First SS1K - loop of Lake Michigan?

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Sharif

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Granger, IN
I'm thinking about a loop of Lake Michigan as my first SS1K route.

Anyone done it? Certainly seems more interesting than South Bend -> Des Moines -> Kansas City -> St. Louis -> South Bend, though possibly slower with regards to average speed?

Thoughts appreciated,

Sharif

 
Never done it, the toll roads and traffic around Chicago might be a real bitch though. Once through that it looks like it would be a nice ride.

Griff

 
Never done it, the toll roads and traffic around Chicago might be a real bitch though. Once through that it looks like it would be a nice ride.
Griff
I tried but for me the southern loop is a real nightmare once I got to Benton Harbor and it gets worse from there.My starting point was Escanaba.If the cages or forest rats in the UP dont get you LEO will!Really tough to keep that 60mph rate and the fatigue is oppressive.Granger might give you an advantage if you time your departure very early am since the toughest traffic is just west of you .I would get my passport out and go east around Erie through Ontario on the QEW across on the 401 to London and exit out off the 402 at Sarnia.Should put you closer to the 1500.Just remember in Canada 100 is not the 100 you get to do in Nevada and is strictly enforced

 
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Granger might give you an advantage if you time your departure very early am since the toughest traffic is just west of you .
I was thinking a midnight departure, so well past Chicago by the time traffic gets gnarly.

I think the western loop (Des Moines/KC/St. Louis) would be "easier" (all slab, higher speed limits), but a loop of Lake Michigan would be prettier, especially up into Wisconsin.

Lived in Chicago for 13 years, so lots of fond memories of WI roads.

Maybe do the western loop, and save Lake Michigan for when I have more time?

-Sharif

 
I did it 2 years ago on a cruiser. I left Toledo early in the morning and went north first through MI, through the U.P. during the afternoon and through Chicago late at night. The timing worked out pretty well traffic wise. The Chicago area was definitely the worst.

 
Chicago is the worst all the time and right now add heavy construction on I80.

 
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Granger might give you an advantage if you time your departure very early am since the toughest traffic is just west of you .
I was thinking a midnight departure, so well past Chicago by the time traffic gets gnarly.

I think the western loop (Des Moines/KC/St. Louis) would be "easier" (all slab, higher speed limits), but a loop of Lake Michigan would be prettier, especially up into Wisconsin.

Lived in Chicago for 13 years, so lots of fond memories of WI roads.

Maybe do the western loop, and save Lake Michigan for when I have more time?

-Sharif
When I tried I left Escanaba at 6am and tried to hug the lake.Maybe that was my mistake.My son lived in Escanaba then and going over the Mac was a real thrill but by late afternoon I hit Benton Harbor and the grind towards Chicago just ate me up.By the time I got to Wisconsin I was all but burned out.Stopped at some motel somewhere between Milwaukee and Green Bay to crash before getting back to Escanaba.Your second choice makes a lot more sense to me.A bit boring but flat good avg speeds available.Take a break and stop in KC to get some good KC style bbq while you are there.Look up Diners,Dives and Drive ins on the food channel.Show has some good tips on where to eat in KC

 
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Sharif - I'm thinking about doing it this summer on my other bike - a Triumph Sprint ST. I live in NW Indiana. I would take off early in the morning to get through Chicago, through WI, across the UP, down the LP of Michigan through Flint, Lansing, down 69 to Fort Wayne (to get the 1000 miles) and then back across 30 to Crown Point. Chicago is not a problem early in the morning, done it a lot. This route looks like a lot of fun.

 
Well, I was being a bit paranoid/concerned about maintaining the required average speed, so I decided on a different route - South Bend to Mount Rushmore. You can read about it here - I still would like to do the lap of Lake Michigan...

Let us know how it works out.

 
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