Where are some of the best rides in the US

[mick1171]

I am coming from Australia and i would like to know where are some of the best places to ride in the US. I have a 2007 R1200r.

[Mark_1]

Mick1171, when you are planning to visit and for how long?

[hankth]

If you are here between April and October, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive should not be missed. Skyline Drive starts in Virginia and is 102 miles long. The BRP continues at the end of SLD and goes over 400 miles. Not a single traffic light on either road. Beautiful scenery the whole way. Welcome in advance Mate. Ride safe.

[mick1171]

Not sure as yet i am looking into a few thing like renting a bike or fly mine over. but it is one of the things i would love to do just gather info on place to ride

[Mike Figielski]

Not sure what part of the country you are going to but in the East, as mentioned the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA and NC is great. Lots of great intersecting roads to explore off the BRP. Also the Smoky mountains in NC and TN (at the end of the BRP) are endlessly entertaining on a bike. Lots of great riding in Vermont's Green Mountains and New Hampshire's White Mountains.
If you are heading west Colorado can't be beat. Countless 12000 ft plus mountain peaks to explore. Way out west the California coast line is great - Highway 1 thru Big Sur and hundreds of great roads heading inland from there.
Unless you are going to be here for months you'll have to pick a region of the country to visit. Just like Australia you can't see it all in one trip. Hope this helps.
Mike

[ka5ysy]

Arizona and Colorado are tough to beat for rides, views and great stops in old west towns that remain. Lots of National Parks too.

[mogu83]

Another hidden oil thread - but fun.
BTW: looking at some of the other forums on this board this type of thread is objectionable to some because it's not R1200R specific.


So as I'm riding my R1200R BMW and being from the Right coast (and a Native New Yorker)I'm partial to the Eastern states and have only spent minimal time riding in the middle and western states (but some k miles). I like Vermont,New Hampshire, Western North Carolina, Western Virginia and West Virginia still checking out Nova Scotia. From the Appalachians to the Rockies is just -- well---BIG, I guess it's like the outback in Australia but with more people a few big rivers and no kangaroos. The Rockies are high and spectacular but everything is really really far apart with long expanses of great scenery (that quickly becomes commonplace) in between. The Left coast is prettier that the Right coast ( we have better beaches) but spoiled by horribly large clusters of congestion (ie: people).

Naturally the above is IMHO, extremely prejudiced and limited by my own personal experience on my R1200R and other worthy steeds..

[Gatuso]

The best "ride" in the U.S. of A. is in Southern California, only about 25 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, is GMR which stands for Glendora Mountain Road, let me know if you come to the west coast and we'll ride it together, as well as other "rides" that I know........Santa Monica Mountains (that's where the Rock Store is) and Angeles Crest Highway.

Lates.

[deilenberger]

The best ride is where you happen to be riding. I managed about 40 minutes riding today - the first ride since Christmas (when we got a blizzard dumped on us..) Still snow on the lawns, and runoff across the roads, lots of sand/gravel, pavement torn up by plows - and it was still great. After being off the bike for more then 5-6 weeks, ANY ride is the best ride.

I'd disagree a bit with Harry on the left-coast being more scenic then the right - I'm guessing he hasn't done the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. It's easily the equal to the Big-Sur beauty on the left coast. Lots of what makes places to ride my favorites are the people and the food. Hard to beat Nova Scotia for that - wonderful seafood, friendly and courteous people. West Virginia has good food - friendly people - and they don't know how to pave a straight back road (I've been looking for one for about 6 years now, and haven't found one.) Blue-Ridge is a great road, almost made for motorcycles - only problem I've found is there are too few surprises on it - it's ALL great, but too much great can get old after a few days. Luckily - lots of good side-roads, and some other wonderful not so famous "trails" in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee for when you're bored with the BRP.

I think if you narrow down a time frame - and a general idea of where you'd be starting out from - you'll get a wealth of suggestions here.

[JohnM]

Assuming you're arriving from OZ, I suppose you'll most likely be arriving in LAX.

While I've never ridden my R12R there, I've caged quite that region a bit. Understatedly, some tasty stuff w/i 100 miles of LAX. Much more beyond that.

As been said before, let us know where you're riding from, and you'll get a wealth of suggestions.

[rockbottom]

IMO, the ideas here are sound. While there is a lot of great riding, probably the very best would be central and western Colorado/eastern Utah/northern Arizona, the Pacific coast, or the mountains of North Carolina/eastern Tennessee/western Virginia. (Although you might get some argument as to whether the Pacific coast is "really" part of the US!)

[mogu83]

[quote="mogu83"] I like Vermont,New Hampshire, Western North Carolina, Western Virginia and West Virginia still checking out Nova Scotia.[ quote]

Responce to PM:

Apologizes to our cousins from Canada, while I'm just starting to check out the wonders of the Maritime Provence's, I nor anyone I know, has any thoughts of conquest or do I know of any movement to annex the Maritime Provence's. I do realize Nova Scotia is part of the nation of Canada, that fact was reinforced when a misunderstanding about firearms, last summer, almost caused me be be the recipient of a strip search (me and the bike).

So to the point: The question was about rides in the US - Nova Scotia is in Canada, if it was in the USA we would have screwed it up by now.

[sweatmark]

I am coming from Australia and i would like to know where are some of the best places to ride in the US. I have a 2007 R1200r.

Are you seeking scenery, exciting riding, or both?

[rockbottom]

I like Vermont,New Hampshire, Western North Carolina, Western Virginia and West Virginia still checking out Nova Scotia.[ quote]

Responce to PM:

Apologizes to our cousins from Canada, while I'm just starting to check out the wonders of the Maritime Provence's, I nor anyone I know, has any thoughts of conquest or do I know of any movement to annex the Maritime Provence's. I do realize Nova Scotia is part of the nation of Canada, that fact was reinforced when a misunderstanding about firearms, last summer, almost caused me be be the recipient of a strip search (me and the bike).

So to the point: The question was about rides in the US - Nova Scotia is in Canada, if it was in the USA we would have screwed it up by now.

I've spent some time at the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College at Fort Frontenac, on the St. Lawrence in Kingston. I noticed that all the cannon were pointing south.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Sweatmark you beat me to it...


What kind of riding do you seek? Camping or motels? Cosmopolitan or rural or off the beaten path?

How long will you be riding in the States?

Check out some of the ride reports from areas that may interest you, or might give you ideas.

There are good rides in all parts of the country

John

[mogu83]

I've spent some time at the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College at Fort Frontenac, on the St. Lawrence in Kingston. I noticed that all the cannon were pointing south.

I crossed on the Wolf Island ferry on the way to the BMW Nationals in Trenton a few years ago. On the way back I did a quick tour of Kingston. Great town.

[redwing]

I have owned my bike for almost two years and live in Central Louisiana. Have ridden perhaps 150 miles in one direction. So I have no first hand knowledge of a good ride. And I have heard of some of the above mentioned roads from other riders outside this forum. There is a section of this forum called "Great Rides." I like several choices and perhaps more info will keep you on the road 24/7.
Just a thought... buy a bike here maybe used ... ride it... then ship it home.??? or sell it. Is there a market for used R1200Rs in OZ?

Robert

[rokinrider]

Mountains are great out west but if your any were in the midwest check out SW Wisconsin!! Great windy roads with lots of water holes and places to eat scattered about the countryside. I would be honored to be your tour guide. Some people say I'm a bad influence? I prefer to call my self a life coach

[oalvarez]

2
58
33
150
178
74
243
154
101
1

and that's only some from the central coast on down......

[combatcarry]

Here you go: http://mapq.st/f4QGXR
Nothing like riding in the Zion tunnel... Riding along cliff edges near Calf Creek (Boulder)... then through Capital Reef National Park.

My second choice: http://mapq.st/ihU580 Southwest Colorado