California to Washington?
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: The Great Pacific Northwest
California to Washington?
Hey guys. I have a chance to purchase a CVO ultra in the next couple of weeks. The bike is down in Irvine, CA while I am up here in the Seattle, WA area. I was thinking that if I stay along the coast on the 101 I should be OK - avoiding mountain passes and having fairly mild weather and the like.
Has anyone done this trip in the winter or have any knowledge about road conditions along the route?
Thanks in advance for any help or advice!
Crazie
Has anyone done this trip in the winter or have any knowledge about road conditions along the route?
Thanks in advance for any help or advice!
Crazie
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
CA 1 and US 101 were in excellent shape when I rode down from Portland in July. As far as the weather goes I'm sure one of the natives can fill you in better but the temps were in the 40's between Eureka and Ft. Bragg in the mornings and evenings with a lot of intermittent fog all the way to Portland. I would guess the winter months are probably worse. Beautiful ride though.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 647
Likes: 5
From: Snohomish WA
I have never done it in the winter.But you should be ready for cold ,rain ,ice and or snow.Have a back up plan if the weather gets too bad.You may need time to wait out a storm or call someone to pick you up with a truck or trailer. Good luck
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Cal., work in Saudi
I would be prepared for cold, rain and snow. When you get ready to depart Irvine check the weather, your two main trouble spots are going to be the grapevine just north of LA and Ashland Pass as you enter Oregon. As you know both are on I5. 101 is a great drive but it is a good day longer than I5. On the other hand I5 is b o r i n g for all but the last 75 miles in California. Watch for fog in the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys during the winter, it's pretty brutal on some days. You can readily switch from one route to the other in the SF Bay area.
+1 on porterjet's remarks
Have you actually bought the bike? I assume you are talking about OC Harley in Irvine? If so, I was there yesterday and saw both a CVO Ultra and a CVO Wide Glide for sale.
Have you actually bought the bike? I assume you are talking about OC Harley in Irvine? If so, I was there yesterday and saw both a CVO Ultra and a CVO Wide Glide for sale.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 990
Likes: 3
From: lakeside ca.
the coast is your best bet that time of year
you will get rain any snow will only stay on the ground a minute so snow should be no problem not going to be a very warm ride so gear up .. it is anice ride anytime of year however just better in the summer
you will get rain any snow will only stay on the ground a minute so snow should be no problem not going to be a very warm ride so gear up .. it is anice ride anytime of year however just better in the summer
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 381
Likes: 1
From: San Diego area
I would take 1 all the way north until it into merges into 101. Take 101 until 46 to Monterey. Spend the night in Monterey and enjoy some good food. From there take Highway 1 until you reach San Francisco and it merges into 101. Go over the Golden Gate bridge and keep on 101 to Crescent City. Spend the night there after a long day. Stop along the way to have a good lunch in Sausalito or somewhere near Santa Rosa. The next day take 199 out of Crescent City to Grants Pass. Believe me this is one of the prettiest roads I have ever ridden on and I have been on many. You can see right to the bottom of the river which is a the bottom of a ravine. Take 5 out of Grants Pass through Rogue River and on up to Seattle. 5 is very pretty through Oregon and Washington. It's a three to four day ride depending how many miles you want to put on, but on that bike it should be easy.
I took this ride a few years ago and would do it again. Expect rain up near Crescent City and up through Oregon.
I took this ride a few years ago and would do it again. Expect rain up near Crescent City and up through Oregon.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,190
Likes: 5
From: Eastern Washington
hx 's route would be a very nice run. I have to ask though, why are you going to buy a CA bike? Most people want to avoid all the emissions from CA bikes. Even when I lived in Ca I always bought a 49 state bike
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 0
From: Yakima WA
If the bike in question were a 2010 or 2011 would there be any difference in the emissions equipment on the bike? I was thinking with the advent of the 2010 models to present they were all considered "50 state" compliant from an emissions stand point?
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,225
Likes: 2
From: Southern California
I've done the 101 from SoCal up to Santa Rosa in the winter. Usually a good ride, but too much rain to do it this weekend. Irvine to Santa Rosa is 8 or 9 hours on the bike. To skip the Los Angeles traffic mess, take the 57 north, to the 210 west. The 210 weat turns into the 134 west, which turns into the 101 north. This will let you miss most of downtown Los Angeles.