Western Trip Planning '08

[drmajor]

Wife & I are planning a trip for next May 2008.

Need to start the trip near some where that rents BMW GS.

We have been thinking about Yellowstone, N. California, Grand Canyon. Planning for a week to 10 days.

Suggestions on where to rent a bike?

Suggestions on what to see?

Suggestions on where to go and how to get there??

Thanks.

[SilverBuffalo]

May is early for the northern destinations especially those with elevation,

you'll probably find there are "many" mountain passes still closed.

May is also the "windy" month in the western southerly states.

But it's also one of the best times to travel, off season rates, no crowds at the national parks etc.

I only have one suggestion as where to go........Utah

[drmajor]

Hans,
thanks.. we choose Memorial Day so we can skip out of the office with a few more days vacation that our clients won't notice!!!

Love the Photos...

We don't mind cool weather, in fact, prefer it to hot and humid. Gerbing helps a lot.

Not sure about western winds. Are they a problem?

I have not been in the Rockies for 40 years. What temps can we expect in May or June? I remember playing in the snow as a kid at about 9,000' in June... Don't remember being cold though..??

[RonKMiller]

I second Hans on Utah!

The Rockies route you proposed is awesome - but a much better idea in September. Late May can be tricky at high altitude. Snowstorms are not uncommon...

So, stay lower in altitude but out of the desert where it will be getting hot:

Rent your GS at Iron Horse in Tucson, then head North to Oracle and into the White Mountains. Stay in Payson at Kohls. Then head up to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon at stay at the Lodge. From their up to Utah and Zion - stay in the park at the Lodge. Then a short ride to Bryce for at least a couple of nights and some remarkable hiking among the hoodoos. Then off to Capital Reef Park. Next stop Lake Powell where you can rent a powerboat for a couple of days and explore. There won't be ANYONE there in May, yet the weather is awesome. Take the ferry across, then visit Canyon De Shelly. Off to Alpine AZ and the old Hwy 666 to Safford where you can soak in some hot springs. Next stop Tucson!

This route will keep you exclusively on 2 lane curvey roads with mind blowing scenery. :abduct:

NEXT year: Death Valley, the Pacific Coast Highway and Northern California, but wait until early June. ;)

[jayjacobson]

....I only have one suggestion as where to go........Utah
Great pic's, Hans. Just saved to "scenic" file.

[SilverBuffalo]

Not sure about western winds. Are they a problem?
In my opinion the "worst" weather for riding (not counting ice and snow) is a gusty cross-wind,
It wouldn't keep me from going but it does make it a lot more "work"
Great pic's, Hans. Just saved to "scenic" file.
Thanks: I took over 660 pictures in Colorado and Utah alone.
Utah is "like being on another planet" with more breathtaking scenery around every curve.

These were all taken a couple of years ago, but it was during the month of May :)

[danbrown]

Dave if you have time ride out the north east corner of yellowstone and go up over bear tooth pass, aprox 11000 ft.(if its open) go to the town of red lodge, have lunch in the red lodge cafe,walk around town,then back up over the pass. it was a nice way to spend a day.

[jayjacobson]

....Utah is "like being on another planet" with more breathtaking scenery around every curve....
Hans, you know I just HATE to hijack a treat, BUT, tell us about your camera, please. Those pic's are crystal clear and color rich.

[SilverBuffalo]

Hans, you know I just HATE to hijack a treat, BUT, tell us about your camera, please. Those pic's are crystal clear and color rich.
That certainly makes me smile,
because it's an inexpensive camera:
Fuji Finepix 2650, 2 megapixels,
I've had it for about 3-4 years,
it was only a couple hundred new and less than half of that now.

My theory is the more expensive the camera the sooner I'll break it. :)

[BrianV]

BIG seconds on the Utah - Arizona routes.

If you are going to be doing that much highway, why not rent an RT?

AZ Ride (AZride.com) in Phoenix has 2007 RTs that they keep in great shape - and have an RS or 2 as well. They are great to work with, will pick you up at the airport, etc. Talk to Monica.

One of the most refreshing rides - intense - but not necessarily the most intense - is 89A from Prescott to Flagstaff. Be sure to stop in Jerome for a cold one. Continuing north on 89A, Oak Creek Canyon from Sedona to Flagstaff is really a nice ride. From Flagstaff the next morning (early - no traffic) , take SR 487 down to Strawberry and Payson. Then off on 260 east to Eagar to set you up the next morning for the ride down 191 (old 666 - The Devils Highway). Two ways to do 191 - downhill from Alpine, or east across US 180 to Luna, New Mexico and down to US 78, and back over west to 191 where you can head north through Clifton and UP 191 back to Alpine. 191 is a VERY intense road, and easier uphill than down. The downhill route on the New Mexico side is no less beautiful, but is less intense.

Very definitely the North rim of the Grand Canyon, and up through Kanab UT to the great rides and sights there. I could go on all day, but.....

Check out www.motorcycleroads.us for some great info and rider reviews.

We rode it in early May and had no difficulty with weather.

[jwimberley]

Having lived in Jackson, WY for some time I agree that there is a chance you might get cold in the morning and if it rains in the valley you might see snow in the passes. I love to ride through Colorado now that I live more than a days ride away from Yellowstone/Grand Teton. I suggest you look into Big Sky BMW or Salt Lake BMW to compare with the rental suggestions for Utah and Arizona. I would still consider Yellowstone in May before schools get out and traffic starts to pick up. I guess I would pack a heated vest for insurance.
Jim

[MickS]

I just returned from Jackson Hole/Yellowstone/Beartooth Hwy trip.
Only had a week so I flew into Jackson Hole and rented LT there from these guys: http://www.jhrr.com/rates.html

They had 2 LTs, GS's,RTs and Harley's.

I liked Chief Joseph Scenic Highway from Beartooth to near Cody a lot.
Here's some shots I took in the Tetons. First snow on peaks and fall color.

[WildwoodDreamer]

David,

Wow! What a question! The northwestern United States has bountiful sites to behold. I am enclosing some pictures, but justice isn't served until you personally experience them. I hope you plan on spending several weeks. The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Park, Beartooth Pass (outside of Yellowstone going to Montana) are wonderful sites. I would also suggest Flaming Gorge in nothern Utah. I might also suggest visiting Banff National Park in British Columbia, and go see Lake Louise.

You can see these same sites from a car, but on a motorcycle you can also feel them

Fred


Flaming Gorge Banff National Park Yellowstone Beartooth Pass