General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Maine?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 15, 2011 | 06:41 AM
  #1  
mrjimbo's Avatar
mrjimbo
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
From: Brandon, Fl.
Default Maine?

Anyone know what the road conditions are usually like in Maine in mid-march?
I want to run I-95 to Alt 1 into Bar Harbor.....are the roads ice pack or or they usually dry (unless of course there is an active storm)????????
 
Old Dec 15, 2011 | 07:05 AM
  #2  
modes's Avatar
modes
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 26
From: OOB, Maine
Default

Road tend to be dry a day or two after a storm. Mid-March you can run into wet spot from snow melt running down and often across the road. Highway are often salt stained unless a rainstorm has washed them. Back road will have sand on inside corners until they get swept or washed form rain in April. Should not pose any issues as I see a bike every non snow day on 95 headed to work. Watch the weather for sure as that is obviously the biggest determining factor. The farmer's almanac call for a cold winter with late year snow storms. They were extremely accurate in their prediction of last winter's weather. Big snow in March is not uncommon. Give your bike one hell of a wash when you get back home.

Adam
 
Old Dec 15, 2011 | 07:07 AM
  #3  
wild hog's Avatar
wild hog
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 496
Likes: 15
From: Windham, New Hampshire
Default

Really depends how hard snow hits in February and how warm early spring is around here. I live in NH and the bike doesnt come out before April. Lots of crap still on the road in mid March whether its salt,sand,ice or snow none of it makes for a good bike ride. There are members here that live up that area, but what we get they usually get worse so i know how conditions are that time of year. Good luck either way and be safe.
 
Old Dec 15, 2011 | 07:21 AM
  #4  
Artlee's Avatar
Artlee
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,788
Likes: 1
From: Maine
Default

What has been said already is true. It can be cold too. March has some wild weather swings. I started riding in March this year, but it can be dicey. Good luck.
And most everything is still closed in Bar Harbor in March - not everything though.
 
Old Dec 15, 2011 | 07:36 AM
  #5  
Peculierboy's Avatar
Peculierboy
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 444
Likes: 6
From: Baa Haaba, Maine
Default

+1 on what everyone else mentioned about snow and gritty roads. I've seen snow here in late April, so watch the weather on the way up. It will also be alot colder in Bar Harbor as we are so close to the water, as will Rt 1, Electrics are your friend!

We loaded up for Daytona last year (yea, go ahead and rag on me, we trailered down) in 10 degree weather (minus -17 with wind chill) the first week of March, and we came home to snow still on the ground and 40 degree temps in mid-March.

One other thing to keep in mind, Acadia National Park does not open the Loop Road till April 15, so riding in the park is not an option.

There is a B&B in BH that offers HOG discounts, secure parking, and is open all year, PM me for details if you decide to come up.
 
Old Dec 15, 2011 | 07:44 AM
  #6  
Artlee's Avatar
Artlee
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,788
Likes: 1
From: Maine
Default

Originally Posted by Peculierboy
-snip-
One other thing to keep in mind, Acadia National Park does not open the Loop Road till April 15, so riding in the park is not an option.
-snip-
Didn't they open loop road earlier this year because the roads were clear? I thought I read that in the Bangor Daily. I could be wrong though.
 

Last edited by Artlee; Dec 15, 2011 at 07:46 AM. Reason: I
Old Dec 15, 2011 | 08:56 AM
  #7  
Peculierboy's Avatar
Peculierboy
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 444
Likes: 6
From: Baa Haaba, Maine
Default

Originally Posted by Artlee
Didn't they open loop road earlier this year because the roads were clear? I thought I read that in the Bangor Daily. I could be wrong though.
Nope. With the federal budget cuts they now have a 'hard' date on when they open and close the road, it used to be when the weather was good they would but not for a few years.
 
Old Dec 15, 2011 | 09:08 AM
  #8  
jjnoble's Avatar
jjnoble
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,727
Likes: 6
Default

I have ridden my bike down from Caribou Maine in mid January when the snow was piled up to the telephone wires and had to plow through snow drifts three feet high and by the time I got to Bangor the snow was long gone. Still cold, but no snow. But it is Maine and a storm could come through at any time.
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
HardRider1
General Harley Davidson Chat
15
Feb 5, 2015 11:45 AM
JustOneDean
Road Trips
30
Apr 20, 2014 09:33 AM
Bigwillie
General Harley Davidson Chat
10
Mar 17, 2014 08:51 AM
Steve_m
Road Trips
6
Sep 18, 2009 02:07 PM
Simba
General Harley Davidson Chat
5
Oct 5, 2007 09:02 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:02 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE