| Author | Message | ||
     Muppet |
Hey Guys, I'm starting to plan a tour to the US for a group of us Limeys from the UK. We're going to fly out and hire bikes, not sure what yet, probably a mix of Harleys, Buells (if anyone rents them) and BMW's). The general consensus is that we wanted to do either Route 66, or the PCH. First question is which would be better in your opinion. I'm personally thinking the PCH would be better, we could also add in a few other places. Here's my plan which I reckon is do-able in about 3 weeks: Fly to either LA or San Fran. Hire bikes, ride along PCH to Eureka. (4 - 5 days?) From Eureka head down to Yosemite and spend a couple of days there. (5 - 6 days). Then through Death Valley onto Vegas and the Grand Canyon (5 - 6 days) Then ride back to LA or San Fran to return bikes and fly home. Am I being too ambitious? I'd like a few days exploring each of the the major sights at Yosemite, Vegas and Grand Canyon (or are there other/better places to visit than those?)but I don't know if the mileages I'm looking at are way too far for the travelling time I've allowed. Anyone know of any decent bike hire shops in LA or SF? We're thinking of coming over in 2009, or could be as late as 2010, but all needs to be planned early as there may be 20 - 30 of us. Your help and advice would be much appreciated. (Message edited by muppet on November 18, 2007) | ||
| Xbimmer |
http://www.glendaleharley.com Top-notch dealer for Buells and does Harley rentals, not sure about Buells though. Close enough to L.A. and a good place to start IMHO! Your trip sounds great and mileages/times don't sound unreasonable. Be aware though that at various times of the year Yosemite is a zoo and closed other times, plan well ahead! Grand Canyon can't all be seen in a lifetime so you could spend more time there! Sounds like a blast of a trip Muppet, welcome to the USA in advance!  | ||
| Slowride |
Muppet, Well that sounds like a pretty cool thing to do, I would like to do the opposite and head to Europe or NZ/AUZ depending on what I find out from the locals. So for your trip you asked about PCH or Route 66, both good choices in my opinion. I would have to say that those rides are two totally different experiences though. So for what its worth here is my opinion… PCH I was stationed in Cali, actually Camp Pendleton while I was in the Marines. I rode most of the PCH from San Diego to San Fran on a 1993 GXR 750. I never made it north of San Fran and for that I am greatly sadden. It wasn’t until around 2001 that I made it to the NW states and I greatly regretted not riding those states. I currently ride a 06 Uly and I can definitely say the PCH would be a riot on the Uly. It would be very forgiving when I had to dive out of the path of on coming cars from staring off into the endless views of natures beauty, not to mention the endless amount of “eye candy” that graces the beaches of that part of the country. They plastic revolution is still in full effect out their and “God Bless them” for it. You will have an easier time finding dealers that will rent you bike in that part of the country. I highly recommend flying into San Diego and riding from south to north and enjoy all that the West and or NW states have to show you. Hotels will be expensive, but camp grounds are plentiful. Yosemite is GREAT! If you got time and would like a 1st rate tour, I say go for Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Moab, Joshua Tree and Death Valley in that order, but you better be Iron Butt Champions to get all that in, in 2 weeks that you would have left. It can be done and has been done, just food for thought. Route 66 Is actually best seen from East to West, you could fly into Chicago and rent bikes at the HD dealership there. You would then have to plan the route in round trip mode, but that aint such a bad thing. You could go as far as Arizona and then loop back via the northern states. Not a bad trip, but rather a mundane road trip unless your looking to see some of middle America. Alternative suggestions Blue Ridge Parkway to Deals Gap loop I never got to ride the BRP from its start to Deals Gap, but rather from Deals Gap to the BRP and then east for about 40 miles. I have always wanted to go from the start to Deals Gap and back via back roads (little one/two lanes). Pretty much all of North Carolina and Kentucky is outstanding riding country. Well that’s my 2 cents, whatever path you choose the people here at Badweb or over at ADVrider.com will get you lined out on the best routes. Ping me if you have any more questions. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Remember, we ride on the RIGHT side of the road.  Wish you could make an eastern swing. | ||
| Chrisgrant |
If you decide to stay away from Gods country (SC,NC,GA,TN,VA,KY) and go west to the Grand Canyon areas, I would also recommend Bryce Canyon Nat. Park and Zion Nat. Park. Both are spectacular. | ||
| Unibear12r |
I would think that you guys would enjoy your PCH plans much better than an Americana ride along Route 66. Glendale HD is a nice shop from what I hear. Don't forget to keep us posted as I'm sure a number of Badwebers here would like to meet you or ride along with you where ever you wind up going! | ||
| Blake |
I too would vote for PCH. Additionally, consider San Diego as a starting point too. I hear the coast down there is spectacular, akin to Oregon, which I can personally testify is spectacular. Consider heading all the way up to N. California, check out the Redwood National Park, and then even on into Oregon, where you can see Crater Lake; book a night at the Lodge there if you can. Have you considered a Shenendoa-Blue Ridge Parkway-Great Smokey Mtn. route? It's like riding through a nature park, no billboards, no roadside stores, very few exits, no businesses, nothing but park, overlooks and more overlooks, miles and miles of twisty tarmac with a leisurely speed limit, lots of critters, and plenty of interesting sites and nice campsites all along the ~600+ mile route that traverses the Apalachian Mountains. The word "idyllic" is fitting. | ||
| Banawi |
If you are looking to put on some miles then another alternative would be to ride to Alaska and back. From San Francisco it would be about 7000 miles round trip. Going north on the Cassiar highway and returning on the Alaska highway. You could also tie in the Ice Fields highway in BC and the Going to the Sun highway in Montana. A trip like this would require a group that is comfortable averaging 400+ mile days but this route also allows higher road speeds as the traffic is mostly minimal. Just another thought. | ||
| Supertoon |
Make sure you can leave the USA on your rental bikes before booking, we rented out of Anchorage and they wouldn't let us cross any borders. You could also consider Baja, amazing scenery and good roads! | ||
| Mainstreamer |
Clive, sound like a great trip you've got planned. Take a look here for some good information on Cali. roads and points of interest. http://www.pashnit.com/ +1 on Blake's thoughts about going north into Oregon. If you've got the time get up to see Mt. St. Helens. Take a look here: http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/ | ||
| Khelton |
Looks like a pretty good Left Coast Ride, definitely the Yosemite part. Since you are going through Vegas, ya gotta do some of Utah..you will be just a few hours from Zion National park, Bryce Canyon, Escalante , etc. the views will really trip your trigger. | ||
| Mainstreamer |
What time of the year would you come over? Death Valley is best visited from November to March. Just tooo damn hot the rest of the year. Nevada is also extremely hot mid-summer. I'd think May/June or late Sept/Oct would provide the best riding condition in that part of the USA. Also tourist season would not be at it's peak. Perhaps some others from that part of the country can offer up an opinion on the best time to visit. If you want to ride and see the beauty of this wonderful country..... rethink going to Vegas. Lots of people, traffic, lights and glitz. PCH is good and I recommend byway tour #21 in Cali. and Oregon. If you decide to cross Nevada..... give some thought to Rt 50 that runs across central Nevada between Sparks(near Reno) and Ely. Wide open spaces, good road, very little traffic, and as fast as you want it to be  Here's another site that may help you with your plans. http://www.byways.org/ This site can lead you to weather data for the city's your considering. http://www.wunderground.com/ | ||
| Chadhargis |
I've never ridden out on the left coast before, but being biased, I can say that the roads out here in the East are some of the best in the world (based on the opinions of people who've ridden the world over). Don't sit in traffic in California...come out to East Tennessee and Western North Carolina and ride some great roads with very light traffic, good home cooking, and the occasional banjo playing blind kid. LOL! | ||
| Dynasport |
I want to ride out west one day, but I am in love with the Blue Ridge Parkway, Deals Gap ride and many other roads in North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, north Georgia. If you do that ride, I can promise you won't be disappointed. | ||
| Steve_a |
The PCH ride is highly recommended; the stretch north of San Francisco to Oregon is not that heavily traveled and beautiful on a motorcycle. As you get north of Mendocino, population density drops like a rock; you're quickly out in the wilds. Keep in mind that the weather right on the Pacific coast is relatively cool all times of the year; you can be riding on a summer morning and find temperatures in the 15C range, or even cooler -- it'll remind you of home. Go a mile or so inland, and you'll find the temperature jumps by 5 to 10C, particularly in the spring and early summer when low coastal clouds and near-fog conditions are common. The most famous part of PCH is the 100-some-odd-mile stretch between Moro Bay to Monterey, south of San Francisco; it is spectacular but the most tourist laden. The motorhomes like to start late and roost by 5pm; in the summer you'll find that you should start very early or time it so you can ride this section as the sun is beginning to settle into the Pacific; it's amazing but you can have this road largely to yourself around 7pm even in July. Otherwise, count on either going deadly slowly or passing a lot of cars across double-yellow-lines. San Francisco to Eureka can be done in a day of riding, if you're not lollygagging about too much. That is of course if you're riding a Buell; hop on some cruiser and it'll take you longer. | ||
| Court |
>>>San Francisco to Eureka can be done in a day of riding Unless of course you follow Steve in which case you'll be eating lunch in Eureka and playing golf in the afternoon. | ||
| Muppet |
Hey Guys thanks very much for all your info - really useful and I promise to take the time to consider all the options. I'm gonna have at least 20 people relying on me to get this right - no pressure then - so I'm going to do my research. We're pretty much decided on going over in April so I'm thinking that the temps in all the areas talked about should be ok, unless you know otherwise? Thanks again for all your suggestions (even yours Fat_B), be great to hook up with some of you if you can spare the time when we're there. Keep the ideas coming. | ||
| Bearly |
Hey tickets to Vegas are always cheap. I know the the Harley dealer there has a lot of bikes for rent including Buells. Las Vegas Harley Davidson 2605 S. Eastern Avenue Las Vegas NV 89109 702 431 8500 www.lvhd.com I don't live near there or anything, but I was just out at SEMA show and stopped by the Dealership. Plus I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express Last night. :-0 This is about the only time you can visit Death valley (as it's not so hot) Just an Idea. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Come ride the mountains of TN, GA, and NC! The toothless people will remind you of Yorkshire. They're just less cocky! | ||
| Bearly |
Hey good idea, I'll ride down and ride sweep for you. I'll teach them how and why to listen for, and run from banjo music! squeal! boy you gota reeeall pretty mouth. | ||
| Karlsbad |
Ride the Sierra's Ride the Rockie's Find a river, follow the flow Ride the West & you will know CA.,OR.,WA.,ID.,MT., & B.C. Some of the best roads and scenery you will ever see. West coast gets my vote, but you can't go wrong with with N.C.,S.C.,TN.,KY. and many other spots in between. Enjoy your ride make some memories | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
many other spots in between Statement does not include Kansas:  | ||
| Mattwhite |
Yellowstone is another place to consider. The environment that gives you geysers feels like it should be from another planet.   The wildlife is interesting, too.  You'll also encounter them in the road, but we didn't get the cameras out when the buffalo were staring at us looking like they were ready to charge.  | ||
| Adrian_8 |
Go to the middle of American and ..Ride Colorado, Utah then drop down and see the Grand Canyon in Arizona, just breathtaking..Start in Vegas they rent bikes there. How much ocean can a guy stand to see? | ||
| Khelton |
Yep, start in Vegas and immediately get the heck out of there to Utah. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Columbia River Gorge. Hell's Canyon. Hwy 101. Oh and Lolo pass is a must ride. (hwy 12) Soak in a hot spring and quaf a Pacific Northwest Microbrew. Avoid the turist stuff and you will experience more. | ||
| Ulytime |
Hey Muppet, I'll take some vacation time and come along as a personal guide if you'll return the favor when I decide to do the haunted castle tour of the UK on two wheels! I talk good English and can act as translator ... (Message edited by ulytime on November 22, 2007) | ||
| Muppet |
Hey Muppet, I'll take some vacation time and come along as a personal guide if you'll return the favor when I decide to do the haunted castle tour of the UK on two wheels! I talk good English and can act as translator ... Interesting offer Ulytime, one I reckon I can take you up on.  You'll need all your linguistic powers if you want to see the castles in Scotland, that really is a foreign language!} | ||
| Royintulsa |
Skip Route 66, very over rated - at least in Oklahoma. | ||
| Adrian_8 |
We have so many beautiful places in the USA...you better get a "green card" as you will want to stay...and the people in middle America are very friendly...Southern Colorado HWY 550 (Million Dollar Hwy). Hwy 95 and Hwy 12 in Utah to see Bryce and Zion Canyon then down to the Grand Canyon is spellbinding..Then the Beartooth Pass(hwy 212) in Montana between Cooke City and Red Lodge...go to Red Lodge and ride it back toward Cooke City and turn south on 296 the St Joseph Hwy to Cody for a great steak. Great curving roads with very little traffic best done in middle June as there will be snow in Montana. You have to make more than one trip for sure... |
