Suggestions for crossing Colorado

[bonnieboomer]

This year's spring ride will feature Flaming Gorge, then Pocatello, Stanley, Hell's Canyon and the Blue Mountain Scenic byway. So either coming or going I will cross Colorado. Seeking suggestions for the best roads to take. Roads must be paved, and having done Beartooth I find I'm not particularly fond of two-mile-high skinny roads without guardrails, so that lets out Independence Pass and US 550. My favorite Western riding is high-speed sweepers with little traffic.
Any suggestions? tia,
bonnieboomer

[Sport-Touring]

[greench440]

West of I-25, take SR 14 or US34 to US40.

East of 1-25 flatlands, take you pick.

[R Doug]

Just before I crossed CO for the first time, I was wrapping up Neil Peart's Ghost Rider.  I took his advice from the book and hit CO 141.   I'm glad I did.

It's right about here...


https://goo.gl/maps/EnJbRbxfBg22

[bonnieboomer]

So essentially that means one way on 40 and the other on 50. That's OK; I've ridden 70 already.

What about state rt 9 as the crossover between the two?

Almost hate to admit it on this site, but I've gotten into trailering from VA to the mountains and then riding. Was thinking of Canon City as the starting point: out 50 and other roads to southern Utah [Cedar City], then diagonally across NV to Yerington, home of a noted Suzuki tuner. On up to central OR and back along Blue Mountain Byway through Hell's Canyon and over to Jackson Hole. Finally back down through Flaming Gorge and into CO again. Should be a good mix of mountain, valley, and desert - with the opportunity for some good old triple digit cruising. No interstates.

[aviationfred]

Your mention of Canon City and then riding HWY50 west is a great ride. The ride up and over Monarch pass (11,300 ft) is not like the cliff hanging road of HWY550. I have ridden this stretch a number of times and love it. The ride from Canon City to Salida along the Arkansas River is incredible.

I personally have not ridden this route. Another route is much more southerly. You can do a similar deal with trailering and then riding. Find your way to Walsenburg, CO. and ride HWY160 west to Durango and on to Cortez. You are then near Four Corners and South Eastern Utah. I am riding from Kansas to Ouray, CO. in June for a rally. I am planning to ride HWY160 to Durango, then HWY550 north to Ouray.

Fred

[bonnieboomer]

That 160 ride could be a good one, too, although I'll probably do 50 and then smaller roads to Cedar City. It partly depends on finding a friendly dealer where I can park my car & trailer. Rice in Rapid City was very helpful last year.

Had a 1986 FJ1200 that was a blast! Almost as quick as the then-new FZR1000. Sold that bike in '88 and stayed off 2 wheels for many years while raising a family. My '08 Bandit is now at about FZ1 spec - Holeshot header, tune, and  suspension, plus ABS.

[Orson]

I love the run through the Unaweep Canyon on CO-141

If you like sweepers, NM-64 across Northern New Mexico was another of my favorites.