Motorcycle Roads & Trips - The Best US Motorcycle Rides & Routes
posted by DAbbott @ 6:40 AM
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
YellowStone Bear Tooth
Wild West Tour, Motorcycle Touring, Bears Tooth Pass, Montana, Wyoming
Check out the twisty Hwy 212 between Tower Junction (Yellowstone National Park) and Red Lodge Mt.
DESTINATIONS Montana Scenic Byway
Beartooth Highway
It had been a long August during the summer of 1882. General Phillip Sheridan, famed Civil War veteran, had led his group of over 120 men out of Fort Washakie in western Wyoming at the beginning of the month. By the last week of August, the inspection tour had crossed the Gros Vente mountains and followed the Snake River into Yellowstone. The area had recently been designated a national park and already tourists had flocked to the area.
The General moved his men up the Lamar River on the east side of Yellowstone to a mining camp near Cooke City. Now he faced a three-day march down the Clarks Fork River before turning back north for Billings, Montana, where he would meet the Northern Pacific Railroad to take him to Chicago.
An old hunter by the name of Geer approached the General. Geer claimed that he had an intimate knowledge of the Beartooth Mountains which blocked the direct route to Billings, necessitating the circuitous detour down the Clarks Fork. Much against the advice of his comrades, and maybe partly to satisfy a hankering for going where no party had gone before, Sheridan listened and resolved to follow the hunter. Two days later, despite forest fire and snow drifts 40 feet deep in craters, the group completed the first crossing of the Beartooth Mountains, landing near present-day Red Lodge, Montana.
Region: Southern Montana and Northern Wyoming east of Yellowstone National Park
Length: 64 miles
Endpoints:Red Lodge, MT & Cooke City, MT
Features: A huge plateau above 10,000 feet with alpine lakes, glaciar-carved cirques and fragile tundra
Side Activities: Hiking, fishing, 4-wheeling
Fifty years later, in 1936, the Beartooth Highway opened along Sheridan's route. Designated a National Scenic Byway in 1989, the Beartooth has been blessed as"America's most beautiful road" by no less an expert than Charles Kuralt.
The Beartooth originates in Red Lodge, Montana, which got its start as a coal-mining town shortly after Sheridan's visit. The town boomed during the late 19th century. But the mines began closing in the Depression. Tragedy struck during World War II when an explosion at the Smith Mine killed 74 people, and the mining era was over. Today the town retains much of its character from those early years, with its main street lined with buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. And with skiing on Red Lodge Mountain and summer attractions like the Byway and the nearby Beartooth Wilderness, the town has become a tourist mecca.
South of Red Lodge, the road quickly begins ascending the Beartooth Plateau. Between 50 and 60 million years ago, a massive uplift created the Beartooths. At roughly 3,000 square miles, the Beartooths are one of North America's largest land masses rising above 10,000 feet, reaching its highest point at 12,799' Granite Peak. This is a land of glacier-carved cirques, high alpine lakes and fragile tundra.
A pull out 20 miles from Red Lodge, up a steep series of switchbacks, is a great place to get a broad view of the Plateau. To the north lie the Hell Roaring and Silver Run plateaus, broad expanses rising between the several forks of Rock Creek. Jewels like Glacier Lake glisten in hanging valleys off the walls of Hell Roaring. Line Creek plateau runs to the south, an area where sharp eyes may spot moutain goats or bighorn sheep.
The road continues climbing as it crosses into Wyoming. By now the land is well above timberline. The views are expansive, south across the canyons carved by the Clarks Fork, north into the Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness. In the wilderness, a narrow pyramidal spire is profiled against blue sky. This is the Bear's Tooth - Na Pet Say in the language of the local Crow Indians - from which the mountains take their name.
Thirty miles from Red Lodge, the Beartooth reaches is highest point at 10,974 feet. Here you feel like you are truly at the"Top of the World." And shortly after the summit, you pass the Top of the World settlement, a combination store, motel and gas station.
Descending, the Beartooths reveal themselves as lake country. Almost a thousand lakes fill the wilderness. Along the road lie Long, Little Bear, Island and Beartooth Lakes. Two of several national forest campgrounds along the highway are beside these last two lakes.
While the Beartooth is one of America's greatest drives, it also offer plenty of opportunities for getting out of the car. Trailheads line the entire route. Just out of Red Lodge, roads lead up the various forks of Rock Creek, where trails head for Timberline Lake, Sundance Pass, Silver Run Plateau and other backcountry destinations. Other good jumping off points for short dayhikes or extended backpacks include Island Lake and Beartooth Lake. Most trails head north of the road toward the official Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness. But don't miss the Beartooth Loop National Recreation Trail south of the road. This trail allows a 15 to 20 mile circuit by the original site of Camp Sawtooth, an exclusive retreat built during the 1920s.
Clay Butte rises on the right 42 miles from Red Lodge. A dirt road leads a couple of miles to a now-dormant fire tower on top of the Butte. The views here are most spectacular to the west, where the pyramid of Pilot Peak stands stark and the jagged edge of Index Peak cuts the sky.
Heading for Cooke City, the Beartooth passes a turnoff for the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway (Wyoming 296). The Chief Joseph road is part of the Nez Perce trail, named after the chief that led his people on an Oregon to Montana flight from the U.S. Army in 1877. The Chief Joseph leads to Cody, Wyoming. Or it can be combined with the Beartooth Highway for a full day loop out of Red Lodge.
Sixty-four miles from Red Lodge, after crossing back into Montana, the Beartooth enters Cooke City. Originally a gold-mining camp, Cooke City is now the northeastern gateway to Yellowstone National Park. The entrance is four miles east of town.
That's the end of the line for "America's most beautiful road."
Check out the twisty Hwy 212 between Tower Junction (Yellowstone National Park) and Red Lodge Mt.
DESTINATIONS Montana Scenic Byway
Beartooth Highway
It had been a long August during the summer of 1882. General Phillip Sheridan, famed Civil War veteran, had led his group of over 120 men out of Fort Washakie in western Wyoming at the beginning of the month. By the last week of August, the inspection tour had crossed the Gros Vente mountains and followed the Snake River into Yellowstone. The area had recently been designated a national park and already tourists had flocked to the area.
The General moved his men up the Lamar River on the east side of Yellowstone to a mining camp near Cooke City. Now he faced a three-day march down the Clarks Fork River before turning back north for Billings, Montana, where he would meet the Northern Pacific Railroad to take him to Chicago.
An old hunter by the name of Geer approached the General. Geer claimed that he had an intimate knowledge of the Beartooth Mountains which blocked the direct route to Billings, necessitating the circuitous detour down the Clarks Fork. Much against the advice of his comrades, and maybe partly to satisfy a hankering for going where no party had gone before, Sheridan listened and resolved to follow the hunter. Two days later, despite forest fire and snow drifts 40 feet deep in craters, the group completed the first crossing of the Beartooth Mountains, landing near present-day Red Lodge, Montana.
Region: Southern Montana and Northern Wyoming east of Yellowstone National Park
Length: 64 miles
Endpoints:Red Lodge, MT & Cooke City, MT
Features: A huge plateau above 10,000 feet with alpine lakes, glaciar-carved cirques and fragile tundra
Side Activities: Hiking, fishing, 4-wheeling
Fifty years later, in 1936, the Beartooth Highway opened along Sheridan's route. Designated a National Scenic Byway in 1989, the Beartooth has been blessed as"America's most beautiful road" by no less an expert than Charles Kuralt.
The Beartooth originates in Red Lodge, Montana, which got its start as a coal-mining town shortly after Sheridan's visit. The town boomed during the late 19th century. But the mines began closing in the Depression. Tragedy struck during World War II when an explosion at the Smith Mine killed 74 people, and the mining era was over. Today the town retains much of its character from those early years, with its main street lined with buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. And with skiing on Red Lodge Mountain and summer attractions like the Byway and the nearby Beartooth Wilderness, the town has become a tourist mecca.
South of Red Lodge, the road quickly begins ascending the Beartooth Plateau. Between 50 and 60 million years ago, a massive uplift created the Beartooths. At roughly 3,000 square miles, the Beartooths are one of North America's largest land masses rising above 10,000 feet, reaching its highest point at 12,799' Granite Peak. This is a land of glacier-carved cirques, high alpine lakes and fragile tundra.
A pull out 20 miles from Red Lodge, up a steep series of switchbacks, is a great place to get a broad view of the Plateau. To the north lie the Hell Roaring and Silver Run plateaus, broad expanses rising between the several forks of Rock Creek. Jewels like Glacier Lake glisten in hanging valleys off the walls of Hell Roaring. Line Creek plateau runs to the south, an area where sharp eyes may spot moutain goats or bighorn sheep.
The road continues climbing as it crosses into Wyoming. By now the land is well above timberline. The views are expansive, south across the canyons carved by the Clarks Fork, north into the Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness. In the wilderness, a narrow pyramidal spire is profiled against blue sky. This is the Bear's Tooth - Na Pet Say in the language of the local Crow Indians - from which the mountains take their name.
Thirty miles from Red Lodge, the Beartooth reaches is highest point at 10,974 feet. Here you feel like you are truly at the"Top of the World." And shortly after the summit, you pass the Top of the World settlement, a combination store, motel and gas station.
Descending, the Beartooths reveal themselves as lake country. Almost a thousand lakes fill the wilderness. Along the road lie Long, Little Bear, Island and Beartooth Lakes. Two of several national forest campgrounds along the highway are beside these last two lakes.
While the Beartooth is one of America's greatest drives, it also offer plenty of opportunities for getting out of the car. Trailheads line the entire route. Just out of Red Lodge, roads lead up the various forks of Rock Creek, where trails head for Timberline Lake, Sundance Pass, Silver Run Plateau and other backcountry destinations. Other good jumping off points for short dayhikes or extended backpacks include Island Lake and Beartooth Lake. Most trails head north of the road toward the official Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness. But don't miss the Beartooth Loop National Recreation Trail south of the road. This trail allows a 15 to 20 mile circuit by the original site of Camp Sawtooth, an exclusive retreat built during the 1920s.
Clay Butte rises on the right 42 miles from Red Lodge. A dirt road leads a couple of miles to a now-dormant fire tower on top of the Butte. The views here are most spectacular to the west, where the pyramid of Pilot Peak stands stark and the jagged edge of Index Peak cuts the sky.
Heading for Cooke City, the Beartooth passes a turnoff for the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway (Wyoming 296). The Chief Joseph road is part of the Nez Perce trail, named after the chief that led his people on an Oregon to Montana flight from the U.S. Army in 1877. The Chief Joseph leads to Cody, Wyoming. Or it can be combined with the Beartooth Highway for a full day loop out of Red Lodge.
Sixty-four miles from Red Lodge, after crossing back into Montana, the Beartooth enters Cooke City. Originally a gold-mining camp, Cooke City is now the northeastern gateway to Yellowstone National Park. The entrance is four miles east of town.
That's the end of the line for "America's most beautiful road."
posted by DAbbott @ 6:55 AM
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Touring info
http://www.motorcycle-touring-made-easy.com/riding-weather.html
http://www.motorcycle-touring-made-easy.com/packing-a-motorcycle.html
http://www.motorcycle-touring-made-easy.com/animal-crossings.html
http://www.motorcycle-touring-made-easy.com/motorcycle-accidents.html
http://www.motorcycle-touring-made-easy.com/trailer-instruction.html
http://www.motorcycle-touring-made-easy.com/motorcycle-luggage.html
http://www.motorcycle-touring-made-easy.com/packing-a-motorcycle.html
http://www.motorcycle-touring-made-easy.com/animal-crossings.html
http://www.motorcycle-touring-made-easy.com/motorcycle-accidents.html
http://www.motorcycle-touring-made-easy.com/trailer-instruction.html
http://www.motorcycle-touring-made-easy.com/motorcycle-luggage.html
Labels: touring
posted by DAbbott @ 4:08 PM
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Another Silver Bullet LOOP Ride - Washington State - FJR Forum
Route: Highway 2 to Stevens Pass, cutoff Highway 2 to Lake Wenachee and Plain on 207, and into Leavenworth via the Chumstick Highway. South on Highway 97, across Blewitt Pass and on into Teanaway via 970. West to Cle Elum and on to Roslyn. North on 903 through Ronald, along side Cle Elum Lake to Salmon la Sac. Returning to Cle Elum and onto I-90 west, across Snoqualmie Pass, taking the 202 cutoff to North Bend, and a stop at Snoqualmie Falls. Then north on 203, through Fall City, Carnation, Duvall and home.
Major stops: Plain, Leavenworth, Blewitt Pass, Roslyn, Snoqualmie Falls
Addition Ride Info: I personally use the "Destinations Highways" book to help develop my routes and to find cool off-the-beaten-track ride routes. I've never been to Lake Wenatchee or Plain nor Blewitt Pass. This trip is shorter in miles (about 300) than last weeks North Cascade Loop Run, however I have planned to stop at more places. This trip is a more sedate, touring, enjoying the journey, photo-taking type of ride.
Major stops: Plain, Leavenworth, Blewitt Pass, Roslyn, Snoqualmie Falls
Addition Ride Info: I personally use the "Destinations Highways" book to help develop my routes and to find cool off-the-beaten-track ride routes. I've never been to Lake Wenatchee or Plain nor Blewitt Pass. This trip is shorter in miles (about 300) than last weeks North Cascade Loop Run, however I have planned to stop at more places. This trip is a more sedate, touring, enjoying the journey, photo-taking type of ride.
Labels: touring
posted by DAbbott @ 7:08 AM
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Tour the Swiss Alps - Andermatt,Switzerland
Draw a straight line across the Alps from Milano, Italy, to Zurich, Switzerland.
Right in the middle of that line, in the very middle of the Alps, is Andermatt,
Switzerland.http://www.whitehorsepress.com/download/products/herm4.pdf
Right in the middle of that line, in the very middle of the Alps, is Andermatt,
Switzerland.http://www.whitehorsepress.com/download/products/herm4.pdf
Labels: touring
posted by DAbbott @ 1:58 PM
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Planning a Trip?
I thought I would pass along a couple of new trip planning sights I have come across. At this time of the year many of us are looking for new roads to explore and places to visit. You can also share your secret finds with other motorcyclists.
Labels: touring
posted by DAbbott @ 6:22 AM
Sunday, March 16, 2008
How you can easily help out new motorcycle riders
5 things I wish I knew when I bought my first motorcycle
Choosing your first motorcycle
Video: How to pick up a motorcycle
128 ways to drop your motorcycle
Choosing your first motorcycle
Video: How to pick up a motorcycle
128 ways to drop your motorcycle
Labels: Safety tips, touring
posted by DAbbott @ 7:33 AM
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Sean's Motorcycle Journey & Redleg'sRides
Another blog: Redleg's Blog in Colorado http://redlegsrides.blogspot.com/2008/03/riding-peak-to-peak-highway-and-nearby.html
Riding the Peak to Peak Highway and nearby Canyon Roads
Beautiful riding day! Temperatures ranged from low-50s to mid-70s! Sunny for most of the day.
I started my ride today a little before 0800hrs and got back home around 1530hrs. Got in around 274 miles of riding and discovered a couple of neatly twisting canyon roads to add to the repertoire of such roads within easy distance of home.
I slabbed it on I-70 to US270 to US36 to get to Boulder. The skies were kind of overcast during the first hour or so of riding but it was not too bad. I cleared Boulder by taking CO199 West towards the town of Nederland. This is the home of "The Frozen Dead Guy" festival which is coming up: 7-9 March. More info here.
I headed North on CO72 from Nederland and soon arrived where it junctions with CO7, a beautifully twising/winding road that ends up at Estes Park and is known as the Peak to Peak Scenic Highway.
The first view of Mt. Meeker on CO 7
I made my way past Allenspark and stopped near St. Malo's Church for this side view of Mount Meeker.
Mount Meeker and St. Malo's Church
Next up as one makes his way on the Peak to Peak Highway are great views of Long's Peak, this series was taken from the spot where Enos Mills, the father of Rocky Mountain National Park, had once homesteaded and now there's a marker.
Views of Long's Peak - From Far Away
A little closer...
Closest I could get with my little camera
Historical Marker near where I shot the Long's Peak pictures
Twin Sisters Mountains, you can see the stone wall where the Enos Mills Plaque is mounted
A short ride from the Enos Mill location, you come upon Lilly Lake where there's a frozen lake this time of year and a trailhead for the Twin Sisters Mountains. Here's some views from near the entrance to Lilly Lake Park:
Frozen Lilly Lake
Lilly Lake, looking back towards Long's Peak
From Lilly Lake, you arrive at the southern end of Estes Park pretty quickly. I tanked up there and headed back down South on CO 7, thinking to take Lefthand Canyon Road East from the town of Ward.
I made my way, thoroughly enjoying the twisty/windy roads that were pretty much gravel free. Mind you, there were some spots I had to slow down a lot in but not too bad, not like Deer Creek Canyon Road!
I elected to stay on CO7 towards Lyons instead of turning at the junction with CO72 and boy I am glad I did. The twists and turns on CO7 as one heads towards Lyons are great! You're surrounded by rocky canyon walls for most of the way and the curves as the road follows the path of the river left a big stupid grin on my face!
From Lyons I headed South on US36 towards Boulder, hoping to find the eastern end of Lefthand Canyon Road. On the way there, I spotted a sign marking "Hygiene Road". Needless to say, I took a slight detour to get a picture of Maria next to a sign announcing the unusually named town of Hygiene!
Before I found the sign though, I stumbled on CO66 on the North end of Hygiene and wandered westward on it a bit till I got this shot of what I believe is Long's Peak.
On Colorado 66, looking to the west
An unusually named town
I then made my way back through the town of Hygiene and back on the road I'd taken from US36. Once back heading south on US36, I spied what looked like massive satellite dishes off in the distance. I kept looking for a road that led in their direction and found Nelson Road. I took this road and ended up within perhaps a quarter mile of the satellite dishes. They apparently belong to the US Dept of Commerce and are also apparently used by the USGS, NOAA and the National Telecom and Information Administration.
All I know is, they were kind of cool looking, in an X-Files sort of way. : )
So, pictures taken, I headed back on Nelson to US36 which I continued south until I zipped by the sign for Lefthand Canyon Road! I got turned around and got on this road, which was quite nice and twisty as well. Traffic was kind of heavy by this time of day so the pace was sedate for the most part. I made it to the town of Ward which is a really small and rustic town on the side of a mountain.
I headed south where Lefthand Canyon road junctioned with CO72 and soon I was in the town of Nederland once again. I found a parking spot at a supermarket parking lot and ate my lunch. Life was good.
After a short lunch break, I headed back South on CO119 back towards Boulder. The traffic in Boulder was quite heavy and it stayed heavy as I turned from CO119 back to US36 which I took back to US270. I stopped at a Bass Pro Super Store (it was huge!) and looked around a bit but finding nothing I headed onto I-70 and was home soon afterwards.
The weather had turned quite warm by the time I was done at Bass Pro World. I was down to a T-shirt under my riding jacket and had removed the vent panels from my riding pants. Still, I was warm but not overly so, and it was just fine once I got moving on the motorcycle.
So, again I must say it was a beautiful day to ride. Bikers, squids, donorcycle riders and other motorcyclists were out in force after say 10AM. Snow is expected tonight but that's ok. We had a good day to ride today here in Colorado.
Riding the Peak to Peak Highway and nearby Canyon Roads
Beautiful riding day! Temperatures ranged from low-50s to mid-70s! Sunny for most of the day.
I started my ride today a little before 0800hrs and got back home around 1530hrs. Got in around 274 miles of riding and discovered a couple of neatly twisting canyon roads to add to the repertoire of such roads within easy distance of home.
I slabbed it on I-70 to US270 to US36 to get to Boulder. The skies were kind of overcast during the first hour or so of riding but it was not too bad. I cleared Boulder by taking CO199 West towards the town of Nederland. This is the home of "The Frozen Dead Guy" festival which is coming up: 7-9 March. More info here.
I headed North on CO72 from Nederland and soon arrived where it junctions with CO7, a beautifully twising/winding road that ends up at Estes Park and is known as the Peak to Peak Scenic Highway.
The first view of Mt. Meeker on CO 7
I made my way past Allenspark and stopped near St. Malo's Church for this side view of Mount Meeker.
Mount Meeker and St. Malo's Church
Next up as one makes his way on the Peak to Peak Highway are great views of Long's Peak, this series was taken from the spot where Enos Mills, the father of Rocky Mountain National Park, had once homesteaded and now there's a marker.
Views of Long's Peak - From Far Away
A little closer...
Closest I could get with my little camera
Historical Marker near where I shot the Long's Peak pictures
Twin Sisters Mountains, you can see the stone wall where the Enos Mills Plaque is mounted
A short ride from the Enos Mill location, you come upon Lilly Lake where there's a frozen lake this time of year and a trailhead for the Twin Sisters Mountains. Here's some views from near the entrance to Lilly Lake Park:
Frozen Lilly Lake
Lilly Lake, looking back towards Long's Peak
From Lilly Lake, you arrive at the southern end of Estes Park pretty quickly. I tanked up there and headed back down South on CO 7, thinking to take Lefthand Canyon Road East from the town of Ward.
I made my way, thoroughly enjoying the twisty/windy roads that were pretty much gravel free. Mind you, there were some spots I had to slow down a lot in but not too bad, not like Deer Creek Canyon Road!
I elected to stay on CO7 towards Lyons instead of turning at the junction with CO72 and boy I am glad I did. The twists and turns on CO7 as one heads towards Lyons are great! You're surrounded by rocky canyon walls for most of the way and the curves as the road follows the path of the river left a big stupid grin on my face!
From Lyons I headed South on US36 towards Boulder, hoping to find the eastern end of Lefthand Canyon Road. On the way there, I spotted a sign marking "Hygiene Road". Needless to say, I took a slight detour to get a picture of Maria next to a sign announcing the unusually named town of Hygiene!
Before I found the sign though, I stumbled on CO66 on the North end of Hygiene and wandered westward on it a bit till I got this shot of what I believe is Long's Peak.
On Colorado 66, looking to the west
An unusually named town
I then made my way back through the town of Hygiene and back on the road I'd taken from US36. Once back heading south on US36, I spied what looked like massive satellite dishes off in the distance. I kept looking for a road that led in their direction and found Nelson Road. I took this road and ended up within perhaps a quarter mile of the satellite dishes. They apparently belong to the US Dept of Commerce and are also apparently used by the USGS, NOAA and the National Telecom and Information Administration.
All I know is, they were kind of cool looking, in an X-Files sort of way. : )
So, pictures taken, I headed back on Nelson to US36 which I continued south until I zipped by the sign for Lefthand Canyon Road! I got turned around and got on this road, which was quite nice and twisty as well. Traffic was kind of heavy by this time of day so the pace was sedate for the most part. I made it to the town of Ward which is a really small and rustic town on the side of a mountain.
I headed south where Lefthand Canyon road junctioned with CO72 and soon I was in the town of Nederland once again. I found a parking spot at a supermarket parking lot and ate my lunch. Life was good.
After a short lunch break, I headed back South on CO119 back towards Boulder. The traffic in Boulder was quite heavy and it stayed heavy as I turned from CO119 back to US36 which I took back to US270. I stopped at a Bass Pro Super Store (it was huge!) and looked around a bit but finding nothing I headed onto I-70 and was home soon afterwards.
The weather had turned quite warm by the time I was done at Bass Pro World. I was down to a T-shirt under my riding jacket and had removed the vent panels from my riding pants. Still, I was warm but not overly so, and it was just fine once I got moving on the motorcycle.
So, again I must say it was a beautiful day to ride. Bikers, squids, donorcycle riders and other motorcyclists were out in force after say 10AM. Snow is expected tonight but that's ok. We had a good day to ride today here in Colorado.
Labels: touring
posted by DAbbott @ 6:23 AM
2008 Super Sport-Touring Comparo - Motorcycle Shoo
Motoring into Mendocino the smell of pinewood fires signaled the promise of warm, dry accommodation in nearby Fort Bragg. Shivering, we charged through the dark, fog-shrouded mists like ghosts in a dream. Our arrival at the coastal fishing and logging town was welcomed, as were the warm showers, hot food and strong drink that had us shuffling off to bed in dry sheets. We would have to be well-rested for what promised to be a rain-soaked final day on the road.
[url=http://videos.streetfire.net/video/ddfb0170-93cd-4b94-8c6f-9a520007f39d.htm][img]http://thumbs.streetfire.net/ddfb0170-93cd-4b94-8c6f-9a520007f39d.jpg[/img][/url][url=http://videos.streetfire.net/video/ddfb0170-93cd-4b94-8c6f-9a520007f39d.htm]MotorcycleUSA.com tested the Honda ST1300, Kawasaki Concours 14, Yamaha FJR1300 and BMW K1200GT in their Super Sport Touring Shootout. Watch the video and then read the full motorcycle comparison review at www.motorcycle-usa.com[/url]http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=5874&Page=1
posted by DAbbott @ 6:05 AM
Sunday, January 27, 2008
4 Arizona rides for motorcyclists
If you’ve driven throughout Arizona, you know that a pack of motorcycles on a highway or byway is as common as the prickly pear on the road’s shoulder. Those who love to ride will tell you that it’s all about the road, not the destination. Arizona is home to many great rides, for those new to motorcycles and those who have logged miles from Patagonia to the Petrified Forest. Day trips or weekend getaways are easy to plan. You can even rent a Harley and try it out for a weekend before deciding whether to saddle up long-term.
Labels: touring
posted by DAbbott @ 6:24 AM
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
San Diego to Yuma AZ
The entire trip was just over 394 miles, run in under 7 hours 15 minutes. I averaged about 39 mpg for the trip.
Labels: touring
posted by DAbbott @ 11:18 AM
Friday, January 11, 2008
read online
Underlying the excitement and anticipation are the mundanities of preparation. Instead of jumping on my motorcycle and roaring off, the way the movies would show it, I am buying camping equipment and underwear, stocking up on spark plugs, fiddling with carburetors, and trying to finish the technical manual I contracted to write before I leave.
But it is a hot, sunny Silicon Valley day and the motorcycle is parked one hour away over the hill in the garage of my cottage in Santa Cruz. I swear I can hear it calling me.
And though I want to leave tomorrow, today, now, and though I've traveled enough in my life to know the process, I'm strangely nervous about this particular trip, one that will take me around the edges of the United States. Although I'll also be crossing over the borders to Canada and Mexico, it is the U.S. borders that, up front, seem the most exciting and the most disturbing, and the thought of a journey here is giving me more butterflies than the pre-trip jitters I've had before overseas travel.
http://www.motorcyclemisadventures.com/americanborders/borders01.html
Labels: touring
posted by DAbbott @ 10:09 AM
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Brennan Dates
Riding in the wind is tricky and can be very dangerous when you are on two wheels. Say for instance that the wind is coming from my right side; I have to lean into the wind in order to keep traveling in a straight line. For some reason the way the wind was ripping over me and my bike, it was trying to pull my helmet up and off of my head which put a huge, uncomfortable strain on my neck hour after hour.
The two of us would be leaning into the wind, which was pretty constant for most of the day, when all of a sudden the wind would blast us from a different direction sending us all over the road, sometimes into oncoming the oncoming lane! It was really nerve wracking to lose control like that. We started watching the grass ahead of us on the road to see what the wind was doing.
Passing trucks was crazy too. The wind was from the right so when we passed an eighteen wheeler it would block the wind. It would be nice and quite and if it was safe we would just hang off of the left side of the trailer to enjoy a few seconds out of the wind. When we would finish the pass we would need to swerve towards the front of the tractor so we would be leaning into the wind as we cleared the front of the truck or we would have been blown across oncoming traffic and off of the road.
www.parkinsonsride.com http://20thousandmilesforparkinsonsdisease.com/
Labels: safety, Safety tips, Total Control, touring
posted by DAbbott @ 2:10 PM
DougsMotorcycleDiary.com
Seattle to South America
Travel from Seattle WA to Tierra del Fuego, and back, on my 2003 Suzuki Bandit while photographing everything I can to provide the best depiction of the culture, sights, smells, and whatever else seems relevant.
Labels: touring
posted by DAbbott @ 1:47 PM
The Oasis of My Soul
We pretty much made a straight line to Booth, Texas, yesterday. South west of Houston, we have set up camp on Carl’s and Colette’s property. Beautiful area away from the City, it is quiet here, beautiful land, greats hosts, a couple horses and a couple dogs… Carl is a disturbed man, too many bikes in the garage, I told him that they did have counseling available for such cases… Spirit likes it here, off leash he has been running one hundred miles an hour all afternoon… he has been inside the house with us when having dinner and amazed me how well he has minded me. He is so rarely off the leash. The laws will not allow it, Nature will not either with its hidden predators everywhere, mainly leery about hidden snakes most of the time. I dislike leashes, but has become a must quite a while ago. There was no rest for us, well, for me anyhow, we are having a big gathering tomorrow and the food stores where immediately our destination. This one particular store we went in was yet the best I had seen, called "Fiesta"… Like a kid in a candy store, a store catering to mainly the local Hispanic population, I was lost within the unrecognizable produce, all fresh and abundant, displayed throughout. The parking lot even had many vendors, close to starving without breakfast or lunch, walking downwind, the smells of the smoke was as torture for the soul!
Labels: touring
posted by DAbbott @ 8:09 AM
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
DVD Review of "Get Lost: Oregon"
The ride starts out as a plan for one rider and one cameraman and quickly grows to eight riders, plus two cameramen who have to learn how to ride in the dirt, and one driver for the support van.The movie is made without sponsors with riders who have brought their own bikes. Three members are shooting digital video, and one of those is also a still photographer. The group sometimes ride together and sometimes split into groups for different routes–usually to accommodate riding skills and bike differences. There are big dual sports like the BMW GS and KTM 950s. There are also smaller KTMs, Kawasakis and a Husqvarna.
A couple of riders experience mechanical troubles–one hole in a GS valve cover thanks to a hard rock, and a blown engine thanks to an overly aggressive rider flat out on a highway on a thumper.
The film is not just a bunch of guys riding around in the woods or on a twisty highway–the kind you see online in the forums. This is a film with a story and a twist. Nothing can be more nerve wrecking than when one of the riders in the party goes missing. The lesson learned in this scenario: never ride alone in the back country. As a documentary, you can’t plan or direct that scene. It just unfolds as the cameras are rolling. There is plenty of food for thought for planning your own adventure in the back country.
posted by DAbbott @ 1:59 PM
