Pikes Peak
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 104
Likes: 20
From: Illinois
Pikes Peak
Ever since my youngest son visited Pikes Peak on his motorcycle, my friend Steve and I talked about doing it ourselves for the past year. Finally, with the weather forecast looking good, we, along with my middle son, left Illinois at 6:30 am Monday, August 24, 2015. After a long day (863 mi) across Missouri and Kansas we stopped for the night in Limon, CO.
We left there shortly after sun rise Tuesday, taking Rt 24 to Colorado Springs/Pikes Peak. After getting some directions from the clerk at the gas station, who just happened to be a former central Illinois resident, we made our way up to the top of Pikes Peak. If you've never been there, let me just say it should be on your bucket list. The road was in perfect shape, the weather great and the views spectacular.
We spent about and hour at the summit before heading down the mountain and making our way towards Illinois. We made it to Hays, KS the second night and were back home in Illinois at 6:30 pm the third night! Three solid days on the bike, my kind of vacation! Just wish we lived closer to the mountains.
Now we have to decide our next destination!
KJ
We left there shortly after sun rise Tuesday, taking Rt 24 to Colorado Springs/Pikes Peak. After getting some directions from the clerk at the gas station, who just happened to be a former central Illinois resident, we made our way up to the top of Pikes Peak. If you've never been there, let me just say it should be on your bucket list. The road was in perfect shape, the weather great and the views spectacular.
We spent about and hour at the summit before heading down the mountain and making our way towards Illinois. We made it to Hays, KS the second night and were back home in Illinois at 6:30 pm the third night! Three solid days on the bike, my kind of vacation! Just wish we lived closer to the mountains.
Now we have to decide our next destination!
KJ
Last edited by kj68; Sep 4, 2015 at 10:47 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
Have been up 4 or 5 times. Great ride. You should have also tried Mt. Evans. Road is not a good, but the scenery is just as spectacular and it is a hundred or so ft. higher.
Either one of these rides make the "Tail of the Dragon " look like a little lizard.
Mt. Evans goat
Mt. Evans summit
Bill
Either one of these rides make the "Tail of the Dragon " look like a little lizard.
Mt. Evans goat
Mt. Evans summit
Bill
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 104
Likes: 20
From: Illinois
Mikey 1450, it was fun coming down! It's surprising how good a Limited handles those switchbacks.
Bill, Mt Evans is definitely on my list. And I've ridden the Dragon too and while it's fun, these mountain roads are on a whole 'nother level!
Kj
Bill, Mt Evans is definitely on my list. And I've ridden the Dragon too and while it's fun, these mountain roads are on a whole 'nother level!
Kj
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,980
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From: Michigan
In 2004 my wife and I, along with my cousin and her husband (all riding solo) headed up Pike's Peak.
At that time, the last 10 miles or do was not paved and that's where the ladies decided it was far as they were going.
Both said they'd wait there if us guys would like to proceed to the top so we took them up on their offer and away we went!
It was raining lightly but the road was well graded (in fact we passed a road grader that was grading the downhill side of the road) and we made it safely to the top and then back to pickup the ladies.
A trip that I (we) will never forget!
We first did Mt. Evans in '95, then again in '04 (same trip as the Pike Peak run) and both times by motorcycle, and then again in '11 with one of our car clubs.
Personally, I enjoyed the Mt Evans trips better, and I can say for certain that I could feel a difference on the first and the last trip being that I was
16 years older!
At that time, the last 10 miles or do was not paved and that's where the ladies decided it was far as they were going.
Both said they'd wait there if us guys would like to proceed to the top so we took them up on their offer and away we went!
It was raining lightly but the road was well graded (in fact we passed a road grader that was grading the downhill side of the road) and we made it safely to the top and then back to pickup the ladies.
A trip that I (we) will never forget!
We first did Mt. Evans in '95, then again in '04 (same trip as the Pike Peak run) and both times by motorcycle, and then again in '11 with one of our car clubs.
Personally, I enjoyed the Mt Evans trips better, and I can say for certain that I could feel a difference on the first and the last trip being that I was
16 years older!
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 675
Likes: 17
From: Broken Bow, Oklahoma
The wife and I crossed that off our list this summer as well. I can't really say what the scenery is like at the top because the whole time we were up there it was blowing sleet and snow sideways. It was actually ok, because the weather was perfect on the way up, snowed while we were in the souvenir shop and was perfect for the trip down. I for sure felt something while on that trip. I actually didn't know if I was going to make the top though. I felt it starting about half way up. by the time I got to the top, I felt dizzy, had a bit of a headache, and just didn't feel right. Half way down, I was ok again.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,906
Likes: 145
From: SE Louisiana
I rode to the summit on the way home from Sturgis. I'd attempted the ride up a couple of times in the past but the road was blocked at some point by snow. This time, it was clear skies and good paved road all the way up!
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,611
Likes: 104
From: Southern Colorado
I made it this year for the first time as well (with Bill's group)....If you think doing it on a touring bike is fun check out the Ducati rider on You Tube who made from about the reservoir to the summit in under 10 minutes!!
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