Topic: Solo USA tour - lookin for riders and advice

[B.O.X.N.I.F.E.]

Sounds like an awesome trip! It's been a while since a member has done this and posted it. I guess that would be BOXKNIFE.

I would in general, rethink your direction and do the country in a counter-clockwise direction. Stay north in the mid summer months and stay south in september /october. Clockwise will put you in unbearable heat in the south and possible rainy crappy fall weather (even snow in the rockies) in the north. Just a thought.

My suggested route was based on your itinerary, but I really have to agree with Duanob. Phoenix in a month will be so hot you won't believe it. Do you have humidity up north? It's been so hot in and humid here in Arkansas I've just been sleeping all day (really). You can't do anything outside, camping is the worst thing I could imagine doing right now.

This is a long shot, but you can always speed up trips by watching the "rideshare" section of craigslist. I search all the major cities within about 6 hours of here. Twice I've caught rides for about 150$, once from Dallas to Los Angeles and another from Little Rock to Santa Fe, both times with my bike as cargo in a truck and a UHaul. Those guys moving are happy to have a driver help and that much gas money. Kept me from riding in the hottest part of the country in a bad time of year. Just an option.

But really, I'd flip the trip around if I were you.

[Old Scrambler]

I just saw this and have to agree....go west 1st and return in September through the south.....if you get delayed along the way, you can always see the south on another trip.......Very good suggestions about CO and southern UT...then Hwy 50 into CA before it snows in the passes. 

Be sure to not overload the front of your bike and think about changing the fork oil to a heavier grade - 10w or 15w to slow the action in case of a sudden stop.

Have a safe trip.....I know it will be wonderful

[kegger117]

Lots of great ideas and advice!  I took so long to post this because I was re-tooling the maps according to your suggestions.  One big thing is that I still plan to do it clockwise.  Once I've got the vision in my head I can be a bit stubborn.  Sure, weather/climate is on my mind, I'll be going through the Rockies in the first week of Sept. and given our hottest dry summer ever, I'm counting on that trend to continue.  In terms of the Southern heat, I didn't buy the Rev'it Airwave outfit(light gray) for cool fall days.  I think I'm prepared enough with gear, but honestly my only concern is the heat on the bike and electronics.  We shall see if she has a melt-down, or if everything powers through.

Now, if I can figure out how to do attachments...

[kegger117]

Looks like I'm going to have an issue with attachment size.  I had pasted pics of 2 maps each to a word doc and thought I could post that, now I have to rethink this...

[kegger117]

Here it is:

You can see the size of the pics, and the total size, and that there are only 4.
Even though I'm well below the limits stated for attachment restrictions, it gives me this error when I go to 5 pics.   "413 Request Entity Too Large"

So, I guess I'll just do a bunch of replies to get it all in here.

[kegger117]

Legs 5-8

[kegger117]

Legs 9-12

[kegger117]

Legs 13-16

[kegger117]

Legs 17-20

[kegger117]

Legs 21-24

[kegger117]

And finally, Legs 25-27.   Whew!

[Eydugstr]

kegger117 - When you get close to leg 24, give me a shout or PM.  Depending on when/where you are might be able to hook up for a stretch.  I am in the Kansas City area.

[cabrala]

Kegger, I am game for Leg 4 depending on your timing. I am living in Boston and from the South Shore of MA, so this route gives me a chance to go home and visit the rents. Let me know when you get moving and I hope to be around.

[kegger117]

Guess I forgot to mention.  Each Leg is one day of riding (end of leg is the overnight stop).  I leave on Aug 15th, and complete the trip on Sept 11.  You can count the days out on your calender for where I'll be on which day on which leg, that is, as long as I can keep to the schedule. 

[jcarthel]

Thom, I look forward to seeing you in Amarillo.  Any idea what month we would be meeting up in Amarillo?

Justin Carthel, Amarillo, TX area

[cabrala]

So day 4; August 19th...maybe the 20th.

I checked with the girlfriend and we are here. We will be ready to ride with you during that leg.

-Alex

[jcarthel]

Doing the math, I calculate that Thom will arrive in Amarillo the evening of August 26th and leave out on August 27th.

Justin

[luap]

WOW gonna be a great trip
I might head north out of payson up to strawberry little place to get a bit to eat, they have some great Pie, maybe head east towards sedona, come down through page springs grab yourself a Az grape grown glass of wine,
I think the showlow to payson is prettier but showlo towards glode an through the salt river cayon is pretty nice
if you stick to that route spot in Rye at the big motorcycle junkyard will be on your left, could pull off at the 4 peaks turnoff Tallest mountain in maricopa.
Go through fountain hill much nicer then staying on the beeline head through fountain hill- backway to rio verde- could stop at grease wood flats for a burger- cool place to hang out for a bit. then head south into scottsdale
old town scottsdale 500 places to eat an people watch all witin 5mile sq radius, Im close by there if you want someone to grab a drink with. Bourbon street is a great place for some adult entertainment

[BeSeeingYou]

One option would be to head north out of Denver for the Black Hills, Rapid City and the Badlands.  There is a two lane alternative all the way across SD and southern MN.  Take the freeway if you need to make time but after the Badlands the scenery will start to pick up about halfway through MN and get better as you move into the Mississippi River valley and WI.  Then on to Chicago.  About the same distance as your planned route with more to see and better scenery.  The Black Hills and Badlands on a bike......it's classic.

[grasscutter]

Hey.  I've done 2 long cross country trips.  Both starting in Omaha NE south to TX, through AZ, CA, and back. 
All on my 1982 CB650.  And am doing it again, sometime this winter.  Jan-March trip along southern coast to Key West FL. 

BOXNIFE has some real good suggestions.  Can't find anything I'd add to his summary. 
The best thing is to find a routine, when packing, unpacking each day. 

srust58: has a great idea to change the route.  Badlands state park through the Dakotas will be far far far far better than what you've planned.  + great camping options all along that state as well.

I'm subscribing....

if it works out, I'll tag along on your way through the midwest back to Buffalo.  I've got family in Rochester, NY, and would be a great excuse for a visit.  (I'm in Omaha, NE, but can meet up wherever you decide on your final route back home.)

[Eydugstr]

Guess I forgot to mention.  Each Leg is one day of riding (end of leg is the overnight stop).  I leave on Aug 15th, and complete the trip on Sept 11.  You can count the days out on your calender for where I'll be on which day on which leg, that is, as long as I can keep to the schedule. 

Okay, so that will put you in KS around Saturday, Sept. 8th?  If so, should be able to ride with you for a stretch.

[stereosilence]

That looks like a great trip. Hope you have a comfy seat! I'm in Atlanta with a '75 cb550 if you want to swing by.

[70CB750]

I should be back from Europe to ride with you on leg 7.

[JeffSTL]

Wow! Legs 23&24 will be long days.  I agree with srust58 and grass cutter.  I would only take the Kansas and MO route if you are trying to make up time, in which case, I would just take I-70.

Legs13-22=me very jealous.

[wedoo2]

That looks like a great trip. Hope you have a comfy seat! I'm in Atlanta with a '75 cb550 if you want to swing by.

I don't think that a seat for that trip has been invented.