Motorcycle Vacation Ideas???

[VFRider]

For the first time in years I am able to consider a winter vacation.  The idea of riding some where warm like Arizona seams like a good idea to me.  Fly out of Boston, rent a bike, and do some sport-touring.  I welcome any advice, info, and/or web sites to get me planning.

[Rodan]

The best riding in AZ is in the mountains, and we do actually experience winter here, including snow.

We have been fortunate with temps in the high 50s and mid 60s for the last week, but there is still snow in the shady spots along our local twisty road.  Just be advised it is possible to run into bike stopping weather.

Just watch the forecasts carefully, and be prepared to re-route (which may entail lots of straight and flat).

[Kootenanny]

I've been considering the same thing, but...I'd do it spring or fall, and I'd probably do the "American" thing and rent a big-ass hawg (a lot easier to find for rent, as a bonus).  Also, I'd want to do it 2-up with my wife...she enjoys riding pillion, but hates riding on my sportbike passenger seat...

[garry]

Pony up big money for air fare and ride New Zealand perhaps? That's supposed to be Bucket List ride...

[Scratch33]

Fly, rent & ride at this time of year?

I'd suggest Vegas.  The BMW dealer there is super.

[VFRider]

Pony up big money for air fare and ride New Zealand perhaps? That's supposed to be Bucket List ride...

I am in the midst of a major house repair and renovation, so that's not happening!     Just looking for a few day mini adventure.

[VFRider]

Fly, rent & ride at this time of year?

I'd suggest Vegas.  The BMW dealer there is super.

Details?

[Scratch33]

Details?

Not much else to say.  There is a BMW dealer in Las Vegas that rents motorcycles.  From Vegas, depending on weather, you can head in many different directions and find nice places to ride.  Heck, the west coast is only about 300 miles.

[Kneescrubber]

The Texas Hill Country is still good. Heck, for that matter, Arkansas is still good too. Relatively (Boston) speaking. You didn't give a timeframe.

[sleazy rider]

The Texas Hill Country is still good. Heck, for that matter, Arkansas is still good too. Relatively (Boston) speaking. You didn't give a timeframe.

I was just about to suggest the Hill Country.  I was there in January of 2010 and rented from http://www.sportryderrentals.com/. Got an St1300 for a couple days of stress relief.  Fly into DFW and have them pick you up.

[stromgal]

Hill Country is wonderful.  Fly into Austin: http://www.hillcountrymotorcyclerentals.com/home

Fly into San Antonio:  http://www.txmotoadv.com/

[sfalexi]

I've been considering the same thing, but...I'd do it spring or fall, and I'd probably do the "American" thing and rent a big-ass hawg (a lot easier to find for rent, as a bonus).  Also, I'd want to do it 2-up with my wife...she enjoys riding pillion, but hates riding on my sportbike passenger seat...

might wanna be careful about that....once the wife experiences THAT comfy of a seat the pressure to get one builds up, and the more they suddenly realize just how uncomfortable the sportbike seat is every ride....

[stew71]

How about flying into LA, renting a bike and heading north on the PCH. Fly home out of Seattle or circle back thru the Sierra to LA. We have some pretty fine weather this winter.

[Kootenanny]

might wanna be careful about that....once the wife experiences THAT comfy of a seat the pressure to get one builds up, and the more they suddenly realize just how uncomfortable the sportbike seat is every ride....

Not too worried...in the 6 seasons I've had my bike, my wife has ridden on it exactly, uh, twice...I was looking at a Guzzi Norge, told her it'd have real passenger accommodations, she shot that one down quick (maybe because I'm wasn't gonna get it as a replacement for the Buell, but in addition to?).

[Orson]

I always recommend Big Bend National Park when these winter riding threads come up.

What sets it apart is its isolation. It's the most remote national park in the lower 48.

You really have to want to get there.

[Mastros2]

Fly, rent & ride at this time of year?

I'd suggest Vegas.  The BMW dealer there is super.

I rented a Buell on a Vegas vacation.  The higher elevations receive snow and from what I saw, the immediate surrounding area of vegas is dull, imo.

[kyzrex]

Fly, rent & ride at this time of year?

I'd suggest Vegas.  The BMW dealer there is super.

+1

Used them a year ago.  Rented a RT1150 for a day, cost me about 200 dollars, so not cheap.  Also was limited to 300 free miles.  With speed limits and lack of traffic west of Vegas, I had that mileage done by mid afternoon.  Still, had a great time.  Went up to Mt. Charleston and then out to Death Valley.  Many nice areas to ride, but don't expect to much in the way of tight twists.  Sweepers are much more common.  EagleRider also rents harley's out there and the rates/mileage rules are probably different.  Weather can be iffy during winter, so may need to adjust your schedule accordingly.  I was there in early April and weather was perfect.

[Liquidsilver]

When I rent for 2-up, I look for an ST or BMW.   I don't mind renting a Harley for droning states like Florida, but the last time we rented one of those for 2-up, neither of us found it comfortable in any way.
 
Agree with Hill Country or Big Bend.   Like 'em both, but kinda boring between the twisties.
 
I'm due for a ride to the Florida keys, so I'll have to have a prescription to deal with the straight roads.  

[bljakkl]

http://www.bmwoflasvegas.com/

Hopefully the hyperlink works.  If not the local dealer here is called BMW of Las Vegas (creative, eh?).  Never rented from them, just thought I'd give you the web link.

[FJRmgm]

I always recommend Big Bend National Park when these winter riding threads come up.

What sets it apart is its isolation. It's the most remote national park in the lower 48.

You really have to want to get there.

not only is it the most remote it is also one of the most ruggedly beautiful parks.  The Davis and Glass mountains are magnificant, river road from Presidio to Terlingua has more varied geological rock types than any other road in Texas and the desert is just, well, the desert.
You can ride the park and the mountains around Ft. Davis and the observatory, which is north of Big Bend and spend an entire week having fun and enjoying the scenery on roads that have little or no traffic.

let me know if you go there and I can point out some must-ride roads and must-see places while out there.

BTW, make sure you are a legal resident because there is a HEAVY border patrol presence in that area.

[axelwik]

The best riding in AZ is in the mountains, and we do actually experience winter here, including snow.

We have been fortunate with temps in the high 50s and mid 60s for the last week, but there is still snow in the shady spots along our local twisty road.  Just be advised it is possible to run into bike stopping weather.

Just watch the forecasts carefully, and be prepared to re-route (which may entail lots of straight and flat).

Same here in New Mexico. The mountain roads are snowed and iced in places. I just came back from a ride to Big Bend, TX where the weather and roads were nice. On the way down, however, it was super-slab all the way with heated gear on most of the time. A week ago I tried to take a shortcut through some of the low mountains southeast of Albuquerque, but got stopped by snow. Super-slab was the only option, but parts of it had ice patches (likely gone by now).

Winter storms come and go in these parts.  In the winter I can usually ride around town if there hasn't been a storm in the past few days, but the mountains and hence the good riding, is off. Even if the roads don't have snow it will be cold, and they put so much gravel on the roads that it's not as much fun to ride.

If I were you I'd skip Arizona or New Mexico for the winter and fly down to southern TX or LA.