Planning on Motorcycle Trip....Need Feedback!

[gt350mike]

Time to start planning for a get-a-way with my better half and my buddy suggested that we (including him and his wife) take a bike tour somewhere out west (Colorado to California). I took the first step last night and spent HOURS surfing the net and came up with a few ideas like cruising Montana and Wyoming (mostly around Yellowstone and Jackson Hole) but I’ve already spent time in that area and I’d really like to see something different. So I thought I would tap into the Pelican “well of knowledge” for suggestions in my quest for an unforgettable trip……If you were planning on a four or five day bike ride with the wives, where would you go???? Keep in mind two things; they’ll never claim to have “iron pants” so spending more than four or five hours on a bike is max and their idea of “roughing it” is staying at a Holiday Inn so camping is a big NO-GO!

[Dueller]

Are you going to trailer bikes out west and then ride? Fly somewhere then rent bikes? Have you toured the NGA/TN/NC/SC area? Just curious as to what the parameters are. From your location, you might try over to Memphis on backroads then down 61 on a blues tour ending up in NOLA, then a blast home along the Gulf Coast and up to north AL on the interstates to save time on a 5 day trip. Or hop on the Natchez Trace for a leisurely (slow) ride down to Natchez and stay in antebellum B&B then on to NOLA.

[gt350mike]

We're flying and renting. I asked her what she wanted to do this summer and she suggested that we head out west. Since this is one of those "I've been an a-hole and I'm sorry trips" so I'm not deviating from her request. Later on this summer we're thinking about taking vacation on the Windjammer or something similar. We've been married for 23 years and since the boys are off to college, we haven't done anything together and it has almost cost me everything!

BTW, the Natchez is a great idea! I'll add that to our list of weekend trips since we're only 75 miles from the parkway.....either head south towards a B&B in Johnsville or head towards Nashville! Thanks Jim!

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by gt350mike

We're flying and renting. I asked her what she wanted to do this summer and she suggested that we head out west. Since this is one of those "I've been an a-hole and I'm sorry trips" so I'm not deviating from her request. Later on this summer we're thinking about taking vacation on the Windjammer or something similar. We've been married for 23 years and since the boys are off to college, we haven't done anything together and it has almost cost me everything!

BTW, the Natchez is a great idea! I'll add that to our list of weekend trips since we're only 75 miles from the parkway.....either head south towards a B&B in Johnsville or head towards Nashville! Thanks Jim!

Well, if you do the trace south, it literally runs thru my back yard in Madison, Ms. Stop in!!! Although it is slow it has no stop signs/traffic lights, no commercial traffic and is quite scenic/lots of places to pull off and stretch. Even with the 50-55 mph speed limit you can make suprising good time.

[tcar]

Southwest:

Million dolllar highway (Durango, CO to Silverton, CO) and on to Ouray, CO.
Mesa Verde National Park CO (Four Corners area)
Monument Valley, AZ
Grand Canyon, AZ
Zion, Canyonlands, Arches, Moab, UT.
Lake Powell AZ and UT.

Yep all can be crowded, but they are all very neat.

[on2wheels52]

Alps
Jim

[Burnin' oil]

What month?

[gt350mike]

Originally Posted by Dueller

Well, if you do the trace south, it literally runs thru my back yard in Madison, Ms. Stop in!!!

Will do!

Originally Posted by tcar

Southwest:
Million dolllar highway (Durango, CO to Silverton, CO) and on to Ouray, CO.
Mesa Verde National Park CO (Four Corners area)

We talked about that at the office today so its at the top of the list. Mostly west of Denver around the Colorado Springs area.

Originally Posted by Burnin' oil

What month?

Late June or mid-July

[Burnin' oil]

Fly into SF, rent your bike and head North on Highway 1, up the California coast. When you get to Oregon, turn East to 395 and then head South, along the Eastern edge of California. You can visit the Tahoe area and Yosemite from 395 and Death Valley. When you get to the Indian Wells area on 395, head West, through Bakersfield (some would recommend staying a couple days in Bakersfield, I would recommend full throttle) through Ojai and then North on 101 through Santa Barbara to Highway 1. Take Highway 1 north through San Luis Obispo, Cambria, Big Sur, the Monterey Bay area and into SF.

Great roads and great scenery.

[glewis80SC]

Originally Posted by Burnin' oil

Fly into SF, rent your bike and head North on Highway 1, up the California coast. When you get to Oregon, turn East to 395 and then head South, along the Eastern edge of California. You can visit the Tahoe area and Yosemite from 395 and Death Valley. When you get to the Indian Wells area on 395, head West, through Bakersfield (some would recommend staying a couple days in Bakersfield, I would recommend full throttle) through Ojai and then North on 101 through Santa Barbara to Highway 1. Take Highway 1 north through San Luis Obispo, Cambria, Big Sur, the Monterey Bay area and into SF.

Great roads and great scenery.

I second this route, that would be a great ride.

[Noah930]

burnin' oil has a great route suggested. And if you continue up the coast of Oregon to Washington, and hit the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. St. Helens/Mt. Ranier area, you won't be disappointed, either.

[john70t]

First read "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintinence".
Print out a list of contact points, and take basic tools, and foam, and plastic, and wool blankets, and water, and granola, and camera batteries. Plan around city rush hours.
Extra gas and communications a must.

K.I.S.S. and enjoy the sights. All the best.

[gt350mike]

Originally Posted by Burnin' oil

Fly into SF, rent your bike and head North on Highway 1, up the California coast. When you get to Oregon, turn East to 395 and then head South, along the Eastern edge of California. You can visit the Tahoe area and Yosemite from 395 and Death Valley. When you get to the Indian Wells area on 395, head West, through Bakersfield (some would recommend staying a couple days in Bakersfield, I would recommend full throttle) through Ojai and then North on 101 through Santa Barbara to Highway 1. Take Highway 1 north through San Luis Obispo, Cambria, Big Sur, the Monterey Bay area and into SF.

Great roads and great scenery.

Didn't know enough about California to consider a bike trip until now. I'll take a look at the maps with my buddy to get some feedback. The top two ideas so far is either Colorado or Colorado.......Thanks!

[LakeCleElum]

All great suggestions - Have taken many m/c trips thru all these places. Good thing about Colo and Utah is the # of National parks you can hit in a few days. I did 7 in 4 1/2 days once.

My Fav. area in North American is the Canadian Rockies and riding in SE British Columbia. Heaven.....

[Hoots]

Originally Posted by gt350mike

I thought I would tap into the Pelican “well of knowledge” for suggestions

If you go to Athens, and buy me some Whitt's BBQ and a Dub's Burger, I'll show you around New England.