Whats in vegas is going to Alberta

[mrmagoo]

I am also joining the BMW migration to Canada. I am purchasing a 2005LT and bringin her home second week in July. Anyone done this route looking to go through Zion,Bryce,Park city and even through Jellystone if I have time.
Suggestions are welcome from which roads interesting places to stay eat etc.

I ride it because I like it

Daniel T Magee
K2005LT :bmw:

[jorawro]

Welcome to the small but enthusiastic Canadian K1200LT group.:)

[ronk1200lt]

Consider taking Highway 191 going back. You get to go through Arches, Canyonlands, Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks. I plan doing it in the other direction this fall. Out of curiousity, what did you pay for your 05 LT?

[mrmagoo]

I paid $16750 with 9400 hundred miles. Which is a bit high when doing my research but he has a bunch of options on the bike on wanted. GPS,armrests and footboards for passenger, panier liners. He also included two helmets with intercom system , bike cover. He also had the 12000 service done on the bike for me. Just the way he has handled everthing has made this experience great. Sure alot cheaper than getting one here and I think I might enjoy that ride home.

[jkersh1]

I'm planning to get up to the Rocky Bow Lunatic Fringe Rally in High River at the end of the month. Are you gong to be there showing off your new ride?

[BCDon]

COOL. I've ridden from Vegas to Calgary in a day (24 hours). Stayed off the freeways for the most part but came pretty well straight up so didn't get to Zion or other areas. I heartily recommend the "Salmon Vally" in Idaho (pick it up a bit North of Pocatello) as you get further North and seeing as you are heading in the general direction at that point, do the "going to the sun" road in Glacier.

[mrmagoo]

I fly down July 9th to get my bike so too late for High River sure look foward to doing things like that .

Daniel

[garry_kramer]

I paid $16750 with 9400 hundred miles. Which is a bit high when doing my research but he has a bunch of options on the bike on wanted. GPS,armrests and footboards for passenger, panier liners. He also included two helmets with intercom system , bike cover. He also had the 12000 service done on the bike for me. Just the way he has handled everthing has made this experience great. Sure alot cheaper than getting one here and I think I might enjoy that ride home.

Did you buy it at the Las Vegas BMW dealer?

[ronk1200lt]

I paid $16750 with 9400 hundred miles. Which is a bit high when doing my research but he has a bunch of options on the bike on wanted. GPS,armrests and footboards for passenger, panier liners. He also included two helmets with intercom system , bike cover. He also had the 12000 service done on the bike for me. Just the way he has handled everthing has made this experience great. Sure alot cheaper than getting one here and I think I might enjoy that ride home.
Is the price in U.S. dollars or did you convert it to loonies.

[tvguy]

Hey Dan,

It will be a cool 107 degrees here today. By July it will reach the 112-115 mark... Remember to drink tons of water and ride out of Las Vegas at night or the very early morning hours before the sun rise.

(Get yourself a camelback to hold your ice water with)

[mrmagoo]

I bought the bike private actually through this forum. The owner has had a ongoing relationship with Las Vegas BMW I decided to have new rubber put on for the ride home and have been dealing with them and am happy with their service. Before you ask I put the OEM tires on the bike I will experment with something else maybe next time. Im ready for the heat it gets hot here and I plan for early rides with shorter shots in the heat. The cost was in US have not transfered the money yet getting closer by the day.

Daniel

[lucky26]

Three years ago my brother and I rode from Toronto to Vegas arriving the first of July. We found stretches in Utah where there is over 100 miles of no service, and with my 1976, R75 we had to carry a small fuel can, plus some snacks and either Propel or Gator Aid. We had a small soft side cooler so it could be collapsed when not in use. Where they sell ice you can find dry ice and packed properly this will keep the drinks cool longer than regular ice. The dehydration is enough that you need a bit more than water. With the LT you will not need extra fuel but the liquids and food is a must.
Don't miss Zion, it is every bit worth the time to visit. http://www.nps.gov/zion/
Take I-15 north out of Vegas and exit at Washington St. George and take hiway 9 to Zion after the park take # 89 North. The road through Zion only lets you see a some of the beauty. It has tunnels with huge windows cut out so you can see the view while going through the tunnel, there is no stopping. However, if you have the time plan a couple of hours and take the park tour, which will take you to areas restricted to public travel, take camera and lots of film or extra chips. If you have time # 9 will take you to the entrance to Bryce. I do not have any experience on the roads east of Bryce, but information on the net have motels on the East entrance on #12. 12 appears to be paved and will take you to #24 and through Capital Reel National park and back to I-70 just before Green River. I would suggest investigating the roads to see which ones are gravel. If you go east the next stop with any service is Green River, and after Green River 100 miles of open very rocky and dry country with the next service 100 miles in Colorado. If you leave early you can be of the desert floor before the heat is really bad, visit both Zion and Brice and you can be in Green River for the night, if camping they have a nice State park or motels if not. This will be a full day, and you may want to find some place to stay on 89 after taking the day to visit Zion and Bryce to their fullest.
As a side note Utah has a no helmet law, however in the heat I found the full face gave me more protection against the extreme hot air. I don't know how the locals ride without some sort of protection from the heat.
On your trip you will be going through several National Parks and each has an entrance charge, for motorcycle $12 per person. I would recommend that you purchase a seasonal pass ($80) which will allow entrance to all National parks. It can be purchased at the entrance to Zion. At $12 entrance if you follow the above route you will spend $36 to get to Green River and in Colorado and Wyoming you will spend more going through the parks. The $80 could be a bargain. http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm This URl will give you all of the information.

You may not pass this way again so take it all in. Have a safe trip.
Cliff

[jkersh1]

... do the "going to the sun" road in Glacier...

The middle few miles is closed due to reconstruction work, so you can't get completely across. From the Glacier NP website, "...Visitors can drive 28.0 miles from the West Entrance to Big Bend, and 13.5 miles from the St. Mary Entrance to Jackson Glacier Overlook..." The entire road is 50 miles long.

[mrmagoo]

Thanks for all the info. I am getting more excited by the day. My bikes been serviced has new tires all things are go at the border. Thanks for the input Lucky that is the way I want to go once at Green River I plan to go east on 70 then up through Jackson on 89. I still a bit green on the LT and it might give me a break from being a curve cowboy. Once I'm at Montana I will do a shot for the border. Me and my SO will do the road to the sun another time not too far for us.

Wish me luck

Daniel

[lucky26]

Just a reminder, the LT can be a bit saucy when in slow mode. My first major trip with a new LT and with my SO and packed for a four day trip. I laid the bike down about three times, each time was very slow like in a parking lot, turning a u-turn, or some other maneuver where I touched the front brake while the front wheel was turned. It would lean and I could not stop it. I told my SO to tuck in and not try to stop the lay over. Than we got off (crawl till abel to stand).
I learned to turn around and lift backwards. For the most part the bike was never really damaged, just my ego. I think I have reached a point where I am thinking ahead of the bike and don't get into a situation that sets me up for a lay down. Now that I have said this tomorrow I will surly be brought back to reality.
You are really going to enjoy the trip and I wish I could make that ride again.
Ride safe and enjoy.
Lucky 26

[mrmagoo]

Left Las vegas Wed July 10 and got home Sat July 14th. Weather was hot in vegas and was mainly cool and cloudy for most of the trip. I drove out by Lake Mead up to Zion then to Bryce and up through Boulder to Torry Utah for the night that was some fantastic country. Day two I went from Torry up to I70 then over and up through Hunington over to fairview I rejoined the I15 for a few miles then up through Park City back over to Ogden then up the 89 through Logan to Bear Lake stayed ay Montipeller. Day three took me through Jackson Hole up through Grand Tetons and Yellowstone staying the night at Belgrade. Day four was northbound and down back to the border. I had few problems at the border took about 1.5 hours to complete the paperwork the biggest problem was finding the VIN plate on the bike. 1700 miles of pure enjoyment. :rotf: