Hi

Planning a once in a lifetime trip to see some of your fine country on a bike.
Narrowed the area down to California-Nevada-Arizona. Arrive La and pick up some wheels in Early September. Spend 9 or 10 days touring. Not too full on - about 200 miles a day would be a nice relaxing pace. Loop back to La to drop off wheels.
What I need help with is some suggestions on an itinerary. Not knowing the area (or the country for that matter) very well, what parts are an absolute must see? Any places to avoid?
Failing that are there any good sources of information (reommended routes or tours)?

Ta

D

 

Give the distance you want to travel (about 1800 miles) i'd probably do the whole trip within California. Starting in LA, I'd go see Death Valley, head north toward Yosemite & Tioga pass or even farther north toward Tahoe. From Tahoe I'd take 49 south to around Sonora or Yosemite (if not already seen) then head across the valley to the coast and SFO, taking the PCH south again toward LA. The PCH is one of the motorcycling wonders of the world, and I fear that you wouldn't have time to do it if you headed out of CA for other objectives, however worthy they might be.

The route I propose has plenty of sights to see along the way, and avoids freeways if you want.

 

I would look at riding towards Tuscon Arizona to Clifton Arizona and then ride the Coronado Trail to Greer Arizona and stay at the Greer Lodge. From there I would ride through Flagstaff Arizona to Kingman Arizona to the West rim of the Grand Canyon and go see the glass skywalk. Go over the Hoover Dam to Las Vegas and then back to LA. Or something like that. That's the ride I'm taking from San Diego at the end of may

 

Did the PCH once - albeit on four wheels - hence the plan to pursue further east.
Like the sound of the trip above.
Am I right to assume the weather (temperatures) should still be quite decent in early September?
Are there any big Rallies/events that may mean that hire bikes are in short supply around that time?

Cheers

D

 

You'll get lots of suggestions here on ways to go, however, most who've never been to Las Vegas surely intend to make that stop if at all possible. In the event you do, two very good places to visit would be Hover Dam and Red Rock canyon, which is just outside of the city, that is after you get your fill of the strip in Vegas. Good luck with what ever you choose.
Jack.

 

In early September the temperatures in Arizona and Nevada will still be HOT. The upper elevations (Flagstaff, Grand Canyon) should be quite pleasant, cool at night warm during the day.

I was recently in Las Vegas and enjoyed the ride north from Henderson, through Lake Mead Recreation Area to Valley of Fire State Park. I'm guessing that's kind of a scorcher in early September, but I don't know for sure. Great ride though.

 

I'll try. Day one. LA to Palm Springs. Stay the night. Visit Las Casuelas Terraza at 222 Palm Canyon Drive. Great mexican food, better margueritas, live band that plays rock of all kinds and has played there for over twenty years. There's a motel right behind the restaurant that you can walk to if you've had to many margs.

Day two. North to Yucca Valley, stop at Hutchins Harley. Old style dealer with a 50s style diner out front. Take pictures of the Harley dirt bike and scooter amid other nostalgic stuff. Head towards 29 Palms then take Utah Trail Rd. to Amboy Hiway to Amboy on Hiway 66. Gas station in Amboy is a neat stop. The Amboy Sheriff is the manager. Go east on Rt. 66 to where it connects to the I-40 and go to Needles for lunch. Go north on the 95 on either side of the Colorado River, I like the CA side. Go to Laughlin, NV and get a cheap room at one of the hotel casinos with a view of the river. $45 is a good price. The Aquarius is one of our favorites, it has the best buffet in town also. Don't lose too much at the tables. CA and NV are helmet required states.

Day three. Cross the bridge north of town into AZ. AZ is a non helmet state if you want to mess up your hair a bit. Head south to the road to Oatman. You'll be back on Rt. 66. It's a cool little mining town that Clark Gable and Carole Lombard used for their honeymoon ages ago. Feed the local donkeys and take pics. Head up to Kingman but watch the curves and corners heading out of Oatman for a few miles, it's twisty. Kingman, AZ has a nice harley dealer and a pretty cool Rt. 66 museum. Stay on Rt. 66 to where it reconnects to the I-40 and take that to Williams. That will be some of the best of Old Rt. 66. Spend the night in Williams.

Day four. Go to the Grand Canyon. Be aware on your ride up to the canyon from Williams. Hiway 64 can be dangerous with the Motor Home Tourists trying to get to their next can't wait to see site. Go to the canyon and follow the hiway east till it takes you down to Flagstaff. Go south to Sedona and spend the night, even if you get there late. It's a must see stop.


Now you've used up almost half your time and you're still in AZ. I would head south to Cottonwood and over to Jerome, AZ. Another old mining towm that is a cool biker destination. From there go down to Prescott and spend the night. It's a place that you'd like to buy property and stay for awhile.

Down to Congress, Salome and to Quartsite. In September there may be more motor homes camping around Quartsite than there are residents. It's a pretty amazing site. The burial site of Hi Jolly, the camel jockey that was involved in the great camel experiment for the US Army in the 1800s is in Quartsite. Look on the web. Then take I-10 over to Blythe, CA. Put your helmets back on before you cross the Colorado. Just west of Blythe is hiway 78. Take it. Do the speed limit. It's a cool two lane road for the next couple hundred miles. Stop in Glamis, the sand buggy capitol of the south, and get a t-shirt from the Glamis Beach Store. But don't try to find any water at the beach, it's all sand. Stay on 78 to Ocotillo Wells, the off roading mecca of SoCal. A few miles, 5 or so, west of Ocottilo Wells is a road that heads into Borrego Springs. Take it and find your way to Montezuma Grade up to Ranchita. Down to San Felipe grade to Hiway 79. North on 79 to Temecula and back to LA.

 

As posted by Atticus, the weather will be hot at the lower elevations but mild in the mountains nearer Flagstaff. There are no major rallys planned at that time and I would check out EagleRider for the rental and reasonable rates. Las Vegas does have a small rally in September but it is nothing to worry about. I will post more info after I ride that route the last week in May.

OtherSheep laid out a nice ride and I took some of it on my way to the Vegas rally last year. It was 110 in the Mojave Deset as I went through Amboy. A couple of years ago I rode a route through Arizona that included a stop in Winslow. That town was made famous by the Eagles song, "Standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona". I will look up my route in the next few days. Wherever you go you will love it.

I was from Northern California until I retired to the San Diego area last year and have never found better riding than Highway 1 from north of Monterey to Oregon. Highway 191 from Crescent City to Medford was by far the nicest trip I have ever taken.

 

Hey - thanks Other sheep, Atticus, HX turbo and everyone else for your help.
All very helpful and a good pointer for my further research.
Very much appreciated guys.
D

 

Nice thread, I'm planning a trip to the Grand Canyon as well in Sept. Thanks for all the great ideas.