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Author Topic: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US  (Read 8963 times)

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Offline OldSchool_IsCool

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AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« on: March 10, 2011, 05:23:13 PM »
You may agree, you may not.  thought I would share...


15 Washington Route 129 and Oregon 3, Clarkston, WA to Enterprise, Ore.

14 Ohio Route 170 Calcutta to Poland

13 California Route 58 McKittrick to Santa Margarita

12 U.S. Route 33 Harrisburg, VA to Seneca Rocks W.VA

11 Natchez Trace, from Natchez, Miss to Nashville, TN

10 Angeles Crest Highway, California Route 2

09 U.S Route 12, Lolo Pass Idaho to Montana

08 Route 36 California

07 Cherohala Skyway, North Carolina and Tennessee

06 Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana

05 California Highway 1, Pacific Coast Highway

04 Highway 550, from Ouray to Durango, Colo.

03 U.S. 129 – The Tail of The Dragon – on the North Carolina – Tennessee Border

02 Blue Ridge Parway, North Carolina

01 Beartooth Highway, Montana and Wyoming
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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2011, 05:30:21 PM »
Not being familiar with the route, is there any chance all of these will be seen by Godzilla?  If every one of those were at least in part, part of the relay, the AMA might take notice of/ interest in the inaugural run.  Just a thought...
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Offline mrbreeze

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2011, 06:57:26 PM »
I know highway 36 in California. I've been on it from the coast in Fortuna to highway 5 Red Bluff. I also know that the rally won't be anywhere near it!!
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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2011, 07:11:27 PM »
Quote from: OldSchool_IsCool on March 10, 2011, 05:23:13 PM
You may agree, you may not.  thought I would share...

13 California Route 58 McKittrick to Santa Margarita

I suggested this one a while back as a route to avoid freeways. Santa Margarita is just north of SLO.
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Offline Grnrngr

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2011, 01:06:41 AM »
heh...looks like that #1 route might be doable if we head all the way into Billings, I'm sure someone said they lived there, then down the 212 until it hits the loop road then down and out thru Idaho Falls. Guess I should take my camera. The #15 is a little further east than I want to go heading out, and a little north of the way I was planning on coming back.
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2011, 05:59:35 AM »
I've been on a few of those, Hwy 550 in CO is awesome!
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Offline OldSchool_IsCool

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2011, 06:02:52 AM »
I'm pretty sure Lolo Pass is mentioned in "Zen and the Art or Motorcycle Maintenance"
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Offline Spanner 1

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2011, 06:12:24 AM »
Can't believe I've been on 3 of them  :D.... The Trace, The Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway, all on a SOHC4.
I'm a lucky sumbeach. ;D ;)
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Offline OldSchool_IsCool

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #8 on: March 11, 2011, 06:46:08 AM »
I'm pretty sure #12 should be Harrisonburg, VA.  My daughter went to James Madison U in Harrisonburg, so I guess I can say I've been on US33, technically.  I crossed over it at an intersection  ::)
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Offline Bob Wessner

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #9 on: March 11, 2011, 06:48:36 AM »
Can't believe there are none from good ole flat Michigan.  ::) ;D
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Offline OldSchool_IsCool

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #10 on: March 11, 2011, 07:06:33 AM »
Quote from: Bob Wessner on March 11, 2011, 06:48:36 AM
Can't believe there are none from good ole flat Michigan.  ::) ;D

Well maybe the rally is an opportunity to fix that!!  ;D  US-12 won't do it, but maybe US-123, M-119 or M-28 might!
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Offline Bob Wessner

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #11 on: March 11, 2011, 07:16:40 AM »
Well, Rt 26 and 41 in the Keewinaw is/are great in the fall.  ;)
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Offline OldSchool_IsCool

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #12 on: March 11, 2011, 08:07:37 AM »
Quote from: Bob Wessner on March 11, 2011, 07:16:40 AM
Well, Rt 26 and 41 in the Keewinaw is/are great in the fall.  ;)

LOL!  Are you coming with us up that far?  Do I hear a vote for keeping the Keweenaw on the route?
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Offline Bob Wessner

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #13 on: March 11, 2011, 09:03:44 AM »
We only get up that far by car in late summer or early fall on vacation.
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Offline OldSchool_IsCool

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #14 on: March 11, 2011, 09:05:33 AM »
Quote from: Bob Wessner on March 11, 2011, 09:03:44 AM
We only get up that far by car in late summer or early fall on vacation.

Fair 'nuf.  I'm working on an idea where we can keep the Keweenaw without having to add an extra day/hotel night.  Stay tuned.
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Offline ofreen

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #15 on: March 11, 2011, 01:07:57 PM »
Quote from: Ndstrylgrnrngr on March 11, 2011, 01:06:41 AM
The #15 is a little further east than I want to go heading out, and a little north of the way I was planning on coming back.

I was going to suggest that road to you awhile back, just been waiting to see how things pan out.  I am surprised to see it in the magazine article, because few people seem to know about it.  If you can't make there for the relay, I'd highly recommend checking it out some day.  You won't be disappointed.  You'll be amazed that such a great road is so little known.  I'm going to put it in my interesting road thread when I get around to it.
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Offline FunJimmy

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #16 on: March 11, 2011, 01:22:40 PM »
I've only ridden the Washington/Oregon hyw to Enterprise and will attes to it being a fantastic route.
Thanks for posting this. I'll have to add them ton the bucket list.

Cheers
FJ
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Offline Nikkisixx

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #17 on: March 11, 2011, 03:11:16 PM »
Quote from: nomad on March 10, 2011, 05:30:21 PM
Not being familiar with the route, is there any chance all of these will be seen by Godzilla?  If every one of those were at least in part, part of the relay, the AMA might take notice of/ interest in the inaugural run.  Just a thought...

Somebody asked why it was taking so long to get the relay through North Carolina  ;D 
I wanted to hit 3 of those but it is early in the season to be playing in the mountains without a snowboard.  While it is 60 and sunny in CHarlotte today it is 30 and it snowed yesterday in the Blue Ridge.  I'm hoping it warms up in the mountains over the next week and a half!
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Offline Old Scrambler

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #18 on: March 11, 2011, 07:30:15 PM »
I've ridden 10 of those routes and some twice.  Planning to add one or two more soon!
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Offline BeSeeingYou

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #19 on: March 11, 2011, 10:53:01 PM »
Quote from: Bob Wessner on March 11, 2011, 06:48:36 AM
Can't believe there are none from good ole flat Michigan.  ::) ;D

I seem to recall there is some nice long stretches of sandy beach between Munising and Marquette. 
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Offline seaweb11

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #20 on: March 11, 2011, 11:12:00 PM »
I got 5 of them done :)
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Offline Popwood

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #21 on: March 13, 2011, 06:09:11 PM »
No 14 OHIO, Calcutta to Poland. Man, I've lived in Ohio many years and didn't know there was a route to and from these two places that came through Ohio, and likely the Orient Express, too.

Just where in the H is Calcutta and Poland and Ohio 170. Must be north and if anyone knows, what's it got going for it? Would like to know, seriously.
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Offline mrbreeze

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #22 on: March 13, 2011, 06:24:05 PM »
Quote from: mrbreeze on March 10, 2011, 06:57:26 PM
I know highway 36 in California. I've been on it from the coast in Fortuna to highway 5 Red Bluff. I also know that the rally won't be anywhere near it!!
I've also been on bits and pieces of highway 1. I envy you guys that have done more than a few of these routes. After all....they are rated best in the land. That Beartooth up in Wyo. looks spectacular!!!!
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Offline myhondas

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #23 on: March 14, 2011, 11:40:23 AM »
I'm not sure where they came up with OH 170....just an ok road..... now OH555 should have been in there. BUT what I really don't understand is how they could have left out Mulholland Drive in CA. That is one spectacular ride...from up by Hidden Hills through the mountains all the way to the hollywood reservoir. Man what a ride.
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Offline MidTNJasonF

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Re: AMA Top 15 Roads in the US
« Reply #24 on: March 14, 2011, 06:33:45 PM »
Well I have done four of the list on a bike and another one in a car. I would agree and disagree on a few of them.

The Dragon, US129, (at least the portion everyone acclaims to be great) is really fairly short. It is clean and exceptionally curvy but is not terrifically scenic. It was much better 7 or 8 years ago when I started going there every year. Speed limit was dropped when the traffic really spiked 3 or 4 years ago. The big problem is once you have done it a few times is gets a bit old. If your style of riding is hanging off the bike while pushing hard it is a hell of a workout so the short aspect is a good thing.

The Cherohala Skyway, is way up there on the scenic views chart but again is short really one makes for a fun day if you loop it with some other great area roads. I enjoy it for the better views and more open curves. It also has a nice high number of pull off and scenic overlooks so if you get stuck behind a minivan you can just take a break. Elevation rise/fall is nice but not so high an altitude that the carbs really start having problems. You will notice the loss of power up around the tallest points of 5000 or so feet but you are only up there for a bit.

The Natchez Trace is not that impressive. Being free of commercial traffic and being undeveloped is a definite plus. It is also nice and long so you can make it a two day ride. It is not particularly curvy and there is little in the way of elevation change so views are mediocre. That is mostly ok since the speed limits are low and at times enforced stringently. Good for flower sniffing and fans of frequent stops for quick bits of history lessons.

I have only done small portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway. What I did seemed similar to the Cherohala only really long and perfect for multi day rides. You do have to deal with some tourist traffic but like the Skyway there are pulloffs. You also have the lower speed limits like the Trace but it seemed to be less heavily enforced. Maybe I just got lucky but I did not see much in the way of law enforcement and I have heard of many motorcyclist getting breaks as long as they were not being ridiculous with the speeds.

I have done parts of Highway 1 (PCH) but only in a car so I will not comment on that one much.
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