year in advance ideas

[s.ga.rider]

So my plans are to take as much time off towards the end of next summer/fall, probably 2-3 weeks. I'm in south GA, meaning close to Tallahassee and striking out. Right now the ideas are hitting up new England. Riding the asphalt till i get there and seeing some scenery up to Maine.. 2nd idea is maybe towards Colorado and riding some mountains out west. I'm looking for any other ideas. This is just starting in the planning phase and thought it could be a good conversation topic and ride report after its over so who is first????

And fyi its on the bucket list to do a 4 corners trip and to hit up Seattle but don't think time will allow till retirement.

 

[s.ga.rider]

I wont know the time off till January but feel confident on 2 weeks minimum. After the destination is planned then i will need routes and stops. I want time to see stuff, not an iron butt type thing. So if i have to ride interstate hardcore for days to get to an area thats fine. Camping, hotels, all are in the plans for now. Its possible to get a month off but thats all my vacation time for the year but figure this is once in a lifetime thing, hopefully not.

 

[bigjohnsd]

Head West Young Man, Head West!

Fewer people, better roads, higher speeds.

 

[LKLD]

Head West Young Man, Head West!
Fewer people, better roads, higher speeds.

...and bigger mountains!
My vote would be for the west also, but I really admire the majestic vistas from the mountains there.

 

[Cav47]

Head West Young Man, Head West!
Fewer people, better roads, higher speeds.

Can't agree more. As I have said before, "Not traveling to the West, especially the Rockies, is a disservice as an American.

Problem for you is the 2 weeks you have will only yield about 20 percent of the most amazing stuff. There are so many gems that I know I had to pass up on both of my trips out west. One on the FJR and the other in the truck about a month ago.

Death Valley

Mount Whitney

Approaching Yosemite

The Falls of Yosemite.

This was all in the same day. Amazing what you can see in one day if you get up early, plan well, and get off the beaten path. Good luck.

 

[Uncle Hud]

Might be interesting to tag Key West, then hit Madawaska, Maine. That's two of the continental US Four Corners. Hell, in 3 weeks you may be able to hit all Four Corners.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

While I am in agreement with everyone on the "Go West" idea, and for all the same reasons, I will be the lone Voice of Dissent. With just two weeks at your disposal, North and East might not be a bad idea.

You are new to the FJR are you not? Have you ridden any distance in the Smokies? Have you ridden the Blue Ridge Parkway? Any saddle time in Eastern Kentucky, Ohio, the Virginias? Have you had your Killboy pic taken on The Tail of the Dragon?

If not, start off there. Better to see the Smokies before you see the Rockies. From your location it is but a day's ride to the Smokies and you can easily burn up two weeks and see some of the most beautiful scenery and ride some of the finest roads this country has to offer. I love the Smokies, the North Carolina/Tennessee border area is as good as it gets and those folks welcome you. Their economy depends on you and your motorcycle.

That said... There is nothing like Out West. You cannot make a bad decision. You will be riding your motorcycle and that is The Most Important Thing. Where you ride it is secondary.

Oh, and you will be obligated to do a RR since you asked for our advice.

 

[Cav47]

Redfish brings up some good points about being newish to the FJR, it is a big girl. And he is so right about the Rockies. They are so spectacular. Not that the smokies are not amazing, but they are different and just not as grand as the Rockies, Tetons, Sierras and some other stuff. As always, YMMV and that is just a personal opinion. I am still stoked about heading back to the Appalachians for EOM. You will eat up some days just getting to the good riding headed west, you can be in some amazing riding in half a day. Weather logistics can also factor into the equation. Meaning, the weather is prob less extreme and slightly more predictable in the East.

 

[Walter]

The Appalachian chain I agree is a great way to start as for you location, I want to do the west as well so I understand your dilemma. Do you have a dream destination? Going west is a bit inefficient for me but my dream is to run the FJR WOT on Bonneville once just for a been there done that experience. What ever your decision if your out enjoying a nice long ride its all good and never a wrong choice. Best of luck and looking forward to reading about it and seeing some pics.

 

[hppants]

I make my first bike trip west in about two weeks. I've got enough budget for 14 days, and hopefully 16-18. We will not go West of Zion National Park - IOW, we are really only planning to touch the Southeastern part of this country's "good stuff". I'm at least a day (a hard all day on the slab at 80mph day) closer to the Rockies than you are, which means you need no less than 2 additional days than me to see what I hope to see.

Reserving final judgment until I return, but me thinks you ain't got enough time to go west.

OTOH - you've got plenty enough time to wander over to the Ozarks, then up the Miss. River road to Southeastern Ohio, then head southeast to catch the upper part of the Appalachian range (WV), then work your way southwest basically paralleling the Blue Ridge Parkway, then play around the Cumberland Gap (which is friggin awesome riding BTW), then hop over to Deal's Gap and REALLY get to know your bike and what it can do, then catch the beautiful north Georgia Mountains which I'm sure you are familiar with, before returning home a new and changed man. If your timing is September/October, you are almost guaranteed to catch the leaves turning somewhere, and perhaps everywhere.

I've got 6-10 ride reports that show nearly all of this in great detail. Enjoy!

Oh, and pack an extra camera memory card. Your gonna need it.

 

[TripperMike]

I say do your research and get a better idea of what you hope to accomplish on this trip. Don't disregard parts of the country because others feel the West is grand and spectacular. Sure it is but the East has so much to offer in it's own right. I love riding in the east as much as the west. And there's so much more at this point that I desire to see in the east. The Appalachians and the Adirondacks are a couple. Been up to Cabot's Trail in Nova Scotia and I really hope to make it up there again soon.

You probably live close enough to Deals Gap that if I were you, I wouldn't waste a single precious day of a 2 week vacation to ride it. That's just me. There are so many other areas a bit further out that a 2 week trip can get you to. I wouldn't waste any time on the close stuff. Unless you are an iron butt kind of rider, trying to see areas beyond Utah might be tough. Again, what will you be trying to accomplish on this trip? How many miles will be too many for you to relish your time on the seat?

If you go west, I would suggest Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming as great riding areas without getting a numb rear end just trying to get there.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[s.ga.rider]

Ive been to new england, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana on past trips but all were flying and rental cars. The harbor towns in Maine were amazing as were the mountains out west. Ive always wanted to try glacier np but thats a long way and dont know if time will permit.

 

[s.ga.rider]

While I am in agreement with everyone on the "Go West" idea, and for all the same reasons, I will be the lone Voice of Dissent. With just two weeks at your disposal, North and East might not be a bad idea.
You are new to the FJR are you not? Have you ridden any distance in the Smokies? Have you ridden the Blue Ridge Parkway? Any saddle time in Eastern Kentucky, Ohio, the Virginias? Have you had your Killboy pic taken on The Tail of the Dragon?

If not, start off there. Better to see the Smokies before you see the Rockies. From your location it is but a day's ride to the Smokies and you can easily burn up two weeks and see some of the most beautiful scenery and ride some of the finest roads this country has to offer. I love the Smokies, the North Carolina/Tennessee border area is as good as it gets and those folks welcome you. Their economy depends on you and your motorcycle.

That said... There is nothing like Out West. You cannot make a bad decision. You will be riding your motorcycle and that is The Most Important Thing. Where you ride it is secondary.

Oh, and you will be obligated to do a RR since you asked for our advice.

Im new to my 14 but had an 07 and 17 other bikes. Been on several week long trips and have been to the dragon and the smokies. We rode shanendoah valley and blueridge parkway from start to finish a few years ago. My last trip was 3 years ago after a bad breakup with my ex. I left s ga and made it to mid kentucky in a day. The plan was to make it niagra falls.but after I got to kentucky I didnt want to ride all interstate just to make it to the falls, spend then ight and ride interstate home so I turned around and rode through the smokies and took my time. No plan, figured out the next days agenda in the hotel after riding for the day. It was nice not having any plan or schedule at all but I know i missed a lot of stuff.

Thats why im planning this one. Been watching the series "Long way down" and ive gotten the bug to travel. I have a week off in oct so may head to north ga for a few days but that will be a different thread. I thought about seeing if some of the north ga folks want to meet up for a ride.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

As my friend hppants pointed out, we are taking two leisurely days to get to "The Good Stuff" from our homes in South Louisiana. We are about a day closer than you are. You would have two hard days or 3 leisurely days to reach the mountains of Northern New Mexico and then the same for the return trip. That just took 4 to 6 days out of your "vacation time". If you can extend your time to three weeks you will really benefit from it.

Did not mean to strike a nerve about you being new to the FJR. Sorry.

I cannot stress how much goodness is to be found East of the Mississippi River. I could take a Motorcycle Trip to the Smokies every year and never tire of it.

But, riding Out West is better. Pop always votes for Out West now. He will ride with me anywhere but he likes it Out West better. Seem to be fewer idiots cutting to the inside lane in curves, it is more wide open so you can see them coming. It seems there are more opportunities to pass slow moving vehicles.

The important thing is that The Best Rides are not always due to where you are geographically, they are due to where you are emotionally. If you want to go Out West, by all means do so. Just remember that the mountains and roads in the Eastern Half are pretty darn excellent also.

When you get a loose plan together we can all pitch in some "Best Roads", best places, best eats, best sleeps advice. We have opinions and pictures and love to share. Let us know.

 

[s.ga.rider]

Thanks red and you didn't strike a nerve at all. I was just explaining some of my riding experience. I appreciate the suggestions.

 

[Intech]

I had a co-worker tell me once I rode in the Rockies I wouldn't want to ride in the east anymore. That couldn't be more narrow minded or farther from the truth. While I enjoyed our western rides immensely, I absolutely love the east. The southeast mountains have a huge advantage over the Rockies. Almost year round riding. Never mind there are plenty of vistas that are just as breathtaking. We rode most of the Blue Ridge Parkway at the beginning of our ride to SW-FOG. I remember commenting to Spanky that I could never get sick of this.

I think there is beauty to be found in every area of the country. There was something special about screaming through the corn fields of Iowa and Minnesota chasing down bonus point for Rick's Ralleye Rally. Driving through the flat farming country can be fascinating If you have the time to observe life and think about how integral what is produced in that part of the country is to the US.

 

[LCB]

When I plan my trips out west, I can only take 2 weeks off at a time so I usually trailer to a friend's house in NM. I get past the straight, flat, boring, highway stuff as fast as possible and have more time to ride and see all the stuff I can in the time I have. There's lots of folks who may let you leave a vehicle at their place while you take that vacation. I offer all the time but no one wants to come to DE - go figure.

Just a thought.

 

[s.ga.rider]

Well im leaning torwards the west now. Maybe colorado or montana. Next question is farkles. I just bought foot peg lowering brackets from a member. Other than that I plan on

1. handlebar risers

2. New tires before leaving

3. GPS

4.Possibly some type of bluetooth device for music from the gos so i dont kill my phone.

5.tent/sleeping bag, just in case

6. slime tire compressor, already have a plug kit

and a travel case for some cigars to smoke along the way.... haha

Any other ideas for a 4-6k mile ride??

 

[Redfish Hunter]

You might research the little Aerostich air compressor. A little pricey but a very slick and compact piece of equipment.

A top box of some sort is ridiculously useful on long trips. And short trips. And commuting to work. And grocery shopping.