Touring plan

[Gareth RSA]

I am looking at doing a trip to the USA next year sometime and am after a bit of advice.I plan on purchasing a used FJR. I want to spend two to three weeks touring with the wife. Where would be a good touring area and what time of the year weather wise is recommended? What are the speed limits and what accomodation is suggested. I would like to be out of any big cities where possible and in an area offering good biking country. Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[bikerskier]

You can ride the West coast and up into British Columbia until you puke with pleasure. Northern California, Oregon and Washington and then up into into Canada. You want to plan on more than 3 weeks if you can. There are tons of great roads and great places to stay and fabulous little places to eat everywhere. And if you let folks know your schedule, you will likely get guides along the route.

I would pick early June or September for best weather and less tourist traffic.

 

[DELETE-PLEASE]

You might want to look for bed and breakfasts along the route. Might be nicer and just more memories than hotels that are in small towns.

 

[0Face]

Wow. That is such a huge question. I hate to give you the "search the Forum" answer but there are so many ride reports, pictures and discussions about great riding it's hard to pin down just a few. A lot depends on your pace, what you want to see, how long you want to be in one area, etc. Look around the forum and see if you can narrow it down a little. Mountains, ocean, desert, all of them?

Three weeks? I can cover a lot of ground in three weeks.

 

[Gareth RSA]

Thanks for the input. The USA is so big, just don't know whether to go N,S,E or W. With three weeks I will be a bit limited. The important thing is to travel out of your peak vacation seasons and I hate the rain, so perhaps where it is a dryish climate and not flat nor too many monotonous roads. Also if I can pick up some events on the go. What are the more famous routes around the country and a bit of a write up on them.

 

[FJR-Pilot]

I say fly into Atlanta, get your bike, then head up to Cherokee, NC and get on the Blue Ridge Parkway and ride it up to Front Royal, VA. It is a 477 mile road with NOT a single stop light or stop sign. Motorcycle nirvana for sure. That will take about 5 or 6 days and the scenery is incredible. Lots of nice B&B's and resorts along that route. You would not regret that ride.

Once in Front Royal you should turn left and go into West Virginia enjoy some of the wonderful roads there. The FJR eastern owners meeting (EOM) had their annual ride/meet in Front Royal in 2003, and Lewisburg, WV in 2007, and Johnson City, TN this year. They did this for one reason: easy reach to some of the best roads in the eastern half of the US. You could easily spend a week or two getting back to Atlanta on some really magnificent and iconic roads.

Heck - if you planned to ride western NC alone you could spend 2 weeks and have the time of your life. Deals Gap, Cherohala Skyway, Hellbender, southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway and North Georgia are all awesome areas to ride in. Many many nice places to stay in that area.

Area Maps:

https://www.tailofthedragon.com/maps.html

Best time of the year for this region is usually early May through mid October. The two weeks before public schools let out in May or the weeks following Labor Day (Sept 1) are the best times because most of the tourists are gone and the roads are a bit more available.

 

[Bugnatr]

Ride the western half of the US. Many more National parks, better motorcycle roads with all the mountain ranges out here, Higher speed limits 65-70 but you can cruise 80+ out in the open areas with less traffic.

Do it in early September to avoid summer traffic and really hot weather plus the kids are back in school so vacant motels are easier to find.

 

[beemerdons]

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...t=0&start=0 Gareth RSA: A lot of good advice coming your way in regards to motorcycling the United States AFTER Labor Day 2010! As far as the Western US goes, you really should plan on being on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada on September 10 to attend Barb's 1st Annual Western Canadian Regional Ride being held the 10th through the 12th. Then motor down Coastal Route 1 to Torrance, California.

When you arrive in CA, you can team up with Fairlaner and the Southern California Crew in riding to SW-FOG in Taos, NM.

Fairlaner will be more than happy showing you the speed limits in the Great American Southwest. Bring bail bond monies!

Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado have the finest and twistiest motorcycling roads in all North America! Join us!!

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...=123522&hl= Here is the info on Barb's event. Watch those Canadian Gals!

 

[Waaane]

Please consider the central Sierra Nevadas. These are a few pics of Ca Hiway 108 way up high in late August

 

[Gareth RSA]

I like the sound of this one, thanks again for the replies

 

[Aasland]

Call me jaded, but I can't handle more than a couple hours on the BRP. It is nice, but too monotonous, the scenery is pretty much all the same, speed limits low, enforcement and tourism high, and it's generally hot and humid or cold and damp. And before anyone jumps on my butt, I'll say it's better riding than here in MN, and the WV/VA/TN/NC has some of the tightest, twistiest roads I've been on .. they just aren't on the BRP. It's definitely worth riding sometime, but if you want the BEST riding in the US, go west.

Out west you'll get the absolute best scenery in the US. Large, expansive vistas, from cliffs along the ocean, to volcanoes, deep canyons, snow-capped mountains, etc. The weather along the coast will be vastly variable, but a few miles inland it will dry up quickly. If it is scorching hot inland, get out to the coast. Leave your travel options flexible and ride where the weather is best.

More specifically, fly into Los Angeles on a weekend, get your bike there. Get out of town FAST before the weekday traffic mounts. Hit the coast at San Simeon, visit the Hearst Castle and follow the coast north to Big Sur. Then hit the freeways and get past San Francisco, cross the Golden Gate and get back on the coast. Take the coast all the way to Fort Bragg on Hwy 1, continue on Hwy 101 up to Avenue of Giants. Figure out a way to get a lot of the 299/199/3/36/96 highways between Yreka and Eureka. In my opinion, these are the best roads in the country.

Then head inland to Crater Lake in OR, through the Cascades past Mt Bachelor, THree Sisters, Mt Jeffersion, Mt Hood and explore the Gorge. Take a break in Portland - a fun quirky town. THen continue north along hte Windy River to Mt St Helens, Mt Rainier and Chinook pass, and see if you can work in the Northern Cascades national park. And along this route, you have the choice of going to the coast if it's too hot inland, going east if it's too wet on the coast. You could take in Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada's, or the northereastern moutnains (Wallowa and Blue). Maybe check out Hells Canyon or Lolo Pass. Then Glacier National Park isn't hard to get to either.

If you don't mind crossing into Canada and back to the US Banff and the Icefields Parkway is worth it (and Banff itself is another nice town to take a break in).

Then start heading south, but avoid Yellowstone - that has become a parking lot with tourists. I have never had a good time on a bike there - only in a car, where it's convenient to stop frequently to check out hte sites. There's not much to see from the road, and the road itself a good motorcycle road. And then there's Bison. But if you can, Beartooth Pass and Chief Joseph Scenic Byway on the eastern side of Yellowstone ranks in the top two or three roads in the US.

Continuing south, Arches NP in Utah, and definitly Zion NP. If you have time for a day hike, you've gotta up to Angel's Landing. And what trip to the southwest is complete without a visit to the Grand Canyon? After that, head back to LA through Death Valley if the temps aren't too high, else skirt around it.

At least that's what I'd do if I had three weeks in the US.

The official "end of summer vacation" in the US is Labor Day weekend which is usually in early September. After that you'll get lower hotel rates a lot less traffic along the coasts and in the national parks. Some places along the coast (like Oregon) are nicer in the fall as the deserts in the east pull the fog off. But when you're in the Rockies, only July and August are the best months to avoid. We've had to sit out snowstorms in Montana in late June. But don't let that stop you ... it's not common.

I did most of that this past summer, in four weeks, from Minnesota, with a very leisurely pace. We went in August.

Just let us know if you have any questions. I'll wager 99% of us who live here are jealous of you ;-)

 

[James Burleigh]

Any tips would be appreciated.

With three weeks I will be a bit limited. Three weeks is a lot of time. Plenty of time. You're not trying to see the whole country after all.

What are the speed limits? Most limits are about 65 miles per hour posted (105 KPH). In urban areas and major freeways speeds are up to 80 MPH (129 KPH) (not posted, but what people actually drive). Gauge the average rate of traffic around you and go that speed, or a little faster or slower. OK, faster.

What accommodation is suggested? Motel 8 is very reasonable and clean. They are located throughout the US. Avoid Motel 6 (cheapest; used by prostitutes, porn directors, and drug dealers, or so I've heard). BTW, California is the only state in which you can legally share lanes with cars (go up between them in slow or stopped traffic).

The important thing is to travel out of your peak vacation seasons. Unlike Europe, where everyone vacations in the same month, US vacations cluster around major holidays. The biggest travel holidays are Thanksgiving (late November) and Christmas. Also, July 4 weekend (Independence Day), Memorial Day weekend (late May), and Labor Day weekend (early September). Apart from that, there will be moderate travel all through summer, but no big crush of people (except at the usual spots, like Disneyland).

I hate the rain, so perhaps where it is a dryish climate. Rain sucks. As a native Californian, I don't really understand rain. Here it rains in the winter months, and then doesn't rain at all in the summer and most of the sprig and fall. It seems to me that in all other states (maybe not Florida), it can rain, and hard, any time during the year. That includes (especially) Oregon and Washington. So if it's no rain you want, then California's your place. Don't forget our seasons are reversed from yours. Our summer is June, July, August. Our winter is December, January, February.

Where would be a good touring area and what time of the year weather wise is recommended? I would like to be out of any big cities where possible and in an area offering good biking country. and and not flat nor too many monotonous roads. I know California best, so that is what I can talk about. But the fact is, it meets your criteria.

Just here in the Bay Area or within a few hours we have access to some of the best motorcycling venues in the world (yes, the world), as wells as major international tourist destinations. We have:

San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge:

The Sierra Nevada Mountains, and Yosemite:

Highway 1 Along the Coast:

The Gold Country with its Old West Towns in the Sierra Nevada Foothills:

To the South, Los Angeles and All Its Sites:

What are the more famous routes around the country and a bit of a write up on them.

Again, Highway 1, a must-see if you're a motorcyclist.

In summary, California offers good weather, international destinations, diverse scenery (ocean, mountains, desert, Wine country, Gold Country, Yosemite), and well-maintained, twisty motorcycle roads.

Best,

JB

 

[beemerdons]

Wowser, fantastic touring recommendations from James Burleigh and Aasland. I did enjoy Blue Ridge Parkway; however, I did get a very expensive speeding ticket. JB: Little surprised about Motel 6 comment; RenoJohn, OM and I often stay there!

 

[James Burleigh]

JB: Little surprised about Motel 6 comment; RenoJohn, OM and I often stay there!

Heard it from someone who heard it from an ex-employee. So it must be true....

I've stayed there too. But to keep costs down, you gotta believe they don't change those sheets when they ought, and those bedspreads...Where they been?! (Fair question for any motel / hotel.)

Jb

P.S. And thanks for the kudos on the post.

 

[Gareth RSA]

Thanks James, this was the type of info I was looking for. Going to do a bit more research on the web, but sounds like I'm heading West. I'm would like to visit places recommended by locals, not those advertised in the travel agents. I also dont want to follow a rigid schedule where I have pre booked accom, hence availability of accom is important. Not interested in camping at all. Also don't want to spend day after day in the saddle.

 

[Waaane]

Well then, Now you neede a motorcycle... This is available on SF Bay Area Craigslist

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/mcy/1497441876.html

 

[rickcorwn]

JB: Little surprised about Motel 6 comment; RenoJohn, OM and I often stay there!

Well there's yer problem

I've stayed at a bunch of Motel 6s and some are OK but too often the clientele was a bit sleazy and made me nervous about my bike's security.

Thanks Aasland you saved me a bunch of typing I think you hit the nail right on the head even your take on the BRP, nice road but a bit of a snoozer. The roads going to and from the BRP are the real good ones.

One divergence from your advice is I wouldn't rule out Yellowstone especially for someone from outside North America. There are sights to be seen in Yellowstone like no where else on this planet. Your right about the Bison though, they do make a guy kind of nervous on a bike Yellowstone can be kind of touristy and crowed but your timing can help reduce the crowds. Heck Devenator and I did a SS1000 and went through Yellowstone and Grand Tetons NP.

JB's take on California is spot on, some of the best and most diverse there is.

 

[Gareth RSA]

Well then, Now you neede a motorcycle... This is available on SF Bay Area Craigslist

Just a bit early to purchase now,only coming over in 9 odd months time. Will be looking for something I can run up a couple of miles on and then sell off without loosing a fortune!!!

 

[bikemiser]

I don't think you're going to snooze on the BRP.