Next May, who's in?

Planning on heading out through Kansas to Colorado, up through the rockies, and back through the dakotas, possibly considering a run to Alaska, depends on how long my dad can get off work. 5-8k miles in two weeks should be fun.

7/24/2007 10:25:02 AM

i know you take the back roads in WV, So i am assuming that the majority 90% will be back roads, not interstate. that would just be boring. I want to do that but my bike isn't made for cross country.

7/24/2007 12:35:31 PM

sounds pretty damn awesome...but not on my bike

maybe I'll have a different one by then

[Edited on July 24, 2007 at 12:45 PM. Reason : .]

7/24/2007 12:40:18 PM

i would HIGHLY reccomend staying out of kansas. it's an absolutely miserable drive.

7/24/2007 12:51:17 PM

interestingness is directly proportional to squareness of state

7/24/2007 1:37:52 PM

I have some friends there, crashing at as many random people's houses to keep the motel costs down is the plan.

7/24/2007 2:24:27 PM

If I get a new bike by then that could handle that type ride I'm game. I've been wanting to go cross country... thought it'd be in a car, but hell... motorcycle sounds more fun.

7/24/2007 2:33:18 PM

Quote :

"i would HIGHLY reccomend staying out of kansas. it's an absolutely miserable drive."

The entire midwest is a terrible drive. I would vote go south before you head west. Hit Texas and the southwest.

7/24/2007 3:25:37 PM

Quote :

"I have some friends there, crashing at as many random people's houses to keep the motel costs down is the plan."

7/24/2007 3:47:43 PM

awesome idea.... if my financial situation allows at the time you can count me in

7/24/2007 9:48:53 PM

Who needs wheels? I hitchhiked from NC out to Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, etc in the dead of winter with nothing but me and a backpack. Just strap some basic camping gear on your bike and roll.

7/24/2007 10:00:37 PM

Two weeks? Dude, I drove from Raleigh up through Denver and then Vegas, and eventually to San Francisco, then took the southwestern route back. Took me exactly 3 weeks because I actually stopped to enjoy some of the places I was staying in for a day or two. We drove 7k miles. Even then I felt like I needed more time, but honestly I was getting tired.

And money wise, well gas won't be a big deal on a bike but you will spend a shitload on motel, booze, and eating out. In me three weeks I only stayed in a hotel three nights, but that was because I had a lot of friends/random uncles/etc to stay with. I'd take at least $1500.

Don't cheap out in terms of time and money is my best advice, but I'm sure you understand that. Two weeks is just way less time than you think. Of course, getting off work is hard. I recognize that. I think you need to decrease your ambition or increase your timeframe.

Oh and taking a large group is going to be really difficult to coordinate. I went with two other people (two cars) and that was hard enough. Everyone has their own agenda and their own ideas of where you should be going etc. Keep the group small. There will be times you will be at each other's throats despite your best efforts.

[Edited on July 24, 2007 at 10:16 PM. Reason : still a great idea. just temper your ambition]

7/24/2007 10:13:57 PM

could be in for this, but not on my current bike.

7/24/2007 11:15:32 PM

pm motomike/motomikeh

he might not respond...i'll try to IM him a link to this thread

he's a XC bike riding fiend...like raleigh to central america and back

7/25/2007 2:00:28 AM

Id love to do this, assuming I can get another bike soon and have the time to take off for it.

As for money, arghx must be rolling in loot.

Last cross-country trip I did in my Saturn I went almost 10k miles, over the course of like 7-8 weeks and spent less than 1500 bucks for everything, gas included. Hostels and 29.99 hotels are a man's best friend.

7/25/2007 2:05:26 AM

yeah, when i drove from FL to WA, i slept in the truck ever other night, and stayed in a cheap hotel every other night (that way i could shower, shave, etc)

7/25/2007 2:12:52 AM

yeah... not feelin it with the 600rr

7/25/2007 4:49:28 AM

You are such a pussy. I know guys that have run from NC to Alaska on 350 and 600 dual sports. What's wrong with doing it on a 600 street bike?

7/25/2007 8:26:33 AM

7k miles in two weeks is only 500 miles a day or about 8 hours of riding, which is nothing, I'm used to riding well over 1,200 miles in a weekend

7/25/2007 9:39:57 AM

On my recent cross country trip, we started at the Northeast (Silver) gate of Yellowstone, rode all the way through Yellowstone and down to Jackson Hole (at the south end of the Grand Teton's), and then all the way back. It ended up being a 400 mile ride, with some at around 45mph. At the end of the day on my CBR600RR, I HURT. Maybe I'm just a wuss, but I would never go cross country on my CBR.

At the same time, this is something I would love to do someday, I just want to do it on an FJR/ST1300/BMW K1200/etc.

7/25/2007 10:40:14 AM

Quote :

"I just want to do it on an FJR"

way ahead of ya

7/25/2007 10:54:55 AM

^ my main point is that you are going to want to stop and spend a day or two in some places and you won't have that luxury with just two weeks. When I drove, we would do 800 miles some days and zero on the others so that we could spend a day resting and visiting people.

7/25/2007 11:41:50 AM

I'd have to agree with that. I'd probably plan less distance so I could not be rushed and actually have time to goof around in various places along the way.

7/25/2007 11:44:19 AM

I would love to do it. But as someone stated above not on the CBR. Anything much more than 350 miles in a day and ill be in pain. Let me pick up a VFR and then im game.

7/25/2007 12:55:00 PM

the rr just isnt set up for such a ride, yea i would love it, i am kinda thinkign about bikes right now but its more in line of dirt bikes. Possibly a cruiser if i can get one cheap, that might be an option.

7/25/2007 10:24:43 PM

I'd do it on my F2 since its' a very comfortable ride for long distance, but the 600rr... the most uncomfortable bike... It's like they designed it to reduce blood flow in your legs...

7/26/2007 10:33:53 AM

Quote :

" Hit Texas and the southwest."

that's just as bad and you'll get cooked in the summer... better to go much farther north (badlands) through montana and such

7/26/2007 10:51:53 AM

^ Yeah, Montana is kick ass for driving through.

I would take north or south over anywhere in the midwest.

7/26/2007 11:27:40 AM