| Author | Message | ||
     Rotorhead |
WOW is all I have to say!!!! I started with US191 from Clifton to Alpine. Some have said it is the twistiest road in North America. I have ridden the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyway twice, the Tail of the Dragon and the Cherohala skyway to many times to keep track, Many of the roads surrounding the Suches, GA area ALL those roads combined are just about equal to the 80 some miles between Clifton and Alpine. I would have to recommend this road only to serious motorcycle riders that can really ride. Extremely technical and with natural road hazards along with the remoteness of the area are not for the inexperienced riders. I passed only 1 truck the entire ride up US191. My wife noticed there were no guard rails on US 191 at all. I really can't express the ride in words well and the pictures I took just don't give the scenery justice.  BTW the wife was a real sport hanging on for 70 miles before she needed to stop or puke in her helmet.  We stayed the night in Springerville to get a early start for the ride sunday. we did AZ260 over to Showlow to head south on US 60. What a ride 60 is!!! We were having too much to take pictures and the wife needed 2 hands to hold on. this is a really crappy gps shot at the bottom. we did end up riding that section twice.  At globe we took a right and headed up 188 to the dam. Then hung a left on I'll use the term loosely "HWY" 88. I turned on it telling the wife "We'll see how bad the road gets and will turn around if it is to much work two up". The first turn I meet a truck pulling a freaking pontoon boat!!!! and then the RV's!!! Oh yeah we're going to keep going if he can make it.  Notice the Photographers hand. Trusting wife!!!  The Uly was great maybe better handling the unimproved road 2 up. It is normally flawless on paved roads 2 up and it is no different on this type road. It was good enough to let the photographer get a shot of herself.  Had a chance to get the Cactus picture with the ULY so I had to take it.  "hwy"88 does turn into the paved road after a climb out of the canyon.   The higher res picture shows that road going off for about 10 miles over the ridge on the horizon. We shot home down us60 and AZ177 due the the wind storm that was a killer heading south. I know this was just a sample of all the roads AZ has to offfer. I will take AZ up on the offer and go see the rest soon. Here's a few more pics along the way.     | ||
| Okc99 |
How did you get your bike there? 3rd party hauler? | ||
| Wbrisett |
Rotorhead: I just rode US60 through Globe myself. I didn't take the Ulysses, so I didn't go down those roads. I did do a write-up along the way and took a bunch of photos. My trip took me from Austin, TX to Milpitas, CA and back again. Those are some great roads out in that area of the country and Tonto National Park is incredible. My write-up with links to my photos are in my blog: http://wbrisett.blogspot.com Wayne | ||
| Rotorhead |
3rd party hauler Blasphemy!!! Really, the Army said I had to move here. I rode the bike out across TX and had to drive the rest of the way with the bike in the back of my truck with the 2 dogs in the cab with me. Wayne I did the north AZ Grand Canyon, north rim, Zion NP this spring but all the tourist up there kind of kill the vibe in the GC area. The north rim area is much better. | ||
| Whitj |
Welcome to AZ brother | ||
| Sparky |
Some of those pics bring back memories of BRAG's Torque Fest touring adventure a few years back. It started in Show Low, went east and south along the edge of New Mexico. Great roads, sweeping curves and spectacular scenery. I'd like to do that one again but without the large crowd of eager sportbikers though. Too much adrenaline (excitement) is not a good thing in that type of wilderness. | ||
| Hooper |
I definitely remember Route 88 - The Apache Trail. My buddy and I took it from the edge of Scottsdale (and "The Lost Dutchman Mine") when it became unpaved after Tortilla Flat (where we ate lunch at the Superstition Cafe...the walls plastered with dollar bills). It was a miserable stretch: serious sand piles, washboard rills, steep hills, sharp curves, clueless tourists (like the one pulling the boat trailer), and pesky beautiful desert vistas to take your eyes off the road. I ended up dumping my rented Road King on a downhill stretch right before that little bridge, thanks to some very deep sand and a very inexperienced off-road rider. I didn't have the Uly yet. The Road King went out from under me, and I slid a bit on my leather jacket (my first ATGATT experience, despite the heat, though my jeans were a little torn up), and I got some road rash on my forearm from the inside of the jacket (see the photos). The bike settled into the gully on the canyon wall side of the road, nestled in some sand and rocks. Luckily, I was only going about 12-15mph, so I vividly remember looking back (on my back) and seeing my buddy on his Softail coming right at me. If he hadn't been there to help me push the bike out of the ditch (he pushed it while I rode it out), I wouldn't have gotten out without a tow truck, because NONE of those damn tourists stopped. They slowly drove by in their air conditioned minivans, slack-jawed staring at the two riders, one of which was in a ditch. Unbelievable. Not even an "Are you alright?" The damage to the bike was a bent left engine guard and footboard and some scuffs and scrapes. That was expensive, but didn't impact the trip. I still felt like a dunce. The trip progressed, and was one of the best experiences of my life - we blasted up to Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Zion and back over the next few days. Awesome. My buddy took pictures right after we got it out of the ditch, as I angrily strapped my bag back on, still covered in dust.    | ||
| Skinstains |
Hey Rotorhead, pic #2 seems like your better half may have wanted to show you something. | ||
| Rotorhead |
The pic I didn't post had her one finger salute. I couldn't ask for a better riding partner. She was the one saying to take the dirt HWY 88. I was suspect about my 2 up unimproved road skills. She yells pass this guy on a turn going downhill on US60. Eventually she will get me a ticket. | ||
| Dr_greg |
Yeah, AZ 191 (used to be 666, the Devil's Hwy, BTW) from Springerville to Morenci is quite a road. Ridden it numerous times; both directions. Very tricky and no one to haul you up if you go off the edge! Only place I've ridden over the 4th of July weekend and not had much traffic. | ||
| Mark_weiss |
There's a really nice nearby ride in New Mexico. Take 191 up to Mule Creek Pass. Over into NM and down to Silver City. East from Silver City to Hwy 35, then up and around. Loops right back into Silver City. Mark in Arizona | ||
| Rotorhead |
Mark, I have that route already in the GPS for the Thanksgiving weekend. I'll have to ride solo for that one but I know it will be a blast of a ride. Might be chilly too. If anyone want's to ride along open invite. | ||
| Dr_greg |
I have that route already in the GPS for the Thanksgiving weekend. Saturday I'm riding from Albuquerque down to Silver City (NM 152 is a great road), then back up through Western NM (Reserve, Quemado, Grants) to home. I'd meet up witcha over Thanksgiving but that's when I'm planning to re-do my top end. | ||
| Rotorhead |
I checked with my events planning staff to see if Sat would work. APPROVED!! I'm game for NM 152 and maybe that silver city loop. Give me an idea of what time you would get to 152 and I25 so I can back plan to be on time. | ||
| Road_kill |
To me, it will always be route 666 - the devils hwy! I've done it many times and have many fond memories. Green chili burros & beer for all! Enjoy! We used to camp at Hannagan Meadows during our fall "watch the leaves turn" rally. Road conditions on Mule Creek Pass can be a bit poor at times but it has been 13 years since I've had the pleasure so let me know how it goes. The 152/35/15 loop east of Silver City is great! Don't forget the Gila Hot Springs or the Cliff Dwellings. And for a really Uly trip, try some forest service roads off of rt 35. I suggest FSR 150 (N. Star Rd) which is 15.2 miles north of San Lorenso (hwy 152 & rt 35). Go 150 north to 59 (Beaverhead), then 59 to 159 to Alma on hwy 180. Any way you go, this is awesome country. I absolutely love it. Can't wait to retire in the southwest and get back to riding aimlessly through this magical country. Please take pics and post. |
