Oregon, California Coast

[kootenayguy]

We are kicking around the idea of doing the Oregon/California Coast, I want to avoid San Fransisco (just don't enjoy riding in big city traffic). Any suggestions on the best route to avoid it, any tips on the trip itself?

[DogBoy]

Get a boat.     Its hard to skip San Francisco if you are riding the coast. You could do a big boring loop of suburban Bay Area freeways (Hwy 1-101-580 East-680 South-100-Hwy1) OR cut across at Hwy 20 to the Sierra foothills from Nevada City to Yosemite and the cut back west across the Valley to Monterey and continue south. Depends on how much time you have.

Going across the Golden Gate Bridge through SF is beautiful and you will be riding in the most moto-friendly city in North America for just a short time before getting to Hwy 35/84 and 9 on the SF Peninsula which offer some great riding. I'd recommend this route if don't have the extra couple of days it would take for the Foothills. Cutting through the City is ten times better than the suburban freeways, IMO.

[kootenayguy]

so, I am making too much of a big deal of this?

[bubba zanetti]

big +1 on that.  As a now small town boy, it is a major transition to riding in the big city. But I will take San Francisco over Vancouver, Seattle or Portland any day.  Riding the freeways in and around Sacremento is not fun.

One should not miss the great feeling of riding out on to the Golden Gate and into San Francisco. Then the roads out the Peninsula to Santa Cruz are quickly back to coast as mentioned. I think it adds to the trip not detract. You don't have to ride into San Francisco far or get into the touristy areas at all.

Sounds like a great trip !

[DogBoy]

Nope. I understand the trepidation. Its just the long way around would be very boring and congested six and eight lane freeways. Cutting through SF is relatively easy and quick if you avoid commute hours.

[kootenayguy]

Is it windy as hell on the Golden Gate?

[beatnikmike]

I'm faced with the same problem every time I travel down the coast.  I seem to have come to the conclusion to either stay as close to the coast as posable or skirt around SF.  Lately my preferred route would be to just follow Hwy 1 (not 101), after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, you will go  thru the Presidio  and then down 19th Ave. and back on some freeway for a bit and then  you will be thru it and on the Pacific Coast Hwy in maybe 20 or 30 minutes after crossing the bridge.  Unless it's rush hour, stay away if it's rush hour.

[kootenayguy]

Rush hour being say 6 to 9 in the morning and about 3 to 6 in the afternoon?

[stew71]

Is it windy as hell on the Golden Gate?

It can be. Especially when it warms up in the Central Valley during the summer. But nothing to be worried about. The views alone are worth it.  

[stew71]

Rush hour being say 6 to 9 in the morning and about 3 to 6 in the afternoon?

In the Bay Area, rush hour tends to start around 5am and eases up around 10am. The afternoon commute will start as early as 3pm and goes until 7pm in some places.

But you can lane share down here. It will be your friend.  

[DogBoy]

Is it windy as hell on the Golden Gate?

Uh...the wind won't be any stronger on the Golden Gate than it its along the rest of the coast. The Golden Gate Bridge isn't that long so don't worry about wind.

[kootenayguy]

would two weeks be enouhgt time for this trip, round trip?

[bubba zanetti]

would two weeks be enouhgt time for this trip, round trip?

How far south are you hoping to get to?  San Simeon would likely be your turn around if you were headed back up the Coast .... unless you are planning longer mileage days. Also depends on your route back. If you are short of time just hop on I-5 and blast for a day. Then back off and meander.

[1000lbs]

2 weeks should be plenty of time.  I ride from Palm Springs to Portland most summers and usually chunk it into 3-4 days along the coast.  Depending on how far south you are traveling, San Luis Obispo is my southern start/stop of costal riding her in CA (Ok maybe some Malibu canyons time allowing). As others have mentioned, I don't find SF to be too much of a hassle.

[bsd43]

I'm faced with the same problem every time I travel down the coast.  I seem to have come to the conclusion to either stay as close to the coast as posable or skirt around SF.  Lately my preferred route would be to just follow Hwy 1 (not 101), after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, you will go  thru the Presidio  and then down 19th Ave. and back on some freeway for a bit and then  you will be thru it and on the Pacific Coast Hwy in maybe 20 or 30 minutes after crossing the bridge.  Unless it's rush hour, stay away if it's rush hour.

Instead of this, may I suggest:
Cross Golden Gate Bridge, turn right immediately after the toll plaza at the sign that says "25th Ave Exit" (tip: pay the toll from the right-most lane):

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Right on Lincoln Blvd, which turns into El Camino Del Mar.

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Follow the flow of traffic onto 34th Ave in front of the Legion of Honor.

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Right on Geary. Go straight as it turns into Point Lobos,

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then the Great Highway, then Skyline.

Guaranteed better experience than trucking down 19th Ave.

[Blunder]

If you cross the GG Bridge during rush hour it's free for motorcycles. Well, it was the last time I was there. Anyway, it's worth it. After you get to the other side continue on to 19th Ave. This will get you to Golden Gate Park. Before you exit out the other side turn right a the secoPnd to last light (you can't miss it) onto John F Kennedy. Ride through the park about 2 miles to a stop sign at Sunset Blvd. Turn left here and cruise through the timed lights at 35 MPH. Once you get to the end you'll have bypassed the nastiness of 19th Ave through the Sunset and you'll have the choice of veering right towards the ugly part of Skyline Dr or going left towards 280 and better roads beyond along the crest of thee Peninsula.

Get a good map so this is clear.

[bsd43]

If you cross the GG Bridge during rush hour it's free for motorcycles. Well, it was the last time I was there. Anyway, it's worth it. After you get to the other side continue on to 19th Ave. This will get you to Golden Gate Park. Before you exit out the other side turn right a the secoPnd to last light (you can't miss it) onto John F Kennedy. Ride through the park about 2 miles to a stop sign at Sunset Blvd. Turn left here and cruise through the timed lights at 35 MPH. Once you get to the end you'll have bypassed the nastiness of 19th Ave through the Sunset and you'll have the choice of veering right towards the ugly part of Skyline Dr or going left towards 280 and better roads beyond along the crest of thee Peninsula.

Get a good map so this is clear.

If you follow this, you want MLK drive not JFK. JFK doesn't intersect Sunset.

But my route is much prettier and less traffic.

[stew71]

I think your biggest problems will be trying to stay on the road while taking in the scenery and getting stuck behind the RV's & trailers on the PCH.

[DogBoy]

But my route is much prettier and less traffic.

Agreed. Its also supposed to be a secret.  

[bsd43]

  I'll nuke it after the OP copies it down...

[caasland]

+1 to what everyone has said so far. I've been across a couple times and sticking to the coast as much as possible is best. Once you try to get trough Berkeley or across the Bay Bridge things start to suck. You'll spend more time doing that than the time you'd lose going through SFO and GG.

[kootenayguy]

Thanks everyone for all of your help, I am not as concerned about this anymore...wife says since I turn the big 50 next year I can plan the trip so, I think I will save this one for then.

[chilipeppernorm]

Won't disagree with anything that's been said, SF can be magical under the right circumstances. Will add a couple of caveats based on having commuted to and within and through SF on my bike for my job the last several years. There is always construction or road work popping up throughout the city, be prepared for a diversion of your route. Random demonstrations by the unwashed for the cause de jour can pop up and cause a cluster fluck in all directions. Lastly, SF has more chronic red light runners than anyplace I've ever ridden. Doesn't matter if you're approaching a standing green in your favor or just taking off on a new green after waiting on a red. Always, always be prepared for someone to blow through the intersection you're approaching. Most San Franciscan's are dismal drivers and mix that with awe struck and confused tourists makes for a deadly combination for those who lose their focus.

Should you choose an alternate you can take the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge in Marin and take 880 South through Berkeley and Oakland down to around Hayward and then 92 West to Half Moon Bay and back on Highway 1 south. Not the scenic route for sure, but a viable alternative. Either way, enjoy and ride safe.