Riding SoCal to Sturgis 2012, need suggestions / trip advice
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 1
From: South FL
Good luck and have fun!
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 25
From: Santa Fe NM
Just my 2˘
There are plenty of gas stations unless you really get off the beaten path. No real need to plan them out, waste of time.
With only a week or so you will pushing to get there and as others have said only to have to turn around and head home without really getting a chance to "experence" Sturgis.
When you can get two weeks or better yet three... then you'll have a great time.
I, personally, would rather do a ride like this, google map, ride some beautiful country, spend some time taking some photographs, kick back have a beer and enjoy yourself.
Perhaps you've been there but Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Natural Bridges, Moki Dugway, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon that my friend, is one hell of a memorable ride...
Not saying Stugis is not worth the ride, just that is deserves more than you will be able to give it with a week available. Hell, I've been seven times, never stayed there less that four nights each time and I still have not seen all there is to see... IMHO
Just Sayin
Oh, and if you do ride my map make sure you get gas in Hanksville...
There are plenty of gas stations unless you really get off the beaten path. No real need to plan them out, waste of time.
With only a week or so you will pushing to get there and as others have said only to have to turn around and head home without really getting a chance to "experence" Sturgis.
When you can get two weeks or better yet three... then you'll have a great time.
I, personally, would rather do a ride like this, google map, ride some beautiful country, spend some time taking some photographs, kick back have a beer and enjoy yourself.
Perhaps you've been there but Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Natural Bridges, Moki Dugway, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon that my friend, is one hell of a memorable ride...
Not saying Stugis is not worth the ride, just that is deserves more than you will be able to give it with a week available. Hell, I've been seven times, never stayed there less that four nights each time and I still have not seen all there is to see... IMHO
Just Sayin
Oh, and if you do ride my map make sure you get gas in Hanksville...
Last edited by 2002flstc; Jan 10, 2012 at 01:39 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 185
From: Utah
If you're limited to 7 days, you really need to make tracks getting there and back. There are, of course, abundant fantastic roads between So. Cal. and Sturgis, but you don't have time to take them all in. You need to be able to spend AT LEAST three days in the Black Hills. As others have said, you could easily spend a week going, a week there, and a week returning by different roads. However, working within your limits I think you are going to be best served by taking the shortest, quickest, route there and then enjoying your time there.
How many miles are you comfortable riding in a day? You might need to do about 675 a day to get there in 2 days. Since part of that is across the Mojave in August, you know you'll need to get an early start.
Taking I-70 instead of I-80 will add about 75 miles overall, but I agree that it will be mileage well spent. Crossing Wyoming from Evanston to South Dakota is a bleak, windy, tiring ride. You'll enjoy the Rockies much more.
If there's any way you could squeeze in one more day, then your return trip could include the Beartooth Highway and Yellowstone. There's no question that's a great ride, but you can't do everything in one 7 day trip. You'll add about 300 miles to your journey going up there. Those are 300 great miles, to be sure, but again . . . you have limits.
Good luck with the trip.
How many miles are you comfortable riding in a day? You might need to do about 675 a day to get there in 2 days. Since part of that is across the Mojave in August, you know you'll need to get an early start.
Taking I-70 instead of I-80 will add about 75 miles overall, but I agree that it will be mileage well spent. Crossing Wyoming from Evanston to South Dakota is a bleak, windy, tiring ride. You'll enjoy the Rockies much more.
If there's any way you could squeeze in one more day, then your return trip could include the Beartooth Highway and Yellowstone. There's no question that's a great ride, but you can't do everything in one 7 day trip. You'll add about 300 miles to your journey going up there. Those are 300 great miles, to be sure, but again . . . you have limits.
Good luck with the trip.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 1
From: South FL
You will not enjoy the rally, or even the ride if you are tired. Especially, the heat will wear you out faster during that time of year.
The more time the better, but I humbly say a minimum of 10 days will be an enjoyable trip.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: SOCAL
3 days
I was looking at HD plan a ride looks like a straight route from Riverside Ca. is 1350 miles one way that about 400 + a day if you do it in 3 days, I was told by everyone in this area that you should figure on a 2 week trip so to spend some time at the rally too