Top 15 Motorcycle roads in US

[Fairlaner]

The American Motorcyclist Association has taken nominations and votes on where the best motorcycling roads in the United States are located. With over 100 roads were submitted, the organization’s 230,000 person membership voted on the entries via the AMA’s website (although were not told how many actually voted). With the tallies finally in, the AMA has chosen 15 routes in all, with some honorable mentions as well.

With an equal showing of roads in the west coast, Rocky Mountains, and southern states, the AMA’s list also includes roads in the midwest and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, seemingly leaving not region unaccounted for in the results. Did your favorite road gain the top spot as “The Best Motorcycling Road” according to AMA members? Find out after the jump.

15. Washington Route 129 and Oregon Route 3, Clarkston, Wash., to Enterprise, Ore.

14. Ohio Route 170, Calcutta to Poland

13. California Route 58, McKittrick to Santa Margarita.

12. U.S. Route 33, Harrisonburg, Va., to Seneca Rocks, W.Va.

11. Natchez Trace, from Natchez, Miss., to Nashville, Tenn.

10. Angeles Crest Highway, California Route 2.

9. U.S. Route 12, Lolo Pass, Idaho and Montana.

8. California Route 36.

7. Cherohala Skyway, North Carolina and Tennessee.

6. Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana.

5. California Route 1, Pacific Coast Highway.

4. U.S. Route 550, from Ouray to Durango, Colo.

3. U.S. Route 129 — The Tail of the Dragon — on the North Carolina-Tennessee border.

2. Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina.

1. Beartooth Highway, Montana and Wyoming.

Looks like a few of these will be fun to ride while at WFO this year.....

R

 

[HaulinAshe]

I read that article. They had some interesting observations about their experiences on the roads, versus the roads' reputations.

I've done 10 of the 15. I need to ride more.

 

[Fairlaner]

Jeff where is Beartooth?

R

 

[rickcorwn]

Jeff where is Beartooth?

R

US 212 from Red Lodge MT to Cooke City MT.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Jeff where is Beartooth?

R

Northeast of Yellowstone NP.

-signed, Jeff.

 

[Fairlaner]

thanks.

R

 

[wheatonFJR]

I haven't read the article...but just looking at the list...I would say these are a list of "scenic" roads...not the BEST motorcycling roads. They will have lots of auto traffic due to the scenery.

Don't get me wrong, I tend to want to do more scenic, as opposed to only snakey roads on a cross country trip. I tend to be a sportTOURER, so these are all places I would like to go...been to some of them.

However, there are many roads like these in SE Ohio which is a better "motorcycle road".

 

[Spud]

This is Beartooth in June 2008 when I had my Bandit. It snowed a lot up there that year

It really is an awesome road. It's not just how high it goes, it's how long and far it goes once you get up there.

 

[Fairlaner]

Mark, number 8 will keep you busy for a couple of hours in a few weeks.......and there ain't much traffic on it usually.

THIS is Highway 36......

R

 

[BwanaDik]

I haven't read the article...but just looking at the list...I would say these are a list of "scenic" roads...not the BEST motorcycling roads. They will have lots of auto traffic due to the scenery.

Agreed. And given the demographics of the AMA I'm actually a little surprised the Dragon and CA 36 are on the list. But scenic is good too. I'll probably use some of them as suggestions for an upcoming East Coast trip

 

[wheatonFJR]

Mark, number 8 will keep you busy for a couple of hours in a few weeks.......and there ain't much traffic on it usually.

THIS is Highway 36......

R

Yes, I agree. :yahoo:

This road seems to digress from the trends of the others. I see the list and say, yeah that's a good list of roads, but I wouldn't say that is THE definitive list.

 

[ynotride]

Jeff where is Beartooth?

R

I've been on 8 of these roads. Richard, I cant believe you havent been to Beartooth HWY. That road is a tie in my mind with HWY 36 but way prettier.

 

[mdisher]

Yeah, Beartooth pass is a must do... Traffic might suck but it's still a great (and very scenic) road. If traffic is light you can get your squid on on the way up and down.

-MD

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Also from the AMA site:

Honorable mentions:

• Highway 12, Colorado
  
• Route 191, 180, 78, Arizona, New Mexico
  
• U.S. 191 (Alpine to Morenci) Arizona
  
• U.S. 16A (South Dakota)
  
• U.S. 50, Nevada
  
• Farm to Market 336, Texas

 

[TomInPA]

One of the amazing things about Beartooth is the 70 MPH speed limit once you cross into Montana...in spite of the hairpins and serious consequences of misjudgment.

I did 36 just last month, and it is a fantastic road, but I'd say the PCH is more technically challenging between Garberville and Ft. Bragg. The Blue Ridge PKWY is kind of a puzzle to me. It has a 30 mph speed limit, loads of law enforcement, and heavy tourist traffic. The pavement and turn radius on the corners is second to none once you get past the detractions.

The honorable mention of Hwy 50 in Nv is interesting. Very much unlike the other roads in the bunch, and no shoe tree anymore. :blink:

 

[wheatonFJR]

I believe we had different weather, low 30s and fog...June 2009, on the way to CFR.

 

[ynotride]

I believe we had different weather, low 30s and fog...June 2009, on the way to CFR.

My pic is from Aug 09 only two months later. It was fricken cold but no where near what you probably felt.

 

[mdisher]

We were there in July of 2008.

Outside of the great road and awesome views... I think the biggest entertainment factor for us was all the Harley guys from the big meet in Red Lodge. Most were in their sleeveless shirts who hadn't thought far enough ahead to think that it was oh, about 33 degrees at the top. They were half frozen coming down the mountain, freezing their ***** off whilst trying to maintain their 'look at me, I'm a bad-ass' look.

 

[HaulinAshe]

.... The Blue Ridge PKWY is kind of a puzzle to me. It has a 30 mph speed limit, loads of law enforcement, and heavy tourist traffic. The pavement and turn radius on the corners is second to none once you get past the detractions.

The primary speed limit on the BRP is 45 mph. 30 mph posted only in sections where heavy cager activity is common (like Mabry Mill and Pisgah Inn).

The absolute BEST part of the BRP is south of Asheville over to Cherokee, where there is very little traffic and the main distraction is the awesome views!!