Coastal ride around the country

[panther289]

Hello all,
  I am starting to seriously plan a trip I’ve wanted to take since childhood. The trip is a coastal run around the country. Starting in Central NJ to Front Royal, Skyline/BRP, to the Dragon. From there back to the east and down to the home land of  Fla. Then keeping water in sight for as long as possible. Going to keep off the major highways as best as I can.
  After that, It’s a matter of being a tourist and finding all those weird and interesting places along the way. Will be taking 2 months off in the spring to do the trip. May or may not ride everyday. Will be camping 5 days a week(parks or covert doesn’t matter to me) then hotel 2 days. I’m usually good for 500 mile a day on my EX500.
  If  I can get some input from the riders around the area as to cool roads, weird tourist sites, and just all around interesting stuff to see, I’d appreciate it.
  I’ll be adding the diamond fields in Arkansas to the trip along with  a couple of ghost towns in the west for good measure.
I am considering a new bike for the ride. I personally like the 500 to 900cc range. The ex500 is the option for now. Fuel economy, ease of maintenance, and availability of parts are the underlining reasons for this choice. For me it’s not about how fast I can do the trip. Only that I enjoy the journey.
  Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks, Panther (Bry)

[mike goodwin]

Since you have so much time off perhaps you should check out the Four Corners ride over at the IBA website.
Just look it up at the Event Calender.
Wished i had the time and money to do the same.
Good luck.

[Orson]

I'd suggest dipping down into the Big Bend National Park if you have the time...unless it's summer time.

Gorgeous desert mountains  

Also, if you've never ridden the Pacific Coast Highway before, you're in for a treat  

You really have to want to ride the coast in Florida as it a seemingly endless stream of traffic lights through small towns.

[panther289]

Since you have so much time off perhaps you should check out the Four Corners ride over at the IBA website.
Just look it up at the Event Calender.
Wished i had the time and money to do the same.
Good luck.

That's the main reason I want to do the trip. Time, I learned some valuable lessons about that word in past few years.
I'll head over tonight to check out the Four Corners Run.

Thanks

[panther289]

I'd suggest dipping down into the Big Bend National Park if you have the time...unless it's summer time.

Gorgeous desert mountains  

Also, if you've never ridden the Pacific Coast Highway before, you're in for a treat  

You really have to want to ride the coast in Florida as it a seemingly endless stream of traffic lights through small towns.

I looked up the Big Bend NP on the gov site. It looks like a definite addition. The PCH is one of the main reasons along with route 36 in northen Cali. Suppose to be 160miles of twisties. As Fla goes, I've covered most of it when I lived there. Most of the family live by the water, so It's by default I'll be following the coast. But I know what you mean about the lights

Thanks

[Mrs. DantesDame]

In Washington, go north over Hwy 20 (North Cascades Hwy) and follow it all the way to the Kettle Falls area. You can't go wrong with any of those roads. Then drop down into the SE corner near Clarkston/Lewiston and take 12 over Lolo Pass    From there, take your time crossing though Montana to the entrance to Yellowstone. Big Hole (NP?) in Montana is huge and scenic.

In Wyoming, drop down (like you are) to Riverton, but then go north through the Wind River Canyon. From there, any of the passes (14, 14A, 14 or 16) are wonderful. 14 north of I-90 is a pleasant distraction and then you're primed to stop and see Devil's Tower  

[connick]

If you're planning on doing Big Bend, get off of I-10 once you're past San Antonio.  For a straight shot, just get on 90 West out of SA, or, if you like the twisty stuff, take 16 NW to Medina, 337 west to Camp Wood, then 55/334 back down to 90.  There's just too much nice scenery south of 10 to stay on the interstate.  If you need a place to overnight in the area, check out D'Rose Inn in Leakey.  Motorcycles only, and an exceedingly cool place to stay.

Once into Cali, its tough to go wrong on PCH.  Spend a few extra hours in Malibu riding Mulholland Drive and stop off at the Rock Store.  Try to time your arrival in the Big Sur area (between Monterey and San Simeon) for a weekday, hopefully before 10AM.  You'll miss most of the crowds this way, and the fog shouldn't be too bad as long as you're not TOO early in the morning.  There are few things more painful then driving that road while its poplulated with slow-moving RVs. Heading north from there there is no shortage of cool things to do... ride through a redwood tree in Leggett, CA... Stop off in Eureka and take a pic of the Carson House, then head over to Samoa and get a meal at the Samoa Cookhouse... Haha, you're going to have a very full trip! Good luck with the planning, I hope it goes well.

[panther289]

Thanks for the info DD, Connick.
The north west is completely new to me. I know there's going to be a lot of running around in circles there.

I was in L.A. over the summer and the friend I was visiting knows I love to ride. Took me through the Tapanga Canyon. I didn't get to Mulolland Drive though. A couple of riders at the H-D dealer were talking highly about it though. Cali seems to be a riders mecca. I just gotta get used to the lane splitting

Checked out the Kawasaki Versys, the FZ6 and the Sv650-s at the dealer here today. The Versys sits a little high for me and the fact that the Yamaha has a centerstand stock is moving me in that direction.

[mike goodwin]

FZ-6 is a nice bike.
I wouldn't mine owning one myself.
And we think alike about centerstands.
Street bikes without them are a pain in the ass on the road or garage.

[Cheddarhead]

If you're flexible, you might consider trailing north from Arkansas...perhaps follow the Mississippi and dip your toes in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior...then west to the Badlands and on to the left coast via the northern route.  It'll all be downhill as you chase the PCH toward San Diego...

Let us know if you do head out way...chances are somebody will be able to meet up/show you around the area, and perhaps offer up a couch or a campsite, a cold brew, and a hot shower.

Sounds like a terrific idea for a way to leave the day-to-day world behind for a while...

We'll all be living vicariously through your periodic updates...

Cheddar

[x32792]

Hello all,
  I am starting to seriously plan a trip I’ve wanted to take since childhood.

If time and money are not an issue, slap a skid plate on whatever you decide to ride and visit the Cooper Canyon, Four Corners, Moab, Death Valley, and the Rockies. Don't be in a rush, schedule more time and figure it will cost X2 what you think it will.

FYI: the new Versys does not have a frame under the motor which makes mounting a center stand and a skid plate difficult, if not impossible.

[panther289]

If you're flexible, you might consider trailing north from Arkansas...Sounds like a terrific idea for a way to leave the day-to-day world behind for a while...

We'll all be living vicariously through your periodic updates...

Cheddar

Thanks for the info. I have been modifying this map to add some of the new areas I'm learning about. The Natchez Trace up to Memphis (there's suppose to be a bbq place to die for there) then to the Ozarks. As soon as I get the date set I'll be posting about every three to four days. Thanks, Bry

[panther289]

If time and money are not an issue, slap a skid plate on whatever you decide to ride and visit the Cooper Canyon, Four Corners, Moab, Death Valley, and the Rockies. Don't be in a rush, schedule more time and figure it will cost X2 what you think it will.

FYI: the new Versys does not have a frame under the motor which makes mounting a center stand and a skid plate difficult, if not impossible.

I had the chance to go through DV and upper AZ. during the summer( i.e. in a moving truck), I have added the area along with the canyon, Arches, the painted desert and a few other areas. Going to the Ozarks, then Follow west towards Pikes Peak.  I am considering pulling the lowers off the ex and having a friend(metal worker) make a skid for it. I know it's only 500cc but the parts are out there, cheap, has the centerstand, and I can tear it down in no time Thanks for the info, and if y'all think of other places, I appreciate the knowledge. Bry

[x32792]

 I had the chance to go through DV and upper AZ. during the summer( i.e. in a moving truck), I have added the area along with the canyon, Arches, the painted desert and a few other areas. Going to the Ozarks, then Follow west towards Pikes Peak.  I am considering pulling the lowers off the ex and having a friend(metal worker) make a skid for it. I know it's only 500cc but the parts are out there, cheap, has the centerstand, and I can tear it down in no time Thanks for the info, and if y'all think of other places, I appreciate the knowledge. Bry

A very good resource for finding the most scenic two lane back road (no interstate highways involved) Roll Charts across America including points of interests, milage between points, gps, gas stations, convenience stores, motels, camp grounds, weather conditions, etc can be found at www.adventurecycling.org.

If these routes are good enough for Iron Butts touring America on carbon forks hauling 75+ plus pounds of gear, I am sure they would be just dandy for someone on a 500cc bike.

These maps come in 400 +/- mile sections which can be purchased separately for about 10 to 12 bucks each.

Don't apologize for your 500cc bike. Way back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, people made 44,000 mile trips circumnavigating the globe on 350cc bikes. Unless you want to pull up tree stumps or cross America at triple digits, you don't need a big bike.

[panther289]

Don't apologize for your 500cc bike. Way back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, people made 44,000 mile trips circumnavigating the globe on 350cc bikes. Unless you want to pull up tree stumps or cross America at triple digits, you don't need a big bike.

It's funny you say that. I was "down the shore" (as they call it in NJ) and met another rider on a goldwing.He was loaded to the gills and then some. We got to talking about his trip to the OuterBanks. I asked him the load weight and it was around 80+#'s. I told him of my plans and got that ever familar "what are you nuts on a 500" response. I started to laugh and explained that I've put 2000+ miles on my little 500 in the course of a week of casual riding. That total load weight is less then 60#'s with camping gear(a lot of backpackers stuff). I enjoy the ex500 because it's lite, nimble, easy to fix/ find parts, good on gas(55+mpg) and has more then enough power for me. Like you mentioned people do these trips on 350's, so I have to laugh at people who put down the EX500.
  Thanks for the info on the maps, I'm going to try to stay off the major highways because I want to see America not just McDonalds at exits. Hoping to Find that worlds largest ball of string!

[1moreroad]

Head north in Arizona closer east to ride 191.  Stop at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument a little more east again.

Get a National Parks pass for $80, all admission, all parks.  National Parks passport might be a fun memento, too.  Pick either or both up at the first park you visit.  They pay for themselves out west.

Don't skip San Diego!

Google "BearTooth Pass" and "Lolo Pass"

It looks like you are missing CO?  IMO NM and UT are better, but lots of folks on this site will disagree with me.

Use www.nps.gov for ideas of places to stop and see.  Use www.byways.org for good routes in between parks.  Unfortunately you still have to connect the byways together.

Don't swear off interstates entirely, especially in the east.  There are lots of slow, straight back highways with traffic, houses, etc.  Absolutely swear off interstates in the west.  There are lots of twisty roads with great scenery and nothing else.

[panther289]

Thanks 1moreroad, I've added the areas in Co-Ut that you mentioned. As soon as I get the new map photoed I'll be posting it. San Diego is a must. Gotta hit the lower left corner while out there and pay homage to where the Bucs finally won a SB I have been to the Byways site   and will definitely take the advice on the park pass. There's going to be quite a few on the trip.
  It seems I'll be in the south west for a better part of the trip. Besides the history, the landscape is spectacular. +1 I want to see atleast one ghosttown

[panther289]

Updated map adding some of the areas. Still gotta come up with a route from The Dragon to Savannah.Thanks, Panther

[jwhite518]

+1 I want to see atleast one ghosttown

Lots of ghost towns near Death Valley. Easiest one is Ballarat, only a mile or two off the road. Best one is Bodie, it's an official state park. More gravel riding, though. If you like I'll dig up my list of ghost towns in that area.

[panther289]

Lots of ghost towns near Death Valley. Easiest one is Ballarat, only a mile or two off the road. Best one is Bodie, it's an official state park. More gravel riding, though. If you like I'll dig up my list of ghost towns in that area.

If you would, that'd be great.
The idea of an area that people tried to settle and then had to abandon has always intrigued me. The history of which is left behind. Why there, why'd they leave, who were they? That part of this countries past seems to be relegated to obscurity.