Trip west this summer, advice?
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 348
Likes: 2
From: eastern Iowa
Trip west this summer, advice?
We are planning our yearly bike trip. We only have 10 days and there is two couples. The things we plan on seeing are the redwoods of northern Cal. and the Oregon coast highway. From here it wood be 6, 600mi. days out and back, that would only leave 4 days there, sounds more like and endurance trip than a vacation. thought about trailering part way out but that kind of sucked to. We found cheap flights into vegas and are going to rent bikes, With the flight times we got we will have 9 days of riding. We will leave Vegas july 12 and have to return the bikes July 21. We like to put 300 to 350 mile on a day do any of you have routes or things to stop and see. We usually get going about 7 am and about 4 or 5pm we like to find a motel and a bar. Back roads are the best, no big cities.
Thanks for any input.
Thanks for any input.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 11,392
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From: Big ol Titties
Yeah you run into some brutal temps that time of year. 110 plus is not uncommon, just keep that in mind while you are making your way out of the desert area, hydration is real real important. Temps along the coast are nice that time of year though.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Here and now
If you can rent in Reno I would do that. The trip from Vegas to the coastal area is 415 miles and about 350 of that is 100 plus degree desert. You could stay in Reno or Lake Tahoe then head out to highway 101 and up the Oregon Coast. Plus you could go down 395 and go through Yosemite, then cut over across the valley to the coast. And bring warm clothes. It can be 105 degrees in the valley and 59 degrees at the coast (50 miles west) at the same time.
I've lived here all my life and I still haven't seen everything the Sierra Nevada offers in the summer.
I've lived here all my life and I still haven't seen everything the Sierra Nevada offers in the summer.
Last edited by dribble; Jan 14, 2014 at 03:15 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: n
When I was stationed at McChord around Olympia we rode the PCH from WA down into CA just south of Crescent City and got into the Redwoods, OR along the coast was outstanding, we headed back northeast and went up a highway just out of Crescent City into OR through Grant's Pass on US 199 (?) and it was spectacular. Wound up going towards Klamath Falls and back up the east side of the Cascades. There was a point where you could see Mt Hood, Mt something and Mt Rainier all at once across the horizon. I would bag Vegas and that region in July for another day. Rode across NV one time on US 50 to Reno and it was cool, then cut up through the back side of the Sierra Nevadas through Lassen NP--didn't even know CA had a volcano till we going through the park gate. Somehow, you need to work in the gorge (Columbia River between OR and WA). Incredible riding in the Pac NW in July. Forget Vegas, Reno would be a better option for a fly and ride. It's too f*&kin' hot Vegas. Have a great time.
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Woodstock GA
Have you thought about shipping the bikes out then fly out to them? I live in Atlanta area and shipped my bike to Seattle WA. Coast about $700 with www.haulbikes.com. They can ship from HD dealer to dealer or anywhere pretty much. The dealers didn't charge me anything. There are other companies out there also. Might be cheaper than renting and you get to ride you own bike.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 348
Likes: 2
From: eastern Iowa
Thanks for the info so far. The reason we picked Vegas is because of the cheap flights from here. We have not been in the area before so don't about the riding conditions but plan on crossing into Cal. right away and taking 395 up through the sierra nevada's hoping that will be cooler