Dream ride?

[SacramentoMike]

Great thread, and a lot of fun to think about. In fact, I already think about it all the time, so I should say great to write about it. I'm retired and my wife still works, so I've been able to take a great long ride each of the last two years (including Crater Lake, Glacier, Yellowstone, Tetons, Capitol Reef, Bryce, Zion, and the Grand Canyon). All excellent. I know I don't have to fly across oceans to find great motorcycling. I ride a KLR now, and that will take me anywhere I want to go, so I've spent a lot of time thinking about the '09 trip. I was pretty set on Alaska (like this guy--thanks for the link, Walt), and when I read Reno John's post about his ride, much closer to home, I wanted to take that one too. My only problem is I'll never live long enough to take all the rides I'd love to take.

Not too interested in going south--just too many problems: language issues, crime, corruption, civil unrest, you name it, and there's just plenty to see hereabouts. Cross that border into Canada and the price of gas doubles, so that's another reason to get to know the good old USA better. By the way, turn 62 and all the National Parks are FREE! That's kind of sweet too.

 

[fjrboomer]

Shortly after I started riding in 83 I read in one of the M/C mags about Glacier National Park and the Highway to the Sun. I knew I wanted to ride it someday. At the time I lived in NJ. In 88 I moved to OK and in 92 the wife and I did a ride up through central CO into WY and MT. We rode many great roads with fabulous scenery and Glacier was every bit as good as I had hoped. It is as close as you can get to Switzerland without going there. I know as we went there two years ago. We returned down through eastern ID and western CO doing the Million $ highway which was another great ride. We returned to OK through northern NM and back to the flatlands of TX & OK. We did just over 5,000 mi. in 17 days. That was definitely my dream ride. We never put on raingear which in the Rockies in the summer time is quite a feat in itself. You have a few days riding to reach this area from NH but I am sure you would not be disappointed.

Some of the foreign trips would be fantastic but certainly a lot more expensive than one like mine. Our trip to Switzerlan cost about $11k for the two of us and we had no bike and thus no rental cost. We did travel 1st class though. Whatever your pleasure the important thing is to pick it and do it. Life is too short not to enjoy.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Dream Ride, Epic Ride.

A number of years ago a friend talked his wife into letting him go on a "Once in a lifetime" hunting trip -- he's since been on many of those.

I've done two 'Dream Rides' and can recco both.

One is a ride thru the Canadian Rockies to Hyder AK and out to Prince Rupert and the Inside Passage ferry to Vancouver Island, ferry to mainland, Sea to Sky Highway thru Whistler to Lillooet, Fraser R., Osoyoos....

The other is a 10-day, 2800 mile dual-sport ride following the continental divide (Adventure Cycling's Mountainbike route) from the Canadian border to the Mexican border.

The Inside Passage ride was dreamed-about for decades and, whatd'y'a know, finally accomplished.

The dual-sport 'Divide Ride' was planned for a couple years -- lots of logistics to work-out; the actual ride was 'other-worldly' awesome.

As for me, my (un-accomplished, so-far) 'dream ride' is to spend a riding season in Europe on just about any old motorcycle knocking around all the local m/c haunts, attending MotoGP/I.O.M. races, and living/absorbing that scene.

Good luck, Fred (the dream comes first....)

 

[cota95]

I did my dream ride last spring when I rode solo cross country (7130 miles/18 days/31 states and Canada). This just wet my appetite for more trips out west. I would guess that my dream trip at this point would be the Alps. Also, I need to do an Iron Butt, just cause.

 

[brazos parker]

1. Alaska. I tried this trip 2 years ago but only made it to Idaho before late season snow changed my mind & route. I've put an Alaska trip on my bucket list.

2. SS1000. Not tried this yet but it's on the list.

3. Key West. Just because...

4. Yosemite, Glacier, Devil's Tower, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands. Never been there.

 

[canyonman]

Well I just did my "dream ride" this past summer and now I have bigger dreams. This year myself and 2 childhood friends did Glacier, Palouse, Columbia River Gorge, Crater Lake, Red Woods, Lassen Volcanic, in all 8000miles in 18 days. We had planned on catching The Tetons, Yellowstone, Bear Tooth, Devils Tower, and Mt. Rushmore on the return route but an untimely death in the family of one of my riding partners cut the trip and route short.

Now with that under my belt I want to do Banff enroute to Inuvik head over to AK make a run up to Prudhoe Bay do the loop and head back south.

No need to head south of the US border for me unless I got hooked up with someone else who has already done it.

A dual sport in the Andes would be indescribable. Maybe after I win that lottery. :sarcasm:

 

[RockiesRider]

FJR= $12,000
All gear needed for trip= $6,000

90 days to do it in= $22,500

Ride from top of North America rim to tip of South America and back home= PRICELESS

Used low mile KLR650=$3000

All gear needed for the trip=$3000

90 days to do it in= $9000

Ride from top of North America rim to tip of South America and back home= ALOT CHEAPER, BUT STILL PRICELESS

I don't care who you are, that right there is funny!!

 

[Fred W]

FJR= $12,000
All gear needed for trip= $6,000

90 days to do it in= $22,500

Ride from top of North America rim to tip of South America and back home= PRICELESS

Used low mile KLR650=$3000

All gear needed for the trip=$3000

90 days to do it in= $9000

Ride from top of North America rim to tip of South America and back home= ALOT CHEAPER, BUT STILL PRICELESS

Yeah... I guess if your income is $36k you should be looking at used KLRs.

Keep the ideas coming. Lots of good ones already.

I especially like the idea of just setting a few destinations and having enough time (and money) to get there and then wander along.

 

[Mooseonagoose]

Aaaah, there's sooo many, but, of longstanding, I've always wanted to do an England/Wales/Scotland/Ireland tour capped by a week on "the Island" for the

TT, replete w/ the requisite ferry rides to/from. Maybe toss in a couple of the Irish 'road' venues for sport too! Just sad I didn't get it done while "Yer Maun" and his brother were still in the fray!

 

[Tenchi]

Across America, including US-1 and Deal's Gap, with Dad.

Next closest thing Great Ocean Road in Australia.

 

[High Desert Rat]

My wife and kids have been to 49 of the 50 states (Hawaii this summer) and 7 of the Canadian Provinces. We made the effort to get the kids in all 50 before they graduate high school. I am lucky because my job allows me summers off. There is so much to see and do here in North America. The sunflowers in North Dakota is stunning. The small two lane roads of the Northwest, priceless. The damage done by Karina, dramatic. New York City at night... The Hudson River Valley, indescribable. Southern Utah... panoramic. The memories we relive as family as made the stops at the small town attractions and lesser known National Parks and Historic Sites has given us a common bond the will transend the years. In Rigby Idaho where televison got its start is more the a "Jeopardy" question for my kids. The hail storm in Yellowstone where we "slept" in the van because tent collapsed still brings giggles. Standing at each of the corners of the United States goes beyond the "What did you do this summer?" questions. These experiences are the soul of traveling. Pick a region of the U.S. and spend some time there. If you have kids, get them out and don't wait. If you don't have kids, why are you waiting? Work schedules can be arranged and extended family "commitments" can be managed. We become more interesting people when we can share these experiences others rather than talking about the family "issues" where the only thing that changes is the name of the individual with the problem (divorce, illness, etc). Some od your friends and family will live though the stories told, the difficulties encountered, and the people met along the way. However, my only regret is that these trips were done in a gage instead of a bike because my one daughter is wheelchair bound and it also difficult to get the five of us on two scoots. But we are better for it.

 

[odot]

A nice little trek through the nine rings of dante's hell. That would be kewl.

Long is the road....and hard as hell....the path leading up to light.

 

[El Toro]

A nice little trek through the nine rings of dante's hell. That would be kewl.
Long is the road....and hard as hell....the path leading up to light.

Actually, for those obsessed with their bike and riding, Dante's version of hell would put them on the bike riding for eternity. :diablo:

 

[old&slow]

When I graduated from high school , I wanted to get a bike and ride across the US.

Started to work ,, got married ,, had kids ,, etc. ,, etc.. never happened..

I got away from MC riding for about 15 or so years,,, and started re-riding in about 1992,,

Retired in 2001 ,,, figured since I didn't do the cross country when I graduated , I'd do it when I retired,,

Been to 30 states since I started re-riding.. 2004 I rode out to Phoenix, Az. ,my longest trip.

Haven't made it all the way to the Pacific yet ,,, was going to do that in 2008 ,, but some family matters

prevented me from doing that ,,,

Hope to do it in 2009 ....

SO, the dream ride may have had to wait 40 years,,, but I'm getting around to it...

 

[tcfjr]

I did my dream ride for my 50th birthday back in July, 2007.

I rode my '05 FJR from my home in SoCal up thru central Nevada and up to Ketchum, Idaho. From there, I spent a couple of days in Glacier National Park, did the Going to the Sun Highway, and took the back way up to Banff. My wife flew up and joined me for a fantastic week in Banff.

From there, I rode up to Jasper, then through Grande Prairie and Dawson Creek to the start of the Alcan. On the way up, I took BC-77 up into the Northwest Territories, but the deep, fresh gravel forced me to turn back before I got to Fort Liard. I made a quick stop at the Signpost Forest in Watson Lake, then headed down the Cassiar Highway. The northern part of the road was not in great shape, but once you hit Echo Lake the roadway is freshly paved, well-engineered, and one of the most fun motorcycling roads I've ever been on.

At the border crossing into Hyder, there's no US check-point, but they make you do the drill when you go back into Canada. Breaking camp and hitting the local Tim Horton's is not the worst way to make your way through British Columbia.

After crossing the border I knew that the long gravel sections on the Cassiar had shaved 1500 miles off the life of my tires, and I needed a new set on the road. The FJR Assistance Directory came to the rescue, and I got great advice on where to get tires in southern Washington - on a Monday, when most dealers there are closed.

I camped when practical, and moteled when it rained. I had 109 degrees in the desert, and wore my Widders and rain suit for three days straight in the Yukon and northern British Columbia - and I loved all of it. I did 750 miles days and 200 mile days, saw bears, caribou, moose, and unbelievable scenery.

When you ride solo, it just seems like the locals are more willing to approach you and ask about your trip. I met a lot of great people along the way. 6500 miles over 20 days total, with 14 days of riding.

Now, it's on to other dreams. My wife wants to go to Maine this summer (she'll drive her convertible, I'll ride the FJR, and we'll meet each night). My youngest son wants me to ride a SS1000 with him in March, and I've got a BBG planned for April. There's always something fun to do (and planning a trip is often half the fun) - I just have to go out and do it.

 

[BwanaDik]

I've been fortunate enough to have lived or worked or ridden thru most of the places mentioned above in North America and Europe.

We (wifey and me) rode from London to Interlaken, Switzerland, twice on bikes. Once with a tour company, once on our own. Germany and the Swiss Alps are not to be missed. Go after July 5 though as otherwise the passes may not be open. Seems like there was some sort of "7&7" day where you can go thru 7 passes in seven hours or something like that. Really nice folks too.

We also rode thru Glacier/Tetons/Yellowstone, not to be missed either (lots of traffic and tourists in Yellowstone though). The "Going to the Sun" hwy should be taversed from East to West. I did it once in a car when I was a kid and just remember zooming down the pass with only one or two stops to gawk at the view. When done on a bike, there are bike-sized turnouts every quarter mile or less that you can just fit into safely and so then stare at the view. Awesome......

And, as pointed out above, you can spend a whole lot of time in the Rockies and never have to double back.

I lived in Alaska and drove on ALL THREE ROADS!!! Whoops! Just checked S&T and there are actually NINE listed state roads, (but I can't find #7).

One definition of "dream ride" may be to do the ride while getting paid to do so. My job may be taking me to Wyoming and Colorado a lot this Spring and Summer so I may take a few days at the start and end of each trip and ride there instead of flying. I think I could stand that.....

 

[TCMike]

First choice would have to be Germany/Austria/Switzerland/Italy.

Closer to home....the Canadian Rockies.

 

[odot]

What?....noone wants to ride through hell? What gives?

 

[TCMike]

What?....noone wants to ride through hell? What gives?

Na, already been to Texas, wasn't impressed.

 

[odot]

Yeah....but you don't live here.