October 2011
5 posts
1 tag
Hyner View Road, Pennsylvania
Hyner View Road uses several switchbacks to take you to a scenic vista which overlooks the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and is a favorite spot for hang gliding. At 1,940’ altitude above sea level it is perhaps the most spectacular viewpoint in all of Pennsylvania.
Located northwest of Lock Haven and I-80, X178, it is not far from PA 120 and is worth the short side trip involved.
1 tag
Group Riding
This past weekend, there were 3 motorcycle accidents in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In one case “police said a motorcyclist going more than 100 miles an hour crashed into another motorcyclist on westbound Interstate 40.” The riders were part of an organized group ride and the motorcyclist going over 100 miles an hour blew out a tire trying to catch up to the other riders.
This brings...
1 tag
Springdale-Hunters Road, Washington
As its name implies, Springdale-Hunters Road runs between Springdale and Hunters in Eastern Washington. The road takes you through a remote area and features sweeping turns. Just northwest of Spokane, Hunters is close to the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area which provides visitors the opportunity to enjoy camping, hunting, boating, and other outdoor activities.
1 tag
State Route 23 - Nebraska
NE 23 is located in South-Central Nebraska. Contibuted by Daren Fleischman, he relates that it is “Up and down sweeping turns through the lower sandhills.” He also recommends the Curtis Cattle Company restaurant in Curtis for it’s chicken fried steak. I suspect you need to be a local to know what chicken fried steak is, but it sounds delicious.
1 tag
Redwood Road - California
Located in the Oakland area, Redwood Road goes through Redwood and Chabot Regional Parks. A rider from Castro Valley says that it “Starts off kinda easy but then gets heavy with lots of turns.”. He also recommends that you turn off Redwood Road and take Pinehurst Road towards Valle Vista for more twisty curves.
September 2011
2 posts
2 tags
East Tennessee Motorcycle Trails
Recently, on my travels, I picked up a brochure from the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council titled ‘The Long & Winding Road’. It includes information on the heritage, culture, and history of East Tennessee, but more important it highlights 5 loops which provide an opportunity for a great day ride.
East Tennessee, along with its neighbor, western North Carolina, offers some...
1 tag
US 31, Indiana
Many Interstates follow along or replaced US highways. One of those is US 31 in Indiana which travels close to I-65. John describes it as a “Relaxing well maintained roadway. This is a great Sunday ride. Small towns along the way provide plenty of opportunities to grab a bite to eat; from mom and pop to national chain restaurants.”
You may find that roads like US 31 have light...
August 2011
11 posts
1 tag
SR 74 - Colorado
State Route 74 in Colorado is also known as Bear Creek Road. Besides being twisty, a rider from Littleton explained that it “Takes you past Red Rocks and some wonderful scenery.” As it’s name implies, SR 74 follows along the Bear Creek.
This 11 mile stretch of SR 74 runs between Morrison and Evergreen and is just west of the Denver metropolitan area.
1 tag
Old Hill City Road - South Dakota
Old Hill City Road is unique in that it follows and crosses the railroad tracks 14 times of the 1880 Train, a vintage steam engine. Contributed by Jeff Marchitto, he describes Old Hill City Road as “a twisty, scenic ride which serves as a very handy and fun crossover between Hill City and Keystone.”
You could use Old Hill City Road as an alternative to US 16 or combine the two for...
1 tag
Hopkins Hill Road - Rhode Island
Hopkins Hill Road is located just west of Warwick, but the contributor say that it has an “Unusually rural feeling for RI (like some back roads of NH or Maine).” He also noted that Hopkins Hill Road “will test your curve negotiation skills.”
It is only 8 miles in length but it is a road you might want to turn around and do it again. Looks like a good road to seek out...
1 tag
How to Save Gas
About.com has posted an article on How to Save Gas on a Motorcycle. It provides 10 tips to improve your miles per gallon (mpg). Besides making common sense, many will help you ‘keep the rubber on the road’ and improve the pleasure of your ride.
Here is another tip: While scanning 5 seconds down the road, if I observe a red light, I back off the throttle and coast (in gear) to the...
1 tag
River Road, Pennsylvania
River Road, AKA Buck River Road, is located 5 miles north of Blakeslee in the Pocono Mountains. Submitted by Charles Peterson, he describes it as “a beautiful country ride through: state game lands, the quaint little town of Thornhurst, and along the upper Lehigh River. Use caution on the turns—several are tight and poorly banked. This road is somewhat difficult to find at each end...
1 tag
Alger County Route 58, Michigan
Nick Sloane recently submitted CR 58 and it was quickly followed up with comments from Bob L. Both praised the scenery along this route and the excellent road conditions. CR 58 is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan along Lake Superior and runs through the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Both Nick and Bob also noted that traffic was very lite on this route.
1 tag
Triadelphia Road, Maryland
Triadelphia Road is a quiet backroad which loops off of MD 32, just west of Baltimore. The contributor relates that it is a “Fun route for novice riders since there’s virtually no traffic.” No doubt a good choice for experienced riders as well if you’re in the area.
2 tags
Sturgis Rally
The Sturgis (Black Hills) Rally officially begins this coming week. One the events on Monday, August 8th, is the Mayor’s Ride. Mark Carstensen, the new Mayor of Sturgis, has obtained his motorcycle license and will borrow an H-D Road King in order to participate in the event. He has previous experience riding dirt bikes but this will be his first involvement in road riding.
Mayor...
1 tag
State Route 3, Kentucky
SR 3 in the Eastern Highlands of Kentucky looks like a real winner. A rider from North Carolina describes it as a “Sweet little back road through the mountains, with lots of turns and elevation changes.”. It starts in Louisa along the West Virginia state line. It is recommended that you stop at Kentucky’s Pavieillon, at the intersection of SR 3 and US 23, which he relates...
2 tags
SR 191, Pennsylvania
A rider from New York recently submitted PA 191 which takes you through the Pocono Mountains and the Upper Delaware River Scenic and Recreational Area. He stated that he “Found this one by mistake, but what a find.” I completely agree.
I’ve ridden it several times and it is a road that I look at anytime I plan on heading north into New York. Once you cross the bridge to...
1 tag
2012 Victory Lineup
Victory has announced its 2012 lineup of 15 models including 3 Ness Limited Edition models. Gone are the Kingpin 8-ball and Vision 8-ball. The price of the Vision Tour was dropped $2,200. For more information and photos, visit About.com’s 2012 Victory Motorcycles Buyer’s Guide.
July 2011
6 posts
10 tags
New Roads
Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US.
1) California: Marysville/La Porte Road: “This road takes you through some great twisty asphalt through the Plumas National Forest.” Located northeast of Yuba City.
2) Illinois: Blue Ridge Road: “Nice curvy 2 lane blacktop up out of the Illinois River valley.”
3) Michigan: River Road: “A scenic ride along the Au...
2 tags
Madawaska (ME) Four Corners Park
Received an email from Joe LaChance, president of the Madawaska Four Corners Park Association, with some information on the park.
“The Madawaska, Four Corners Park Association has created a park to honor the S.C.M.A Four Corners Tour finishers, participants and motorcyclists.
Located prominently in downtown Madawaska, Maine, our park features an impressive 12-foot tall blue pearl...
2 tags
Top Roads
Here are a few top roads listings which were recently posted. I’m not going to comment on the selection of roads, they are all good motorcycle roads. You could argue forever about a top roads list. Here they are:
Competition Accessories is in the process of listing the top 20 roads in the various regions of the US. A short description, photo, road length, and rider’s rating is...
2 tags
Smage Brothers Motorcycle Stunt Team
The Smage Brothers Motorcycle Stunt Team was a smashing success on this week’s edition of America’s Got Talent. Link to YouTube video.
1 tag
Harley 2012 Lineup
Harley-Davidson has announced its 2012 motorcycle lineup. The lineup includes 32 models showcased by 4 CVO models, a 10th Anniversary V-Rod, and a new model, the Dyna Switchback.
The Dyna Switchback, with detachable hard saddlebags and detachable windshield, can easily be converted from a touring bike to a cruiser. The base price is $15,999.
Overall prices for 2012 are up 1% in the United...
2 tags
West Virginia
Spent a couple of days riding in the mountains of West Virginia. 1st time for me. Here are some of my observations:
WV 55 is a great road but it’s character has been compromised as a portion in now a 4-lane freeway (part of Corridor H). This freeway cuts through mountains and fills in valleys. Traffic on this freeway, which cost several million per mile to build, was very light. This is a...
June 2011
2 posts
3 tags
Great day of riding
Yesterday, with perfect weather, took a ride to the Dutch Country of Pennsylvania. Stopped at Yoders Country Market in New Holland for their all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. The food was excellent and a real bargain at $10. After lunch rode over to Intercourse, PA and stopped at Kitchen Kettle Village. Its worth the time to walk around, do some shopping and, best of all, listen to the music of the...
5 tags
New Roads
Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) Arkansas: SR 221 - “This road is really good with its curves and elevation changes. Good pavement and very pretty ride.” In the Northwest Ozarks out of Berryville.
2) Minnesota: CR 16 - “…along the St. Croix River…” AKA Wild Mountain Road. Located north of the Twin Cities.
3) Missouri: US 50 - “Nice...
May 2011
1 post
10 tags
New Roads
Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) Alabama: CR 87 - “Mostly sweepers but a few twisters. Most of the area is farm land…” East of Hunysville.
2) Indiana: Old Trail Road - “Gentle, rolling, twisting rural road with pleasant farmland scenery, open fields, strands of forest, and almost no traffic to speak of.” Located west of Fort Wayne.
3) Maryland:...
April 2011
1 post
10 tags
New Roads
Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) Arizona: US 180 - “Route goes from a high elevation of over 8,000ft to a low of close to 5,500ft.” Located between Flagstaff and Grand Canyon National Park.
2) Florida: Beacon Light Road - “A well paved, narrow road with tight turns and little hills.” In Brevard County, south of New Smyrna Beach.
3) Indiana: SR 25 -...
February 2011
4 posts
7 tags
New Roads
Added 6 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) Idaho: SR 32 - “The variable green patchwork of the farmland created a very scenic ride and the seemingly endless sweeping and rolling from one end to the other left me with a huge grin at the end.” East of I-15 close to the Wyoming state line.
2) North Carolina: Croomsbridge Road - “Its a nice road but short.” Just off...
New Roads in Tennessee
Added 5 new roads to Middle Tennessee (Lebanon area):
1) SR 267 - 11 mile road that runs south out of Watertown.
2) Bradley Creek Road - “Short run loops off SR96/Lascassas Pike…” Northeast of Murfreesboro.
3) Linwood Road - “Rural Life in Wilson County, speed limit is 35 mph.”
4) N. Milton Road - “Straight away leading to sweeping turns.”
...
2 tags
New Roads in Tennessee
Added 9 new roads to Middle Tennessee. All are in Wilson County (Lebanon area). Many of them can be combined to create a loop.
1) Alsup Mill Road - “Numerous sweeping turns, beware of horse and cattle crossings.”
2) Beech Log Road - “Backroads Tennessee riding.”
3) Eastover Road - “Country road, speed limit 35 mph, rural riding, be careful of the 90 degree...
6 tags
New Roads
Added 5 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) California: South Mountain Road - “Great scenic road throgh the orange groves on the way to Santa Paula from Moorpark.”
2) Florida: CR 314A - “Just about as good as a rural road gets in Florida.” Located in Central Florida east of Ocala.
3) New York: Moriches Road - “Many beautiful homes and some scenic views of...
January 2011
3 posts
1 tag
TravelSmart Newsletter
MotorcycleRoads.US was featured in the December issue of the TravelSmart Newsletter. In her column titled US Motorcycle Tours, publisher Nancy Dunnan, wrote that MotorcycleRoads.US “is a great source of information and the most comprehensive coverage we’ve found.” TravelSmart Newsletter was cited by Money Magazine as the “Best newsletter for travelers on a...
10 tags
New Roads
Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) Arizona: Old US 80 - “This is a paved 2-lane rural road thru the Gila River Valley. It runs roughly parallel to AZ 85…” Can be accessed from I-8, X115 or X119. Located SW of Phoenix.
2) California: Grimes Canyon Road - “Twisty mountain road from Moorpark to Filmore. Start and end in the orange groves with a great mountian...
6 tags
New Roads
Added 5 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) Alabama: SR 107 - “Great scenic road through the Alabama hills. Lots of sweeping turns too.”
2) California: Santa Rosa Road - “Great scenic road through wine country with fantastic sweeping curves.” Located east of Vandenberg AFB.
3) Indiana: Deputy Pike - “Typical southern Indiana combination of mild to...
December 2010
2 posts
4 tags
New Roads in Texas
Added 7 roads to North Texas:
1) FM 660 - “This is what I would call the ‘scenic’ route from Ennis to Ferris, especially if you’re trying to avoid I-45, which is always advisable.” South of Dalas.
2) FM 813 - “This road is a great road for being this close to the DFW area. It has many low-speed sweepers, and is actually twisty in sections.”
3)...
8 tags
New Roads
Added 7 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) Florida: Fussell Road - “About as ‘twisty’ as you get in Florida. But this road is infamous for riders going down. Open straight sections allow speed build-up, but some deceptive turns that can cause you to over-steer.” Located southwest of Orlando.
2) Indiana: Bicycle Bridge Road - “Goes over Bicycle Bridge (cross...
November 2010
4 posts
8 tags
New Roads
Added 7 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) Alabama: SR 54 - “Good sweeping turns, plenty of farmland and overhanging trees.” Located just north of the Florida state line.
2) Florida: SR 2 - “Great ride with farms, woods and plenty of sweeping curves.” In the Florida panhandle.
3) Kentucky: SR 700 - “Very nice trip from just above Cumberland Falls to 25...
9 tags
New Roads
Added 8 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) Alabama: SR 171 - “Nice sweepers, very scenic.” 36 miles of two-lane north of Tuscaloosa.
2) Arizona: BIA 59 - “…through the heart of the Navajo Nation to the Canyon de Chelly National Monument. This stretch of roadway is easy riding two-lane asphalt in good condition.”
3) Arkansas: SR 298 - “Tree-lined,...
3 tags
New Roads in Texas
Added 9 new roads to the Hill Country (Lake Travis area) of Texas. All compliments of a rider from Arlington, Texas.
1) Boggy Ford Road - “It has some sweepers and some lake views for a relaxing cruise in this area.”
2) Comanche Trail - “There are awesome high hillside views of Lake Travis, and lots of up-and-down hills and tight curves.” Ends at Bob Wentz Park.
...
10 tags
New Roads
Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) Alabama: SR 18 - “Scenic foothills to the Smokies. Lots of sweepers and elevation changes.” Located west of Birmingham.
2) Arizona: US 89A - “It will wind you through high forest and high desert settings. Stunning landscape and excellent road conditions.” Takes you to SR 67 which is the entry point to the north rim of the...
October 2010
2 posts
8 tags
New Roads
Added 7 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US.
1) Alabama: SR 96 - “Scenic, lots of sweepers and elevation changes.” Located west of Birmingham near Mississippi state line.
2) Louisiana: SR 104 - “Closest thing to ‘twisty’ road that South Louisiana has to offer.” Can be accessed from I-49, X19.
3) Maryland: River Road - “A combination of sweeping...
5 tags
New Roads
Added 5 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) Kentucky: SR 625 - “A nice dodge/detour to US 421 near the Ohio River…” Located just south of Milton and the Ohio River.
2) New Hampshire: Jefferson Notch Road - “It is dirt and sometimes twisty. It climbs to 3009 ft. Nice ride through the woods if you are comfortable on dirt.” Access from Base Station Road.
3)...
September 2010
4 posts
7 tags
New Roads
Added 6 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) Maryland: SR 382 - AKA Croom Road. “This route is smooth and great for cruising. The route takes you near parks, the Patuxent River…” Located Southeast of Washington, DC.
2) New Hampshire: Base Station Road - “Road is basically just for cog railway. Has some nice tight sweepers (twisties lite). A fun backroad that has...
2 tags
New Roads in Missouri
Added 3 new roads to Missouri:
1) SR 5 - “sweeping turns through Central Missouri farm land - good visibiltiy - good road surface.” Can be accessed from I-70, X101.
2) SR 126 - “Straight, little traffic, good open road. Pretty ride during harvest season.” Located north of Carthage.
3) US 160 - “…good fall ride during harvest season.” Also...
10 tags
New Roads
Added 9 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) Alabama: US 29 - “…very rural with some wide sweeping turns. It’s a great escape from heavy traffic and a chance to see some wonderful scenery.” Close to the Florida State border.
2) Arizona: US 191 - “…among the best of several roads that pass through this classic, red-desert country of northern Arizona....
8 tags
New Roads
Added 7 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) California: SR 190 - “…gains 6,000 feet of elevation as it winds through the Sequoia National Forest. Overall it is ripe with sweeping turns with the occasional twisty to keep it fun.”
2) Idaho: SR 46 - “This road also climbs and twists before it starts to drop into Gooding. There is a 6% and a 8% grade along the...
August 2010
7 posts
7 tags
New Roads
Added 6 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US.
1) California: SR 243 - “Definably twisty, passes through the little town of Idyllwild.” Off I-10, X100 in the Desert Southeast Region.
2) Indiana: W 510 S - “Wonderful narrow two-lane… Very little traffic down a back road. Some sweepers and sharp turns…” Southwest of Lafayette.
3) New York: SR 116 -...
3 tags
Butler Motorcycle Maps
Butler Maps is a relative newcomer to the motorcycle community that provides maps specifically tailored for riders looking for some great motorcycle roads. Based in Eagle, Colorado, it was founded by 4 motorcycle enthusiasts with varied riding backgrounds and styles. Butler Maps currently has maps available for several Rocky Mountain States with more to come.
I recently received a copy of their...
7 tags
New Roads
Added 6 new roads to MotorcycleRoads.US:
1) Colorado: SR 306 - “…the road up Cottonwood Pass is newly paved and a pure delight. Great sweepers and twisty.”
2) Florida: Walter Hunter Road - “Begins with open farmland on both sides of the narrow road and ending the last few miles with constant shade from the canopy of trees.”
3) Indiana: SR 19 - “Ride...