Ive been rideing a long time and always hated riding on the interstate. I dont mind rideing it for 30 miles or so but other then that forget it. I got my CVO King so I can take longer trips and travel a little bit more but even with that bike I think im still going to take the beaten path places. I like rideing the country side and being relaxed and enjoying the scenery. On the interstates I feel like its a friggin rat race and a death trap and all the cages driving like idiots. Does anyone else take the back roads when they travel especially while still rideing a touring bike?

 

I love the back roads and byways. I much prefer them to interstate. But, sometimes it's a necessary evil. If I'm doing a long trip, say to California, I'll take the interstate to Denver and then ride 2 lane from there. That way I can spend more time on the "good stuff" vs many hours riding the corn.

 

I do. I ride the interstate when I have no other choice, and that is usually for short segments at a time, but I much prefer to avoid the interstate for much the same reasons you do.

The reason I ride a motorcycle is you are more connected with the scenery you pass, ie sighty and smell. Its hard for me to see and especially smell anything riding down the inetrstate at 70MPH

I'll take an alternate route if at all possible. Even if it takes me a few minutes longer.

 

It's interstate for me when ever possible. Less chance of some self absorbed cell phone yacking idiot pulling out in front of me or making left turn in front of me. On highways, those chances are always there with every car you pass.

 

Try not to do the interstate if possible and time permits.

 

usually stay off the interstate whether on bike or in a cage---unless when we have to be somewhere on a schedule--if traveling long days do try be back on the super slab by sunset---run into some great rides that way--and some god-awful roads too

 

I too prefer secondary roads; more relaxing, can see more even though you are on constant lookout for potential problems. If you see something that you want to take a longer look at, you just pull over....tough to do on interstate.

Now saying that, sometimes there is no choice.....life is a compromise.

 

I love the interstate and I like the back roads ONLY if the curves and turns are 50mph and not 20mph. I hate those.

 

I love backroads but around here it's getting very dangerous. Seems 90% of cars I meet have the tire 2 feet over the yellow line and talking on a cell phone. I cringe at the thought that someone eventually is going to drift all the way and grease me. Kentucky has a gold mine of twisting backroads but between the talkers, texters, and joyriding dope smokers and drunks, your odds of surviving is dwindling.

 

Where I'm at, the slabs are almost all divided by barriers, cable or concrete. This makes it nearly impossible for Johnny Law to patrol. It also makes the 4 wheelers really brave. The average speed is 20 over with a lot of them still flying by you when you are 20 over.

That said, most of the backroads are nearly empty. While it usually adds a good bit more time to most long trips it more than makes up for it in the more relaxed pace, people and scenery to be seen.