by anyone but the deer. The second year I did this ride a group from Edmonton stopped while I was taking photos - they said they'd been coming South for this route for the past 12 years. It was a great ride.
THis is on my list..............been snowed out twice getting to Glacier so I want that one toooooooo.
If you make it down this way, add hwy 421 between Bristol, TN and Mountain City to your list, it is a lot like the Tail, just less crowded. Also add the BRP from just North of Asheville(Blowing Rock) to Cherokee, NC, but catch it on a week day, you won't ride as fast, too much to look at.
I like Central/Northern California, Bishop, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Redwoods. Southern Utah is fun Around Bryce Canyon and Zion. Don't forget the Million Dollar Highway in CO.
Places I want to go back to and explore more are Yellowstone, only saw a little of it, Montana and Idaho.
[image: View Post]Cogswell, on 27 December 2010 - 07:33 PM, said:
From Minnesota, you could head West through the Black Hills, on to Yellowstone, then up in to Montana to Missoula and then take Hwy 12 West. Hwy 12 between Missoula and Lewiston Idaho is a National Scenic Highway that follows the Clearwater River that Lewis & Clark took West. At the summit of the pass on the Idaho/Montana border you'll come to this sign. It doesn't exaggerate. There's only 1 place to get gas for nearly 100 miles, so you won't be bothered by anyone but the deer. The second year I did this ride a group from Edmonton stopped while I was taking photos - they said they'd been coming South for this route for the past 12 years. It was a great ride.
This was from last summer. Guess they decided another 22 miles of road was worthy. I loved it! :fing02:
If possible this year, but if not then next year, I'm going to ride the Trans-Labrador highway. The third and final section is now open. Long ride, and about 90% gravel. If I can find and afford a low-mileage used KLR650 to abuse the crap out of on the trip, that's what I'll be taking.
Mid-Ohio in July is a definite again this year, with a day for Wright-Patterson Air Force Museum. Might take a few extra days and ride Rte. 6 across PA to get to Mid-Ohio, and Rte. 50 back to get home.
Will also attend the "Triumph Come Home" annual weekend event again this year.
Maybe a Saddle Sore 1000, 1500, or 2000. I just like to ride all day.
Couple of weekend rides with the wife to the Delaware and Maryland beaches.
Not sure what else yet, but there will likely be another two-weeker in there somewhere.
[image: View Post]hotshoerob, on 08 March 2011 - 12:51 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Cogswell, on 27 December 2010 - 07:33 PM, said:
From Minnesota, you could head West through the Black Hills, on to Yellowstone, then up in to Montana to Missoula and then take Hwy 12 West. Hwy 12 between Missoula and Lewiston Idaho is a National Scenic Highway that follows the Clearwater River that Lewis & Clark took West. At the summit of the pass on the Idaho/Montana border you'll come to this sign. It doesn't exaggerate. There's only 1 place to get gas for nearly 100 miles, so you won't be bothered by anyone but the deer. The second year I did this ride a group from Edmonton stopped while I was taking photos - they said they'd been coming South for this route for the past 12 years. It was a great ride.
This was from last summer. Guess they decided another 22 miles of road was worthy. I loved it! :fing02:
Wow - now that's an update! Looks like my photos are stale now - dang it. I guess I'll just have to go ride it again! :cheerleader:
+1 Deals Gap(VOTED # 3 by MC Mag For Best Rides) area at NC/TN border just south of the Great Smokey Mts. Incredible roads galore! Nice people, very MC friendly area. Make it into northern GA if you have time--the Dahlonega/Suches, GA area is a MC mecca. A must: the Cherohala Skyway(VOTED # 7 By The Same Mag), and, just for grins and to be able to say that you did it---the tail-of-the-dragon (Rt. 129 right at the border of NC/TN).
End of thread · 27 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 16 Jun 2012
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